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The trouble with puzzle pieces
Historically the Autistic community have been represented by primary coloured puzzle pieces. Although this symbol can be interpreted many ways there are inherent problems with it. It was first used to represent ‘childhood schizophrenia’, the first modern label of what we now know to be autism. The primary colours were used to show that it…
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Autistic parenthood: where has my self-care gone?
I have always struggled with self-care, both physical and emotional, and I still often forget and avoid things which would actively make me feel better: showers, tooth brushing, haircuts, down time, relaxing (what’s that!?). They have always been tasks that I’ve struggled with due to inertia (see Autistic Inertia) and my skipping delightfully around demands…
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Living at the blurry edges of gender and neurotype
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What Pride means to me
Queer pride is a difficult one for those of us who feel things differently. Do I know what pride feels like? Probably not, not in a way I could explain anyways. Feeling and showing pride as an alexithymic person is difficult (read Alexithymia and interoception: what the Hell is going on!?). Pride, and other feelings,…
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Alexithymia and interoception: What the Hell is going on!?
Alexithymia is a condition or difference, which roughly translates in ancient Greek as “no words for emotions.” People who experience alexithymia can have difficulty identifying feelings, describing feelings to others and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal. Alexithymia is a common experience for us Autistic folk – I have issues with…
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Why youth work gives me Autistic joy
As a Neurodivergent and Disabled youth worker I learn so much from the Disabled kids I work with. I realised I was Autistic after doing home visits and writing kids paperwork which could have come straight from my own childhood – the anxiety, the need for sensory input, the inability to be quiet or sit…
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Autistic parenthood: screaming into the void
Nothing quite prepares you for parenthood, no matter how organised you are and how much the baby was planned. The late nights, the interrupted sleep, the constant feeding and nappy changing, and the emotions of it all! People have lots to say about how to look after a baby and how you’ll feel but its…
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Do all Autistic people have ‘special interests’?
We don’t all have special interests and that’s fine! Some Autists know everything about their favourite subject. Special / focused interests can be based around stats, dates, facts and figures. Special interests on history, people, places, animals can come with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. My special interests are more complex because I’m…
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I wish I could dress like a boy
I have pretty intense sensory processing differences – I get mega tactile joy from soft, light materials and clothing which flows off me. And I hate stuffy, thick, clunky clothing. Tags in clothing make me want to scratch the skin off my body. I find it difficult to wear full length trousers as I don’t…
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Autistic inertia
