‘Prison Break’ star Wentworth Miller reveals autism spectrum diagnosis: a ‘shock’ but ‘not a surprise’

Patriot-News - 7/29/2021

Wentworth Miller has revealed to the world that he was diagnosed with autism as an adult, a year ago.

A report by USA Today, said the ‘Prison Break’ actor shared the information for the first time, Sunday in a lengthy Instagram post.

“Like everyone, life in quarantine took things from me. But in the quiet/isolation, I found unexpected gifts,” Miller wrote. “This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis.”

Miller wrote that the diagnosis was a “shock” but “not a surprise,” and acknowledged that he still has much to learn about autism.

The report cited the Autism Society of America, describing autism as “a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation.” The organization also notes that autism is a “spectrum condition” affecting people “differently and to varying degrees.”

“I don’t know enough about autism. (There’s a lot to know.),” Wentworth shared. “Right now my work looks like evolving my understanding. Re-examining 5 decades of lived experience thru a new lens. That will take time.”

Miller made clear in his post that by going public with his own experiences he’s not speaking for the autism community as a whole. He further acknowledged that the community has been “historically talked over,” the report noted.

“I don’t want to run the risk of suddenly being a loud, ill-informed voice in the room… I don’t wish to do additional harm. Only to raise my hand, say, ‘I am here. Have been (w/o realizing it),’” he wrote.

The diagnosis is a “gift.”

The news outlet noted that Miller referred to his autism diagnosis as a “gift.”

In his Instagram post, he also extended a “thank you” to those who supported him throughout his life.

“Oh - this isn’t something I’d change. No. I get - got - immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I’ve achieved/articulated,” he posted.

“I also want to say to the many (many) people who consciously or unconsciously gave me that extra bit of grace + space over the years, allowed me to move thru the world in a way that made sense to me whether or not it made sense to them... thank you,” he wrote.

More information about autism can be found at the Autism Society of America.

•Self-taught, autistic student artist will have work on display at the Hershey Gardens

•What’s it like to have breakthrough COVID? Welcome back to Limbo

•Panel to recommend Pa. move to mileage-based user fee as gas tax replacement to fund transportation needs