Michael Lettman, a self-advocate supported by AHRC NYC programs, joined colleagues for an Autistic Adulthood Panel discussion hosted by Brooklyn Public Library’s Inclusive Services. The talk was designed to help young people imagine neurodivergent futures. Speakers discussed their experiences since leaving school-age programs, including work, independence, higher education, socializing, and more.
“I always feel sorry that we’re in need of help many times when we’re younger,” Michael said, explaining his increasing need for independence as he grows older. “The more independent you are, the more you can take care of things for yourself.”
The discussion was moderated by Carrie Banks of Brooklyn Public Library’s Inclusive Services. Michael, a graduate of the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program at Kingsborough Community College and the host of his own YouTube channel, “Living with Autism with Michael Lettman,” was joined on the panel by:
- Michael John Carley, a longstanding advocate, author, and business consultant who now runs the NYU Connections Program for Global Students with Autism
- Nicole Russell, founder and Executive Director of Autistic Adults NYC, an autistic-run non-profit serving the autistic community of NYC.
The panel spoke powerfully about the importance of recognizing and accepting an autistic identity.
Nicole said, “Something I’m still learning how to do is listening to myself and trusting my gut. Even though a lot of advice from neurotypical people is well-intentioned, it doesn’t apply to us as autistic people. Listening to yourself is difficult when you’ve been told your brain is wrong and you need to change the way you exist in the world. Morph into yourself and not into the person you’re supposed to be.”
Michael John Carley encouraged autistic young people to be intentional about where they choose to work.
“If work life doesn’t mesh with your personal life, it’s not working,” he explained. “You need to find your niche, your people, your community. Boundaries are idiotic because they take so much of our energy to maintain after we build them.”

Michael Lettman said he aspires to work in early childhood education after positive internship experiences in his recent past. “I may not be paid much, but I want to focus on the number one priority: being happy.”
The panel discussed the act of “masking”—hiding aspects of one’s personality or day-to-day living to feel more accepted in society at large.
“A large population on the spectrum cannot mask at all,” Michael John Carley said. “For those that do, it takes an enormous amount of energy. Make smart decisions about when to assimilate or not assimilate.”
Michael Lettman professed to not knowing the term of masking but easily identified with its implications.

“I’m just finding out about masking from this panel,” he said. “I had no idea I was masking the whole time when I’m on the train or in the community. I feel I have to do it for my safety to hide that I’m on the autism spectrum. I can still be who I am when I’m home alone.”
The panel also honored the memory of Heather Lifland, a teacher at the Brooklyn Transition Center who worked closely with Michael Lettman. Michael expressed appreciation for the understanding people like Heather have provided to him as he explored living with autism.
“I never realized when I was on the autism—I know it was in my grade years, but the memory has faded. That has irked me over the years. I understand that I need the right settings for my needs to be taken care of. And I’m grateful for the way family members and people like Ms. Heather have accepted me for who I am.”