Increasing Autism Awareness?

It's actually not only my observation,  I also heard that from Paul Michalleff in his channel "Autism from the inside". Recently I saw a video where he announced that he decided to quit his activity on YouTube due to personal reasons. 

I think that people need to be more aware that April is Autism Awareness Month as I only knew that it was from social media, however I have an idea of increasing Autism Awareness through marketing such as advertising it on Billboards and Bus Stops but this might be too costly.

What do you all think about that? Xx

You're observation "I don't suffer because of myself being different, but because how I get treated by others." is brilliant and it may have to go on the whiteboard in the kitchen!

Whilst the general population should be better educated, perhaps it is better they are not until the experts are and act accordingly. These are not people with lack of education or so old that it was ok to treat someone disabled badly because that's the way it was.

I'm pretty sure my current Doctor actively tries to antagonise. Not that all medical professionals are bad, I think my last two opticians in particular have been brilliant.

Yes and it amazes me that I received this advice from someone studying a psychology. She says "being different is not a problem". Then I gave her examples of how much problematic it can be. I told her I don't suffer because of myself being different,  but because how I get treated by others. She used to bully me herself with her friends at school when we were teens. The 'weirdo' has it harder, harder toget a good job, to find friends etc. And higher risk of depression,  anxiety,  su*cide. It's amazing, how a future professional can't see it. Once I already heard from a psychiatrist,  that my problems are not problems. So I decided to quit these sessions and not waste mine and her time. She made me question myself a lot and feeling like a total idiot. It was few years ago 

I agree with you, it's very astute to say it's possible to ignore in passing but yes in a work place/school/place you can't escape, it's not possible, it's terrible advice to say ignore it as it has long lasting effects on you.

When listening to a podcast, two professionals now diagnosed themselves were saying it's just not taught at all in psychology, or what is is basic and it's only if someone follows it up with further research do that learn more. So yes, better base knowledge in professionals is needed, especially as harm can happen from treating someone who is neurodivergent wrongly.

Alien0n3arth said:

just ignoring bullying at a place, like work or school it's a sign for the perpetrator that it's allowed and ok. 

Very true. It's hard but you have to face them down.

I had a discussion today with my sister, who studies psychology,  about issues related to autism. I had to be careful to not mention this word itself. She agrees,  that I've always been weird and different. And she said, that just being weird and different I'd not an issue and shouldn't be taken as a reason for diagnosis.  Ok, well if it's just little weirdness,  that does not cause problems,  then it's OK. But in many cases it's not just little weirdness. Individuals who are the "weird" and different ones ate often more vulnerable to all sort of Mobbing abuse, have less chance to find a good job despite good qualifications, or have friends/relationship. So the so called "little weirdness" may affect the quality of someone's life significantly. But many psychologists say, it's not a problem. And when I mentioned bullying and harassment she just said "ignore it". Maybe I can just ignore a stranger in a street if they don't follow me or pose no danger for me, but just ignoring bullying at a place, like work or school it's a sign for the perpetrator that it's allowed and ok. 

So I think, that the awareness about autism (and other conditions) should be spread amongst professionals first. My sister is an example of someone who wouldn't consider a problem unless it's banging head off of a wall. Which I used to do during my meltdowns years ago, but she doesn't know that, because I mastered self control and learned to avoid the worst.

I agree. 
I know anxiety is a very common co-existing condition alongside autism. 
I think the holistic approach needs looking at definitely.

This is why awareness needs to be increased.xx

Thats what I found, when I was diagnosed, the 'oh well you've coped for the last 50 years, so you don't need any help'.

There could be so much more help and just the space to talk things through on a practicle level, like why so many autistic people struggle with work and how being self employed can be such a better option. I wish there was more awareness among doctors that autistic people need tailored counselling, not bog standard CBT, mind you I think bog standard CBT is a good fit for many people and is used a plaster. I think we should be assessed for the physical things that often go with autism, like dyspraxia, joint hypermobility and IBS. 

Above all else it bring the need for an holistic approach into stark reality, mind you I think the whole of health care should have an holistic approach as the norm rather than the exception

Yes, a child and parent situation would work really well, they could use flashbacks to when the parent was at school and told not to be fussy or fidget and compare it to modern schooling and the child’s journey.

The adult being told by a GP that they can’t be autistic because they  cope too well, when in truth they  have adapted heavily and been left exhausted. 
How the workplace seems so much harder once you realise you are autistic. It could be followed for up to a year. It could start in one autism awareness month and finish in the following awareness month a year later. There are so many avenues, but it would have to be authentic, including the horrible bits.

Thanks Olivia!
I’m glad that you like my post and thank you for sharing the link. 
Let’s keep spreading Autism Acceptance and Awareness!!xx

Hi everyone,

I can see there are some wonderful ideas from the community. I thought I would share the NAS page on Acceptance and awareness that shares some of what the NAS are doing or have supported to raise awareness and create acceptance of the autistic community.

Take care and keep coming up with your great ideas,

Olivia Mod

Thats a brilliant idea Roy as long as they're honest and don't try to dramatise it to much. Soaps have done so much to raise awareness of rape and sexual assault, DV and mental health issues, I'd like to see the struggles a person goes through to get a diagnosis and maybe this could be a parent and child story, as so many people only realise their own autism when thier child is diagnosed, it would be good to see how both struggle with different aspects of navigating the system, how children are often offered so much help and adults just left to get on with it

Thanks Roy for your suggestion.

If they could do the storyline in every soap sometime in April (as it’s Autism Awareness Month) this might be another way to get the ball rolling but then again it might be too much for viewers that watch more than one soap. It’s worth a try. Xx

I would like to see one of the ‘soaps’ follow the story of an older person realising they are autistic and their journey.

It could be done through their eyes and  their peers perspective, showing how differently they are treated has never been done, soaps are generally quite P.C and haven’t shown bigotry against an unseen disability.

It could also show the emotions, imposter syndrome and how their world changes forever, including how their close family sees them.

Most ‘soaps’ now have a token autistic person, it’s always a young person and normally shows very stereotypical behaviour.

Showing the struggles though an older pair of eyes hasn’t been done. If done correctly I think it would raise massive awareness.

Melanie Sykes and Ann Hegarty.

Eminem has Asperger's syndrome 

He can be an honorary woman!!

AI tells me that Emma Watson and Billie Eilish are autistic, yet when I checked the sources, they say Emma Watson has ADHD and Billie Eilish has Tourette’s. The sources might not be reliable either. 

I did notice but not to worry. Haha.xx