The autistic brain

out_of_step said:

The autistic brain, after waking up in the middle of the night is wholly stuck on one thing with a million thoughts related to it swilling around + the newly released song by a band I used to love who've made a comeback although they never really went away stuck ON REPEAT. Both are LOUD in my head. Interspersed with images from the previous day's novelty.  

Very comprehensive and funny description of your autistic brain!

The autistic brain, after waking up in the middle of the night is wholly stuck on one thing with a million thoughts related to it swilling around + the newly released song by a band I used to love who've made a comeback although they never really went away stuck ON REPEAT. Both are LOUD in my head. Interspersed with images from the previous day's novelty.  

That PDF article is excellent although I haven't fully read it. It is correct when it says that there is a distinct lack of being able to filter.

But it makes for an interesting head and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Dawn said:

We do indeed deserved to be celebrated.

Absolutely, we are awesomely autistic!

I'm actually agreeing with you about the priorities. We do indeed deserved to be celebrated.

Dawn said:

I agree about Spectrum UK. Might be all very interesting to know which of our Gene's make us autistic, but to what use might some put that knowledge?

I understand your point, but I don’t agree. We autistics deserve to be accepted, supported and celebrated and not live in a world where there is research into why we even exist. This is quite obviously very dangerous and scary!

Here is what research priorities for our autistic community should look like:

https://autistic-village.com/2021/11/02/why-bad-research-like-spectrum-10k-should-no-longer-get-the-green-light-and-what-should/

What do you think?

I meant to comment earlier but forgot

So interesting! Thanks for sharing. 

This thread is a fountain of knowledge :-) 

I agree he's made mistakes. You can see when interviewed though he is someone who wants to learn a d get it right.

I agree about Spectrum 10k. Might be all very interesting to know which of our genes make us autistic, but to what use might some put that knowledge? There are some dodgy ones, which might deprive humanity of the gift of neurodivergent thinking and endanger our kids.

I'm certainly learning from it, so thank you everyone who is contributing.

You are very welcome! It’s thanks to your idea.

Number said:

Thanks for starting this thread Debbie.

You are very welcome and I'm glad if it helps you and anyone else.

I'm certainly learning from it, so thank you everyone who is contributing.

I learn so much about autism and myself from this forum it's awesome ^^

Ditto! This autistic community is awesome!

I learn so much about autism and myself from this forum it's awesome ^^

You are very welcome! Yes I definitely agree with you, this fantastic resource is far better and much more meaningful than any outdated and harmful non autistic led ‘autism’ training that schools and workplaces receive!

Do you work? If so, would you consider giving your employer/manager this document as part of some autistic led training?

He comes across as relatively humane, for a professor. Spectrum 10K was reasonably scientifically formulated, in general, but failed in its public relations quite spectacularly.

These are some great articles! Thanks.

A couple more articles that explain the autistic brain using the operating system analogy:

https://autismunderstood.co.uk/autistic-differences/logical-processing/

https://neuroqueer.com/what-is-autism/

Charla said:

There is so much disinformation out there and it is really hard to know what is a reliable source and what isn't. I try to stick to autistic led sites where possible

Yes you are absolutely right! Neuroclastic and Aucademy, plus Autism Understood are great examples of autistic led websites.

Yes, a meltdown is a reset of the nervous system.

Autonomistic said:

There is so much disinformation out there and it is really hard to know what is a reliable source and what isn't. I try to stick to autistic led sites where possible

Yes! And this is one of the biggest problems because a lot of health professionals are misinformed and believes the smuck they read on sites like that one.

I stick to the national autistic society for my reliability, they seem on ball with autism and do a lot for the autistic population like trying to get people in mental health units supported and home again.

Less time curing, more time learning and understanding!

I wouldn't trust anything on that site, as they are a provider of cruel ABA therapy 

"Cross River Therapy is a leading provider of ABA therapy services for children who are on the autism spectrum.

We provide ABA therapy for children ages 1-21 who are on the autism spectrum, right in the comfort of your home"

I particularly dislike this section

"What part of the brain is damaged in autism?

While there is no one specific part of the brain that is damaged in autism, studies have found differences in the structure and function of several brain areas."

No. Just no! We are not damaged we are different. ABA 'therapy' should be illegal and a punishable offence, as it is cruelty to an autistic child.

There is so much disinformation out there and it is really hard to know what is a reliable source and what isn't. I try to stick to autistic led sites where possible.

Even some of the academic studies can be thinly veiled guises to 'find a cure' for autism 

Here's an interesting page I found....I like reading thoughts on autism... https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/autism/how-do-autistic-brains-work