Autistic Hedgehog

I’m curious–as much as getting parents of autistic children to write in lieu of actually autistic people, they haven’t actually done anything wrong yet (they said to apply/think about it). I agree that disabled people need to get a voice in media, but wouldn’t it be good to ask people to apply to become a blogger, rather than just shut down the idea entirely? (sorry if I misunderstood your post)

————-

The blog is meant to be for and written by people with disabilities, and right in the FAQ they say that people without disabilities shouldn’t apply. Then the very first thing they do is turn around and agree to consider people without disabilities, in spite of myself (someone with the disability in question) and several others pointing out that we’re not comfortable with that. 

I explained in my own response why I didn’t think parents should be considered, and linked to the blog for Autistics Speaking Day to show that we can and do speak for ourselves just fine. That was never acknowledged. Not at all. By anyone. 

And if you read the comments, other people point out that this is not the first issue the site has had with regards to cognitive and developmental disabilities. I’ve seen mention that people speaking out against ableist language were simply dismissed as trolls, in fact. That’s not exactly a good track record, and the fact that no one will acknowledge concerns about this just makes it worse.

As well, they have a parenting blog already. If parents of autistics/disabled children have something to say, there is already a place for that. This was supposed to be a blog for disabled people, a place for us. To say people who aren’t disabled weren’t allowed, then immediately turn around and start considered exceptions, is not cool. Especially since it speaks of the sort of ignorance that people tend to have about autistics, that we can’t speak for ourselves. There are enough of us who can and do, who might be willing to apply, that there’s just no need for parents to even be a consideration at all. 

it kept telling me my ask didn’t work…

hi, i really like your blog! i tried to do this in an ask but it kept telling me i had links in it… but it didn’t. i kind of need help and i know that’s not exactly your blog’s point but i thought i should try. 

i am 20 years old. my parents and 3 mental health professionalfolk think i might be on the autism spectrum. the three people i love most and who know me best think it’s a possibility. one person i know on the spectrum does not think i am and this is what makes me particularly unsure. i am confused. there’s so much i identify with, so much so much, on the spectrum not-otherwise-specified slightly aspergersy. but as with all mental-psychology stuff, that could have a different explanation. especially since nobody said anything during my childhood, and whatever symptoms i have aren’t ‘extreme.’ no one has given me a solid answer.

i want so badly to have a real diagnosis. i want so badly to have a name for what’s in my head. i want so badly to find help and to find people who understand. but i would feel guilty identifying as being on the spectrum because i might not be there and i don’t want to offend or trouble people who are.

do you have any advice they can possibly offer on figuring these things out?

———

Hopefully this goes through correctly. Tumblr can be a bit wonky at me when I edit submissions. >.<

Sorry it’s taken so long for me to answer, things have been a bit…rough for me lately. As to your question:

It sounds like you and quite a few other people you know feel you may be on the spectrum. Just because one person who’s on the spectrum doesn’t think so doesn’t mean very much. The thing is, we’re all different. It’s a spectrum because there’s a lot of variation, and it can express very, very differently. A good example: Autistic headcanons differ a lot. There’s a number of characters other autistics view as autistic that I don’t, and vice versa. No one character will read autistic to all of us, because our experiences of the world are all different, so if someone on the spectrum doesn’t think you are, that’s only one opinion.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a diagnosis, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed by any of this. Even if you end up diagnosed with something else (ASD symptoms can overlap with other things), no one has a right to tell you that you should be ashamed.

And honestly, even if your diagnosis does turn out to be a different one? I for one would not be offended that you thought you might be autistic, and I don’t have much patience for anyone who would be. Because so many of us have been there, wanting to understand these differences in ourselves, needing to put a name to it. You’re not some dudebro looking at a list of Asperger’s Syndrome symptoms on the internet and using them as an excuse to be a jerk. You’re one of us, someone who wants to understand why their world seems different from everyone else’s, and your feelings are valid. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 

I was diagnosed with delayed developmental disorder as a kid

the doctor then explained that it was “under the umbrella of Aspbergers.” My mother decided that no, I wasn’t and that was the last I ever heard of it. I did some research when I was younger, but I was in some pretty heavy denial. My lack of social skills were always swept under the rug by my parents and passed off as a product of too much internet and they suspected I was on drugs years before I even started doing them.

Now I’m 20 and only starting to take this seriously. I have legitimate problems socializing and connection with people, to the point where it becomes difficult to go to school or find a job.

I desperately want to be outgoing and social and the kind of person who’s friends with everybody (or has the ability to be, because when it comes down to it, I don’t like most people.) but when it comes to actually interacting with people, I get overwhelmed, depressed, and withdraw.