Gaslighting

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

Cobwebs: Autistics and Neurotypicals

Autistics and Neurotypicals are a perfect pairing. My husband is neurotypical. I'm autistic. Relationships aren't always easy, but there's something about our pairing that works. When we first got together, there were many miscommunications. They started with my blunt "I like you, I find you attractive." Which he assumed couldn't be fully genuine, because people … Continue reading Cobwebs: Autistics and Neurotypicals

Autism and Work

Below is an account of a time when other people's poor communication, and my lack of understanding of myself, led to me having to leave a job for the sake of my health. Workplace bullying isn't restricted to autistic people, but it is very common. A perfect storm of social expectations, misunderstandings and being misunderstood, … Continue reading Autism and Work

The Autistic Community

One of the most incredible things that the modern world has given us, is a new way to communicate. I want to talk about an emerging group, the Autistic Community. When I first got diagnosed, I didn't really know what to do. I had no idea that such a community existed. I was still me. … Continue reading The Autistic Community

Curing Autism

Can we talk about a cure? There's a real problem when it comes to Autism, and it's not to be found in us autistics. It's to be found in the focus of funding. Time and time again I see people struggling to get diagnosed, and then struggling when there is so little real support … Continue reading Curing Autism

Daisy Chains

In a field of wheat I'm a daisy. The stalks grow close and suffocating, Their shade starves me, Their paper touch deserts me. When the wind blows and they move in waves I cannot bend with them. I watch them move together, Beautiful and swirling, As they jostle my leaves. I am a daisy in … Continue reading Daisy Chains

I would have built robots

When I was little I wanted to make robots. I was going to be an inventor. Robots were the future, they were going to be everything, and I was going to design them. I'd spend ages drawing pictures of different tin-cans with claws and wheels and springs. I remember being frustrated that I didn't know … Continue reading I would have built robots

Memory and Me

My brain is letting me down. It's ageing. I didn't agree to this. I didn't sign up for it. You can give me laughter lines. I'm happy for my nipples to swing like clock pendulums. You can grey my hair and fuzz my chin, but for the love of all that is holy, please leave … Continue reading Memory and Me

You shall not pass!

I've been thinking a lot about the invisibility of autistic adults. We see a lot of focus on autistic children, and getting them to adulthood with the skills they will need. And about parents of autistic children, and what they should do, and how they can be supported. These things are important. But it … Continue reading You shall not pass!