Introducing: prepped.to
A service for and by #ActuallyAutistic people.
Ever wanted to know what a new place will be like before going? Noise levels, lighting, sensory stimulation?
Now we can help each other find our way and be prepared too!
Hello Neurospicy* friends. Are you someone who finds you need calming sounds/music to help with overwhelm?
I recommend BBC Radio 3 Unwind. 24 hours a day of the calmer, relaxed classical music. Available on BBC Sounds from almost any device.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_three_unwind
If you're in the UK, you can also access a massive number of old programmes from BBC Radio 3 Unwind.
Listeners outside the UK can only listen to the live broadcast.
I think one big reason for autistic people to not get along, is that many of us had to "find our niche" and slowly and costly develop a worldview based on the inconsistent and often lacking information we got from our environment.
So probably many of us hold views (and have behaviors resulting from them), maybe not even explicitly and conciously, that are just inconsistent with other peoples views, even if those people could otherwise be very similar to us.
1/
For #autistic people everywhere 💓
Credit to Taylor Sanders on Neurodivergent Memes, FB.
I relate to this.
Anyone else out there 'hardworking and quiet'?
And.. yes:
"Why don't we just start using words to communicate so I can stop tracking everyone's eyebrow twitches, that would be great."
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic me during my work accommodation approval process last year
https://mas.to/@skeletor/115243773785069846
So a follow up on my post about the upcoming autistic employment 'mixer' event*. I had a meeting with the guy that does my employment coaching and was able to get more details about it.
So they are definitely trying to design the event with autistic accommodations in mind. Firstly, they are trying not to make it big and hectic like similar events for NTs, more low key. They will have people on hand for support of any kind, including help with making introductions and such. There will be quiet rooms set aside. They are going to try to gamify the event a little with something like bingo cards, with things like 'hand out X business cards' or something, and then use those to win prizes. I think that the point of that is to provide a little bit of structure, so you're not having to completely make it up as you go along, and maybe focus too, which makes sense, but also to provide external incentives, which I personally have mixed feelings about, and I imagine will affect people differently as well. He also mentioned there being some short talks, and an award given to the most neuroinclusive employer or something like that.
He also told me about some of the employers that they have invited. I told him about how I felt about having as much information ahead of time as possible, and he said that they just haven't gone into much detail yet because of how they are still working out details, and that more information is coming. So that seemed to cover basically all the bases I think.
Still feeling reticent about the whole affair, but less so than before. I do feel more supported and that they are trying their best, and given that this is their first try at such a thing, it'll be a kind of pilot project. So I get that. So I'll be considering it, and looking forward to any more information they send out about it.
* Here's the old post if you want to see it: https://autistics.life/@murdoc/115215021453931443
In case people forget that autistics saw this coming. This was a little something that I wrote back when this was announced. Many others wrote stuff that was very similar and in some cases even more prophetic. We have been canaries, not so much singing warning songs, as screaming into the bloody darkness hoping that someone will listen.
I think we've probably all heard of Mr brain-worm's desire to look into the link between autism and vaccination, and thought nothing good of it. This, despite the fact that even the remotest possibilities of such a link have already been vigorously kicked to death and stomped deeply into the earth of, "not a fucking chance", by countless existing and extremely reputable studies. But, this latest announcement, that they will find the cause of autism itself, to my mind, seems to cast all of this into an even darker light.
By establishing such a ridiculously short time frame to be able to a come to a "guaranteed" conclusion, in partnership with nebulous "worldwide" sources, and within a framework that clearly indicates that they have already decided that it will be some sort of "artificial" cause, this smacks of a clear stitch up. In fact, the sort of stitch up that will make the Cass report* look like the most scholarly, balanced study known to mankind. In fact, the only thing that really seems to be in question, is what cause for it they have already decided to put forward.
If whatever it is, is just to be the silver bullet they wish to use to kill off vaccinations in general, then that will be bad, and obviously ridiculous, enough. But, if it is going to be something else, that fits in even more neatly into Mr Brain-worm's hatred of not only vaccination, but it would seem anything even remotely dealing with modern medicine, and in fact modern life, then it could be truly devastating. Given the wrecking ball they are already taking to the entirety of the medical and academic authorities and institutions, I can't help feeling that the way this could go, could be extremely dark indeed. Indeed, it could be the stepping stone they intend to use to eliminate so many of the safety nets of health and mental care, that so many rely on and that are in many respects the cornerstones of citizen welfare.
I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but, this would be inline with so much of what this government seems to be aiming for. The reduction of people into worker units, who are trapped by the necessities of a lack of education and options, into doing so for minimal return, especially in terms of any real pay and continued health. Those simply being the carrots that are forever dangled before them, to keep them working on. A new class of indentured servitude, if you will, just like the good old days they seem to love.
As I said, I could be wrong. In fact, I really, really, hope I am.
* Cass report - For those who don't know, a British study presented to the former government and still supported by the current one, on Trans issues and used by them to further their transphobic policy decisions. It has been widely debunked by many other studies and a vast number of medical organisations, for its lack of representation and the way it ignored and cherry-picked the information within it, to create a highly one-sided and misleading conclusion.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic my personal choice would be the old, very hard to break glass Snapple bottles…
"Speaking on Monday, Squire commented: “I was just going to ask you if you could order a fresh batch of branded pens. Why are you holding a can of lighter fluid and a box of matches?””
Boss who scheduled unspecified chat better actually be firing you after all this | The Daily Tism
https://thedailytism.com/boss-who-scheduled-unspecified-chat-better-actually-be-firing-you-after-all-this/
Omg, trump is talking right now about his ideas to cure autism. Why did I let myself watch any of it?!?
#ActuallyAutistic @autistics
#AltText4Me
How to develop self-esteem so low, that it is able to out limbo dance an earthworm. Or at least in my case.
Be born neurodivergent.
Not know about it for all of your childhood and most of your adulthood.
Realise from your earliest years that virtually everything about you is wrong, at least in terms of how others see it. The way you sit, stand, walk, talk, look, act and think.
Learn to hide and compensate for this as much as you can. If for no other reason that to stop people picking on you and perhaps to feel some sense of belonging. In other words, mask.
Be praised and celebrated for the way your mask looks, knowing full well that it is a lie. That so many of your successes are for things that you see no real value in. That the things you really value are never seen.
Fail repeatedly to see yourself reflected in the world around you. In the actions and attitudes of others. In the ways you are being expected to behave and in the dreams and goals that you are supposed to have. In the books and films and TV and the ways others want to support and push you.
Realise finally that there is only one logical reason for this and that is because you are wrong, broken, incapable of justifying yourself, or being justified.
Seek justification instead in all the ways and down all the paths that the world says it's found. Work hard, be selfless, put all the effort in to try and finally belong, finally be accepted and feel justified. And yet still fail, because no matter how successful you are in work, or relationships, it is never enough. You are just too broken to ever feel it, to ever see yourself in the world, let alone be seen.
Spend your days kicking yourself when you are down. Fawning, people pleasing, struggling always to do better, to find the key that will let you belong and failing, giving always giving and rarely receiving.
This post has been brought to you, by me realising just how deeply ingrained this is in my life. How, even now that I have finally found my answer and clan, the sense of belonging and yes, justification, I always sought, it wants to pull me back down. In part because I used it, whether I realised it or not, as a kind of safety net, a safeguard against being too brave, too open and the pain that was the inevitable result. But mostly, because it was and is a horrible habit of thought and expectation that fuels my Imposter syndrome and doubts. But then, after a lifetime of being nurtured, I suppose it is not as if it is going to go without a fight, or that dealing with it isn't still a work in progress.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic succinctly on point for how we are often treated in the workplace...
https://mas.to/@skeletor/115248594171549380
A gifted autistic person pretending to be a good person.
(I do my best but I don't always succeed)
#gifted #giftedness #autism #autistic #actuallyautistic
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic and now for something slightly more uplifting…
https://mas.to/@skeletor/115265541124949704
When RFK Jr. "investigates" autism, be aware that he is deliberately and knowingly engaging in eugenics.
He's literally looking for ways to eliminate people like me from the human race.
I'm autistic.
So when you ask "what causes you?", you're positioning me as something that needs to be investigated. Something that needs to be "cured", which is to say, eliminated. Because I think in a different pattern than some folk do.
When someone says, "X causes autism, so avoid X", they're saying, "or your kid might have (gasp) *autism* too!"
This is eugenics. It's Nazi stuff. Not an exaggeration. A "science" under the Nazis.
We are not broken. We do not need fixing. We just think differently. But we have always been around. That dude that wrote an eleven-volume handwritten guide to every herb in one county in England, or wherever it was? Telling me he wasn't one of my people? GTF.
We are and always have been productive and innovative members of society. If anything, we should be seen as an advantage to the species: diversity of thought is *better* thought. Not ours or yours better - but ours and yours are.
We aren't a threat, we're not (for the most part) needing round-the-clock specialist care - but be human, will you? If someone needs that, maybe give it to them? Because they're people?
Didn't we fight a big war about this a few years back? Something about a guy with a bad moustache who didn't like the disabled people in his society? Among his many targets?
Seems to me his central thesis was "I will decide who's people and who isn't people."
And that some of us are saying, "How about maybe not? How about all the people matter, and we try to keep ourselves alive all together?"
I cannot personally imagine how anyone decides his plan is better. Or more moral.
But I'll be over here on Team Everybody Else.
I've done the thing I've never thought I'd do - made an appointment to be officially assessed for Autism and ADHD. I know I'm autistic, but I'm less sure about ADHD, and want to see if ADHD medication might help me. I hate the idea of being officially diagnosed for ADHD but not Autism, not sure how rational that is.
Also, there are times when I have to tell someone that I'm autistic and I dislike having to negotiate the whole "but are you officially diagnosed" thing.
I'm conflicted about this as I believe that autistic self diagnosis is completely valid. I also wonder how the person assessing me will deal with the fact that I'm self diagnosed.
The place I'm going to (the Neurodiversity Center in Cape Town) has a good reputation for dealing with neurodivergent adults. So I hope I don't regret doing this. It's expensive too.
Must admit that part of what motivates me is just wanting to be *seen* for who I am.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic what do you call it when you receive seemingly good news but are unable to appreciate it since you're waiting for the universe to give you a wedgie to balance everything out?
Me feeling #AuDHD overwhelm: I need a break. I need to sit in peace and quiet for a while.
Me sitting in peace and quiet: This is tedious, isn't it. I need to watch TV / surf the internet / do something.
Me "doing something": Why isn't the overwhelm going away?
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic read the whole 🧵 -- it's worth it https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/115253863448085711
Realised something about my autistic self earlier and wondering if other people are the same.
If you're autistic (self diagnosis is valid!), when you have a list (not necessarily written down - even a loose list in your head) of things you plan on getting done, and one of the things doesn't go as planned and you can't get it done, are you able to skip past that one and get the other things done?
(Edit: this might be ADHD, I have that too, I dunno XD)
I've decided to call my attempts at cleaning... the roomba method.
I wander about in a seemingly random manner, cleaning random spots poorly, until I run out of power or I get stuck (distracted).
At the end of this roomba session, things are a little cleaner... but not actually clean and I'm either exhausted or happy with something shiny and interesting.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic another day, another “incident” over “Did you not see…”
Log in to ebay to check things I've ordered.
Once logged in, proceeds to spend 30 minu- what do you mean 3 hours? …
Survives 3 hours hunting for the mythical Surface Pro 1 (2013) case & / or cover 😱😭😞
How's that for hyperfocus? Am I doing it right?
Also keywords / points: Mythical, Pro, 1 & 2013. eBay shows me everything else (Surface Go / Surface Pro 4+) instead 🤦.
Right it's 13:30, time for a tasty brunch & a gallon of tea to cheer me up.
(Online) shopping is such fun (⬅️total sarcasm).
P.s. I did find some 'universals' that should do … I hope 🤞.
Just need to recalibrate my brain to except boring over the design / colour I want so I can order the right one.
#AuDHD #Autistic #ADHD #ActuallyADHD #ActuallyAutistic #Hyperfocus
![A six panel comic.
Headline: prepped.to - how it came to be.
Panel 1: A mother and a small child. The child is holding her hands to her ears in distress.
Text: Little Rey needed preparation. Rey's mother realized Rey needed preparation before going somewhere new, otherwise everything was surprising and overwhelming.
Panel 2: hands writing in a little booklet with drawings on it.
Text: Rey's mother created little booklets to help Rey prep. Before going to a new place or activity, she created a little children's book to explain to Rey what would happen at the new place.
Panel 3: mother and child reading a book together.
Text: Before an outing, they'd read the book together. They went over details such as lighting, noise, human load, and how to get the service they came for, and prepped in advance with ear and eye protection, stim toys and scripting.
Panel 4: An adult human. They are wearing sunglasses and headphones.
Text: Rey is an adult now, but still needs preparation. Autistic kids grow up to be autistic adults. We go places on our own, but still get overwhelmed by surprising conditions and the uncertainty about how to get service.
Panels 5 and 6: Two adult humans in conversation. One is showing the other something in a smartphone. They are smiling.
Text: with prepped.to autistic people share and use information to prepare before going to new places.
Users upload sensory descriptions, images, video and sound samples, and explain how to find the place and [...]](/proxy/post_attachment/917182/cd7f962790.jpeg "A six panel comic.
Headline: prepped.to - how it came to be.
Panel 1: A mother and a small child. The child is holding her hands to her ears in distress.
Text: Little Rey needed preparation. Rey's mother realized Rey needed preparation before going somewhere new, otherwise everything was surprising and overwhelming.
Panel 2: hands writing in a little booklet with drawings on it.
Text: Rey's mother created little booklets to help Rey prep. Before going to a new place or activity, she created a little children's book to explain to Rey what would happen at the new place.
Panel 3: mother and child reading a book together.
Text: Before an outing, they'd read the book together. They went over details such as lighting, noise, human load, and how to get the service they came for, and prepped in advance with ear and eye protection, stim toys and scripting.
Panel 4: An adult human. They are wearing sunglasses and headphones.
Text: Rey is an adult now, but still needs preparation. Autistic kids grow up to be autistic adults. We go places on our own, but still get overwhelmed by surprising conditions and the uncertainty about how to get service.
Panels 5 and 6: Two adult humans in conversation. One is showing the other something in a smartphone. They are smiling.
Text: with prepped.to autistic people share and use information to prepare before going to new places.
Users upload sensory descriptions, images, video and sound samples, and explain how to find the place and [...]")
🇨🇦
