April is World Autism Acceptance Month!
Hey folks!
Yes it's that time of year again where I like to help spread the good word of neurodiversity and acceptance by making a few discussions regarding autism.
Autism Acceptance Month (WAAM) was previously known as "Autism Awareness Month" but due to pushback from the autistic community it's been renamed. As although there's still a long way to go with regard to awareness of ASD, the community felt that we also need to be focusing on acceptance. Both of ourselves and for others accepting us, both personally and in the workplace.
This years theme is "Celebrate differences" so people around the world will be sharing stories and learning about other autistic people, to show that although we all may be different, we all have our own strengths that deserve to be discovered and celebrated.
I'll keep this one short, as I've got plenty of other content coming, especially with tomorrow (April 2nd) being World Autism Awareness Day.
But for now, if you're autistic (diagnosed, or undiagnosed, both are valid,) I'd like to know what you think your strengths are? Or if you know an autistic person, what do you think their strengths are?
Let's get chatting! ❤️
Comments
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that’s one cute little online shop @Mentallyunstitched. Wishing you the very best
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@Albus_Scope ,
You asked about strengths in an autistic person—here’s one that truly amazes me. One of our close family friends has a 12-year-old daughter with severe and profound autism, along with significant communication difficulties. Yet, the way she creatively expresses her emotions through art is nothing short of fascinating. Every piece she creates carries a deeply personal meaning, though deciphering it might take a PhD! I feel her strengths are often misunderstood by others, but the energy and emotion in her art are mesmerising.Her mother often says her daughter keeps her on her toes, and I can see why!
On Autism Awareness Day, I want to take a moment to celebrate every autistic person and their families. Let’s all embrace neurodiversity and continue learning how to support autistic individuals in ways that respect their unique needs ,talents and strengths.
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Oh I love that @noonebelieves thanks so much for sharing. We all have our own preferred ways of communicating, I'm glad she's found hers at such a young age. If they're comfortable sharing, I'd love to see some of her art?
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Thanks @Albus_Scope for your kind words! Her mum is quite protective and has chosen not to engage on many platforms for personal reasons, so I’m not sure if she’d be comfortable sharing publicly. However, I’ll certainly ask if she’d be open to sending one through me. Hope you have a great day!
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My youngest daughter has been waiting for her autism assessment for 3 years now and we got a letter saying it could be another 3 years wait as shes not "seen as urgent " which was heart-breaking. But she is lovely as she loves history and wants to be an archaeologists when she grows up and loves the local children's archaeologists club in our local museum
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I have Aspergers Syndrome and was diagnosed when I was 14. I've always felt like the odd one out, trying to fit in where I can't. Even with 'geeks' and the 'nerds' I still struggled socially. It took very specific people to understand me and fully accept me. When I worked in Tesco, I got scammed on the till twice by thugs, the second time, they had to take me off the tills and put me on groceries, restocking and facing up shelves. I then had the managers pestering me for the last year and a half or so for going too slowly and not getting enough done in the timeframe that they wanted it done. It too me longer because of my meticulous nature and because of the way my brain is wired. I was never being lazy or flat out refusing to do work. I have had many problems with communicating with people online, misinterpreting things, reading things wrong, being ghosted by girls, getting overly attached to people and scaring them off. I find being ghosted by people a really emotionally shocking thing, so I desperately try to find out why they did so, then in doing so it makes the situation even worse. This got me in trouble at my job at Sainsbury's because they reported me to the managers. I've got on trouble for leaving cold produce out forgetting about it because I was focused on going for my break on time and struggling to remember multiple things at once because of the way my mind works, I failed a think 25 test purchase because I'd sometimes get flustered by too much intense repetition combined with the social anxiety that I struggle with. I was spoken down to by one of the managers and pestered every other day we were on the same shift together about little things. More recently I was dismissed from my most recent job as a result of struggling to maintain my energy levels, unintentionally nodding off, being noticed by one of my managers and lashing out in a slightly rude and badly worded message to him as a result of feeling on edge about the fact that the business owners watched us on cctv while we were working in the office and feeling upset about feeling singled out, despite me apologising and us talking about it and resolving it. I've again and again felt misunderstood and treated appallingly by managers and business owners and teachers in school in certain situations. But this has always pushed me to always fight my own corner and never cave to the mistreatment by others and forcing myself to fit in. I've always been proud of being different from the 'popular' people despite still having major self-esteem issues. I'd rather have a handful of the right friends than hundreds of the wrong 'friends'.
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I battle five different mental health conditions, so as you can imagine my head inside is like Avengers Infinity War on repeat, with The Somme, Waterloo, Bannockburn, War Of The Roses and The Battle of Stalingrad on repeat every day. Then chuck in my inner Chimp Hadrian (after Hadrians Wall, after my ex wife said I was defensive) it all makes life challenging to say the least. But in a nutshell shell I need to take the box labelled Autism off the shelf in my head, blow off the cobwebs and see what is inside, so let’s see….
Well me and Autism have been in a constant state of fight since 1983, neither of us admitting defeat or who is right or wrong. Autism truly stunted my learning and socialisation at school, meaning that I had to attend both mainstream and special needs schools. Including being placed in a children’s psychiatric unit between the ages of 6 & 8 years old where I lived and went to school, then my final school was a boarding school in the lakes that was structured for children with learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural issues to. It negatively impacted my childhood at home in a huge way, where I was always running away, having tantrums, always being told I was naughty, never being told I was loved, being treated to my sister, not being able to make friends or relate to my pears. I always struggled in group settings, more often than not being bullied at school or by the kids around the area in the North West I grew up in. I preferred my own company and would often isolate myself in my bedroom with a book or my toys. After leaving school I struggled to do it but managed somehow to obtain two NVQ’s in Horticulture, to go alongside my attempt at GCSE’s up to a grade of C&D in English. I would often like Childhood, just stay in my bedroom with my door shut, reading, watching tv or playing on the computer. Again my relationship with my parents and my Dad’s side of the family was truly stressful, often reminded of things I’d done as a kid all the time, my relationship with my father was virtually non existent and I could go for weeks not speaking to him even though we were under the same roof. But I was more content with my Mums side of the family who were more understanding, I would often go with my late Uncle to watch Stock Car Racing & Banger Racing, or help my Great Aunt with her Garden. I later went on to work for my local council, where I was in a group setting working on the countryside, a job I loved. However yet again being in a small group setting didn’t work, I was bullied relentlessly until I was forced to hand in my notice! But it’s fair to say I had the last laugh, as I was told to go on the Parks Department, back to a job I knew and loved. I was again in group settings, but this time I felt more at home and the endless craic and banter alongside the variety of jobs we were doing, plus just being on my own behind a mower meant I was happy. I then handed in my notice after being with a woman and her two kids for less than 12 months, we had become engaged and I wanted to move to her home town. Or should I say, I was coerced into getting engaged after four months and felt pressured into moving in with her and her two children. This move severed all ties with my parents and for some stupid reason the side of the family I ended up turning to, was my Dads brother, his wife and kids all of whom I wasn’t like one bit, think of a square peg in a round hole. Things didn’t last long with my first wife, I moved out after eight months of marriage and put an end to the relationship after 16 months. She was emotionally abusive, controlling and it’s fair to say me and her children didn’t gel.
I then blindly rushed into a second relationship by going on a well known dating site. Things were up and down throughout our almost ten years together, I had my parents come back into my life after over two years of not talking. It’s fair to say my father hadn’t changed, sadly my mum was still the same to, although we still had a good relationship up to a point. As soon as they came back into my life, I started having to take time off my work due to my mental health, which had a knock on affect with my personal relationship. I decided after shall we say someone saying something to me about my Mum that I didn’t like and I stood up for her, only for then everyone to find out and say it was all in my head and had never happened! Fair to say I finally pulled the plug on them and haven’t seen or spoke to them since 2015.Gradually both my mental health and my relationship went down hill over the coming years. I always saw things in black and white, was always organised with my bills, worked long hours in a very stressful job as a Support Worker. Where as my second ex wife was more sunshine and rainbows, always saying we can do this or that, but she kept secrets from me about her side of the finances where when I was alone at home and had bailiffs banging on the door, or the landlady asking why the rent hadn’t been paid, that was like putting a match to a stick of dynamite and I would get very angry, not able to control my temper (never physically violent or abusive) and she would just decide to pour more petrol in the fire by saying “You know I go all out for special occasions” or “I knew you would go off like this so that’s why I never told you” which to someone with Autism who struggles with both reading body language and emotions was never a good thing. Since I had a huge breakdown in 2020 I went downhill fast with my health, both mentally and physically. I started being scared of leaving the house, I would self harm, I slept on the sofa due to an erratic sleep pattern, I would one minute be laughing and be happy, the next breath I would get angry, say something cruel and then just shut down and you couldn’t get a word out of me. After just over 3 years of a very very hard time, thank god my ex wife pulled the plug and walked away!!
For then I took myself to the hospital after self harming and kissing my dog goodbye, I volunteered to be admitted to a mental health unit! It was this that changed my outlook on past relationships both with my family and my ex wife no2. I wasn’t the problem with my parents, it was them not knowing how to look after a son they didn’t want who was battling Autism, ADHD and other health issues. While my Mother was battling Bipolar and attempted Suicide, my Father chose to work away from home on the Wagons more than required and there marriage was in trouble, most of which I found out through my social services reports. The Nurses and OTs worked with me over five weeks and helped me see the world from a different perspective to say the least, in 11 months I went through 5 changes of address, two different hospitals, one town, one city and four GP Surgeries. Then chuck in 3 months of 24 hour supported living and six shocking months in a multi occupancy house to where I now successfully against all the doubters, I’m living alone in a supported living flat adapted to my needs and requirements. I have chosen to sever all ties with any friends I had, to firmly shut the door, bolt it, weld it shut and chuck away the key for good. A nurse told me on the mental health unit to stop putting myself down by saying I couldn’t read body language or people emotions, as she said your always asking how the lads are, or how the staff are, plus a nurse said that both herself and the team were shocked that I had been looking for housing, filling forms out and bidding on properties in Cumbria, as she said normally it’s something left to them. I just said, I’m used to being organised, I like my routine and like to know where I stand in life and have options open to me. With being on the ward and over the successive months, it gave me time to look at not only my Autism and Mental Health but my life in general. I’ve weathered all obstacles and challenges placed in my way, I may not make eye contact during conversations, I don’t take fools gladly, I have to remind myself although I may have Autism, alongside a few other things, but chief amongst everything - I’m a Pierced & Inked, Kilt Wearing Celtic Buddhist Berserker!!With my Autism, yeah I don’t like loud noises, busy places, sudden changes to my diary, eye to eye combat during meetings, banging on the front door, I’m used to saying sorry, But I am who I am and don’t care what people think of me anymore.
I prefer to sit in the dark watching tv and in essence I just like to stay in my little flat, only venturing out as and when required, be it to chuck some rubbish in the bin, let contractors in or to pop to town to watch a film, go for a dose of pain and get another piercing or two, grab a coffee and then scurry off back home on the buz. I know with Autism we get hooked on things, mine is Lego, Books, Formula One, Music, Tattoos (still want a fair few) and researching my family history and where we are from.
I would say that working for over eight years as a Support Worker also will have contributed to probably me being more awoken to my Autism side and I certainly learned a lot doing a job I loved.
Never let anyone say you can’t do anything or aspire to, you are who you are, yeah we may see the world from a different perspective, but what many don’t know is, That Autism Is Our Superpower!!!
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@icarustwin I can 100% relate to everything you say. Just reading your powerful statement was like looking in a mirror at some of the jobs I had, always taking my time, always wanting to get my work done perfectly (especially when I was a Gardener) I can relate to the whole struggling with managers as well, there are to many judgemental people in this world. Like you I always fight my corner and if someone upsets me they go in the black book in my head! Getting laser focussed on a task that you forget something else is so relatable to. Good for you that you stand up for yourself, are brave enough to speak out, sticking to handful of trusted friends rather than a circle of false friends. Keep going one day at a time and never give up.
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That’s truly beautiful, using Art as a way of expression and also a way to communicate is a very powerful talent to have. Although she may not be able to talk, through her artwork both her family and yourself can imagine what she is trying to say and also what she is saying each day in her own wee brain. She will go on to have an amazing life and career, that I am sure of. Thank You for sharing it with us ❤️
My parents were told I wouldn’t walk or talk after being born three months early, fair to say after starting to walk at 3 going on 4 I’ve never stopped moving, was around this time I found my voice, one that’s loud and well it’s fair to say I’ve not shut up since 💚
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I'm a late diagnosed autistic adult and although my neurotype has presented me with many challenges in life, mostly as a consequence of trying to hammer my square shaped self into the round hole of a neurotypical world,(see! Not all autistic people struggle with imagery and metaphorical language 😉☺️) I am immensely proud of my Autistic brain and it's ability to see the world from unique and colourful perspectives. I'm loyal and principled. I hate injustice and have no time for arbitrary social constructs. Although I struggle with social situations and am often lost for (spoken) words, I have a gift for written language. I'm a problem solver, a creative and have an encyclopedic knowledge of all manner of trivia, which makes me an incredible asset to pub quiz teams. 😁 I have an enormous capacity for empathy and I shine like a diamond in a crisis (even though I struggle with the mundane nature of daily life). I soak up information like a sponge, always seeking out new opportunities to learn and never feel more content than when I'm presented with a new area of study or receiving a new lesson or fact. I'm also a synaesthete and frequently feel deep sorrow for those who live in world without technicolour accents and pineapple cube flavoured music. ☺️ Autism has been the reason for my exceptional abilities but also the cause of crippling inability to function in society. I see it as the emotional price I've had to pay for everything that is remarkable about being an autistic person. As if my mind is balancing the books. For every one of my exceptional assets there is an equal and opposite deficit and, unfortunately, the world only seems fit to judge me on the things I can't do instead of celebrating me for what I can do so brilliantly. (Mostly because the world we live in judges us on our ability to perform economically. Our ability to accumulate wealth) Hopefully a time will come when autism, in all of its myriad of presentations, will be understood and celebrated. When we will feel valued instead of being demonised, pathologized and marginalized. When autistic voices are those which lead the narrative concerning our own experiences during autism acceptance week. When autistic acceptance will be a reality and not simply an aspiration. Sending lots of love and admiration to all of my fellow tribes people in the Neurodivergent universe. Here's to the hope of a better future for us all. x
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I too am a late diagnosed autistic adult. I absolutely love details & creative writing & also feel huge amounts of empathy for people. I love studying & learning & talking about things in depth.
I love being by the sea & in the countryside & seeing all the beautiful scenery.
I love clothes & colours & especially enjoyed my job as a style advisor as love helping people to feel good about themselves.
Sometimes though being autistic emotions can feel really overwhelming like everything is felt so intensely & work and social things can be difficult even painful at times. It can feel really lonely if people misunderstand especially as I care about people so much yet find it hard to say when I am finding things difficult.
I think autistic burn out is something we can definitely experience. There is definitely perfectionism and wanting to try so hard all the time to get things right but this can be exhausting.
Autism diagnosis is definitely a process, its helped me understand and so much now makes sense yet there still feels like there is a lot of work to do.
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I was diagnosed late in my 50s , I also have dyslexia and I think discalculia . I always struggled I was born 2 months early and premature. I never really fit in. And prefer being by myself. I been bullied at school. I take things literally. And in relationships I've been taken advantage off by narcissistic people , who abused me sexually and emotionally. I find it hard to communicate what I'm thinking and it comes out wrong. I panic if my routine is changed especially when I used to work. My daughter who is also autistic has told me I'm too autistic so she can't tell me things what's going on in her life , This hurts, I don't always understand and it takes time for me to process. Plus I'm not good emotionally. So I tend to withdraw. Have no friends as they taken advantage and have been cruel. So I don't trust people now.
For me I love my cats , and animals. I like doing craft, and doing my family history, also music. Films.
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I have mild neutodiversity - on the spectrum as our clinical psychologist daughter says. It runs in the family. I stim a lot and have found knitting is the thing to do otherwise i scratch and pick at my skin.
I also find loud noise an issue - Loom earplugs are the solution, although as i have fibromylagia also that is also an issue for them.
And as I've aged, i find meeting new people more of a struggle.
I think, knowing my family as i do, that there are more of us out there with milder difficulties than is realised.
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Hi! Are there any studies showing progress in spreading knowledge about autism among the general population?
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I identify so much with everything you have written. It's truly a double edged sword. The thing which makes us exceptional is the same things which incapacitates us. I'm so glad to have met another member of the tribe, even if it is in the virtual world.
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I trained as a psychiatric nurse in my early twenties and have always found it interesting when people, such as us, refer to our experience of autism and mental health issues as mild despite how significantly our lives have been impacted as a result of our neurodiversity. I understand entirely what you mean, considering how varied the presentations of Autism are. But we need to reach a point where the Autistic community no longer accept the limitations placed on us by a world designed for and dominated by neurotypical people. Let's hope, with proper representation, accommodation and advocacy, we can achieve that for all Autistic people. x
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I was diagnosed in 2005, as an adult. I have to say that my diagnosis marked a shift in my life from struggling against the tide to starting to take control of it as much as I could. Understanding that I had achieved so much in adversity helped me to build more confidence and take more chances.
After I was diagnosed I was told I would never go back to university, but I did. Twice. I had the right support, also, so I really enjoyed the experience. My UG degree was a bit of a nightmare that I scrambled through rather than enjoyed - and I regret that I didn't make the most of the experience then, but that's life. I made up for it later.
I'm a creative autist. I'm not mathematical. I have dyscalculia, I still struggle with complex financial stuff which rules me out of jobs that involve budgets. I can just about manage the basic cash taking and end of day counting up that my job entails, but more than that I wouldn't manage. I'm a word person, not really a pictures one. I've always enjoyed reading and like to write. I've a good memory for languages, I've learned several over the years although I'd only say I was semi-fluent in one (aside English). I can't navigate to save my life, literally, but diagnosis allowed me to work out ways in which I could travel and see different places. I have been lost in lots of places all over Europe and even some of the world, but I still appreciated doing it. I would never have done that before diagnosis.
The achievement of my life was going abroad for 3 months for my PhD. Eternally grateful to the family friend who took time out of his life to help me plan research trips, actually drove me three hours to one site and basically was there to rescue me whenever I needed him. It was such a great experience and I am so proud I did it. More than the actual PhD, the fieldwork was my achievement of a lifetime.
My autism impairs my executive function, so I can't follow instructions, nor can I operate most appliances. I can just about manage the microwave but each time we get a new one it takes me weeks to learn how to operate it. I had to learn to use a kettle as well, and we have labels on the heating system here because I can't remember which one turns on the heating and which the hot water. So stuff like that…things people don't generally see without actually living with me, but which are pretty impactful.
Aside dyscalculia I also have some symptoms of ADHD, though I don't have an ADHD diagnosis, so this is either undiagnosed ADHD or just my executive function being rubbish and overlapping those things in my autism. And I have a navigational disorder. I always thought this was part of autism but actually I think it's Developmental Topographical Disorientation, because it's the only thing I've found that actually explains my lived experience. It's not "I get a bit lost" but my brain completely resets even familiar routes, meaning that I am very easily stranded even in places I know. This is a challenge, and has limited me in terms of moving around and getting to places (12 points on PIP Planning a Journey, LOL). But you live with the hand you're dealt.
If I have any frustration about any of this (aside the general lack of understanding of autism), it's when people think, because I have a PhD and am in work and am very good at masking, that I am 'fine'. If you came walking with me, and let me navigate, you'd soon realise how not-fine I was. And be stuck in a field somewhere. Possibly forever. :)3 -
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couple of awesome T Shirts on Amazon that celebrate Autism 🧩
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Thanks for sharing your stories everyone, I'm sorry to hear so many have had a rough time of things, but it's great to read people are so supportive of each other on here and we can all learn from each others experiences. ❤️
I totally get what you mean about the tides @Amaya_Ringo getting that diagnosis was certainly a turning point in my life too.
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