Autism Show 2025

Closest I could get. x

Haha love this. People are always surprised at how well I can give a presentation - that's because presenting for NTs is like everyday autism masking! I'd definitely enter this. I want a rosette!

Nope, crowds of people, and in London? (Shudders). Can't think of much that's worse, personally.

Cool. 

It's a 3 day event about Japanese culture held in Kensington Olympia every year. I go every few years or so. Lots of Japanese food, shops and little shows. Also cosplay events.

I am defintely not up for best masking skills!  Hurray for maybe! What may I ask what is HyperJapan?? 

When I first saw this, I thought it was like a dog show and thought of entering for the "Best Masking Skills" competition 

Anyway, I've put Maybe. If I can tolerate HyperJapan there for a few hours, then I would like to think I could tolerate this for a bit.

I went last year, and am going again this year to Birmingham.

Depends what you're after I suppose, it was smaller than I anticipated but there were some insightful speakers.

I had been recently diagnosed, so went to explore my diagnosis, essentially. I'm quite functioning with my autism so didn't become overwhelmed, but I don't like crowds and it got quite busy. Having said that, there was lots of open space around it.

My take is that it's mostly aimed at professionals/carers ... But I'm going again so I wasn't put off !!

I went one year and learned a few things. There appear to be some good learning places. But there was a 'sensory room' that was over-stimulating. Loads of toys with painful sounds. And I'm definitely  trying to see who I can talk to about changing what's available for non-speakers. Not too crowded though. A good amount of awkward conversations. LOL

This is the first I’ve heard of anything like that, but I wouldn’t go as I hate being in crowds. If it is largely aimed at children, it would be off putting. I do like to fidget with something in the evening but it is unlikely to be found in a show like that, because for the last few years nothing will do but my Tiger’s Eye bracelet. I don’t wear it —  I just feel my way round and round and round each stone … bliss!

TheCatWoman said:

I think they'd add to my irritation at nt being able to do them

These are more like things you fiddle with in the repetitive sense, rather than puzzles like a Rubik's cube.  They don't drive you mad, they give you something to do with your hands and stop you going nuts. 

I have anxiety too, but I think fidget toys would make me worse, maybe I have the "wrong" sort of anxiety. I think they'd add to my irritation at nt being able to do them like, I am wih rubics cubes, I end up wondering what the attraction is, are they worth the money and what sort of person really cares about being able to solve them, But maybe thats my lack of competitiveness showing again?

TheCatWoman said:

but do ASC people need fidget toys?

I have a confession....   I have quite a few....

Then again, I do have anxiety and I may well have ADHD too according to the rudimentary online test I did - I never saw the need to pursue an assessment on ADHD though.  

That makes sense, personally I would have thought that the last thing ASC people would want to cope with is a big show, I've been to some years ago and they're loud and overwhelming.

Now pardon my potential ignorance, but do ASC people need fidget toys? I thought they were more for ADHD people, although I know a lot of people are both. To me this does seem like a money making thing and potentialling exploitative? From what I've seen there's none near me so I won't be going anyway.

I went to one a couple of years ago. As you might guess a lot was aimed at autistic children. Stalls of sensory environment gadgets and stim toys, were OK, as were the ones with technology aimed at overcoming executive function problems. There were a number of talks by autistic adult advocates, that were interesting and some books not widely available. Having been to many conferences for my work I was used to the general atmosphere but my daughter found the crowds and noise overwhelming, so we only stayed for a couple of hours. On balance, I don't think I would go to another.

I guess I view it as a balance. I have replied to both of you so I hopefully answer both. I liked it. I stayed away from the all the exhibitors apart from the two autism in adults charities - one commercial and one run by volunteers. The talks were varied. The main people there were not autistic adults. The quiet room was an issue. I guess I wanted to ask the question to see what my friends on here and new and old members thought. Hope that makes sense. xx

I guess I view it as a balance. I have replied to both of you so I hopefully answer both. I liked it. I stayed away from the all the exhibitors apart from the two autism in adults charities - one commercial and one run by volunteers. The talks were varied. The main people there were not autistic adults. The quiet room was an issue. I guess I wanted to ask the question to see what my friends on here and new and old members thought. Hope that makes sense. xx

TheCatWoman said:

Why have you used words in brackets?

Because I think it is open to perception.  Some will think it is a commercial fair-type enterprise, others think it is all entertaining and enlightening, and seeing trade stalls and such is just par for the course.  

I didn't particularly want to get into a debate - or to annoy the thread creator that seemed keen on it, but I do believe there's a huge element of cash raising going on.  

Why have you used words in brackets? The way I read them totally changes the tone of your post and what you're trying to say?

You (could) always argue that there's a (large) element of that going on.