Autism, Life & Learning
So after months of waiting it is finally here. I said I would keep up with this. In EastEnders Ollie finally had his ASD assessment and well I will say hat happened first, then I will give my opinion.
So it firstly shows Mick asking some questions to the psychologist. Nick asks lots of questions but the only one from an A4 piece of paper is: do people with autism tend to be more excited about the things they like? The psychologist agreed then the scene got cut. We see Linda, Ollie’s mum, talks to another mum. The other mum says the autism is common in siblings, but no one knows why? Then the other mum mentions that the other half, the husband, couldn’t handle the diagnosis of one of their children having autism. They also did a throwaway line saying that autism can be in girls. It then goes to Mick who isn’t handling things well, a borderline panic attack, the psychologist asks if he is okay. Mick hides it. The psychologist says the assessment is going to be around 1 hour. Both Carter’s are talking & they are openly anxious whilst talking about other things to distract them and pass time. Then the Psychologist then calls the Carter’s up about the results. Then it comes back to the assessment, after a lengthy time away. The psychologist says that the results will be sent to them soon. Then the Psychologist gave them an overview. They say Ollie has a high attention span, high accuracy when playing with things and is very self aware and vocal. Then the psychologist say that with all of this, the school observation and what Mick and Linda have said to them. They came to the conclusion that Ollie has ASD, “he has a mild form”. In real English. Ollie has Mild Autism or Mild ASD. Mick asks the psychologist has Ollie definitely got Autism. The psychologist says yes. So this is my reaction. WHAT THE HELL WAS THE BBC THINKING. The whole plot they was building to turned to a subplot, against a scandal in another family. Then with Micks questions for a whole A4 piece of paper disappeared because it wasn’t needed. Why? Then they do the cardinal sin- they don’t show Ollie being assessed. Ollie is just gone, like he has been kidnapped. If the storyline is Autism, show us both sides- the parents and the child's, the good and the bad. Sorry high attention, being really accurate and being self aware. All Ollie needed was to have a higher vocabulary then for his age and Ollie would have Asperger’s so shouldn’t he be nearer the High-Functioning side of things? So this was so watered down it wasn’t that close to being assessed my assessment was over three days for three hours at a time. So Ollie having an hour assessment isn’t right. Also the psychologist never names Ollie when speaking to Mick or Linda, that what Psychologist do to calm down the parents but also so the parents can process what is going on around them. The psychologist did this with me and with others. I don’t know who did what if NAS or the BBC screwed up things but. It was like watching a water drip only to disappear halfway down a window. Literally what I have said here was how it went in that order with that much detail. That was it i mean I would of liked more context, well… anything. If any parent about to go through the process of their first autism assessment then that would be an F grade from me. I would like to think that everyone just guessed what they were doing rather then actual ‘professionals in autism’ helped. If they did why did they have only that much screen time. It must have been around 7-ish minutes from a 30 minute show. Why didn’t they do a double feature or a longer episode, like they have done in the past for other things. I hope it isn’t because the BBC doesn’t have respect for ASD or the families that have to deal with all the states, ridicule and bullying because their child has autism. I have nothing good to say other then yay, they have to show some things with Ollie being Autistic; but that is a low bar. Thank you for reading this. Please remember I also do a podcast if you want to listen to it, please click this link- I am currently doing my Atypical review on there. I am also will be doing a longer review on this on my podcast channel. If you like this please share it around or comment. Sorry I haven't been around please check my podcast here for why that is.
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So this is something that has taken a while to get going but it is here. I have just started my Podcast. It will be focusing on the same things as what I do here, just this time you can hear it rather then read it. I will do some audio version of my blog or will be doing Podcast exclusives as well as blog exclusives for those who just want to read. My first Episode is going to be out on Monday the 30th September at 12 pm in the afternoon. It is just some FAQs, Frequently Asked Questions, to start off. You can listen to the podcast at any of these places: Anchor Google Podcast Spotify Breaker RadioPublic I am still figuring out the time schedule but you can count on at least one of each once a week. I hope you enjoy it. Hello and Welcome to Autism, Life and Learning Podcast. I am the Autistic Gecko. On this Podcast I will be talking about autism. I will also give my viewpoints on certain topics such as, school, friendships and challenging some of the stereotypical traits that have been made. I also have a blog which I will keep in the description. Here I talk about the same things, if you want a bit of light reading. I will try and follow the same format as what I do in my blog, but I must point out that these are my views and my views alone. Before anyone has a chance to think or say anything. I, Myself have Autism, to be more specific, I have High Functioning Autism or Aspergers Syndrome. So I do have knowledge in autism, mainly mine, but I also have friends who are also on the spectrum. I do also use the labels for autism, so people who don’t like these be warned.
In this podcast I thought I would talk about some Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs, if you want to call them that, about Autism. So let’s get to our first question. What is Autism? This is a bit of an open question, but lets try anyway: Autism is a disorder that affects different aspects of the person's life. If you are autistic, you are born Autistic. It is not from vaccines, diet, bad parenting and it's definitely not from any infections. For some people they have limited communication or emotions whilst others have heightened emotions and can be hyper-verbal. Most autistics are sensitive to light and sound. There are two different names for autism: one is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this is the medical term for Autism and it is what some autistics will say they have. The other will say they have Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). They are the same thing, but ASC sounds less scary then saying you have a disorder. So what do I mean by High Functioning Autism Or Asperger's Syndrome? High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome are labels within the Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are lots of different labels but the most common are: Non-verbal Autism, Low Functioning Autism, Mild Autism, High Functioning Autism , Asperger’s Syndrome and Atypical Autism. These are the labels I alluded to earlier. I do use them purely because it is easier for me to understand that person's view and time I can give them for processing or how complex I can go, because I can go on about a topic, if they are Low Functioning then they aren’t going to tolerate or want me to if they have High functioning they may not be able to tolerate it but more than likely they will want me to keep talking about that topic so they can share their opinion or understand more of that topic. Also in most places these labels are the medical diagnosis for that person. So I got diagnosed with Higher functioning Autism and/or Asperger’s Syndrome, this is because some people don’t like or count Asperger’s as part of the Spectrum. So what do I mean by ‘on the spectrum’? So ‘on the spectrum’ means where are they in terms of their and others labels, like Low Functioning Autism, Mild Autism and High Functioning Autism. This is because people are more than just their diagnosis, they could be really good at Art, Science or Geography. So some people, like myself, say in response I have High Functioning Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, but I am really good at Science. (I know that is super stereotypical). What is Neurodiversity? Neurodiversity is a bunch of different disorders that make up a group call neurodiversity and in this group it includes: Autism, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Bipolar Disorder and Tourette’s and sorry if I have managed to miss any out. I will explain this fully at a later date. So what if you don’t fit to neurodiversity what are you? Well firstly, Human- I at least hope. Joking aside if you have no medical conditions or disorders that don’t involve the brain then you're neurotypical, lucky you- you are now typical. Can Autism be cured? Well there are two answers, the short one is; no! The long one is no it can’t be cured because there is nothing to cure. Autism is essentially the brain looking at information in a different way then to a standard brain it make take in more or less information, it may be really good with the numbers, but really poor at imagining them. It could be really good at remembering almost like a photograph, but yet with no idea how you have taken that photograph. So there is nothing wrong, it’s just a different way of looking at things. Well, that is it for this podcast. I want to say thank you if you have listened to the end. If you do want to read this, then I will put it on the blog. I hope you enjoyed this episode. I look forward to seeing you in the next episode. To listen to the podcast you can hear it at any of these places: Anchor Google Podcast Spotify Breaker RadioPublic So I’m shaking things up on this post (if that is even possible). So the time has come again everyone is going back to school, college or university. So in my case I am starting my second year at the open university. This time one of my friends, Wooper is leaving for university for the first time. So it's definitely an emotional time for them, as well they are leaving to study elsewhere and it is for their friends as we have to say goodbye and we not Wooper for at least an academic year. So in my position that is a big change, but it is one I can luckily adjust to; as I have had to get used to other friends such as Sunflower and Waves go to University. It made it easier as me and Sunflower got to see Wooper before and catch up before all the tears and everything else starts- and that's just me ;). We all talked about different things, it felt so good as they are such good friends with them you wouldn’t know that I had autism and what makes it even better is that they don’t even care if I am Autistic. So I can just be me. I really enjoyed talking to Sunflower and Wooper, we talked about most things… I think. One thing we differently talk about is mental health, because we have all been there and see what happens if we don’t help or talk about it. and we try are best to help others if we can, again I hope. It's gonna be hard to not see that blue for a while, but I’m guessing that what social media is for. Anyway, I wish Wooper the best. I know I haven’t got many people I would call ‘a friend’, but Wooper is one I can call that. The university is definitely lucky to have you as a student. I know college wasn’t the best for lots of different circumstances. Hopefully I will see you before when I am racing. If not, I thought I would show a picture, like I did for my last goodbye blog post. See its a Wooper, not a person like my last blog post. Hopefully Wooper will evolve into the best version of themselves or a Quagsire- either way I’m happy ;).
So with that I hope you are aiming high and your results and everything goes even higher. So when I planned this GCSEs had just started. In real time and other issues I have missed GSCEs by around two to three months. I already know that GCSEs are usually stressful for neurotypicals. I am going to try and show you a point of view of what it is like for someone like me on the spectrum. Lets start with the start of the day. So you will wake up and you will plan what you have that day. In that order will be something like: What is happening today? -Get dressed - Go to school - the lessons will be: Geography, English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry. - I am meeting a friend [a place] at break - I am going to eat [food] at break, then I am going to eat [food] at lunch - I can't twitch, I have to be invisible/ blend in. - Any extras? - [Yes] - a Test- what time, 09:30-11:00, 14:00-15:30 *ERROR* Time clash Geography starts at 09:15 *ERROR* Time clash Chemistry starts at 14:00 Replace Geography with maths Replace Chemistry with [Pick Subject] What is happening today? -Get dressed - Go to school - the lessons will be: Maths, English, Maths, Physics, [Subject]. - I am meeting a friend [a place] at break - I am going to eat [food] at break, then I am going to eat [food] at lunch - I can't twitch, I have to be invisible/ blend in. - Any extras? - [Yes] - a Test- what time, 09:30-11:00, 14:00-15:30 *updating changes* takes up to 24hrs Now when they arrive at school. There are differnt things most people with Autism have to deal with: - Bullies - Teachers - Random people -Random/ unforeseen events This is after. - Environmental checks - Lighting - Sound -Distance between people - Social ques - People emotions - Masking any form of being different (your experiences may differ) So they have now arrived at school, still processing the day and now we have to contend with tutorial. So they have to deal with everything as they to dealt with as they arrived at school but in one room for 30 minuets. Your tutor will try and keep you and any other doing exams being positive as before any exams the issue is, whilst trying to prepare your self them talking adds to the noise and unwanted distractions. When you go to your exam you then go into a form of 'overdrive' where you will recall everything you can remember, this includes every detail of each classroom and any classes you can remember. That is on top of the the stress of the exam and any stresses in your home life. So I am talking I had a heart rate monitor on one day and it was up at around 160-180 beats per minute in the exam. It was at 88 as I entered the room. Thats how much the stress can change our heart rate. Anyway I am going to skip because it quite literally a rinse and repeat of everything as you arrive into school plus everything that has happened throughout the day. So in theory you could have five or even up to eight different environments you are processing plus the stress from the previous exam on top of the exam you are doing now and everything else like lighting, sounds, the atmosphere in the room and who is in that room. So at the end off the day you have to process and it take up to 24 hrs for each bit so it like you aren't sorting out any stress or issues if something goes wrong, just one thing that is at least 20 odd other things to add on to that list. Then you sleep with all of that processing go on in the background, with neurotypicals, they can filter this out. People on the spectrum... not so much you will wake up or just think of a random thing like there was someone trying to hide from class as part of the stairs. There was a smduge mark on my test. This are really random things but they get recalled just so everything can be processed in order without missing gaps. This is a very low level of seeing the world through the eyes of someone of the spectrum, some can be better so much worse. If you like this please comment or share it on. I hope you enjoyed it Hello again, I know I have not been constant, I have had a few personal issues but they have all been dealt with. I can now continue building this safe learning space just about ASD. So this on is a little different, partly because I am going to speak from a different understanding for this topic, but also because this is my soft spot as it were.
I am going to talk about Non-Verbal Autism... So this is an odd area in the spectrum as, this could be actually one of the only ones that has some physical signs. This being the lack of having or using vocal chord(s) or muscles around the voice box. This is a really crude way of explaining this as it a bit more complicated and there other variables etc. anyway I digress. So it is a bit obvious that this is a person who can’t speak who also has autism. Please don’t think the autism caused their lack of speaking. This is simply not true. So where on the spectrum do they land? Well to be honest, anywhere. To be a bit longer, someone with Non-Verbal Autism just means that they have autism and they may not be able to speak. So although it is ‘rare’ you could find someone with Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism who is Non-Verbal. Yes, it is more ‘common’ to see them on the lower to mild end of the spectrum. People forget that it is just more common to diagnose people on that side of the spectrum and having Non-Verbal Autism is quite uncommon. So if you put 100 red stones in a bag with 50 black stones, 25 green stones and 10 purple stones. It is just more likely you are going to pick one of the 100 stones. That is just basic odds. Can someone with Non-Verbal Autism learn to speak? Again it is bit more complex that this but... it does depend on why they don’t talk. So most can’t at all this is because the muscles don’t work properly or that there is a muscle(s) that is missing. It also depends on if the person actually wants to talk. So if they can’t talk how do they communicate? Well this is interesting, well to me. Someone with Non-Verbal People will usually use not one but two of these. - Makaton, a sign based language for people with learning difficulties - Sign Language, a sign based language for people normally for people with hearing impairments. As not everywhere uses Makaton, this is used as a substitute in the place of that. - Communication bracelets, these will have different basic pictures or words on them. This allows a limited amount of speech, but these have to be pointed at by the person using them and they aren’t that helpful all the time. There also can be a lot of them so the person may get confused about different the different bands until they get use to them. - Spellboard, a spellboard is a board with letters and maybe some basic small words on it that allows people to talk about more complex things the only issue is that someone has spell each word and that means you hope they aren’t dyslexic so avoid any issues. This can also take an age to have a conversations. So out of any of these the person may use at least two of these. So why have I done one post just on Non-verbal Autism? Non-Verbal Autism is, to me, so intresting. The idea of someones voice is taken by nature and yet we, as humans, want to give them one but in the same stroke we don’t want to hear them because there is something wrong. This just proves how neurotypicals can be so kind but hateful how they can care but don’t want to. It is also what first think of when you mention the word-Autism. This because it is such a good trope to use because it can make the lead to be a real hero by doing the less effort but also make the supporting cast do very little to outshine the lead actors/actresses. Although if you keep posting the same thing people either get bored or think your blinkered. Also as I am really passionate I would prefer to defend people without a voice rather then keep trying to explain why things are in a neurotypical way. Thank you for reading this blog post. Please comment below of what you thought or if you think I have missed any thing. I know that I am a little late but The next one will be about Autism and GCSEs. Just to let people know I am also shortly going to reveal one of my projects. Hopefully I should be released in the near future. So I was going to talk about Non-verbal autism, but I am instead going to talk about autism and authority. I know it is a change well I thought I would talk about this first as this has just happened to me.
So, on Thursday I was at the job centre and when I told the job adviser that I had Asperger’s they changed their tone and decided to make a assumptions about me and what I could do and anything I am working towards isn’t worth it because someone with autism just doesn’t do those jobs. So I did what I could, so I complained, just then and there I waited a couple days first, over the weekend just to figure out if it is worth it and also it was closed- and you can’t complain if it’s closed, as there is no one there. So I waited till today, hence why no post until now. I went down and complained with a little help from my parents. Something is now being done. They are re-training around half of their staff and are going to warn that adviser to be more aware of what to do in unfamiliar situations. Well I guess it would be an autistic person complaining quoting the law at you would be. This brings me on to a point I really want to make. That the power of authority are not omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful) or infallible (unfailing) every so often they do need a shove in the right direction most of the time that means being autism aware or just being disability aware. The job centre is one form of authority, although they are still quite minor people like police or the armed forces they are on they higher end of authoritarian figures even these sometimes can be biased or just don’t know a way of speaking to someone. So it takes people to just remind them that when they are wrong they aren’t wrong from a personal view but from a legal point of view; they are wrong from the laws they are trying to force on to you. All it takes is one person to say it is wrong. If it takes another to help then that is fine. I really like teaching people but when I mention I have autism to people I teach some don’t care, whilst others will re-organise their lessons with someone who isn’t autistic. This isn’t against any law because they are in there rights if they think they can get taught by someone else. As they have the authority in that situation. Its a little funny seeing as you always think that the teacher has all they power and when you find out the student has some as well that dynamic shifts slightly but still dramatically. How many students actually feel like they can complain or either talk to the teacher about any changes. Eugh, change. I don’t think it will be the majority more the minority. Although there is a reason why I just don’t know why it at least can be a even amount. Usually some force it taken to people who stand up against it, but if there is no one to stand up against brutalistic authoritarism there may be no change at all. Again eugh change, why change? Then again why not? This blog has always been about awareness about autism I have shown it now in the real world and although I had someone who is willing to help change things, there will be times where people don’t want to this is where not one person will stand but many and they will shout. Authority is everywhere we go, there is not hiding from that. Most people on the spectrum listen to authority way too much from family to friends and then to the police. Sometimes we hear horror stories of when authority takes control of a situation where they start attacking autistic people or just disabled people in general. When I got diagnosed within 6 months of my diagnosis I was taught all my rights as someone on the spectrum chapter and verse. In one way this is good, it shows people on the spectrum have some authority within the law; also isn’t it bad that we have to learn these, we learn these not because we can, but because it is going to be used at sometime. Someone could at anytime is going to find out that someone has autism and are going to use it against them; so we, as a collective, have to be ready just in case someone doesn’t try to attack us may it be emotional, physical or intellectually. This isn’t the fair world we get taught about, but it is the world we live in as if a label really defines who we are. I think that we shouldn’t have to suffer these attacks, no one should. This is where authority over steps its mark usually because someone made it, that’s they only way it can over step. It is also the only time it can harm a person whether it be physical or psychological, is that a person with that authority over steps its mark. That could be anyone in any place. What do you think about this? Are people with autism given enough power within the law? Please comment below for what you think. Also who got the reference from the title? Firstly sorry for not posting anything for about 2 ish weeks. I had an issue with low mood then I kept having meltdowns and finally to top it off I seemed to lost most of my atypical reviews have disappeared so there won't be any for the time being until I can find them.
So this now my new host site. Yes I know i have moved around a lot. Google blogger did not want to show my blog. Wix decided to crash and I have no access to help, or much help because I am not paying for my domain... yet. So here is Weebly... How does everyone like this? I am still going to be doing some bits and little tweaks, alongside the odd twitch, on the blog page. I have now separated the blogs from the reviews, if it hasn't been added yet I will add the all the links of everything I use there. If anyone has any ideas for a blog please email them to the contacting a Gecko. So there will be another blog on Sunday, that will be Autism and GCSEs. If you want to suggest any change then also use the email part of the website. I will hopefully have another Gecko helping out. If something happens, but we will see what happens with that. There maybe some other changes in the works as well hopefully some of these may come to fruition. If you want to say anything in the comment please do, hopefully i am here for the foreseeable future. Hello. Right firstly I need to say I forgot to add some bits and also some bits I didn't want to add because well, they seem a bit stereotypical. So without further ado lets add to my explanation.
So people with autism naturally my have a issue with emotion may it be over empathy to having little to no emotions. Well on the female side of things some don't recognise what they are feeling sooo.... logically they start harming themselves. I would really like to stress this isn't every person with autism and most don't go out there way to harm themselves nor do they stereotypical cut themselves it will things like scratching or hitting themselves. So they are very small about of people with autism who cut themselves, just because they have autism. Another thing is that there are most subtle things that need to be taught like body language, but these are more signals for them to be independent- so sometimes this needs to be taught a bit earlier then most neruotypicals. Also you have things like lessons on how to be normal, well this is for everyone on the autistic spectrum, being a girl on the spectrum means you have to be taught on how to be a woman/girl and well it depends who teaches you it also it depends on culture and religion. In most belifs being male means you have little to sorry about, but being a girl means you may have to hold things back and well I haven't seen this happen most people on the spectrum can't control what they are saying they are taught to be honest and truthful so they are; although quite bluntly. I have one but quite odd thing left. There is an issue with danger. No this isn't like me walking in front of cars. The danger this time is about autistic women not knowing that person a person are being controlling or abusive. Firstly yes this does happen to men. This is why it is odd the reason why. This happens mainly, not always, but mainly because it is portrayed that NEUROTYPICAL women are weak and vulnerable. I know this isn't right. So why is a neurotypical trait overstepping into autism? Well to be completely honest I don't know why. here is my guess. People for a long time thought autism only affected men. So when it comes the 'shock' that women can have autism as well.. that trait of women being weak etc. worked even more then women got the vote and better rights and the idea stuck, but then so did the idea men take advantage of women, the issue is no one told the men. So they find people like an mildly autistic women and slowly alply pressure and then blame and issues on the persons autism rather then finding a neurotypical and do more work to get the same result. So here is the rest that I could remember. Please comment below on what you think. I shall do another blog on Sunday. Hellooo! This week has been some what of an up and down week I think you could call it.... interesting. There hasn’t been anything from the EastEnders side of things so we are one to my next thing to cross off my to do list. So the topic is Girls with Autism.
So firstly yes girls/women♀ can be on the spectrum. Although it is ‘uncommon’ the ratio is around 3 to-1. They will usually get tested around the teenage years so between 12-18 years old, rather then the 4-6 years old someone on the male side would normally gets tested... so what gives for this difference? This is interesting (well to someone how studies human behaviours). The majority of human interactions is done non-verbally, so by body language through eyes, hands or through facial expressions. Interactions like parallel play when you are a young child slowly introduces you to these skills as well as understanding the idea of friendships and how to hold on to friends. Then as you grow these skill expand and adapt from different skills you learn when you go through adolescence as these skills change for them to be mature and refined to have more selected ideas and more flexible friendships. One of the most common issues with males on the spectrum is that they struggle with parallel play then they don’t understand why someone plays different to them or wants to play with them. Females on the spectrum can do all this until roughly around the point of change around adolescent. This also isn’t helped by the non-verbal language changes; so things like emotional vocabulary becoming non-verbal as well as verbal, as you say something and don’t for others. These changes then make reactions that is just a lot autistic, then they get tested... and surprise- they are normal🙃. I should say now this will usually be people between mild- Asperger’s. Usually on the lower functioning side of things should be spotted before 15 for either gender. The ‘special skills’ that most autistic have also change. Things like learning languages🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷 or precise grammar are common also things like skills in the humanities are another skill that is more common in females then males, other then history. Things like geography 🌍 and religion. Right then this is it for this one😔, I will continue this on Sunday🙃. I know this is a different thing way of talking about things; I hope you have enjoyed it. Here is a question for you: Before reading of this how much did you know about female autism? Please comment below or subscribe to keep up to date on Gecko post. I should say no live geckos are traveling through Royal mail- It’s FedEx😉. Also please remember to share if you found it interesting. |
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