David Militello: Blog

Most people have seen the "America's Got Talent" video and heard my mother say that I have been diagnosed with autism; this is true.  I've read a lot of the comments and many people think that autism is a disease or something awful.  It can be awful for many people that are severe because they may never be able to live on their own or take care of themselves.  Some autistic people are very strong and they have tantrums and hurt themselves or the people that care for them.  I, however, am not.  As a matter of fact, I am very high functioning.   I'm not severe and I don't have Aspergers.  However, I want to help those people that are.  I'm considered PDD-NOS.  My mom says it's what they call you when they don't know what else to call you.   I say it's that "something" that makes people say, "There's something about that boy, I don't know what it is.  I can't put my finger on it, but it's something."

When I was in second grade, I was evaluated and determined not to be autistic at all.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm not much different from anyone else.  Let's face it, there are things about everyone of us that we may find a little quirky.  We're just different.  God didn't intend for us to all be alike.  Humans like to look at other people to see how much alike and how different we are.  We seem to like what's alike about us, and shy way from what's different.  I just want you to know that I'm not so different.  More than that, I want say thank you because you believed in me in spite of it.

When I was first diagnosed, my mother was in denial and never studied or researched autism; she took to prayer instead.  When I turned three she had me placed in special needs program to help with social skills.  It turns out, that was one of the best thing she could have ever done for me.

Today I have friendships and interaction and I have been taught to be independent so as not to have to depend on others.  I can speak for myself, dress myself, and think for myself, one day I will even drive myself and go to college.  My mom tells my brother and me everyday that she will not always be here to take care of us and it's important that we learn to take care of ourselves.

I want you to to know that I read every email and every message that is sent to me.  I see every comment I receive on my website and YouTube - even the not so nice ones.  Because my mom is a writer, she's taught me to write this way as well.  So, I don't always use a lot of abbreviations and the LOLs and emoticons.  But, it doesn't bother me if you do.  Just know that it's me, David.  Yes, I am monitored, but I can still speak for myself.

I want to say that I appreciate you; all of you.  I love my fans and my friends and my family.  You believed in me when I had no clue where I was going or what I was doing.  Because you always encouraged me with your nice words and comments, I kept pushing myself to get better for you.  You helped me to want to get better in singing and dancing and acting.  I thought I was doing it because I wanted you to be proud of me and I wanted you to want to watch my videos and I wanted you to listen to me sing.  I thought I was doing it for you, but I was really doing it for me.  Because of you, I became a better me.  Because of you, I was able to follow the path I was destined to walk.

I want to say thank you and I love you.

David