Alison was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in her early fifties. Although having a diagnosis of autism was in some ways a relief, as it explained a lot about her behaviour, it wasn’t enough to help Alison fit all the pieces of the puzzle together. There was still something missing. So, in an attempt to understand her autism, Alison decided that the only solution was to write down her thoughts onto paper in the hope that clarity would follow.
Alison had always thought that she was odd, but she now realises that she is an individual made up of a collection of idiosyncrasies which defines who she is. Alison is proud to be autistic and 'The Odd Piece' is an expression of her identity.