"I was suicidal at age 9." Woman with autism now thrives advocating for autism community
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - KFOR’s Remarkable Women of Oklahoma annual campaign is back! Our newsroom was flooded with nominations of beautiful stories of women from all across our state. A committee had the difficult task of whittling down the very long list to four finalists. Each Tuesday during the month of March, we will bring you the stories of our 2024 nominees. The following story introduces you to Carley Dummitt: a woman with autism whose mission is helping others in the autism community, while creating awareness about an often misunderstood condition.
"I'm just trying to do everything in my power to advocate for people like me, and we deserve to take up space in the world," said Carley Dummitt, a talented, brilliant, and beautiful woman with autism. She received the diagnosis as a little girl.
"Being diagnosed actually happened because of being so depressed at a very young age. I was suicidal at age 9," Carley said.
Making friends was hard - so was high school. "You're being told who you are is not good, so you're getting bullied."
Carley said it felt like everyone else spoke a different language.
"It's sort of like standing on the outside of a door and everyone else is on the other side, and you desperately want to get into that room because that's where everybody is and sometimes, you, knock and they answer, but before you can fully get in, they push you out and they close it again," Carley said, wiping away tears.
But now at age 34, Carley has flung that door wide open, advocating for autism, as cases continue to grow year after year due to better detection.
According to the CDC, one in 36 children has autism, while many adults are now being diagnosed later in life.
To help shed light on what it is like living with autism, Carley hosts a podcast called Unmasking Autism. She also does standup comedy, volunteers at a horse rescue ranch, and she's an award-winning filmmaker.
But where Carley truly shines is in her role with the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, as the Marketing and Community Outreach Coordinator.
"I found a sense of purpose!" she laughed. Her work includes cranking out press releases and coordinating community events. Carley has created several monthly socials for people with autism - a relaxing atmosphere for people who are often introverted or have social anxiety.
On her own time, Carley has created collective art and comedy events at Workflow OKC, including a neurodivergent pride event.
"Studies do show that there is a big crossover between autism and the LGBTQ community, along with suicide," Carley said. That's why her next endeavor is a documentary, delving into the mental and physical health problems that frequently accompany autism, which could be behind the extraordinarily high suicide rates.
"I think that something needs to be done about autistic people killing themselves. And why is that?"
Carley continues to use her creativity to help others who walk the same path to find purpose and peace.
"Autistic people are different, we're not less," she said. "I'm a person, and I matter, and I'm unique. I like who I am."
Click the following links for more information on resources, programs, and events available through the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma.