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What does your Autism mean to you?

Kitsune

Everyone experiences things differently, of that there is no doubt. I’d like to gain other people’s perspectives, to gain other people’s view on the neurotype which we have in common, Autism. Perhaps through sharing, we can gain insight and help each other, or perhaps it might just be cathartic for people to share, in any case:
What does your Autism mean to you? 

I’ll start by conveying what my Autism means to me:

My Autism means freedom, from expectations of fitting in with the majority of people. My Autism means that I’ve forgiven myself for being different/odd/weird. I am as I am, as long as I kind and caring towards others to the best of my ability then that is good enough for me. I do not need other people’s approval for the way my brain functions.

My Autism means that I’ve finally found where I belong. My diagnosis has opened up a world of other autistic people who ‘get it’, who I can speak with on the same level. It was of course, a world that was always there, I just didn’t realise that I belonged before.

My Autism means I have a unique insight into how my youngest daughter’s mind works (nearly 3, also Autistic, still pre-verbal). It means that I can read her, translate her non-verbal communication (which too be fair she’s pro at) into verbal communication for those that don’t understand her. My Autism means that I can advocate for her, with ‘inside knowledge’ to family, nursery staff, professionals, etc.

My Autism means that I can advocate for other Autistic people. At support groups for parents of Autistic children; When my Autistic friends are struggling to get to appointments or do other tasks.

My Autism means that I‘ve found a purpose building community within the Autistic population. It led me to start my group for other autistic women in my local area. Because members of any tribe  are stronger together as opposed to being dotted around on their own. Through this group I also learn about a lot of resources for both autistic adults and children and I signpost people who I meet, whether it is the lonely autistic adult who needs to find a social group or the parent who doesn’t know what to do to help their child.
I’d love to be able to take this whole advocacy thing further actually, to be able to make more of a difference to the access to resources for autistic people but this at present is just an idea.....

Parents

  • Kitsune, small autistic led advocacy organisations should join forces, join our voices and be a voice of neurodivergent community. Autistic people working together towards a common vision, overcoming our difficulties in communication and teamwork, getting over misunderstandings and building trust. together our voices and ideas are much stronger and more relevant. 

  • in reply to Tinyexplorer

    I’m very much for building links with other autistic groups and organisations. I have links with a couple of other autism social groups and an autism information page now. Although I do have a local resources list on my group page and I do try to signpost where possible, I’m not an advocacy service. Do you know of any other autistic led advocacy services? If you don’t then I might know of a few places where you might find some or something similar. How is your advocacy service going?

  • in reply to Kitsune

    We are launching our website and forum . It helps autistic people to self advocate and discuss new services.

     I have links to my local groups and organisations. We are primarily a national forum where people with niche interest could find peers. Where a new service development could achieve scale.

  • in reply to Tinyexplorer

    The two other adult social groups that I sometimes go to are not like this. In one, there is always an activity to do so everyone is busy doing that and the other one, I’m pretty sure that the person who facilitates it is autistic, in any case, people are playing cards and not talking about deficits. Have you been to groups where NTs have been talking about autistic deficiencies?

    I’ve been to a couple of different parent support groups and they can be a bit like that. NT parents and group facilitators who have no clue what it’s like to be actually autistic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they all want the very best for their autistic offspring but I find it ironic that I either end up feeling completely cut out of their conversation OR having to educate as to what it is actually like to experience something from the autistic perspective.

  • in reply to Kitsune

    How do you deal with NT led groups where NT people speak and autistic people listen hoe deficient they are?

  • in reply to Tinyexplorer

    I’m glad that you’ve got the forum launched. I’ll have a look over the weekend. 
    That’s really good that you’ve been able to make links with your local groups. It’s good to bring together the autistic community, rather than us wandering through life solitary and cut off from the rest of the tribe :-)

Reply Children
  • in reply to Tinyexplorer

    The two other adult social groups that I sometimes go to are not like this. In one, there is always an activity to do so everyone is busy doing that and the other one, I’m pretty sure that the person who facilitates it is autistic, in any case, people are playing cards and not talking about deficits. Have you been to groups where NTs have been talking about autistic deficiencies?

    I’ve been to a couple of different parent support groups and they can be a bit like that. NT parents and group facilitators who have no clue what it’s like to be actually autistic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they all want the very best for their autistic offspring but I find it ironic that I either end up feeling completely cut out of their conversation OR having to educate as to what it is actually like to experience something from the autistic perspective.

  • in reply to Kitsune

    How do you deal with NT led groups where NT people speak and autistic people listen hoe deficient they are?