Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi folks,
Today was the first day of my week-long induction into my new job, working as an Individual Support Worker in day services in a local autism charitable trust. It was an interesting, if exhausting day. We all got to introduce ourselves and talk about our experiences with autistic people. I seemed to be the only one who'd worked in care for several years. Many people were completely new to it. It was great to see such enthusiasm, though, for working with people on the spectrum. Most of the people we'll be working with are severely autistic and need 24-hour support.
I was also the only person there with an autism diagnosis, which I mentioned - and which generated a flurry of interest. The trainers would often come to me for perspectives, and most people seemed generally keen to hear of my experiences both through working with autistic people and through my own personal experiences as an autistic person. I think this is really going to be a great place to work!
I was anxious as hell over the weekend - mainly about the journey there. I did a lot of planning, though (my car doesn't have sat-nav) and didn't get lost once, despite a lot of complicated city-centre navigation. I have a hopeless sense of direction, and one wrong turning would have left me in Nightmare-land! I feel so much better now!
How was everyone else's day today?
Tom
Yay..found the thread
so that was Monday (round 2 for some of us)
you're home, you've dusted yourself down....are you still alive!?
Hi Ellie yes very alive thanks,took ages to get to this last post! Maybe tom could start a "How did your day go?"part two? Only 147-8 replies to scroll through,
Been busy on new job,lots of hand digging which yes will do my back no good at all,can't just stop working though,I do take it easy but if my labourer is the digger driver then I get to shovel,besides he hasn't got the knowledge to guide me on a digger or spot cables etc.
So tried to sort my car tonite! Not much success,exhaust bolts,got three out of four undone,one rounded off,so fed up came home.I will have to split the nut with a little dremmel type tool.very little room for anything else, I can think of better things to be doing laid on my back,especially as muck generally gets in your eyes.
well that's my day,had contact from someone who knew my brother! Just asked if they knew me when I was little,no reply yet.she went to our school but at age 11 so may not have known us when younger,my brother was her first boyfriend apparently.
Sat watching ground force reruns now,Charlie dimmock!now her I remember as an older boy.can't remember why?
Ah spotty bless you. I am a socialist in my thinking I have always cared about others,fairness being my thing,I have to shut out the news as I get far to depressed at the constant injustice, you and me could sort out a lot of the troubles. Major stress for me is the blokes at work talking about football! How the flipping heck can any man be earning millions a week? Just to kick a ball back and forth.How they sleep at nite? And my work mates pay big time to go see them!morons.
I actually like watching football but only non professional teams,now they put there heart and soul into it.they play not for money but enjoyment and pride.
right enough of this,ellie and spotty how was your day,not just a polite bit of banter I actually would like to know.
And where's missy? Actually I hope missy is taking a rest from trying to help all the desperate folks on here,she deserves great praise.
I think we should all do the lottery and then we could buy an island like tom found,maybe somewhere a bit warmer but lots of separate little cottages,we could all have"Do not disturb" signs for when we need quite time,
Cats dogs and guinea pigs very welcome.
maybe I should ring Richard Branson as he has dyslexia? And his own island,maybe he would invite us over?
Really buzzing tonite,no not extra painkillers just pain,makes my whole body tingle,I actually relax when I feel pain? No kinky stuff btw.
Nite nite all I will check in tomorrow,off to read some posts now,oh and do my rounds checking the doors and making sure all is well,on duty as usual.keeping you all safe.
big hug to all.group hug now that's something to ponder,x
I agree with Warror, almost as shocking as realising you are on the spectrum is wading around in these forums to find just how broken this country is.
I'm left wing and have been all my life, to me that boils down to giving two hoots about your fellow humans. I've not been labouring under the illusion that we live in a free and caring society, but the extent of the neglect, cruelty and misery caused by our social (don't) care systems is horrific.
Give this lad a chance now and he could have a fulfilling life, cut down his hope and confidence and he could turn into another person stuck inside their own head and house terrorised by the pernicious benefits system.
So many lives that could be content and productive must be being laid waste to for lack of support and I guess most of it comes back to money and where power lies.
Hrumph.
divide and conquer is a small victory but it leaves us alone x
OK you. Get cuddles and hugs if you can x
How rediculouse of them to offer the place and then take it away,heart breaking for him and his mum.
The whole system is broken.
last week on our local news a young boy was attacked by a group of boys!he was autistic.just being in the park made him a target? This country is a mess,no standards,no rules,couldn't care less mentality,
As for digging being fun! It used to be,regardless of what it is I do it has to be perfect(as I can)and everything I do has a reason,I don't just do stuff! I analyse it and focus on the task in hand.watching some fool just trying to lever something is so annoying,get the fulcrum right for pete's sake. I end up showing them and explaining but I might as well blow at the clouds to expose the sun.
Been out the shed to find my mini cutter,couldn't resist and spray painted one of my vices,looking real good in"record" blue.record being tool makers of vices,Stilson.and loads of stuff. Just waiting for my wife to ring for a lift home,bless her she works to hard,I keep telling her to quit it,I am sure we could survive on my wages.
Oh yeah where she cleans there is an IT web design company,she reckons quite a few are autistic types,I saw a young lady once come out as I was dropping my wife off,she looked all over her car,double checked everything,didn't make eye contact even though we were right next to her, I said hello,she mermered something sort of smiled and jumped in her car quick.bless.
my wife said it took weeks before she would respond to hello.and their offices have just put up desk dividers and dividers everywhere?
Ah wife ringing see ya later.big hugs.
Reality check: not everyone had a great Monday
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/11/autistic-boy-turned-away-from-norwich-college-days-after-starting-course
Btw...this is out of the geographical area that I work
Lol re: Charlie Dimmock..her gardening knowledge was quite infectious!
scrolling us indeed how I spend 50% of my time here onlinr
glad you're ok...hand digging sounds fun! Like being a human badger! Keep smiling! X