The experience of infantile autism: a first-person account by Tony W.

Tony W., an autistic adult, tells his life story in his own words. The paper is a single case study with no tests or trials. It gives a first-person view of growing up and living with autism.

The account covers childhood through adulthood. Tony describes how he thinks, feels, and sees the world.

There are no numbers or graphs. The finding is the story itself. Tony shows that autistic people have rich inner lives and can speak for themselves.

His words remind clinicians that clients understand more than they may show.

Yelton (1979) told a similar adult life story first. Tony W. extends that line by adding another voice. Together they form a small shelf of early insider accounts.

Manning et al. (2026) later asked autistic kids to speak. Their study fits with Tony’s message: listen to the person, not just the label.

Kiehl et al. (2024) pooled 24 later studies on adult diagnosis. All report relief when people finally feel heard. Tony’s 1985 piece is one seed in that larger field.

Zakai-Mashiach (2025) tracked autistic students through school. Like Tony, they found safety at home and stress at school. The themes match across four decades.

Read Tony’s words before you write goals. Ask clients to share their own story, even if they type or use pictures. Use their words to guide intervention choices. When you listen first, rapport grows faster and goals feel meaningful to the person who must live them.