‘Love on the Spectrum’: Ronan Soussa Still Advocating for Autism

Since appearing on season two of Love on the Spectrum, Ronan Soussa’s commitment to advocate for people with autism and disability has only deepened.

Key points:

Australians are increasingly diagnosed with a condition many don’t understand, and there are gaps in the inclusion of neurodiverse people.

In 2022, over 290,000 Australians were identified as having autism. That’s a 41.8% increase since 2018, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics attributes to increased awareness, improved diagnostic criteria and better access to services.

“I want society to realise that people with disabilities deserve to be seen, heard, and valued,” Ronan told Hope 103.2’s UNDISTRACTED podcast.

“Because they have so much to offer if given the chance.”

“Different isn’t less, different is necessary.”

“Different isn’t less, different is necessary.”

From a young age, Ronan has sought to live authentically and encourage others to do the same.

“I always like to be my authentic self, and I hope it inspires others to give things a try and live their best lives ever,” Ronan said.

This approach guided him when he appeared on Love on the Spectrum, experiencing his first date on television.

“Going on the show was such an amazing experience for me because I had never been on a date before, so I thought, ‘why not give it a try?’”

“Going on the show was such an amazing experience for me because I had never been on a date before, so I thought, ‘why not give it a try?’” Ronan said.

Meeting Katie, someone he describes as “so caring, lovable, and such a nice person,” was transformative.

“It is so powerful to connect with someone special,” Ronan said.

“I hope by being on the show I have helped the public to have a better understanding of autism and to show that autistic people want and deserve love just like anyone else.”

Beyond dating (Ronan’s still with Katie), Ronan finds grounding in hobbies like karate, music and motorsports, and encourages people with autism to find skills that give them structure and purpose.

“Karate helps with anxiety,” Ronan said.

“I hope by being on the show I have helped the public to have a better understanding of autism and to show that autistic people want and deserve love just like anyone else.”

“It empowers me to overcome my fears, and gives me confidence.”

For others navigating life with autism, Ronan’s advice is “if you find something is bothering you, there’s no need to hesitate to ask for help”.

“It’s okay to talk to people if something is wrong,” Ronan said.

“If I’m finding something really noisy or overwhelming [I ask] either a support worker or my parents [to find] a quiet space where I can chill and relax.

“Having sensory-friendly environments is so helpful to people with disabilities.”

Listen to the full episode of UNDISTRACTED with guest Ronan Soussa in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Making schools an inclusive environment also helps students with autism settle in much quicker.

“Throughout [primary] school I only knew my brother,” Ronan said.

“By the time I moved to high school, it was like starting all over again [but] one day some of the older students asked me to sit with them and they took me under their wing.

“They were giving me so much encouragement, on how to build friendships and make social connections as well.

“By the time the older students graduated from high school, I began to feel a lot more comfortable with other people at high school and they began to understand about what my wants and needs were.”

Through his advocacy Ronan wants to be a role model for inclusion, confidence, and authenticity, telling people “to believe in themselves and approach challenges with positivity”.

Listen to the full episode of UNDISTRACTED with guest Ronan Soussa in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Feature image: Supplied (Impact Institute)