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World Autism Awareness Week - next instalment! Today UCL WiP group and Lucy Hogarth are discussing "...Btw, I'm Autistic" & the responses that one receives. LH has provided the material and I, the commentary... We will take this one slow, as there is lots of fun posters! (1/n)
Ever had to say "Oh btw.. I'm autistic/neurodiv"? Or have you ever been told that and didn't know how to react or approach it? Well here are some guidelines on coping with responses and responding...(2/n)
Nervous laughing? Overload? Get out your pitch forks? How does one react? (3/n)
"So what's your super power?" Well, L is pretty good at looking after Bonsai trees and I can make a bottle of wine disappear rather quickly...both not really a super powers, just hobbies and it isn't a compliment asking! This is a media created trope!
"Emotionless, right?" NOOOOO (please see capital letters as a convey of emotion). It not emotionaless, it is protection - We get bombarded by everything. People are so surprised when your bubbly/emotionally intelligent and then mention ASD - get over it and educate yourself (5/n)
"No Sense of humour?"... I'm just going to leave that there... how ridiculous. LH makes a concise and wonderful point here without my sarcastic commentary (6/n)
"You don't look Autistic!"...This resonates with me as much as "You don't look like a physicist". Not a compliment - is it bad to look like these things?!? If someone could DM the dress code for ASD or Physicist in return I'll recite tube timetables or do some maths for ya. (7/n)
"Oh I'm Sorry"... I'm not sorry, why should you be! I have been on this planet for a bit & only just beginning to love myself for who I am. Love yourself and love others for every ounce of who we are. L's unraveling of the argument is beautiful and now sits above my desk 
(8/n)
(8/n)
A note from Lucy on understanding herself:
"Being diagnosed with Autism six years ago was the most critical moment in my life in terms of understanding myself. However, it also allowed me to see another part of who I am; my “Auto-Self”. This “Auto-Self” is the person...
"Being diagnosed with Autism six years ago was the most critical moment in my life in terms of understanding myself. However, it also allowed me to see another part of who I am; my “Auto-Self”. This “Auto-Self” is the person...
that people think I am; an autopilot that has operated consistently for most of my life. It's the accumulation of learnt social behaviours & a defining feature of women living on the Autistic Spectrum. The ability to use the “Auto-Self” as a mask is at the heart of the number...
of mis-diagnoses that I and many other women face before being recognised as being on the Spectrum. I’ve come to understand that the “Auto-Self” mask is, however, ultimately limiting and prevents Autistic women from realising their full potential as Autists...
This is how I went from “Auto” to “Autist”."
End of note.
Thank you Lucy (12/n)
End of note.
Thank you Lucy (12/n)
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Thank you for reading!! Stay safe and well, sending love from two Neurodiverse gals (14/14)
(14/14)
