Whether or not you watch Love Island, it’s a pretty difficult
show to avoid having knowledge of, unless you live under a rock or on Mars! Saying
this most people will also know how this show gets a lot of stick for not
having a diverse range of individuals that appear on the show. I am very guilty
of stating how everyone on Love Island seems the same, they all have the same
over all image and most of them seem to have very similar personality traits.
He stated in a very heart felt Instagram post that he has
Aspergers Syndrome, he finds this hard to admit as he acknowledges the stigma a
lot of people attach to this ‘disability’ (for want of a better term). This
post in itself is very brave, I know from not only having my own disability but
from having two siblings on the autistic spectrum how difficult this can be to talk about.
I 100% applaud Niall in posting about himself and showing
that a disability is not always visible, does not always show itself in a way
people might assume and can not always be seen by those on the outside looking
in. People like my brother and Niall should be proud to stand up and say I am
who I am and these ‘problems’ don’t take away from me, but add to the amazing
person I am.
This post has shown that even though you may think everyone
on these shows are the same (GUILTY), they aren’t and you can never truly know
what someone is going through. I have had several people apologise to me when I
say my brother is autistic. ‘Oh wow, I’m so sorry that he has that and that you
have to deal with it!’ Ummm sorry hun but I’m not! It may make him a little bit
quirky, he may need understanding in a different way and sometimes I may lose
my rag because some of the traits of his autism p*ss me off but I’m not sorry!
I wouldn’t change who he is for the world, his autism makes him who he is, just
like Niall’s autism is a part of him, without it they would not be the people their
families know and love.
Niall will probably never see this but just in case he does,
WELL DONE! Be proud and stand up for those without the voice you now have, show
the world that your ‘disability’ should not stop you, nor should it stop anyone
else from achieving greatness. One day I hope the stigma around invisible disabilities
will end but you are very much a key piece of the puzzle that will help others
have the understanding we do!
