Neurodiversity and Politics
actuallyautistic
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic another day, another invite to a social event...
...and begins the endless rumination of trying to come up with a "reasonable” excuse not to go...
…that doesn't highlight your traits to the outside world
I just finished 'Is this Autism? A guide for clinicians and everyone else'. It's really good and if autism is a special interest of yours, like it is for me, you'll love it. I would also strongly recommend it for any healthcare professionals.
#Autism #autistic #neurodiverse @autistics #AutisticBurnout #ActuallyAutistic
Here's the situation:
My friend I thought I lost has come back to me, but pro bono rides are over and I need to pay for gas.
My parents are waiting for delivery of their new car by the end of November. My social worker is waiting for that before moving ahead with a house viewing for a new placement for me.
An uninvited guest is permanently staying over and my landlords are saying this is yet another "uncle." When I questioned why there were so many uncles, they told me that this wasn't my house and it wasn't my right to use or know what goes on in the house. There isn't a day where rhythmic foot stomping isn't a thing and it's driving my sensory overload insane.
I need gas money for a V6 Grand Am to view the place ASAP.
North American donations: https://ko-fi.com/jackvancouver/goal?g=18
EU donations: https://gofund.me/007216f9
#emergencyaid #emergencyaidneeded #emergencyaidneededasap #emergencyaidneededrightnow #mutualaid #mutualaidrequest #mutualaidneeded #aspie #aspielife #actuallyautistic @autistics
So, tbh, I would not change anything about having #Autism and #ADHD. Sure, if I had been diagnosed properly and had more support, some aspects of my life would have been better. But I have no regrets on having a semi-eidetic memory, being able to recognize patterns, thinking outside the box, etc. What I could have used less of? Being bullied, not knowing there were others like me out there (and the subsequent isolation), over-masking and paying the price, having meltdowns from not understanding sensory overstimulation, etc. But it's never too late to delve into self-understanding and awareness, and, most importantly, building community with like-others!
#ActuallyAutistic @autistics
Hey all, I have one kiddo who successfully uses fidgets and stimming to help him cope with frustration, but my younger kiddo at this stage tends to lash out destructively - hitting things, usually.
Wondering if there are particular fidgets or stims which might satisfy his urge to destroy in a less harmful way - like ripping up paper, or popping bubble wrap? All suggestions welcome, thanks 🙏🏻
#actuallyautistic @actuallyautistic
I'm getting really tired of reading this sentence:
"While the underlying cause or causes of autism spectrum disorder remain elusive and appear likely to be a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors,..."
A) It's a difference, not a disorder. Yeah, the spectrum runs to a far end where it's a disorder, but the vast majority of us are only disordered by how we're treated. This is exactly the same thing as when being gay was a disorder, or Black even before that.
B) What environmental factors? Far as I can tell, it's straight genetic. I don't think any neurotypicals birth neurodivergent kids. Anyone claiming to have done so is just in denial of their own autism. I'll bend on this one if anyone has facts, but my observation is that the parent of every autistic person I've known was also autistic. The problem arises when you have an autistic parent who learned how to harness it and excel raising a child that finds it crippling.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic i didn't have a choice to walk away from the life that caused my burnout…
...so i reconfigured it as much as possible…
…it sort of worked, but it's walking a fine line every day now
https://neurodifferent.me/@theautisticcoach/115458823871460577
Edited 56d ago
📋 SURVEY FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE
Are you an early bird 🐦 or a night owl🦉?
Boost for better results. Thanks! 🙏🏻
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #NeuroDiversity @autistics @actuallyautistic
Options: (choose one)
Edited 56d ago
This whole idea that "AI" is a helpful tool for autistic people, because it lets you write more "professionally" or whatever, is incredibly toxic and frankly demeaning. Insulting, even. It buys into the whole concept of "one correct way" to express yourself in society (the neurotypical way) and that being your authentic self is wrong. Having ways of expressing your thoughts that don't conform to that dogma is something you should repress. Hide. Feel ashamed of.
Fuck. That.
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic harder said than done…
https://mas.to/@skeletor/115458323777662685
So I wonder if any other #actuallyautistic people experience this.
We're often perceived as being like these cold emotionless people. But I'm really not. Empathy runs so, so fucking deep in me that I can't even throw away something broken sometimes without feeling bad.
It's just a lot of times that doesn't come out in my writing or speaking. I have these deep feelings but no clue how to put them into words. I can see someone in pain, and want so badly to help it hurts, but legitimately not be able to translate that to words.
It's one of the most frustrating things and one of the things that makes me feel most broken.
I know many autistic people feel helpless in the face of aggression, and I used to feel that way sometimes, and I still do. But I'm the kind of autistic person who's going to knock your teeth out and break your skeleton if you are overly rude to me or to someone else in my presence. I've done it many times and I'll keep doing it as long as I can.
Edited 56d ago
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic am i alone in wishing i could say this to people at work?
https://mastodon.social/@filmfreakmafia/115475979394672312
Just got back from a feedback appointment with the clinician screening me for autism and ADHD.
My self realisation as autistic and ADHD has now been confirmed by an official diagnosis.
It's about a lot more than just "am I really autistic" because the diagnosis process teased out lots of strands that I'd not considered before, like different aspects of masking and how they affect me, and how alexithymia impacts my social difficulties.
The clinician is autistic himself, and accepting of self diagnosis, which meant a lot to me. I would not have considered doing this diagnosis process if it was not for those factors.
Diary of an AuDHD Squirrel. Day 773 , Tuesday 09/12/2025
Tuesday started around 07:30 although my sleep had been disturbed, as it often is these days, by the kids next door running amok!
The plan for today was to have a fairly easy day with the highlight being a quick trip to Costco™ to get a few last Christmas goodies and then an easy afternoon just going thru the stuff we brought home yesterday from my MiLs.
So much else has happened to day - first the plumber, who has been problematical form the start, call to ask if we would pay for the boiler up front as he couldn't get it from his normal supplier. Even weirder he wanted it by bank transfer to his personal a/c rather than his business a/c.
I've dealt with this guy for 14 years but I got to wondering why he needed £1400 paid into his personal a/c when we haven't had a written quote or anything.
My spider senses were tingling and I discussed it with Mrs S who thought it was strange too - so I texted him back to say that rather than doing it that way we would go with more expensive option of getting the diverter valve replaced to get us past Christmas then revisit the new boiler in the new year, giving everyone chance to catch their breath & ensuring no-one was out of pocket.
Bearing in mind that he took 4 days to get back to me last week the fact that within 2 minutes he was on the phone saying that it was ok, he was owed money by another customer and would call in that debt to get our boiler. He also insisted that he had moved stuff around to do the boiler tomorrow and that it was all ok now. He pinged me literally 3 minutes later to say that all was good vis a vis paying for the boiler. Very strange.
I don't know if I'm being overly paranoid but this all seems very dubious to me.
We will go thru with the deal now he apparently has the boiler and we are desperate for the heating to be fixed one way or another. However after all this palaver we will be looking for a new plumber to service our boiler from now on.
In other, better?, news we have had a number of phone calls today moving things forward with regards to laying my MiL to rest, no date for the funeral as of yet but hopefully we will know that by the end of the week.
We started a Star Wars fest today - we're doing in chronological order so the middle trilogy first.
Final Thoughts.
Ok after today's escapades by my 'friend' Simon the plumber I am stressed out of my tree. I'm imagining all kinds of things going wrong tomorrow and the whole situation has brought me perilously close to being totally overwhelmed.
Roll on Thursday!
Thank you to all those who are helping me on this journey, in a myriad different ways. I am thankful to each & every one of you! 🫂 🫶🐿️🖖
@autistics
#TimsASDjourney #ActuallyAutistic #Neurospicy #TheMammutMoves
@autistics #ActuallyAutistic ethical question poll based on a recent work event:
is an employer paid for “coach” a conflcit of interest?
Options: (choose one)
Some autistic people find making phone calls extremely stressful and unpleasant and will avoid them at all costs.
Please don’t try and force your communication preferences on others.
image: anon
#ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD @actuallyautistic
I’m 23 and I still do not know what I want to do with my life.
I don’t have a dream, a vision.
I mean… maybe I do. There is a small tiny glimpse of a future I see myself in. A strength I aspire to have. A me that is strong and fighting. Wielding my pattern recognition as a weapon. I can see myself advocating, motivating, writing essays and looking for solutions.
But I am afraid of dreaming. I am insecure. I am still learning who I am, I have days where all I can feel is fragility. I need guidance but do not know how to ask for it. “Just start” doesn’t work for my brain. It is too much, too overwhelming.
I am surrounded by so many people who know so much more about these things than I do. Who are leading experts in adjacent fields. And still, I feel apprehension.
I am scared to take up room. Scared to spread my wings.
I have not told anyone about my glimpse because right now, it feels so far away, that I do not believe it possible.
I need time and space to think about it, to focus on myself unapologetically.
But life does not allow that right now, I have different responsibilities, a job I need to cover living expenses.
And I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know how to start.
I miss believing more than I do dreaming.
Question time.
Have any of you done anything so bold as attend a meetup for autistic adults?
For context, I'm a relatively newly discovered #auDHD er in my late 40s. My last therapist (also auDHD) commented, and I've seen a number of articles saying the same) that it can really help to spend time among fellow NDs, especially when trying to untangle my face from the mask I've been wearing for so many decades.
I'm signed up for a coffee chat group tomorrow and am having second, third, fourth, AND fifth thoughts...especially as I have to go to the farmer's market first, and two outings in one day is a lot right now.
All thoughts, advice, tips, etc are truly appreciated.
To my autistic and ADHD fellows: Do you prefer to travel by public transport or car?
Please be aware: This poll is asking for your preference, not which of the options you have access to (based on price, reliability, physical access, etc.). I also don't want to divide between being autistic and/or ADHD.
Re-toot appreciated!
@autistics @actuallyadhd #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyADHD #ActuallyAuDHD
Options: (choose one)
Edited 53d ago
As an autistic person with motor problems and joint pain I often ask myself if professional packaging designers really exist and if so, why do they hate people?
We got construction going on just outside our window 😭😭 they start at 7:00 😭😭 and it's very loud. It's some sort of change down on the street and it's part of a bigger project estimated to take until April next year. Hopefully not the part outside our home, but who knows.. it's a nightmare #ActuallyAutistic