Hi Community,
I just want to take a heartfelt moment - one that almost brings me to tears. It's taken, give or take, a year to make the decision to join this page and the community at large. I had not heard of the National Autistic Society until I was involved last year in some employment work/a panel discussion promoting employees on the spectrum in the workplace. As well as being given a chance to present my thoughts and feelings on experiencing autism in the workplace, I suppose it sort of awakened a sleeping bear inside of me. For context, I attended the first specialist boarding school for pupils with learning disabilities and or/affective disorders (St Dominics School in Hambledon) where we underwent a quite intense but fun schooling experience, geared towards preparing us for life in the outside world.
I must admit. After school, I did not have much interest in helping or communicating with my own peoples and community. I suppose I had this disparaging/alienated view that where some of my more severe and non-verbal comrades had had an 'easy life' and were hugging the shore of comfort, I was out there in the world grafting through college and working to forge a good life. Years later I realise that was a foolish thought, but one that I have ultimately reconciled and put to bed in being determined to help my people out and in working to help ensure that we all have a chance at a good future here. For some of those of us more politically/historically minded, I think history and society at large has treated us like lepers/anomalies. I have altogether ditched the term 'Aspergers' as I cannot reconcile how such a monstrous man can be associated with us. Rant aside, I am just .... relieved to be amongst my tribe.
Now - on to what I was actually going to ask.
I have a habit of using my helicopter view as I call it (potential to see things from an aerial view/removed position) to really break the fourth wall in life and let people know when what they are doing just a) makes no sense and b) is just universally wrong or in contrast to what actions need to be done. Subsequently, I have a habit of saying 'Human, listen.' or referring to people not on the spectrum as humans. I don't mean it derogatorily, I just mean it in a third person fashion, like as an alien would observe humans if that makes sense? Perhaps it's just the complex I have built around my autism. But I wondered if people here find themselves using similar terms or looking at people not on the spectrum as being... alien or just not of the same kind?
I have to forewarn you all. I have been mulling on this a fair bit, so I figured I might as well use this as a safe space to discuss and explore my view.
