I am one proud person on the spectrum!!!

Hi People!

I am really proud of myself.

I am normally very withdrawn and shy and can stutter when nervous so I haven't really 'done' people in my life. But there are many things I enjoy and I want to lead a fulfilled life.

So, given I like trains and have this capacity to cope with complex structures in my brain (like train tracking, timetables etc) I decided (with my Mum's help) that I should maybe talk to a local heritage railway near me to look at any volunteering opportunities.

After some time and training I am about to set out for my first day as a Signalman and I get to watch steam trains thundering by all day - this is my idea of heaven. We told them about my autism and they were BRILLIANT and the general manager noted my increased capacity for memory etc which he thinks will be an asset to the railway.

I am so excited and just wanted to share my news. Doing this has got me through work all week - I just focus on a weekend with trains and I cope much better because I know now there is more to life.

I am proud of what I have acheived and I hope I can help other people on the spectrum do stuff like this and educate NT's about us, that we are valuable people in society with much to offer.

crystal12 over 11 years ago

Hi - brilliant news - have a great time
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Muckworm over 11 years ago

Thanks People for your comments.
Today went so well, I felt at home with it all. And the people I was with were really great - I even laughed. Their humour was like mine. The sunshine made it even better.
Longman - I have heard of RUG's and am prompted by your comment to take that further - thank you, you are always so helpful.
I am going back tomorrow to help out too and then I'll be doing 1 weekend in 4 to start with. And I have taken a week off work later in the year to do a week's volunteering painting for them which will be good I think. They like my attention to detail. It is so refreshing to experience people who appreciate the postive aspects of being on the spectrum. I feel so much more confident after today. No-one seemed to mind me being autistic, I fitted in fine - in a team!!
But so tired now, early night I think!
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Hope over 11 years ago

That sounds really interesting and fun. Well done
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Petlover over 11 years ago

Well done Muckworm and all the best
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longman over 11 years ago

I know quite a few people on the spectrum who work as volunteers on independent rail enthusiast projects where they have working trains on track lengths, and working infrastructure like signals. It is clearly effective and therapeutic. See www.heritagerailways.com
I used to live close to one, with a public path alongside the track, so regularly got talking to the enthusiasts, and that's one place I've encountered others on the spectrum.
There are also organisations you can join, like RCTS (the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society - http://www.rcts.org.uk/ ) that have local branches that offer regular talks. Another option is to join a Rail User Group (see www.railfuture.org.uk/Key rail user groups for a list of the main ones).
RUGs serve several purposes. They allow regular passengers to communicate with the rail companies abiout travel issues. They also allow rail travel to be represented in local and regional planning decisions. But they include a mix of ex-railwaymen, railway enthusiasts and seemingly inevitable people on the spectrum for whom RUGs clearly work.
Hope your signalman venture goes from strength to strength
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IntenseWorld over 11 years ago

Excellent, good luck.
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misskittykat over 11 years ago

That's really great news Muckworm. I hope you have a brilliant day
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Eryberrie over 11 years ago

Wow! Sounds great, so happy for you. I wish more people were like you and your manager.
E x
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