Autistic Hedgehog
RSSTo Diagnosis Anon: If you can visit a different doctor, please do so. Like I said before, it was several doctors until I was correctly diagnosed. Also remember that no two Autistics are exactly alike and will not exhibit identical behaviours, which can make diagnosis hard sometimes. I agree with you on the whole functioning thing, too. I'm Autistic and think that I pass very well for neurotypical.
Correct me if I'm wrong, b/c I'm just going by my own feelings here, but I always prefer (and I imagine other autistic would too) direct questions about whether or not something will offend me. What is difficult is when i think people are saying one thing bu mean another, or if I think they wanted to say something but are censoring themselves. I am much more likely to get nervous. But I won't be offended if someone just bluntly says "Does ___ offend you?". Like, not even stuff that pertains (p1)
(p2) strictly to autism, just in life in general. I would always prefer someone to ask exactly what they want or what they are curious about or if I do or do not want something.
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Honesty and straightforwardness generally is preferable to me, as well, and under most circumstances I really just want people to say what they mean.
Though, in terms of things that are autism-specific, I don’t like it when people use it as an excuse to poke and pry, either. Asking if something offends me is one thing, but going through a laundry list of possibilities one right after the other tends to feel a bit skeevy.
I'm Autistic and also gay. I rarely read websites/articles about this combination and it makes me feel alone. (Like I'm the only Aspie out there who loves the same gender.) Do you know any books or websites about being Autistic and gay or do you have gay followers? Thank you.
Anonymous
I know there’s Queerability which deals in queerness and disability, for starters. It’s not just about autism but autism is one of the disabilities covered.
As to whether I have gay followers…I’d be downright shocked if I didn’t, actually. Every now and then someone goes into the autism tag and asks if there are any other LGBTQ+ autistics, and it so happens there are a lot of us. I’m bisexual myself.
Any of my followers know of any good blogs or forums or the like?
I have neither echolalia nor repeats myself, but when I'm stressed or scared, I begin to studder. It's especially bad when there's too many people and I want to get out of somewhere, and then people begin to ask me what's wrong.
I explained to my kid this week that he is autistic. He sort of knew already -- he definitely knew his brother is autistic -- but it came up and he shook when he asked about it. I hope I did it right. I tried to explain that it's just a difference in him that sometimes makes life harder and sometimes makes life better, and other kids have their own kind of differences. Emphasized that we love his differences. How would your readers (or you) want it explained to them as kids?
My mom did me the unfortunate service of not telling me until some years after my diagnosis; had I been, oh, three when I was diagnosed, this wouldn’t be so bad, but I was nine, and she waited until I’d been badly bullied for some time to tell me. So I think it’s good that you’re talking to your kids about it and that you’re open to them asking questions about it.
I really wish my mom had been willing to learn more about it, and helped me learn, and I hope you’ll take the opportunity to do that with your children. There will be struggles and self-doubt and all manner of questions as the years go by, and it will be so much easier for them and you if they always know they can turn to you, that you’ll be there to help them. If you find yourself explaining again, a little in the future, about their autism, don’t be surprised; it may take time for them to fully absorb what that means. But your understanding and willingness to help and learn will make the road all the smoother.
That, I think, is what I would have wanted. Not someone with all the answers, as such, but someone who would be there to help me find the answers.
Hedgehogs, what say ye?
So, my mom and my best friend both think I have Aspergers (my best friend having been diagnosed, herself, as a young child). I simply cannot handle college and I can barely handle jobs that require me to talk to people. I tried disability testing a few years ago, and they said I wasn't on the spectrum, though. Should I try testing again? I don't know why I can't deal with "normal life" and this is what fits the most.
Anonymous
Testing doesn’t always come out with the right answer, so if you really feel you need it, by all means, try again. It may be that you just ended up in the hands of people who weren’t very good at their job, and if you’re really having problems, you shouldn’t ignore them. Mistakes get made and, unfortunately, when it comes to autism, even the so-called experts can be really ignorant.
![[“Autistics have no imagination.” “Autistics live in their own little world.”
WOULD YOU PEOPLE MAKE UP YOUR GODDAMNED MINDS!?]
One of my favorite* of the constant contradictions “experts” like to spew about autistic people.
Tell me something, experts. If I have no imagination, how do I live in my own little world? What exactly would I even do there? How is it even possible to be absorbed in one’s “own little world” without an imagination to take one there in the first place?
“Experts,” it’s time to just admit that you think we’re all brainless husks that sit around staring into space because we lack the capacity for thought. Sure, it’s tasteless and makes you look like a horrible person (and you are) but at least it’s a lot more honest and a lot less contradictory.
P.S. I don’t live in my “own little world.” I live in lots of them, and they’re rarely little. You jelly?
*By favorite I mean “most laughably asinine."](http://40.media.tumblr.com/9d6b5413d2678b902d9a1c99040e6026/tumblr_mlnrdckS1p1rfhms3o1_400.jpg)
[“Autistics have no imagination.” “Autistics live in their own little world.”
WOULD YOU PEOPLE MAKE UP YOUR GODDAMNED MINDS!?]
One of my favorite* of the constant contradictions “experts” like to spew about autistic people.
Tell me something, experts. If I have no imagination, how do I live in my own little world? What exactly would I even do there? How is it even possible to be absorbed in one’s “own little world” without an imagination to take one there in the first place?
“Experts,” it’s time to just admit that you think we’re all brainless husks that sit around staring into space because we lack the capacity for thought. Sure, it’s tasteless and makes you look like a horrible person (and you are) but at least it’s a lot more honest and a lot less contradictory.
P.S. I don’t live in my “own little world.” I live in lots of them, and they’re rarely little. You jelly?
*By favorite I mean “most laughably asinine."
[anon that asked about the doctor] Thanks for that, I feel more confident now and he also said `people with Aspergers can't function at all` which I find offensive and untrue...`experts` indeed
Anonymous
Geez. Definitelyseek a second opinion. Wow. I just…I think I need to go sit in a corner for a little while and try to cope with how mind-bogglingly ignorant people still are about autism.
To the anon that's trying to get diagnosed: I've never heard of anyone being diagnosed at one year old. Autism, including Asperger's syndrome, doesn't usually become apparent until two to three years. It can even take longer than that, depending on occurrence of behaviours and cooperation of professionals. I didn't get diagnosed until I was twelve after four years of testing and countless doctors. One doc tried diagnosing me with ADHD because I can make eye contact.
do you prefer being called autistic or person with autism? and why? :)
Anonymous
I prefer to be called autistic or an autistic person. I’ve addressed my feelings on the matter on my blog as well as addressed one of the major issues of how allistic people use it here.
To be clear, this is my personal preference; what other autistics choose is purely up to them.
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