Published on 12, July, 2020
Over the past 6 months I have been reaping-my-way through the post-diagnosis autistic service-provision, after all of the searching and hunting for answer, I have been left with a reasonable-suspicion that my initial hypothesis is true. That the field of autism lacks awareness and provision, such that only becoming your owe saviour, is the only sure way of freedom.
But this cannot be done alone, especially in the case of the incompetent and illiterate, success can only be assured though amateur-means and interest-fuelled increment, such as I am. When practiced and exposed enough the autist themself becomes the artist. But alongside the different-aspect off autism, there is also the spared-functional-aspect the side that requires a mentor and peers, to help an autist consider the extremity-and-rigidity and provide proactivity in supporting impairments.
So that begs the question of: What is sanctuary to an autistic-person? Is it a number of things balanced, or is it the glue that binds these things, or it is peer and mentor review such as is observed in this forum? Is it the opportunity for safe-exposure to threats? It is protection and safety from threats and fear?
Also what resources can an autist consider reliable and effective? Because to me it is not to be found in the upper-echelons of professional practice, nor can it be found reliably in operational service-provision, to me it has only been found amongst this forum and within my own skill-and-interest..
DeSpereaux said: We deserve to carve out a sanctuary, and have respite from the world, as neurotypicals do in their own ways.
Thank you for this thread.
The above words of yours I have quoted really resonated for me.
So, what is sanctuary just for us autistic people, not a general question?
Well, some things I think will be universal and some individual, but common.
I should think a peaceful place to live would be fairly common amongst us.
For myself, an aspect of sanctuary is the ability of have a place to go where everything I need is available, especially silence.
Generally, safety is very important, feeling and being safe, from harm, from others, from noise, intrusion, violence, threats etc etc.
A home can very much be a sanctuary and that should include security.
Security within the home and security of possession.
Sanctuary also means to me a place free from change unless it's a change I can initiate and control.
Personal control, then, generally, is a place of sanctuary for me. Freedom from chaos and the manipulation of people.
I am finding it hard to put this just into an autistic context actually.
It's a super question and I must come back to it when I'm less distracted.
Debbie you have articulated very well my own thoughts. I will add - it's where and with who we can be ourselves.
I think the notions are not just physical place but in our head as well.