I also found Chris comments about the smell of the indoor market interesting. I have only now discovered that NTs do not notice the strong smells as they go into shops and markets. No wonder when I have commented or not wanted to stay in one long others did not seem bothered.
Yes, the 700,000 statistic is inaccurate, I have read that 1 in 44 people are autistic! There’s so many of us, it’s so cool! The 700,000 statistic doesn’t reflect that many of us are late identified or self identified.
Also given that 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent (any neurological difference), that figure is way too low.
That 'could be as many as 700,000' at the start sounds low to me. I'm guessing around 3% which makes it more like just under 2 million adults and children.
Yes, there was a bit near the end when they showed all 4 people featured stimming in some way and I suddenly realised that I had for some time been rocking back and forth.
The wardrobe bit really took me by surprise- I thought lots of people did it like that, I know I do! It's funny how behaviour like organising your wardrobe is seen as a 'decluttering life hack' when other people do it, but when we do it, it's apparently a big flashing neon sign saying AUTISM HERE. I suppose it's a matter of context.
I really like the short videos that NAS has on it's Youtube channel, the NowIknow ones. They really helped me early on (i'm still early on as i only realized i was autistic in December but you know what i mean).
I have not watched the Now I Know series thanks for the recommendation!
It’s great that these videos helped you realise you are autistic, that’s why it’s so important to share more lived autistic experiences.
I don't think i'd have the confidence to discuss my story on film just yet but maybe in the future as i'm still finding out so much about myself and coming to terms with it all. I'm a good writer though and i'm planning on writing an autobiography in the near future.
I understand what you mean about not being confident enough, after all making a film about your own autistic experience is a very personal and potential revealing endeavour.
Good luck on your autistic discovery journey. We are here for you if you want to share experiences or ask for advice.
Your idea for an autobiography sounds cool, good luck with it!
Autism is my special interest (I am autistic). I wish there were more episodes. My friend has already had interactions with his work colleagues who watched the show, they now understand the concept of masking. As anyone with a special interest, there are obviously a lot of nuances and really specific details that I would have loved to have been discussed but given the target audience, this show has had a significantly positive impact. I think it's perfect.
So happy that another non-speaking individual was included in the first episode, that made me feel very represented and heard. Did an amazing job at showing how each autistic person presented very differently to one another. It fills my heart with joy and my eyes with tears !!! :) I have never been able to explain sensory overload, so that part was also a wonder to see. I am so happy that the people involved have been able to find an effective way of conveying these feelings and experiences that we, as autistic people, often find impossible to describe.
I would have liked the program to have shown what decades of not knowing why you are different and how it leaves scars. The people shown luckily had good parental support. I suppose they couldn’t show a 40 or 50 year old person having a meltdown, it wouldn’t be knocking the cornflakes off the supermarket shelf. I just felt that it’s still shown that only young people have autism. It was a brilliant pair of programs, I just felt a little unrepresented.
I suppose Chris himself is the late diagnosed. Or someone who could be. Representative. It’s easily overlooked because he’s the host. But it would be nice for him to have a one to one with someone in that same boat.
I agree, more episodes featuring the late diagnosed would be brilliant. Perhaps they'll make another series. I found myself curious about what was in the advert for participants....was an age range specified? I feel that late diagnosis is an entire difficulty in itself. I made such a mess of the first 41 years of my life that everyday life, friendships, hobbies and even work and family relationships are now minefields of ptsd. But I loved the programme overall for it's facilitation for Autistic people to tell their own stories and explain their difficulties in a way that even their nearest and dearest could not fail to finally understand.
The first was great and the second didn't disappoint. We need more things like this, it's good for us and for our families to help them understand better.
Really loved the two episodes, for me Flo was very identifiable. Would like to see more episodes with some older people who were late diagnosed. Chris was very good at explaining some of the everyday problems that can cause a lot of stress.
This episode was particularly helpful to me. I wanted my manager at work to see it. I found the music film quite overwhelming/ exhausting to watch. This showed me why I struggled when I had to go into the office. The things about change, including Chris comments are the things I want others to see as they show how even the small changes can be challenging.
As an aside, if there is anyone on here in Cornwall or with connections, was Chris' scarf Cornish plaid?
It was good that he said that he’d shown one aspect only of Anton’s challenges with change. In a way I wish I’d seen aspects of that more close to my own, but I appreciate it was the easiest manifestation to present in a short film.
Precision timing isn't that important to me but unexpected change definitely is a problem. I think i could relate to Chris more too, especially the wardrobe thing. I wasn't keen on the music in that episode, i had to turn it down and found myself getting distracted because it's not really my cup of tea. Shame there are no more episodes as that's only 4 people covered and autists are so different both in abilities and the challenges they face
I wanted to relate more to the ‘change upsets me’ giy as that’s my biggest challenge too. I need routine, continuity. But the focus was so much on precision timing (not something I’m good at) that the larger issue of life changes, the restlessness of others, societal judgement of people who rely on the finding one niche thing and sticking to it to cope etc. got a little too backgrounded. In the end, I tho k it was CP himself who I could most relate to in terms of best alignment. I don’t have his calm contained demeanour though, wish I did - it’s so dignified!
Did anyone this week and last find themselves stimming a fair bit during that? It’s like the empathy feedback loop was so intense that it somehow made that adaptive behaviour much more constant for me than during many other things I’d ever watch. I don’t have dramatic stims normally, but i had interlaced fingers, drumming, tapping, my foot was going, I was digging into my palms with my opposite thumb, and I started pulling eyelashes and eyebrow hairs out, something I do relatively seldom these days but has been a lifelong habit.
I really like the short videos that NAS has on it's Youtube channel, the NowIknow ones. They really helped me early on (i'm still early on as i only realized i was autistic in December but you know what i mean).
I don't think i'd have the confidence to discuss my story on film just yet but maybe in the future as i'm still finding out so much about myself and coming to terms with it all. I'm a good writer though and i'm planning on writing an autobiography in the near future.
Hopefully, I look forward to it. I am sure there will be many more autistic people who would welcome the opportunity to create a film about their autistic lived experience. I certainly think it would be pretty cool to create a personal film. There are not many autistic led mainstream media projects so I reckon, it would be popular with a large majority of our community.
Would you be interested in creating a film about your personal autistic experience?
