Latest Posts by emptyspaxes - Page 5

Please do not laugh if I misspell something or if my device pronounces a word wrong. I am doing my best. It tends to make me feel self-conscious about using my device, which can make it harder for me to communicate effectively in the future.

I understand that mispronunciations and misspellings can be funny in some contexts, but when it's happening to me, it's not funny at all. It's actually quite embarrassing and it makes me feel like my communication efforts are not being taken seriously. Communication is such an important part of human interaction, and when you have to rely on a device to do it, it can already feel like a barrier. So when people react negatively to something that's already a struggle for me, it can be really discouraging.

I'm not writing this to shame anyone or make anyone feel bad. I just wanted to raise awareness about how these little moments can have a big impact on AAC users.

Late diagnosis does not equal low support needs.

Being verbal does not equal low support needs.

Having good grades does not equal low support needs.

Being employed does not equal low support needs.

Living alone does not equal low support needs.

Having periods of remission does not equal low support needs.

Not having support workers does not equal low support needs.

No single factor dictates the support needs of a person.

“Masking privilege” for autistic people reminds me of “straight passing privilege” for queer couples or “cis passing privilege” for trans people. As soon as other people find out that you’re autistic, or queer, or trans, you no longer have that privilege, so why say you have it at all?

It’s not a privilege to work myself to death in a poor attempt to fit in with allistic cis straight people as a medium-high needs autistic. I can’t really mask at all, though I can kind of “tone down” some of my more obviously autistic behaviors.

“Masking privilege” is bullshit.

What’s happening to autistic people right now?

(Trigger warning for abuse, electroshock therapy, torture, and ableism.)

The US court has overturned the ban on shock devices being used against disabled students, predominantly autistic students in the US.

The shock device being legalized is called the graduated electronic decelerator (or GED). This is a torture device that is used to ‘correct’ autistic behaviors / symptoms. Autistic people are shocked for stimming, and for having meltdowns, ect. This device was made popular by a behavioral center (the Judge Rosenberg Center, specifically) that is infamous for its abuse and torture of autistic / disabled patients.

(Image ID: someone is holding their arm out and resting it on a table, with their sleeve rolled up. Attached to their arm are wires, which connect to a small cube device.)

This is what the device looks like. It sends electric shocks into the victim’s skin; the victim often being restrained and held against their will. This is torture. GEDs have been reported to cause intense psychological trauma, PTSD, and physical injuries.

In March of 2020, the FDA ruled for GEDs to be banned. (Although, of course, they were still illegally used at a number of places.) This ruling has recently been appealed, and today, the US court of appeals has re-regulated the law to stop the use of GED. Sounds great, right? It would be!

... If not for a huge loophole in the wording, which basically allows this torture to continue. This device is going to have continued use on autistic students in order to “correct their behavior.”

“So.... What can I do??”

Great question! You can:

Listen to and boost autistic voices to spread awareness

As-of now (July 7th), autistic activists are trying to get #StopTheShock trending on Twitter, so Tweet out the hashtag if you have Twitter

If you’re in the US, email / call your legislators

Sign this petition if you’re in the US

Follow this case and look out for updates

If Autism Speaks (known ableist hategroup) says anything about this, DO NOT BOOST IT

That’s all! Thank you. Reblogs are very appreciated!!

"Everyone's a little bit autistic"

Some people have cancer, which is abnormal cell growth.

Everyone has freckles/moles/skin-tags/etc, which are also abnormal cell growth.

So does "everyone have a little bit of cancer"?

Or does that detract from the very real struggles of people who actually have cancer?

I’m nonverbal, but I feel as if my support needs are low to medium because I am able to live by myself. I do have issues that I need assistance on like knowing when to eat and reminding myself to do things due to lack of time understanding, but I can function well on my own. 

There's a user on this site who is autistic and recently made a post about support needs, and I wanted your opinion as someone who has higher support needs than myself, cause I need to know if I'm in the right for disagreeing with them.

In their post, they claimed that when autistics refer to support needs, they're only talking about social deficits. If you're nonverbal, you're automatically high support needs. If you can speak clearly and verbally with ease but can't perform ADLs, you're still low support needs because autism is only a social disability.

Is that... right?? because a lot of autistic blogs are agreeing with them but I found it really perplexing and insulting, so I wanted to hear your thoughts.

I fully disagree with that person.

I know speaking people with high support needs. I know nonspeaking people with low support needs.

Support needs refers to how much support someone needs in daily life. I have mid-high support needs, not because I am nonspeaking, but because I will never be able to live alone, I cannot take care of myself, etc. and due to these things I NEED SUPPORT. Being nonspeaking absolutely makes my support needs higher than a speaking persons in the area of communication, but in general? Absolutely not. "Social deficits" can be related to support needs for some people, but that is most definitely not what it means.

I will always need to live with someone - that heightens my support needs.

I can not make myself food - that heightens my support needs.

I need quite a few disability aids - that heightens my support needs.

You probably get the idea.

Also, autism is NOT "only a social disability", that's part of it, yeah, but saying that's all it is is so invalidating and just-- isnt true??

Autism is a developmental disability. It affects my communication. It affects how I feel. It affects how I learn. It affects how I process. It affects how I think. There is nothing in me that isnt affected by me being autistic. Autism is not "just a social disability". A very quick google search will inform you that autism is a developmental disability.

So, are you "chronically late" neurodivergent OR "overcompensates for the fact that I have no concept of time by being ridiculously early" neurodivergent?

Big mood

Why is this so true?! I just look at someone and I’m like “Yep, you got the ‘tism my broski...”

allistic people are like "omg i had no idea you were autistic" meanwhile other autistics can sniff each other out a mile away

autistic person entering a public building: (touches ground) one of my people was here.....

Nothing better than a good old post midnight meltdown because you're too afraid that you're not going to get enough sleep tomorrow cuz someone's forcing you to wake up early for physical activity and today's one of two days in a week that you actually can get solid sleep and even if you sleep for a decent amount of time (the bare minimum) you'll still feel ridiculously tired because your sleep quality has been shit the entire week etc. etc. etc.

“Why should rich people pay more” because fuck ‘em

“So you are okay for paying more when you have money” I am not excluded from ‘fuck ‘em’ when relevant

Ok

Pov: you are autistic

You got your headphones on. You're playing loud soundtracks from anime/video games/movies etc, you're vibing out, you pretend you're running at bad guys, dragons, monsters, whatever, ready for battle!

BUT!

Somebody WALKS into the same room as you WHILE you are having this vibing stimming moment and you see them, and you feel SO embarrassed like you got caught with your hand stuck in the cookie jar.

Like

Fucking RUDE!!

I was in the MIDDLE of something.

DO

YOU

MIND?!!!!

I want to talk about using AAC in public. This post wont have much about my personal experiences, it'll mostly be tips for AAC users using AAC in public. This post also is specifically referring to high tech AAC, not things like communication cards.

1. Being prepared is very important to successful communication in public (In general too, but in public especially!). This means making sure that your AAC device is charged and ready to use. It is also helpful to have a backup AAC in case your device malfunctions or runs out of battery. For example, you might have a printed version of your communication board, or maybe a backup app on your phone. This has been helpful for me a few times, I personally use the second option of having a backup app on my phone.

2. Prepare to probably have to repeat yourself if in a louder environment. You might need to turn up your devices volume or repeat yourself in noisy or crowded environments. It can be helpful to use headphones or earbuds to hear your device better in loud environments, I have personally never done this, but I think if you are only talking to one person, using wireless bluetooth earbuds from your device to them should work. If this doesn't work for you, and full volume still isnt loud enough, having the person you are speaking to view your message window might be helpful.

3. Be patient. Communication using AAC can take longer than oral speech. Becoming frustrated is perfectly understandable, and I become frustrated with my device taking longer sometimes too, but if you try your best to be patient with yourself, you'll likely be able to express and communicate better.

4. Use visual aids! Visual aids can be helpful for communicating as a nonspeaking person in public. For example, if you are trying to order food at a restaurant, you might use a picture of the item you want to order.

5. It is important to advocate for yourself and your communication needs. This might mean informing others of your communication needs and asking for accommodations. For example, you might ask for a quieter table at a restaurant so your device is more audible, or perhaps acsess to a charger in case it dies.

6. Practice. This tip isnt exclusive to using AAC publically, but it is really helpful for doing so. If you are learning another language, practicing will make you more efficient and fluent. The same goes for AAC! Practicing will mean you can find buttons easier, and therefore communicate faster.

7. This one.. isnt a tip. I just wanted to say that people WILL stare, and be confused, but that you are amazing, and your device is amazing. Don't be embarrassed of using AAC.

I am getting myself those “big-ass” headphones today and I am so excited I can’t stop happy flapping because I finally will be able to attend class regularly with them on! EEEEEEk- I even am going to put ocean themed stickers on them since that’s my huge special interest right now SPECIFICALLY BALEEN WHALES OMG IM SO EXCITED 

awetistic things {80}

don’t be embarrassed or afraid to make life easier for yourself :

- cut your hair if the texture sets you off or if it’s too much to take care of

- get that shower chair or that wheelchair or some big-ass headphones

- don’t shower every day

- order takeout if your too tired to make food yourself

- take yourself out of situations if they’re overwhelming

- do online school instead of in person

to take allistics’ words “this is your life, do what you want with no apologies”

I don’t think that a lot of people know what ABA/masking “therapy” actually does to autistic children.

(ANALOGY) If you’re taking a pan out of a hot oven and it hurts your hand, you’ll scrunch your face up and go “ow!” But then someone else comes along and tells you to be quiet, and then force you to keep taking out and putting back in the pan, until you don’t react when you do it. It still hurts, of course, but you’ve been conditioned to not react whenever you are burned by the pan. You could’ve used an oven mitt or had someone else get the pan for you, or maybe just not have done it at all, but you were told for years what the “right way” to take the pan out was. And now you’ve built up callouses, and take the pan out the exact way you were trained to, unconsciously ignoring your pain. It still hurts, but you’re not supposed to do it another painless way, and instead continue to hurt, because it’s all you were taught to do.

ABA doesn’t make autistic kids’ lives easier, it makes the parents’ lives easier, because now they won’t have to listen to their child telling them that they’re in pain. Your child is upset and hurting, but it’s too “hard/stressful” for you to acknowledge and help them.

WE ARE NOT AN ANNOYANCE OR A BURDEN. WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN. WE ARE NOT A BROKEN PUZZLE THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK TOGETHER.

We are people, we have thoughts and feelings, and we feel pain. But we keep it bottled up inside because showing love and care for your child is apparently too “difficult” for you.

(EDIT)

Holy shit this post blew up real quickly

When your friend recommends a show to you but you’re on the spectrum

Friend: You should watch (show or movie that has nothing at all to do with your special interest)!

Me, knowing full well that I won’t: Haha, I’ll check it out!

For anyone who has a disability or is in a situation that makes eating more difficult, I highly recommend this product:

I have extreme difficulty cooking, touching things, and using plates/cutlery due to my OCD and phobia. I have to rely heavily on premade food like ready-to-eat products made at my grocery store, frozen dinners, etc. This product I recently discovered has been an amazing help. 

There’s only four of these breakfast sandwiches in the container, but they’re a pretty good size and very filling. I can eat one of these sandwiches and be good for hours. The only thing you need to make them is a microwave. They cook for only a minute and thirty seconds, which is super fast! 

They require no preparation other than slightly opening the end of the package. You actually cook the sandwich right in the wrapper it’s stored in. This means that YOU DO NOT NEED A PLATE OR CUTLERY! You can use the wrapper you cooked it in to hold the sandwich as you eat it! So it is easy and quick to make, requires no preparation, it doesn’t make a mess, there’s no dishes to clean, you barely have to touch anything, and it tastes seriously good!

There are two versions of this product that both use different ingredients, but to me they tasted the same. The only real difference to me was that this sandwich uses turkey sausage and the other sandwich uses chicken sausage. This brand also makes some other similar breakfast items that are also very easy, but they require a bit more effort. The frittatas have to be put on a plate, and the breakfast burrito needs to be wrapped in a paper towel. I store paper plates in my fridge as an accommodation to help me still occasionally use plates, so I sometimes buy the frittatas. The breakfast burrito tastes so good and is a little easier for me to prepare with the paper towels than the frittatas that require a plate. But the breakfast sandwiches are probably the star of the show.

I know these sandwiches can’t fill someone’s entire dietary needs and that they won’t be useful for every disability that makes eating more difficult, especially disabilities like sensory disorders since they’re so individual, but I hope this recommendation can still help someone. If you have some days where cooking, touching things, standing for a long time, etc. is too hard, then this breakfast sandwich might be useful for an easy, filling, and tasty meal. The main obstacle of this product is that the price is about $6. Buy it on sale if you can. Since I tend to eat this as an entire dinner/snack, it’s not a terrible price since it averages out to $1.50 per meal. I’ve also accepted that food is just something I personally have to save more of my money for so I can spend more money on food that I can actually eat. Food that my disorders will allow me to eat is what I splurge on.

I hope this suggestion might help someone!

I don’t know if it’s my autism, but I struggle to understand what they mean because they aren’t actively saying what the word is. Most of the time there are a lot of words that could fit there so how do I actively know which one they mean? I rather people just say what it is so I’m not left guessing.

hot take but censoring words with asterisks and slashes and other non-letter characters is not only useless but in fact actively counterproductive to its goal of preventing ppl from being triggered (also ableist)

to the poor (or otherwise financially unwell) person reading this, please don't beat yourself up about how you spend your money. especially if you're disabled or come from a not-well-off family.

it's not wrong to buy fast food if it means you eat. it's not wrong to make indulgent purchases if it means you're happy. it's not wrong to get things to make your life easier. it's not wrong to buy something to comfort you. it's not wrong to get new clothes, especially if what you have is old or doesnt fit well. etc. etc.

you're doing the best you can under an oppressive system (ie. capitalism). and odds are reducing your spending won't make you financially stable (which sucks but still). life is hard enough. don't make it harder by beating yourself up over something that ultimately is not your fault. it is not your fault.

Disablity aids are super cool.

You, and your aids look awesome, pretty/handsome/pleasant, and super rad.

I often feel embarrassed for wearing ear defenders, or for having a tablet harnessed around me but like?? That isnt what it is!! It is a disability aid. It is an AAC device. It is how I communicate, and there is no reason to he embarrassed by that.

(Tw for ableism and lack of autonomy)

I want to talk about the issues with touching somebody's AAC device, and how it feels when people do that to me.

I've spoken about this a bit before, but I have more thoughts on it now that I feel like expressing.

People touch my device a lot, and they very rarely have permission. Whether its because they want to prevent me from moving too far away so they'll grab my devices strap, or they press random buttons, or pull it toward them, or push in my puffy stickers, or to search through my private folder, or something else, people tend to touch my AAC device without my consent. It has gotten to the point that my lockscreen has to say "My communication device functions as a body part, do not touch it without my direct consent." And I have a label on the back of the case that says "COMMUNICATION DEVICE PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH!".

When people do these things it feels extremely invasive, like someone touching your mouth or putting their hands in your throat. Its gross, uncomfortable, scary and weird.

It is also super important to note that a lot of nonspeaking people have sensory issues. You have lotion on your hands? The lotion rubbing off may have just ruined that persons device until cleaned. Also, bacteria is very much a thing.

I have to wipe down my device with sanitary wipes a lot, because I set it on all sorts of surfaces, and lots of people touch it. People who probably have dirty hands.

I personally don't, but some people attach chewies to their AAC device, or bite on the case. That makes the sanitary issues even more intense.

I also stim using tangles a lot, and I also have a ton of anxiety around children touching me or my things. Last school year, a kid at my school touched one of my tangles despite me telling him not to, and then I was unable to use that one for at least a month. My point of bringing that up is just, please don't touch peoples things without permission, especially disability aids.

Me on the weekly 🤧

Sad bitches watch bluey under a soft blanket on their day off

SCREAMING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY EXISTENCE IS PAIN

When trying to fall asleep,

NT brain:

Autistic/ADHD brain:

*music you heard an hour ago playing on repeat*,

*leaves one leg out of blanket to regulate temperature*,

"My neighbors are stomping their feet again and I can't sleep until they stop moving",

*events of the day come out in flashback moments*,

*that one tiktok video you saw keeps playing in your head*

*thinks about a hypothetical conversation with therapist*,

"sh*t I forgot to pee again",

"My hands/feet/lips feel very dry so I can't sleep",

"I feel thirsty, but my bladder is already full",

*thinks about events of tomorrow*

"Why isn't my sleep medication working?"

*starts to feel hungry*

*side turn, exchange the leg that was under the blanket*

*starts noticing their tinnitus*,

*wants to absolutely Google something, before I forget*,

*music keeps playing louder and starts vibing on it, until you remember you have to sleep*,

*shushes ownself in an effort to quiet brain down and fails repeatedly*

"Why am I in hell?"

“women in STEM” what about women in Victorian nightgowns? women in bloodstains? women in creaking old houses, and a state of barely contained homosexual desire?

Source: unavailable (image download from Pinterest)

Autism traits in girls

Creative talents

Loves animals

Practices conversations in mind

Routine is important to them

Dislike of conflict

Anxiety

Adopts behavior to fit in

May talk a lot about favorite topics

Artistic

Sensitive

Unique sense of humor

May appear shy

Trusting

Escapes through imagination

OCD tendencies

Enjoys spending time alone

Love of writing

Unsure when it’s their time to talk

Perfectionist

Musical

May feel out of place in this world

May appear young for their age

Unusual eye contact

Note: individuals can have these traits and not be autistic

Autism

I think I’m hungry… Or have to throw up, I don’t know. I’m hydrated and I just went to the toilet, so this can’t be the cause. Hm…

Stay tuned next for “what is my body trying to tell me?” 🤷‍♀️

one thing about orpheus and eurydice is you guys are all like “i’m different i wouldnt turn to look at her” because you are all familiar with the story of orpheus and eurydice. but orpheus wasnt familiar with the story because he was in it lol.