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Can you help with advice for young people with Autism?

NAS82808
Hello,
My name is Jessie and I'm a speech and language therapist at a NHS mental health hospital in London. I work with young people and adults who have autism.
I am compiling a collection of advice that might be useful for young people to make sense of, or better understand their experiences. I also aim to dispel some of the common myths around autism, for example that people with autism lack empathy.

I want to ask if there is any advice that you wish you had been told as a child growing up, as a young adult or even now, or any experiences that you would like to share.

Please see below some of the questions from the young people I work with.

If you would like further information please feel free to contact me at: jessica.lee36@nhs.net

Many thanks,
Jessie

- Do you tell people / boss' that you have autism? How do you say it?
- Have you had any experiences with the emergency services? How was your experience and did you tell them that you have autism?
- Do you use public transport?
- Do you get annoyed when people say "I'm a bit autistic" or "everyone is on the spectrum" etc.
- Do you have repetitive thoughts and how do you deal with them?
- Do you have friends? Do you want friends?
Parents

  • Hi

    Polite, concise and with intention to help young ones. An autistic dream. :D Specifically for a partner, and for a human in general. 

    - Do you tell people / boss' that you have autism? How do you say it?
    My experience says, that people are OK to hear ''I'm autistic'', and annoyed if you try to push more info on them right away. If someone is receptive or know what it means depends on a person. So I'm gradually increasing awareness among managers in my workplace. I told my friends, and family too, some of them don't want to acknowledge it, simply because being an ableist to the bone. If someone asks me, I say it too, it's to late for masking.
    - Have you had any experiences with the emergency services? How was your experience and did you tell them that you have autism?
    Not so far, I try to stay away from doctors, as I don't fully trust them, or believe in their competence. It's so popular among allistic ''Fake it till you make it'', I'm affraid among GPs too.
    - Do you use public transport?
    I used to travel to work by city bus for years, I cycle now, Mainly to cut down costs and keep being fit. But crowdy buses makes my skin goosebump, I don't like being touched by anybody, even my mom struggles to hug me, as I go stiff.
    - Do you get annoyed when people say "I'm a bit autistic" or "everyone is on the spectrum" etc.
    Oh yes. Very. Especially because they say it as an opener to conversation where they would try to diminish our daily struggles. Or try to put in doubt us being autistic. It's 'whataboutery' - modern rhetorics.
    - Do you have repetitive thoughts and how do you deal with them?
    Yes. Bad ones when depressed are really hard to stop. I used to spent whole nights pacing and 'ripping my hair out'. So far I found only one thing that can break that inescapable loop -  focus on something else, so for me it's work, cleaning house, or special interests. Everything else gets interrupted by my ADHD and I'm backl in a lopp in a blink. For suicidal ones I created a clever feedback loop, that actually prevents me from going through with them. 
    - Do you have friends? Do you want friends?
    I've always wanted friends, partner and kids. I met my first friend when 28y.o, and first and only partner when 29y.o, she left me after 10 years when it came out I'm autistic. I've got 3 friends now, no partner or kids, and that's maksimum I can cope with.
Reply

  • Hi

    Polite, concise and with intention to help young ones. An autistic dream. :D Specifically for a partner, and for a human in general. 

    - Do you tell people / boss' that you have autism? How do you say it?
    My experience says, that people are OK to hear ''I'm autistic'', and annoyed if you try to push more info on them right away. If someone is receptive or know what it means depends on a person. So I'm gradually increasing awareness among managers in my workplace. I told my friends, and family too, some of them don't want to acknowledge it, simply because being an ableist to the bone. If someone asks me, I say it too, it's to late for masking.
    - Have you had any experiences with the emergency services? How was your experience and did you tell them that you have autism?
    Not so far, I try to stay away from doctors, as I don't fully trust them, or believe in their competence. It's so popular among allistic ''Fake it till you make it'', I'm affraid among GPs too.
    - Do you use public transport?
    I used to travel to work by city bus for years, I cycle now, Mainly to cut down costs and keep being fit. But crowdy buses makes my skin goosebump, I don't like being touched by anybody, even my mom struggles to hug me, as I go stiff.
    - Do you get annoyed when people say "I'm a bit autistic" or "everyone is on the spectrum" etc.
    Oh yes. Very. Especially because they say it as an opener to conversation where they would try to diminish our daily struggles. Or try to put in doubt us being autistic. It's 'whataboutery' - modern rhetorics.
    - Do you have repetitive thoughts and how do you deal with them?
    Yes. Bad ones when depressed are really hard to stop. I used to spent whole nights pacing and 'ripping my hair out'. So far I found only one thing that can break that inescapable loop -  focus on something else, so for me it's work, cleaning house, or special interests. Everything else gets interrupted by my ADHD and I'm backl in a lopp in a blink. For suicidal ones I created a clever feedback loop, that actually prevents me from going through with them. 
    - Do you have friends? Do you want friends?
    I've always wanted friends, partner and kids. I met my first friend when 28y.o, and first and only partner when 29y.o, she left me after 10 years when it came out I'm autistic. I've got 3 friends now, no partner or kids, and that's maksimum I can cope with.
Children
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