Ailill Harper

Wouldn't it be better to have them all removed from the DSM entirely, like all the Sexual Orientation Disturbance nonsense that used to be there? I hope I live long enough to see "the medical model of autism" become as an anachronistic as "the medical model of homosexuality".

How can we talk about neurodivergence or neurodiversity without relying on medical diagnostic labels?

We deserve to understand ourselves beyond the DSM.

We deserve to assign our own meanings to our differences instead of relying on the single narrative that they’re a deficit, disorder or illness.

Why Autistic Unemployment Is So High
patienttalk.org/why-autistic...

There will no doubt be lots of people telling you how much they achieved in 2024, and that's ok.

However, for those who need to hear this truth......it's far more than ok if all you achieved in 2024 was making it through it.

As an elder millennial, lightbulb theory would have been much easier to grasp and explain. It's very hard to run out of spoons and very easy to wash a new one in the sink

I have always loved public libraries, but having young children has exponentially increased my gratitude and sense of indebtedness to them. Our local library is such a huge part of our lives. The books, the programming, the very intentionally curated kids’ section. It’s all such a gift.

It turns out that YouTube "First Time Hearing" music reaction videos are #AuDHD catnip, letting me listen to the same song a dozen times in a row but differently each time.

i think you should be fans of your friends. unashamedly. i think you should boost and uplift your friends every chance you get. i think it’s important to let them know that not only do you love them, but you’re also rooting for them. most of the time people need to hear it.

My neurotype is not a negative consequence to a mistake or oversight

It’s just how I’m wired.

If an autistic person asks for clarification, they are not:
- being aggressive
- being rude
- being obtuse
- trying to annoy you
- whatever ableist slur you are throwing at them

They are :
- asking for clarification

It's not about you, don't take it personally, just explain.

I never knew people who could see things in their mind thought they were the guardians of creativity. "That's literally imagination" "why else would you read" you are actually telling on yourself. Starting to think not seeing things is the super power.

Me: didn't realize I was autistic until I was 45

Also me: had a favorite spoon as a child that I still wish I had because it gave me such sensory joy.

YouTube video by Guy Kelly My jokes are good, actually, and here are the reasons why.

I've edited a video! Of some of my standup! Like you're supposed to when you're a comedian!
Please enjoy "My jokes are good, actually, and here are the reasons why".

Shares/fawning praise etc obviously appreciated x

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s93X...

Neo: "Do you know how to do that?" Trinity: "Not yet." [Entire weekend of hyperfocus] Trinity: "Now I know how but no longer want to do it."

I’m 37. I’m beyond done trying to fit into “normal society”. I’m done masking my autistic traits, I’m going to dress like I did when I was a teenager, I’m going to watch the Muppets, read comics & talk to myself and sing in public.

I have a cunning plan ... - Charlie's Diary (Suffice to say, this is a terrible idea: it's about the safest, cheapest, life-saving intervention 20th century medical research has given us, and polio is a horrible, awful disease that cripples people for life.)

www.antipope.org/charlie/blog...

“The Ugly Duckling” is a great allegory for growing up undiagnosed autistic.

By duck standards, we’re ugly ducks. But then we find out we were never ducks to begin with! There’s no point comparing ourselves to ducks or trying to meet duck beauty standards. Focus on being a beautiful #Autistic swan.

Three panel meme of Dwayne The Rock Johnson driving a car with teenage girl in the back seat. While driving, The Rock asks, "Did you complete the assignment?" The girl in the back replies, "Yes, I followed the instructions to the letter." The Rock looks back at her with utter shock.

Neurotypicals have this weird code where you're supposed to not follow their instructions precisely, but know exactly how to follow them incorrectly.

#BIPOC voices are often missing from autistic spaces, so here is a BIPOC starter pack! 😊

go.bsky.app/TtXfpAt

#racialequality #antiracism

The image of autism as “only white boys” leads to underdiagnosis, discrimination & isolation for many

Our autistic community is much more diverse than that! ❤️

A table from that link, asking that Dentists refer to us as having an 'autism spectrum condition' and being 'person with autism' and definitely not 'autistic people'. OH dear. Then, it goes off into the Triad of Impairments, which is extraordinarily bad. See thread.

Oh dear.
I was quite excited to see the British Dental Journal doing an article about the correct ways to talk about autistic people, and giving top tips to Dentists.
Then, I saw the table...
I may upgrade the words 'oh dear' to 'goodness me', or even, 'Oh I say!'
Thread./

I quite like the idea of autistic to autistic communication involving phrases like "I agree with 95% of what you said" and then following up with the 5% that is seriously breaking your brain

Milton’s ‘double Empathy Problem’: A Summary for Non-academics - Reframing Autism Currently, Autism is classified as a diagnosable ‘neurological disorder’. Most non-autistic people think of Autistic people as ‘lacking empathy’ and […]

Non-autistic people often expect Autistics to learn non-autistic culture & communication. But non-autistics do not expect themselves to understand or learn Autistic perspectives. This means we could see non-autistic people as lacking empathy for Autistics.

reframingautism.org.au/miltons-doub...

This is still one of the best explanations for task-switching difficulties, for most autistic people, that I have ever encountered. Thanks for Tendril Theory, @eisforerin.bsky.social

AuDHD and the Overlap Between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD - ADHDworking Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two distinct neurodevelopmental conditions. However, they frequently co-occur, with many individuals diagnosed with both. Even if not diagnosed with both, there is a considerable overlap between them resulting in many shared behaviours. This overlap has gained increasing attention as research reveals shared characteristics and neurological causality. […]

There is a line of argument that ADHD and Autism/ASD should just come under one condition, I don't know where I land on that, but it is interesting to see this Venn https://adhdworking.co.uk/differences/audhd-and-the-overlap-between-autism-spectrum-disorder-asd-and-adhd/

Autistic me gets fed up of constantly being told that shouldn't need to be told exactly what to do.

It isn't unreasonable for me to want people to just say what they want.

1/ The term “challenging behavior” is widely used in education and care settings, but where did it originate, why is it problematic, and why is its new rebranding to “distressed behavior” equally harmful? A thread 🧵👇 #DisabilityRights

Surround yourself with the kind of people who read banned books.