Meet others living with autism: Come say hi

Posted by Lisa Lucier @lisalucier, Dec 19, 2019

Welcome to the Autism group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

Living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have many aspects in common with neurotypicals, but also some uniquenesses. Whether you are someone diagnosed with ASD, or are living with or caring for someone with ASD, let’s connect.

I’m Lisa, and I am the moderator of this group. I look forward to hearing about the lens through which you look at life, your experiences, and what comes easily to you and what presents difficulties. Perhaps you or your loved one has been misunderstood or even mistreated by others, or maybe you have heightened senses that bring you much joy. Whatever your story, I encourage you to share it openly and frankly, and also provide compassion and a place of safety for others touched by autism.

I’d love to welcome you and introduce you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Have a seat in a comfy chair, grab a cup of coffee or a beverage you like, and let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

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

@sirgalahad

I AM OLD I SLIPPED OVER AND REINJURED MY LOWER BACK AND DISCS IT HURTIES

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sorry folks forgot again not yelling its writted in capitals

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@sirgalahad

sorry folks forgot again not yelling its writted in capitals

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No worries, @sirgalahad. The sentiments you are conveying in your post are what counts.

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@lisalucier

This article is very intriguing, @mamacita, and though I read all of it, I still want to go back and drill down into the many links included.

One thing I wanted to ask about from this article, @auntieoakley @mamacita @gingerw @sirgalahad is about this: Many autistic young people need routine (but not necessarily sameness).

When I think of routine, I think of sameness (e.g., brush your teeth at 8 p.m. every night, or eat a bowl of Cheerios, like my 11-year-old, every day right after you get home from school). What is the differentiation the author is referring to here between routine and sameness?

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one aspect of educating we auties we do love routine to plan our days difficult in a classroom situation and where some students grasp information far quicker What has enabled autie students to settle into a classroom . By utilising by the teacher and teacher being aware of the child when in a stressful or to calm themselves .will revert back to their base calming routine and lining up dolls or hiding in a dark room or music or stimming The trick to get the student accepted is too identify the act and utilise that in a class or if the student loves cars trucks and can use that in maths or comprehension . This has been a very successful way of getting the autistic child involved less likely to be gaslit or isolated and bullied. mi e was a love of plants geography and world war battle stats

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@sirgalahad

sorry folks forgot again not yelling its writted in capitals

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You know what,@sirgalahad, I didnt even notice it. I know that's how you sometimes write and its how I sometimes write as well.

Maybe we should think about adding some sort of disclaimer routinely here as we are going to be getting responses from many different people with all kinda of functionalities.

We are here to learn from each other and as long as due respect is given to each individual , I think we can come to some sort of understanding.

I know that in most circles, all caps are considered inappropriate. But from my experience as an Autistic person, this is one of the ways we are able to communicate.

I dont know why it never occurred to ne to mention it before. @lisalucier, this is a valid form of expression amongst my people.

I think we should be ok with this. As long as everyone understands.

To be continued, my friends.
Mamacita Jane

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@lisalucier. the author does not go into great depth about routine or sameness.

My routine at school when I was a child was so much slower paced and predictable than it is for children today.

With children on the Spectrum, there needs to be predictability. The child needs to have structure built in to their schedule every day. This is calming and helps him focus on learning.

The material will not be the same but the approach to presenting that material will be. At the same time flexibility must be taught in a way the child can accept and understand. The Special Needs Team are happy to assist the Regular Ed Teachers in achieving these goals.

The overall goal is to create a warm environment where the student feels accepted. His schedule may very well differ from the child sitting next to him. But in the end both children are able tp achieve their goals.

More details tomorrow. One minute until midnight. Pumpkin time.
Good night.
Mamacita Jane

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@sirgalahad

I AM OLD I SLIPPED OVER AND REINJURED MY LOWER BACK AND DISCS IT HURTIES

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@sirgalahad Ouch! What are you doing to help feel better? Does massage or a topical ointment of some kind help you? When my back hurts, it can be so limiting! Sure hope you feel better soon.
Ginger

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Epsom salts baths and showers, @sirgalahad. Magnesium orally?
Lots of kitty hugs and snuggles

Mamacita Jane

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@lisalucier

This article is very intriguing, @mamacita, and though I read all of it, I still want to go back and drill down into the many links included.

One thing I wanted to ask about from this article, @auntieoakley @mamacita @gingerw @sirgalahad is about this: Many autistic young people need routine (but not necessarily sameness).

When I think of routine, I think of sameness (e.g., brush your teeth at 8 p.m. every night, or eat a bowl of Cheerios, like my 11-year-old, every day right after you get home from school). What is the differentiation the author is referring to here between routine and sameness?

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I understand the question a bit differently, but here is my way with routine but not sameness. I enjoy stretching my brain around new things, I always have. I did well in an environment where routine was king, we started at the same time each day, we broke for lunch at the same time every day, we finished at the same time each day, etc. I also excelled at learning and if there was sameness, such as repeating the same lesson, or a segment of curriculum moving to slowly, I would end up floundering around mentally because I would consume every bit of information that was available on a topic, then I needed to move forward to the next topic, or build on the current one. Put simply I had to be in my chair at 8:00 am every day, but I needed different and new information each day.

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@auntieoakley

I understand the question a bit differently, but here is my way with routine but not sameness. I enjoy stretching my brain around new things, I always have. I did well in an environment where routine was king, we started at the same time each day, we broke for lunch at the same time every day, we finished at the same time each day, etc. I also excelled at learning and if there was sameness, such as repeating the same lesson, or a segment of curriculum moving to slowly, I would end up floundering around mentally because I would consume every bit of information that was available on a topic, then I needed to move forward to the next topic, or build on the current one. Put simply I had to be in my chair at 8:00 am every day, but I needed different and new information each day.

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Well said,@auntieoakley.
I quickly got bored with repetition of the sane lesson. That worked fir my classmates, but not fir me. I too needed to move on. However I did not mind helping classmates who had more difficulty. Oddly enough the teachers encouraged that in the early grades.

Wish that more of them would do that today.

Love and light
Mamacita Jane

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@lisalucier

This article is very intriguing, @mamacita, and though I read all of it, I still want to go back and drill down into the many links included.

One thing I wanted to ask about from this article, @auntieoakley @mamacita @gingerw @sirgalahad is about this: Many autistic young people need routine (but not necessarily sameness).

When I think of routine, I think of sameness (e.g., brush your teeth at 8 p.m. every night, or eat a bowl of Cheerios, like my 11-year-old, every day right after you get home from school). What is the differentiation the author is referring to here between routine and sameness?

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@lisalucier Here is my take on it. Sameness means eating a meal or two meals everyday at the same time, and each of those meals in its own right is the same every day. Routine on the other hand, may be eating a meal at the same time each day, but the contents of those meals are different on a daily basis. A good example of routine growing up in my household was Monday and Wednesday breakfast was bacon and eggs. Tuesday was French toast. Thursday was waffles. Friday was eggs and toast. Saturday was cold cereal until we were old enough to make our own oatmeal. Sunday was usually pancakes made by my dad. Breakfast was the same time every day. Six days a week, dinner was at 6pm. Now as everyone left the family home, the times changed a little bit but not by very much. Even until he was put into a Skilled Nursing Facility, my dad kept a very timely routine for his meals.

Now as to my schooling, routine was not so much the issue as the sameness. Like @auntieoakley, I absorbed information quickly and was always looking for more. This left me a very bored student because I was ahead of everyone. I made all efforts to keep myself occupied. I started writing. Mostly poetry and commentary, and I still have it all! In high school I had one teacher who saw what others didn't, and kept me challenged mentally. I was two years ahead of my same grade in technical studies, but I was not allowed to jump grades. That's another subject for another day.

I will be getting into reading that article that @mamacita has referenced.
Ginger

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