In 2016 I wrote a post that seemed to capture people’s imagination in a way that others didn’t. Autscriptic has since been shared far and wide. It taught me that there is great power in sharing conversations between neurotypes: Laying bare the misunderstandings that tangle us up. The first Autscriptic was about the trials of … Continue reading Autscriptic: Mild Autism
Category: Misunderstandings
Autism, Labour and Birth
I don’t usually talk about my children, they have their own stories, but those stories are not mine to tell. But their beginnings in this world are my tales, so I shall tell them. I have been in labour five times. The first was in hospital, the next three were home water-births and the final … Continue reading Autism, Labour and Birth
Performing Pain: Autism
Communicating pain when you are autistic can lead to so many miscommunications.
How I Show Love: Autism
Communication is a two-way street and when it comes to autism, it's often one-way traffic. When I say that people usually assume they know what I mean. They think I mean that autistic people are disordered and can't communicate as well as non-autistic people. That's not what I mean. Communication is one-way traffic insofar as … Continue reading How I Show Love: Autism
I’m not just Socially Awkward
My autism isn't just what you can see on the surface.
Empathy, Imagination and Autism
True empathy means accepting an experience, even when you will never share it
Autistic Bilingualism
I am expected to be fluent in non-autistic, but it will always be my second language.
Leading Questions
This is something that has been bothering me lately, it has made me angry with myself for missed opportunities. It has meant that when I have reached out at times, I have fallen at the first hurdle. I'm talking about falling for Leading Questions. They deserve to be capitalised. They are repulsive things, tricksy and … Continue reading Leading Questions
Angry or Gentle: being misunderstood
Year one post-autism-diagnosis was a year of changing how I see myself. It was a year of learning to accept my changeable limits and deciding to work with my autism instead of against it. So far, year two is about other people. Those in my immediate circle, family and friends, have begun to feel comfortable … Continue reading Angry or Gentle: being misunderstood
Autism’s Love
I am a hoarder. I should probably write a self-help book, but I'd just hoard that too. My parents were hoarders before me, so I can't just blame my neurotype. I was lucky enough to hear the wonderful Susan Kruse speak recently about her ideas on Autistics and Love. I'm going to paraphrase clumsily, but … Continue reading Autism’s Love
