Gary Robertson: Sharing his autism journey and songwriting for The NoMen

31st March 2025

At 62 years old, Gary Robertson’s journey with autism offers a powerful insight into late diagnosis, self-discovery, and the importance of acceptance.

Diagnosed with autism at 53, Gary spent much of his life navigating the world without knowing why certain aspects of daily life felt more challenging for him than for others.

Since his diagnosis, he has become an advocate for autism acceptance, using music and his involvement in Autism Hampshire’s Serendipity Community Groups to share his experiences.

Finding a voice through music

One of Gary’s most personal projects is Autism Man, a song he wrote to express his journey as an autistic individual - listen to the full track below. His lyrics were brought to life by The NoMen, a band from Kilmarnock, and serve as a powerful message about neurodiversity.

“700,000 of us, we don't want a fuss. Please can you see, ff you can treat us patiently. I am the autism man. Well the NTs don't get it but the neuro diverse understand.”

His words reflect a reality many autistic people face – a world that often misunderstands or underestimates them.

Gary describes how being autistic affects him in different ways, from having a strong sense of spatial perception to struggling with social interactions and sensory sensitivities.

Bright fluorescent lights, sudden noises, and eye contact are challenging, and while he has learned to mask his discomfort in public, he prefers not to.

“I have pushed myself in the past and masked very, very well, but I would rather not,” he shared.

Routine and coping strategies

Like many autistic individuals, Gary finds comfort in routine. When visiting a city like Southampton, he follows the same route every time, allowing him to focus and manage the overwhelming nature of a busy environment.

“I very rarely don’t follow my routine. When I do, it’s quite uncomfortable,” he explained.

Having a structured approach to daily life helps him navigate situations that might otherwise feel overwhelming.

The importance of acceptance

Gary was particularly struck by a line from the TV series Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which resonated deeply with him: “Our lives may seem eccentric and weird, but they have meaning and value.”

“We are different, we are diverse, and we have a lot to offer. It just takes a little patience and understanding,” he said.

A safe space in Serendipity

For Gary, Autism Hampshire’s Serendipity Community Groups have provided a vital space for connection and self-discovery. He values the opportunity to be around others with similar experiences, whether he chooses to actively participate in discussions or simply sit and listen.

“The Serendipity Group is what you want it to be. You can just go there, sit, and learn about other people - and in doing so, learn about yourself. It’s a safe space, a pressure valve where you can relax,” said Gary.

A message for Autism Acceptance Week

Gary’s story and music are being shared as part of Autism Acceptance Week 2025, which aims to challenge myths, promote understanding, and celebrate neurodiversity.

His song Autism Man and personal reflections highlight why acceptance matters. Gary hopes his message reaches as many people as possible: “If you can treat us patiently, if you can take the time to understand, we can show you what we bring to the world.”

View all of the activities for Autism Acceptance Week 2025.

Full video transcript: 

My name is Gary Robertson
I'm 62 years old
I was diagnosed with autism at 53
and I wrote some lyrics which I called Autism Man
which Kilmarnock's finest cult band The NoMen recorded
so this is NoMen
Autism Man
I hope you like the song
and I hope the message gets out
we're neurodiverse,
we are here
our lives have meaning and value
even if they seem weird and eccentric
Song: I am the autism man
Song: Well the NTs don't get it but the neurodiverse understand.
I have very good spatial perception
I struggle with social situations
I've pushed myself in the past
no hand shaking um
bright fluorescent lights aren't
aren't good for me
sudden noises aren't really good for me
but I have pushed myself in the past and
and masked very, very well and um
I can still do that but I would rather not
eye contact is not good either
panicky
I don't like it at all
I mean I can suppress it
um like when I go to town
I tend to laser focus on one thing
and when I focus on that
like when I go to Southampton
I'm just going round the same route I always go around
and that's how I get through it
it's also part of the
the routine thing
I've got fixed routine for everything
I very rarely
don't follow my routine
when I do it's quite uncomfortable
I can get through it
but it's not a situation I like to put myself in
there's a TV series called
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
and there's a quote in that
"Our lives may seem eccentric and weird
but they have meaning and value."
and that's very true we
we are different, we are diverse
and we can
we have a lot to offer the world
and really
it's just a little bit of patience and understanding
is all it needs
The Serendipity Group is
is what you want it to be really
I just tend to
to sit and listen to people talk
I do talk
it means
I find out about other people with the same condition
as I have
and I can just go there and sit there
and I can just learn about other people
and doing so learn about myself
and uh
it's a safe space
it's what you bring to it really
so if you wanna sit there and listen to people talk
or if you just wanna sit there and just be quiet
or if there's an activity going on
you don't have to take part in it
you can or you can't
it's just a pressure valve really
you can just relax
Song: If you can treat us patiently