RE: Autism Spectrum Disorder
March 27, 2018 at 11:26 am
(This post was last modified: March 27, 2018 at 11:57 am by Edwardo Piet.)
I agree with you completely. I sometimes think that the amount I was sheltered has messed my life up even more than some of the violence my dad directed as me, as it was only a few times and I've blocked any trauma of it out. But no matter how much I forget about the fact that I was so sheltered, it still affects me because it was a case of experiences not happening to me that should have.
I agree with that too. But Ritalin is definitely an ADHD thing. And I don't know if there's many, or any, drugs that are frequently prescribed to autism.
I know that whereas there are plenty of autism experts in America that treat autistic children properly, there is plenty of behavioral correction programs that treat autistic children very badly, and as people who need to be fixed, as well.
Both those sentiments miss the point though. Autistic children who need additional support shouldn't be dismissed by being treated "normally" as in the same as everyone else, but they shouldn't be seen as merely different or quirky either. They should be treated like children with a developmental disorder, but not as naughty brats who need their behavior corrected, or quirksters that just need to be seen as "different" and then treated the same as everyone else because "aren't we all different?".
I wonder if I can too. I'm gonna try!
I have this big list of ways I can get support and I don't know where to start! But they said I can email them anytime... so when I'm ready I am gonna email them telling them I dunno where to start.
I have been told they've already contacted a support worker and that the support worker will contact me by email. But I haven't heard anything yet.
They're not gonna leave me to my own devices though because I am already going back to the autism center for two post-sessions where I can ask them any questions I want, about autism and about how they think it most affects myself specifically. And any questions about my own personal autism report, that I shared a little bit from here, and stuff like that.
I'm also excited about joining a local autism group to meet other autistic adults. I'll do that soon. I'm volunteering on Wednesday at an office and the lady who is in charge of the volunteers there, and who is really nice, is the one who told me about the local group. So I'll ask her about it on Wednesday.
The autism specialists gave me the number for the national autistic society, or whatever it's called, who I can contact. But I am not really going out of my way to initate or contact anyone or anything until I feel ready and until I feel the correct order to do stuff in. I'll probably get down to Citizens Advice too as I've also been told I may be able to increase my benefit money as autism is a recognized disability. So I've been told that too, there's this big list of information and contacts, and even books to read, and I have no idea where to start! So I am going to ask them what the best order is. When I feel ready to email them. It all feels like a shot in the dark! I'm really excited but also really nervous.
So yeah, the specialists gave me the number for the national autistic thingy, but they're not familiar with all the local groups in every area of the country. So they didn't tell me about the one in my local area. But, heck, some of those local groups might be quite new and they're probably too busy to keep track of all the local goings in of every area of the country!
I think the national autistic society thingy, or whatever it's called, is pretty widespread throughout the whole country, too. Just perhaps not my area is my area is pretty small, and not one of the cities or big towns of England.
Not only that, but when random strangers you meet in a pub and start getting along with in a poker game, who know nothing about your struggles or your autism or your mental health, or you at all, and they say out of nowhere "You don't happen to have autism do you? As I'm a carer for a kid with autism and I think you've got it" and when teaching assistants at autistic schools mention it to you without you telling them about it, and when a neuropsychologist has already given you a general neurological assessment regarding an unrelated health condition has suggested it to you.... like when the whole world is telling YOU you've got it.... yeah, you're not just someone who is fed up with life and seeks out an autism center because you think that you might be on the spectrum as you're a little bit weird, lol. Definitely not even close to comparable! And my doctors notes over the years were already full with comments about it.
It's almost like the world sought me out about it really, rather than the other way around, lol. I just went for it because I was tired of doctors telling me I had problems that caused me distress but they were unique to me and despite being real they couldn't find a diagnosis, and everything and everyone was screaming autism at me, so when normal mental health professionals and GPs and psychs are certain something is wrong but they have no idea what... then is the time to go to a specialist. When you're put on benefit money and declared unfit for work for being disabled despite being physically healthy, and despite simultaneously being told by mental health professionals that they have no idea what the problem is but that there definitely is a problem, then is the time to go to a specialist.
If only it had been recognized in me sooner. I was probably taken out of school before the school had chance to notice it though. Oh, and of course it didn't help that the school I went to was pretty fucking shitty towards me.
But even at that school I am sure it would have been eventually recognized. I dunno how long it would have taken though.... I've always been high functioning and it was way back in 1993 when I finished school... I dunno how knowledgeable the UK was about high-functioning less visibly severe autism back in the early 90s... and, hell, even today young children with high functioning autism don't always get spotted until they're older.
My mom tried lol. But I never wanted to go out lol.
(March 27, 2018 at 10:19 am)Shell B Wrote: I agree with him that tons of drugs are prescribed to young children that they don't need.
I agree with that too. But Ritalin is definitely an ADHD thing. And I don't know if there's many, or any, drugs that are frequently prescribed to autism.
I know that whereas there are plenty of autism experts in America that treat autistic children properly, there is plenty of behavioral correction programs that treat autistic children very badly, and as people who need to be fixed, as well.
Quote:Also, I think his sentiment sounded a bit more like, "These kids should be treated normally, as they are fine the way they are." than, "Fuck giving these kids treatment and recognition."
Both those sentiments miss the point though. Autistic children who need additional support shouldn't be dismissed by being treated "normally" as in the same as everyone else, but they shouldn't be seen as merely different or quirky either. They should be treated like children with a developmental disorder, but not as naughty brats who need their behavior corrected, or quirksters that just need to be seen as "different" and then treated the same as everyone else because "aren't we all different?".
Quote:Hammy, I wonder if now that you have a diagnosis, you can get better treatment and help with the way you interact. I hope you get what you need.
I wonder if I can too. I'm gonna try!
I have this big list of ways I can get support and I don't know where to start! But they said I can email them anytime... so when I'm ready I am gonna email them telling them I dunno where to start.
I have been told they've already contacted a support worker and that the support worker will contact me by email. But I haven't heard anything yet.
They're not gonna leave me to my own devices though because I am already going back to the autism center for two post-sessions where I can ask them any questions I want, about autism and about how they think it most affects myself specifically. And any questions about my own personal autism report, that I shared a little bit from here, and stuff like that.
I'm also excited about joining a local autism group to meet other autistic adults. I'll do that soon. I'm volunteering on Wednesday at an office and the lady who is in charge of the volunteers there, and who is really nice, is the one who told me about the local group. So I'll ask her about it on Wednesday.
The autism specialists gave me the number for the national autistic society, or whatever it's called, who I can contact. But I am not really going out of my way to initate or contact anyone or anything until I feel ready and until I feel the correct order to do stuff in. I'll probably get down to Citizens Advice too as I've also been told I may be able to increase my benefit money as autism is a recognized disability. So I've been told that too, there's this big list of information and contacts, and even books to read, and I have no idea where to start! So I am going to ask them what the best order is. When I feel ready to email them. It all feels like a shot in the dark! I'm really excited but also really nervous.
So yeah, the specialists gave me the number for the national autistic thingy, but they're not familiar with all the local groups in every area of the country. So they didn't tell me about the one in my local area. But, heck, some of those local groups might be quite new and they're probably too busy to keep track of all the local goings in of every area of the country!
I think the national autistic society thingy, or whatever it's called, is pretty widespread throughout the whole country, too. Just perhaps not my area is my area is pretty small, and not one of the cities or big towns of England.
(March 27, 2018 at 10:28 am)mlmooney89 Wrote: Plus Hammy went through a LOT to even get diagnosed, this wasn't something they just handed to him because he said he felt he could be on the spectrum. I'm very proud of him for doing what he needed to in order to get this info.
Not only that, but when random strangers you meet in a pub and start getting along with in a poker game, who know nothing about your struggles or your autism or your mental health, or you at all, and they say out of nowhere "You don't happen to have autism do you? As I'm a carer for a kid with autism and I think you've got it" and when teaching assistants at autistic schools mention it to you without you telling them about it, and when a neuropsychologist has already given you a general neurological assessment regarding an unrelated health condition has suggested it to you.... like when the whole world is telling YOU you've got it.... yeah, you're not just someone who is fed up with life and seeks out an autism center because you think that you might be on the spectrum as you're a little bit weird, lol. Definitely not even close to comparable! And my doctors notes over the years were already full with comments about it.
It's almost like the world sought me out about it really, rather than the other way around, lol. I just went for it because I was tired of doctors telling me I had problems that caused me distress but they were unique to me and despite being real they couldn't find a diagnosis, and everything and everyone was screaming autism at me, so when normal mental health professionals and GPs and psychs are certain something is wrong but they have no idea what... then is the time to go to a specialist. When you're put on benefit money and declared unfit for work for being disabled despite being physically healthy, and despite simultaneously being told by mental health professionals that they have no idea what the problem is but that there definitely is a problem, then is the time to go to a specialist.
(March 27, 2018 at 11:14 am)Shell B Wrote: Schools for kids with autism are pretty rad.
If only it had been recognized in me sooner. I was probably taken out of school before the school had chance to notice it though. Oh, and of course it didn't help that the school I went to was pretty fucking shitty towards me.
But even at that school I am sure it would have been eventually recognized. I dunno how long it would have taken though.... I've always been high functioning and it was way back in 1993 when I finished school... I dunno how knowledgeable the UK was about high-functioning less visibly severe autism back in the early 90s... and, hell, even today young children with high functioning autism don't always get spotted until they're older.
(March 27, 2018 at 11:08 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Yeah I think homeschooling is fine so long as it is compensated with daily group activities with other kids outside the home.
My mom tried lol. But I never wanted to go out lol.
