1. < Autism (ASD)

Adults On The Autism Spectrum

Posted by Mamacita, Alumna Mentor @mamacita, Apr 29, 2018

Maybe you were really shy as a child. Perhaps you took home a huge stack of books from the school library, read them, and returned them the next day. Or did your best friend find you crying in your closet, unable to answer the question "Why?" At any rate, your life could be traced to the Self-Help section of the local bookstore. Unfortunately, most of the books were not much help. ADHD seemed to fit, at times. Your shrink said you might be Bi-Polar, although she wasn't really certain. All you knew was that you rarely fit in, anywhere. One day at work, it hit you square in the face: I don't speak these people's language! Really, it was like you were all playing this game, and everyone knew the rules but you. You couldn't tell a joke, and you never "got" any joke your co-worker tried to tell you. People started getting annoyed with you, because you had a memory like a steel trap. They didn't appreciate it when you called them on the carpet. Who knew? This was my life, and worse. I finally aced several tests that pointed me to the answer to my questions. The Autism Spectrum. Guess what? Little kids with Autism grow up to be Adults with Autism. Diagnosed late in life? This is the place for you!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autism (ASD) Support Group.

sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Nov 21, 2018
In reply to @mamacita "Auties who are non verbal, when we refer to "talking" on this site, of course, of..." + (show)
@mamacita

Auties who are non verbal, when we refer to "talking" on this site, of course, of course, of course we are referring to whichever method of communication you personally use. If you use sign language, and you are able to send me a video message, I have a friend who can translate for me. Will it take some time? Probably. Does it matter? Not really. I want to "hear" from you all in any way that you are able to do so. If you speak French, mine is too rusty. But if we were around each other for about two weeks, I would remember it. Works with the French relatives!

If you speak Spanish, we are out of luck. My son in love could speak with you fluently. Don't know anything about Chinese or Japanese, German or Arabic. But they tell me there are apps for all of that and more. My point in all of this rambling is that I don't talk on here just to hear myself speak. That would be incredibly boring, don't you think?

I do like to share stories that I think might help someone along their way. I like to get the conversation started. I like to share information, and I will be getting better at doing that. ( When I was little, we were using chisels and hammers, carving letters onto rocks, a la Fred Flinstone)

Someone once said in front of me, oblivious to my own personal label of Autism, that Autists don't feel like other people do. I was horrified. Yet there are still plenty of folks who think that.

So, what do you say? Let's show everyone the feels! Wonderful Wednesday to you, me lovelies.

Mamacita

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they can also communicate and send email vis their laptop or ipad using the pictogram communication system which is available and friends with non verbal children use in Australia . I was talking to an autie friend in Brazil yesterday she was having a meltdown and she was speaking to me in Portuguese and I was replying in English we were both using the BIng translator and it worked well gave her an easier time to express herself and me time to read and listen

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Parus | @parus | Nov 21, 2018

Always the way it is. Slackers abound everywhere 😞

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 21, 2018

To all my cyber friends here, whether you are here in the US, or elsewhere, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving holidays, or not, I am grateful to you. You all have been a network of support for me since I joined up here. This year has been one of many major changes in my life. To get through it all in as fine a shape as done, is in no little part due to your input/support/sharing. "Thank you" seems so small, but it is heartfelt. Wishing you the best and healthiest of this season,
Ginger

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2 replies
sirgalahad | @sirgalahad | Nov 21, 2018

thankyou gingerw bear hugs and happiest thanksgiving

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Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Nov 21, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "To all my cyber friends here, whether you are here in the US, or elsewhere, whether..." + (show)
@gingerw

To all my cyber friends here, whether you are here in the US, or elsewhere, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving holidays, or not, I am grateful to you. You all have been a network of support for me since I joined up here. This year has been one of many major changes in my life. To get through it all in as fine a shape as done, is in no little part due to your input/support/sharing. "Thank you" seems so small, but it is heartfelt. Wishing you the best and healthiest of this season,
Ginger

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@gingerw, you have been and continue to be the most wonderful blessing to me and to so many here on Mayo Clinic Connect! You give so much of yourself. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.
Mamacita

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Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Nov 21, 2018

Neurodivergent. This is from the Mighty regarding accommodations for us during the holidays. Don't know if this will successfully post or not.
Mamacita

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1 reply
Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Nov 21, 2018

Well, well, it did not work. I will try again tomorrow.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 22, 2018
In reply to @mamacita "Neurodivergent. This is from the Mighty regarding accommodations for us during the holidays. Don't know if..." + (show)
@mamacita

Neurodivergent. This is from the Mighty regarding accommodations for us during the holidays. Don't know if this will successfully post or not.
Mamacita

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Let me help out, @mamacita. Here is the article I think you were trying to post

- The Holiday Accommodations I Need as a Neurodivergent Person by Olivia James https://themighty.com/2017/12/making-holiday-accommodations-for-a-neurodivergent-person/

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 22, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "Let me help out, @mamacita. Here is the article I think you were trying to post..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Let me help out, @mamacita. Here is the article I think you were trying to post

- The Holiday Accommodations I Need as a Neurodivergent Person by Olivia James https://themighty.com/2017/12/making-holiday-accommodations-for-a-neurodivergent-person/

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@colleenyoung @mamacita Opened up the link and was happy to see this article. I know that as someone on the spectrum, social gatherings can be very stressful for me, which is hard for my husband to understand as he does not see the difficulties that I face. I am learning that it is okay for me to speak up when something makes me uncomfortable, even when it is not considered "socially acceptable" to take care of myself. If I can't take care of myself, who can? I have to honor myself and what makes me feel comfortable or uncomfortable. Here is to all of us being here for each other, supporting each other, and honoring the unique path that each of us follows.
Ginger

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 22, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "To all my cyber friends here, whether you are here in the US, or elsewhere, whether..." + (show)
@gingerw

To all my cyber friends here, whether you are here in the US, or elsewhere, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving holidays, or not, I am grateful to you. You all have been a network of support for me since I joined up here. This year has been one of many major changes in my life. To get through it all in as fine a shape as done, is in no little part due to your input/support/sharing. "Thank you" seems so small, but it is heartfelt. Wishing you the best and healthiest of this season,
Ginger

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Thank you for being part of the Connect community, @gingerw.

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