Love on the Spectrum's Abbey Romeo Recalls Feeling 'Isolated and Alone' Growing Up with Autism

Love on the Spectrum star Abby Romeo shared what it was like growing up with autism, explaining that “When I was a kid, I used to feel left out in the cold.”

Romeo, 26, and her mother Christine joined Twilight alum Taylor Lautner and his wife, Tay Lautner, on the latest episode of their podcast The Squeeze, where the Netflix star discussed how it was difficult having autism as a child.

“I felt very isolated and alone, because as an adult I knew that I wouldn't feel left out anymore I would be accepted and I'd be able to fit in.”

“Was it hard growing up with autism?” Tay Lautner asked.

“Yeah, ‘cause my brain wouldn't do what I was telling it to do. I used to identify with Ariel and The Little Mermaid because she wanted to be where the people were — just like how I wanted to be where the typical kids were.”

Romeo continued, “when she finally got to land and became human she couldn't talk. That's how I felt — I felt like I couldn't talk.”

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Romeo, who said she was diagnosed at around two and a half years old, and her mom, Christine, talked about how the treatment — and diagnosis — of autism has changed since Romeo was a kid.  

“Job training and life skills were way more important,” her mom, Christine, said, about the priorities when Abbey was young.

“Abbey had communication problems — learning language and communicating and fitting in was very, very difficult. What we see now is not where we were.”

Romeo — who documented her romance with boyfriend David on the Netflix hit — shared that if someone is looking for their “perfect match,” “they have to find someone who understands the way their mind works.”

She shared that feeling accepted is why she doesn’t mind being recognized. “People recognize me wherever I go,” she said.

“I feel so satisfied when people do this. It makes me so excited,” she said, adding it makes her feel “part of the group.”

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