Autism vs Cerebral Palsey (A Day in the Life of)

So proud of this!

Seeing Double, Understanding Autism

I collaborated on this article with the wonderful Kyle, who’s writing can be found on https://discussingthedis.wordpress.com/. We both describe waking up at university and a simple, five minute journey to the student services building from the perspective of our disabilities. I often wish my autism was more visible, or at least that the issues surrounding it were more universally recognised, whereas Kyle feels his disability is constantly on display, which makes it harder to interact socially. What I really wanted to highlight is that there is no such thing is a disability hierarchy. No one disability is better or worse than another, each comes with it’s own unique set of challenges. It’s just human nature to think the grass is greener on the other side

Anyway… without further ado, let me and Kyle take you through our day.

bold= autism           italics= cerebral palsey 

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I hear…

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Should We Be Teaching Autistic Kids to Behave in a Neurotypical Way?

awesome blog

Seeing Double, Understanding Autism

Should we be teaching autistic children to behave in a neurotypical way? Is it even possible to condition someone on the autism spectrum to behave neurotypically? These are two questions that are bought up time and time again during autism training. Since I have autism myself,  I thought I’d have a go at answering them.

Autism is not a learning disability. In some ways, this makes it more disabling and harder to bear than disabilities that do affect a person’s intelligence and by extension their self-awareness. I know I’m different. I know people stare at me when I rock backwards and forwards, flap my hands or put my fingers in my ears. I know that people gossip about me and think I am a stupid, selfish bitch when I fail to understand a simple social convention.  I know all this, but I can’t change any of it. If I make…

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insignificant part of me- my disability

Open word document/ Open soul Expose the wounds/fill the void

the silence from the words I do not say is more dangerous then the violence

In the thoughts of the words I need to say

Sometimes I want to tare life apart and let the blood spray

 

So frustrated and nihilistic,

The spastic gimmick is a mask

I actually care, and I dare,

I dare to be apart of this place and this scene

I overcome these obstacles it seems

Allow for the unseen, to be seen

 

You can’t see my irrational self hate/ the difficult realism in it’s inaudible voice

The realism in that everyone has freedom of choice

Something biological attracts humans to the more ordinary

I don’t have the luxury of being ordinary

I have come to the sad conclusion that at this point

Its going to take the extra-ordinary to be with me

 

I’m past hoping, sometimes,

You would be too,

Seeing people living a social life around you

Fucking, an going, and your not even coming

Forget the sex-its just the act of love!

I have an abundance of ideas about love

But its presumed that I can’t part-take in the act

Therefore the ideas of love and me are not discussed

 

 

Okay so lets deal with this poetically

I won’t ever pummel you, I won’t dominate you

You can ride with me and the romance

I can kiss you and truly mean it

I can never force anything and never will

I can love you uniquely, touch you, taste me,

You need to see the love inside me,

The human compassion, and ambition inside me

Will ultimately bypass the insignificant part of me- my disability

 

All Because of Henry: Book Review

Seeing Double, Understanding Autism

All Because of Henry is an autobiography and sequel to critically acclaimed A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner. I approached this text with mixed feelings, after being disappointed by the negative portrayal of autism in A Friend Like Henry. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does All Because of Henry actually follow it’s tagline ‘my story of struggle and triumph with two autistic children and the dogs that unlocked their world’. It is far more informative than its prequel, and portrays autism positively. The book concerns Gardner’s struggle to procure the right services for her autistic children. It also touches on her work with families around the world, using dogs to encourage social interaction and develop empathy in autistic children. Despite it’s informative nature, I found All Because of Henry both entertaining and easy to read.

I was particularly touched by Gardner’s comments on autism and friendship towards…

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Raising awareness of disability-related bullying

Autism Services: A Parents Perspective

May steal this Idea MUMMY!!!

Seeing Double, Understanding Autism

Today’s article was not written by me, but by a guest blogger (my Mum!) Recently we have been struggling to find the right services for my autism, and this lack of support has taken its toll on my mental health, my self-esteem and my relationship with my family. I don’t want Mum and Dad to provide the kind of support I should be getting from social workers and therapists. I don’t want Mum and Dad to view themselves as my Primary Carers. I just want them to carry on loving me- and I don’t want my sisters needs to be overlooked, simply because they cannot be attributed to a specific disability. I was touched by what my Mum has written, and reminded just how lucky I am to have her support. The following is her words on the support available for autistic adults, and what could be changed to improve…

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(Poem) The Forgotten Minority

So, it seems I’m just a thing, with unheard feelings. unheard thoughts

I’m hurt cause I try my best to cover all bases be a kind human being promote well researched views of freedom and maximum equality

I don’t care about the skin on your face if your oppressed and victimised on race

I’ll stand and defend everyone of you yet I can’t stand so I’m out of view

My voice is not as loud so I’ll be drowned out-

I don’t get it if I speak for you why won’t you stand for me.

 

I call mine the forgotten minority, so “privileged”.

I’m supposed to feel For me to be born.

Everything else should be considered a bonus!

Theres no way around the burden my life carries in the eyes of many.

No I was never a slave, I’ve never been hated for my race.

But I have never been celebrated in any place,

If I was born in a different place today in 2014, I could be killed or encaged.

The thought of a black joke would invoke rage, as it should.

Think Cripple Jokes think edgy comedy,

All in all though those are words and its all complex

I’m not looking for an apology from the uneducated

I’m merely wishing for some representation.  

No more token cripples,

I don’t want to inspire! I’m no scrounger either!

My love life! the sex that I have! should not be presented as a freak show!

How can I expect to be accepted properly in a society!

that never had a chance to be educated about my forgotten Minority!

 

Ten Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Autism and The Benefits System

another awesome blog by gwen

Seeing Double, Understanding Autism

The benefits system is probably one of the most controversial topics out there, and seems to be considered in purely black and white terms. I’m often surprised how many people dismiss everybody on Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) as lazy, selfish spongers who the employed are forced into supporting. I know a great many people on JSA (although I’m not on it myself) and they are all working VERY hard, both to find a job and to avoid falling into the deep pit of depression that emerges after so many rejections. What most people seem to forget is that to be eligible for JSA you must spend a minimum of thirty hours a week looking for work. Does that sound like a lazy lifestyle to you?

I have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome, Dyspraxia and Anxiety Disorder. Before I even considered going in for job seekers I was already claiming Disabled…

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It took me 30 years to make myself heard – Mandy’s story

Relateable in a lot of ways I’m extremely lucky in many ways growing up with better tech out there and understanding… 30 years fighting, this shows we should never give up

Toast – one word which holds so much meaning

Hopefully I’ll have a guest blogger about autism on discussingthedis soon but until then heres an interesting blog scope