Many will of personally experienced the words or opinions from those with little or no experience of Autism, additional Needs or Neurodiversity. �They don�t look autistic!� �What�s their special skill?� �So like rain man!� �They can�t be autistic, they...
Many will of personally experienced the words or opinions from those with little or no experience of Autism, additional Needs or Neurodiversity.
�They don�t look autistic!�
�What�s their special skill?�
�So like rain man!�
�They can�t be autistic, they can�� smile/talk/laugh/��� insert words here
I�ve even heard that autistics have certain facial or build characteristics- akin to Minecraft.
It�s a good job most with experience of Autism/ being autistic have very thick skin.
In these situations I see it as a chance to educate the uneducated, the ignorant and the plain rude. My reaction will be determined by yours!
�So what does Autism look like!�
No families will be the same; as every person is different, so is every autistic person or person with autism, depending on preference.
For us Autism is having an imaginary pony with us sitting in a cafe, going shopping and living in our garden. Home days to regulate after too much peopling, too much social.
It�s seeing her face light up because 1 of her 4 close friends can meet up. Friends that don�t mind the repetition, the games, the fact that K needs to feel in control to manage her anxiety.
Autism is my knowing K has had a bad day just by how she comes out of school. And trusted staff have tried to help.
Autism is her signing �I love you� because she�s too overwhelmed to speak or just can�t talk at that time.
Autism is the looks away when she really can�t engage.
It�s not all roses. Life can be hard too.
The onslaught of questions just because a stranger has tried to talk to her.
The uncertainty when plans change.
The anger when something out of routine happens- the joys of getting home and someone is parked in your numbered space. (�Why have they parked there?�, �It�s our space�, �Tell them to move!�- thump)
The lack of social filters as the ground opens again on hearing �this shop smells� (that�s mild to some we�ve had).
Literal interpretation. When K can�t grasp the reasons for something that�s changed from what it looked like before.
Food! The fear of dread when packeting has changed or the recipe has been improved! 
Believe it when someone says their child �can� taste the difference. K has an amazing pallet; she can notice differences in brands, even when you�ve put it into brand packaging.
Not forgetting D, whose 12m into his autism wait. He is so different from K and me.
For D:
Autism is not knowing how to regulate his volume.
Autism is 0-60 without seeing any dangers ahead.
Autism is not having dainty things around.
Autism is huge a huge Snorlax beanbag to crash and jump on to save the sofas.
Autism is his constant need for food �Interoception� and managing it healthily.
Autism is having to repeat ourselves in the same way, same words, every time to aid auditory processing.
But most of all.
�Autism is accepting us for who we are�
Autistic�s are individuals.
So this as every year. Don�t just raise awareness, accept us.
Accept that autistic children grow into autistic adults.
That as #actualautistics we do have the right to have our voices heard.
That puzzle pieces, Autism Speaks aren�t liked/approved by most of the autistic community. (Everyone to their own).
That ABA in whatever shape or form is never ok. Listen to #actualautistics who�ve been left traumatised by it. No-one should be made to change who they are.
Autistic�s are people.
We do not need to change who we are.
We need to be accepted for who we are.
#sensupport #send #parents #autism #spd #sensory #sensoryprocessing #adhd #additionalneeds #autisticparent #parentcarer #sendblog #staystrong #staysafe #specialneedsjungle #parentblog #parentsknowtheirchildrenbest #actualautistics #lgbtautistics #lgbtqcommunity #autisticpride
I�m a proud autistic parent to an autistic LBGTQ daughter. She�s proud of her identity.
Have you found yours? �.
