Being an undiagnosed autistic has many challenges. When you compare your reactions to things with other people's, you feel like you're getting it wrong. When other people take things in their stride, and your brain feels like it's expanding inside your skull to the point you can't think, then you feel like you're overreacting. And … Continue reading Gaslighting
Category: disability
The Highs and Lows of Functionality
I want to talk about my relationship with the functionality of Autism. This is not based on research. This is not based on how I compare myself to other autistic people, and how we fit on some imaginary scale of usefulness. This is just about me. I don't like the term High Functioning. Perhaps it's … Continue reading The Highs and Lows of Functionality
Me and Disability
I've been disabled my whole life. I just didn't know it. As I tell people about my Autism diagnosis, I reassure them that nothing about me is any different. In some ways that's true. My brain has always worked the way it does now. In some ways it's not. I will now work within my … Continue reading Me and Disability
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: Hypermobility Type doesn’t really roll off the tongue…
It's Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Awareness Month. I haven't written about EDS. I haven't really thought about it that much. I haven't been as aware as I should have been. Perhaps it's because I feel like a bit of a fraud talking about it. I don't feel like it's about me. I'm ok. I'm not … Continue reading Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: Hypermobility Type doesn’t really roll off the tongue…
Making adjustments for autism can be as easy as honesty
Lots of autistic people are already making many adjustments to fit in with the rest of you. To stop you from feeling uncomfortable. To stop you from noticing us. To keep us all safe from the shadow of "difference". Why are we the ones making adjustments? Because majority defines normality. That's the only reason. It's … Continue reading Making adjustments for autism can be as easy as honesty