Autistic Jo

 My name is Joanne and I am autistic so I rather write something today about that here.

I wasn't diagnosed in school, they were more fussed with my physical disabilities than say my brain damage, dyslexia and autism so diagnosing them came in later adult life as I was screwing up part of which was the inspiration for this blog.

• Lack of social skills: Because I am autistic, I have always had trouble keeping conversations going, making friends, and maintaining relationships. I also have a hard time understanding social cues, which often costs me friendships and lands me in bad situations. Even when I do try to put myself out there, I fail, because others view me as weird because of the way I speak, what I talk about, and how I interact. I often say things that are offensive, that I never considered offensive in my brain.

I also feel sometimes they do not actually listen to what I have said and just respond badly to the idea their take on something may not be shared .

 • Overstimulation: When in law I was child, I had to go to school. School was loud, really loud. Teachers screamed too much plus threw board rubbers across the class, the kids are even louder particularly the new kids.Chairs were most uncomfortable especially when you have a twisted spine.

As an adult I found the work place was little different so tried to get jobs in quieter settings away from telephones, computer printers and the din of tens of conversations all going on at once.

• Burnout: This is more AuDHD related then simply Autism related, but I get burnt out very easily. To the point where I cant have a job during school season, because I will literally be exhausted from all the constant masking, that I'm making my next point.

• Masking: Masking is common for those of us with low support needs Autism. Especially females, but males do it as well. Masking is when you put on a “neurotypical” personality around neurotypical people to make them more comfortable. Before my diagnosis, masking was something I did 24/7. Now, I only do it when I have to. Learning to unmask is hard, but trust me, It makes life better.

• People not understanding: When I tell people I am autistic, I’m often met with confusion. I know I don’t “seem autistic”, unless you are well educated on autism and you observe me well, you would probably never be able to tell I was autistic as a stranger. 

Autism is a spectrum, there are folks like me who only need help in certain areas at certain times and can pass as typical, there are people who don’t have functional communication and need 24/7 care into adulthood, and there are plenty of people somewhere in the mid-range of the spectrum too. 

Every autistic person is different, we have different needs depending on the individual. What people don’t understand is that even though I am very low support needs, I struggle a lot. I’ve had people blow off my struggles because I was the “smart akward type of autistic”, when in reality, if I was just smart and awkward, I wouldn't be diagnosed with ASD.

Some people see Autism as a Get out of jail free card for transgressing rules and everyday behavioural codes and personally I feel they may well have a point looking at how a person is defended in the Courts or at a work related meeting.

. Chastisment: Society is at odds around this especially as it applies to children and young people, some feeling any sort of consequence such as forfeits is discriminatory before we look at time outs or physical punishments such as a single smack.

As an legally adult Adult Little Girl, I have no issue with being chastised for my behaviours so long as you try to help me deal with how my autism effects my attitudes and moods and where possible plan to avoid more difficult surroundings that you know trigger me.

If I act out, I would sooner have a spanking to help deter me from letting myself and you down because it's how I respond that's the issue and NOT my autism that needs support and yes care.