I came across this video - link below - while exploring how other autistics live unconventionally, although this is not what the talk in the video is about.
There were many parts of her talk which made reference to difficulties I have not been able to express or be understood by a system which expects us to operate like our NT relatives and writes us off as being 'untreatable'/can't help if we don't, or worse still 'non-compliant'.
It's helped me identify some of the major issues conventionally living is causing me and the massive impact this is having on my mental health and desire to 'live'. It has helped me understand how joyous special interests have slowly faded away to be replaced by special interests which only purpose it seems is to protect and defend me from harm, this is good but also bad which causes me no end of confusion/frustration.
I've tried all my life to fit into this system and with having to face yet another move which will be the 18th time, don't I have a right to be supported to live in a way which works for me? I can't do this again...
There was part of her talk where she talks about the most dire of situations for some autistic people, this triggered some little bit of hope somewhere deep inside me that maybe, just maybe, I could be useful to my fellow autists, who, despite my difficulties are in a worse situation than I. This would never enter my mind unless it's pointed out to me, like many things unfortunately, often misunderstood for selfishness or not caring. But, unless I can change my environment to one which works for me any potential or usefulness to this world is not accessible.
She is American but the issues she speaks of are global.
I'm always amazed at a person's ability to be so articulate when speaking of such issues, I often have it all there in my brain but something gets lost in the translation of that to my mouth.
