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Good Morning

Bardic Poet

Hi, I was diagnosed with being on the autistic spectrum two weeks ago after coping on my own for many years, without any specialist support.  I do not expect much support following

the diagnosis except more support at work.  I was given lots of information at the debriefing and advised to come off antidepressants, as I had been on them for eighteen years to

cope with acute anxiety and stress.  I would love to meet up with other autistic people and live in Beaumont Leys on the outskirts of Leicester.  I live alone and am single, work as a teaching assistant.  within a school alongside children with autism, mainly teaching them to read in a secondary school, This can be a very challenging role for someone on the spectrum, two years ago I was diagnosed with Coeliac disease, so my diet had to be changed overnight to a gluten free one, that took me a year to adjust to that and as my old friend said, what's the third thing.  It's good to be part of this forum.  

In my life I  have achieved a lot like a degree in Women Studies with History and can cope with most things in life despite my own fears at times, I feel very lonely at times but have joined a knitting and crochet group, putting up with the noise of happy revellers and am a member of religious organisations as a follower of the Way like the Society of St Francis and the Northumbria Community.  However I do feel on the edge and have trained as a Bard with OBAD, not being part of the  mainstream due  to my difference.  

It's good to be part of this forum.  

Parents

  • Hello there Bardic Poet

    I am not an assistant, I teach part-time at an inner-city art school, but not in the UK. I teach English and some in my classes have dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention deficit disorders and autism. I also have a business and teach both children and adults English. 

    It's a day job though, my real passion is art and things have in recent years been opening up in the alternative art scene here.

    As a child I had a diagnosis of sorts but it was seen as mental illness rather than anything else. Obsessions, rigidity of thinking were noted as well as my parents being counselled that I lacked social intuition. 

    I did not appreciate the lack of honesty over what my diagnosis was supposed to be as a child though I once glimpsed my medical notes inadvertently. And the sense of stigma was too painful. But I am very happy to engage with adults who have experienced similar things, and for that matter communicating with anyone who share similar interests and could be on some kind of wavelength.

    I

  • in reply to nexus9

    I was seen as being different too but unlike you was not considered to have a mental health issue, I was just an awkward clumsy child who had dyspraxia and was late reading.  However it was in the work place where I faced real challenges and still do today.  I lost a few jobs, was given the sack, told I wasn't cost effective, was slow at doing the work etc and then had to face the Employment people every few years, which is even worse now.  

  • in reply to Bardic Poet

    I know it is much worse, one of the main reasons why I left the UK. I think there may be one or two people here who can advise you if no provision is being made for your needs in the workplace

  • in reply to nexus9

    My psychiatrist has a sent a report to Health Management, who are connected to the private health company MAXIMUS on my behalf. They are independent occupational health management and I have rejoined UNISON. At the moment I am on a 'claims casual' contract since returning after a period on the dole, due to stress in working in a difficult environment.  When I return to work after the Easter break I shall enquire if they have heard anything from them and when will I be given a renewed contract.  So we shall see what happens, in the meantime I am seeking advice from the National Careers Office, as Leicester autistic careers advice only provide free consultations to those who have had a care assessment and since I can manager more or less, I don't qualify. At lunch time, weather permitting I sit in a little wood on the outskirts, a relief from an overcrowded school with no staff room.

Reply
  • in reply to nexus9

    My psychiatrist has a sent a report to Health Management, who are connected to the private health company MAXIMUS on my behalf. They are independent occupational health management and I have rejoined UNISON. At the moment I am on a 'claims casual' contract since returning after a period on the dole, due to stress in working in a difficult environment.  When I return to work after the Easter break I shall enquire if they have heard anything from them and when will I be given a renewed contract.  So we shall see what happens, in the meantime I am seeking advice from the National Careers Office, as Leicester autistic careers advice only provide free consultations to those who have had a care assessment and since I can manager more or less, I don't qualify. At lunch time, weather permitting I sit in a little wood on the outskirts, a relief from an overcrowded school with no staff room.

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