Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone,
We thought we'd create a discussion where people can say hello and introduce themselves.
You don't have to say something here but it'd be nice to get a chance to say hello
Please remember that you should not share personal details (such as emails or phone numbers) to protect your privacy.
And don't feel you have to introduce yourself, it's entirely up to you and please only share what you're comfortable with.
I am 57, diagnosed with infantile autism in the 1950s, not a nice childhood ( happy to talk about it but not relavent here).
Served in the army for 12 years, owned 3 businesses, started and ran a co-operative, founded and ran a charitable company and been director of a housing association.
2003 diagnosed as also having Asperger's.
Apart from those I wear a powerchair due to back injuries sustained in the army and have ankylosing spondylitis in my spine and am fused from mid-dorsal to coccyx and half of my neck. also osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis in most joints and system arthritis in my organs and skin. Eczema and psoriasis for added fun.
In acute and chronic pain and have reactive depression.
My autism is classed as severe and I shall do a separate topic on that.
Nowadays I am retired from business but heavily involved with being an author, performance poet, artist, researcher, work with local groups and am a consultant on local planning and access issues, member of the Royal British Legion and have responsibility for researching and updating the names on our local war memorial.
My special interests are making soft toys, building miniature railway models and the small print on contracts.