NeurobeautifulThis week, two different people sent me long audio clips (over 30 minutes) and asked my opinion on them.
In the past, I would have procrastinated for weeks before finally listening to each thing, and even then I’d have split the task across several days.
But now I understand my brain better, including why I …
“It won’t hurt you!”
For someone with sensory sensitivity, who takes things literally, this is confusing and unhelpful to hear.
Before I found out that I take in more sensory data than most people, I wasn’t able to explain that water is physically painful for me. I didn’t “know” that rain hurts my skin, because …
“What is one piece of advice that you wish you could give all autistics? How about all non-autistics?”
Someone asked me these two questions today, and my answers were more alike than I expected.
For autistics, I said: Never stop looking for ways to make hard things easier, from social interaction to sensory overload. You …
I try to make brave choices, because bravery seems like a worthwhile trait to cultivate. And I have frequent opportunities to do so, because so many “normal” things are difficult or uncomfortable for me.
I met a new friend for brunch, and afterwards she suggested we rent electric scooters and ride them around the block. …
Someone asked me what I like most about myself.
It took me awhile to answer, because the things that came to mind first weren’t things I observe about myself, which I assume was the intent of the question.
Rather, taking it literally, I started thinking of things I enjoy experiencing about myself from the inside …
“How are you doing?” I asked, curious how she was feeling about new responsibilities at work.
She flapped her arms in classic autistic fashion, her face looking overwhelmed but full of hopeful determination, like a baby bird trying to make it out of the nest, or a fish trying to swim upstream.
“Staying afloat,” she …
Most of my autistic friends live on the other side of the country, and I’m a little jealous that they regularly give each other recommendations for doctors and dentists and mechanics based on how clearly and directly each professional communicates.
If you’re a professional of any sort, you can gain autistic business (and there are …
Someone asked me if I consider autism a disability, and I said:
“Superman can’t handle kryptonite. That’s a disability, right? That’s how I think of autism.”
But I like this answer from Kirsten Lindsmith better:
“Autism is a pervasive, full-body difference that involves varying levels of disability, depending on both the situation in which an …