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What would you like to have been taught about Autism?

Beefree

Hi 

As someone who was diagnosed in adulthood and spending pretty much my whole life up to that point trying to work out why I didn't seem to fit in the neurotypical biased world there are a few things I think I could really have done with being taught....

I often see programs for people with autism covering such things as 'social skills' and basically how to be neurotypical! This makes me feel devalued and kind of sad. I am not and never will be neurotypical and at this point in my life I don't want to be (although as a teenager I probably did) !!!!

It would have been much more valuable I think to have been taught:

  1. Basic neurophysiology
  2. A guide to neurotypical interactions (so I could navigate them better without having to pretend to be neurotypical)
  3. Sensory processing strategies and how to make my sense work better together
  4. How to use my strengths to get round my difficulties
  5. Helped to work out what my strengths as an autistic individual are!

Basically what would you have taught a you get version of yourself?

Any comments will be gratefully received.....

Parents

  • I'm studying nursing and the case study involving an autistic person was really difficult for me. It was basically taught as "these people have only the most basic life skills and will need constant assistant and supervision for life" which doesn't match up to my lived experience at all.

    When I was diagnosed it was just a diagnosis and then left to get on with it, no external support and the school somehow missed the fact that I'm ridiculously dyslexic so it's not like they were watching from afar. I felt quite bitter about the missing of my needs but as I've got older I think that I'm probably lucky I wasn't labelled and put on some sort of action plan because if I had been I'd have probably spent my life being treated as "special needs".

Reply

  • I'm studying nursing and the case study involving an autistic person was really difficult for me. It was basically taught as "these people have only the most basic life skills and will need constant assistant and supervision for life" which doesn't match up to my lived experience at all.

    When I was diagnosed it was just a diagnosis and then left to get on with it, no external support and the school somehow missed the fact that I'm ridiculously dyslexic so it's not like they were watching from afar. I felt quite bitter about the missing of my needs but as I've got older I think that I'm probably lucky I wasn't labelled and put on some sort of action plan because if I had been I'd have probably spent my life being treated as "special needs".

Children
  • in reply to Cookiesmum1986

    Hi

    Yes I get your point about labelling and being put on action plans. I think this is similar to what I would think if anyone suggested they teach me social skills!

    That case study sounds so unrepresentative of a lot of the autistic population and should definitely have been balanced with a range of case studies. There are so many high profile autistic individuals that excel in their fields and live independent lives that to use a singular case study of someone with a high level of support needs is un-representative and not reflective of the challenges and strengths across the autistic population. 

    I think education/ support should be more about helping young people understand what diagnosis means for them as individuals. Helping them to navigate the world whilst retaining their unique sense of identity. To some extent I wish I could unlearn the masking strategies that I have used to survive but have some strategies to help me to participate in life including social interactions with less anxiety. 

  • in reply to Cookiesmum1986

    youre writing is very good for a dyslexic.  severe dyslexics wouldnt be able to use this forum