Meet Charlotte: Advocating for more support in the regions

Meet Charlotte Billings - a passionate young advocate from the Bay of Plenty who's proving that getting your autism diagnosis as a teenager doesn't hold you back from achieving amazing things!

At 16, Charlotte finally received her autism diagnosis after years of sensory overload, social challenges, and feeling "different" from her peers. But instead of seeing this as a limitation, Charlotte embraced it as the key to understanding herself better.

"When they brought up the concept of autism in year 10, I realised, 'Oh, that's really me,' and I started figuring out who I am as a person and figuring out why I was having sensory problems and anxiety."

Charlotte's journey hasn't been easy. From struggling with flickering lights and overwhelming environments as a child, to navigating the frustration of being told she was "just rude" for not making eye contact, her path to diagnosis was filled with barriers. Her mum knew something was different when Charlotte was just 6, but faced dismissive responses from professionals who blamed parenting instead of recognising neurodivergent traits.

But Charlotte's story is one of resilience and triumph!

• Watch Charlotte's powerful story unfold in this re:News video

  Getting my autism diagnosis at 16 changed my life | The Regions