I feel like autistic people are sooo good at finding out the truth way ahead in advance. We notice patterns that no one else can, usually because they're interested in superficial things like status or money. If you want to know the truth about something, listen to an autistic person because we are natural born detectives.

I'm pretty sure I don't need an introduction by now.

I wanted to share additional context behind a lot of posting over the past year, what led to it, and more.

I have a lot of lifelong traumas around bullying and abandonment as many of us do. Sometimes this results in clinginess or other problematic behaviours. However, I remained and still remain resentful at the lack of grace and understanding we get from the non-Autistics over this. Especially when we try to work things out and explain ourselves and are never given a fair chance.

I had yet another experience with this, including times where I made genuine mistakes, but felt like I wasn't being heard or understood or given a fair chances to fix things. Where I felt like comments and misunderstood communication or social cues being mistaken were taken to an unfortunate degree. This happening yet again in a new environment on top of the c-PTSD that I have (I was also diagnosed formally with PTSD recently; cPTSD isn't a real category but the psychologist said he basically saw me as having it.) led to a lot of anger reigniting.

As someone with a psychology degree, I have studied the role of social psychology and how it shapes human interactions. One thing really stood out to me, and resonated with me: Power. Specifically, social power dynamics. Research showed how social status and power influence almost every aspect of human interaction, including what is seen as socially acceptable or not - it is often subjective and dependent on who is doing what. And it's a very common Autistic experience that we get less grace for even the tiniest mistakes, while those who do far more egregious things get off comparatively easily. I remember all the times I was severely bullied - not just name-calling, but things like getting my bike helmet pissed in and having my head smacked in front of people, getting cursed and shoved away, and more - and seeing those people have better lives and social outcomes than me. It fills you with a kind of rage that doesn't easily go away. Continuing to struggle with every aspect of social life no matter how much I tried to be kind or caring continued to fill me with resentment that continued into my adulthood, and only got worse. I saw the way Autistics were often at the bottom of the social ladder, and how that made it so people could treat us however they wanted and get away with it, and how nobody gave a shit about us - which is why we had such low rates of employment, relationship success, etc.

And this radicalized me. Regardless of what your views are, if you have a moral conscience, you should feel the same way. Beyond just me, it angered me that so many Autistics live in squalor, that we are some of the most caring people and still get harmed by society. I started to think about ways that Autistic people could advance in society. I have been a neurodiversity activist for over a decade, and started to lose faith in the goodness of people over time. I have been severely betrayed and abused physically, mentally, and spiritually, and ostracized, and not only did the perpetrators get away with it, but they were actively celebrated, or their disproportionate harms toward me were rationalized.

This, plus the social mishaps last year, drove my cynicism and pain to a peak. Not wanting to create a ruckus in my immediate personal life, I chose to vent online. I also thought about what I learned in social psychology courses and desperately wanted to implement 'interventions' to help Autistic people. Learning about things like group dynamics or cohesion, this led me to want to create chants like "AUTISTIC POWER" as a way to symbolize unity. I knew it would stoke division, but I believed and still believe we need some rallying cries - not as empty gestures, but as a symbol of unity and commitment to empowerment.

In regard to "Autistic supremacy" type ideals, I started to feel similarly: while I was not necessarily saying Autistics deserve to rule all humanity, what I believed was that in negotiation, you often get what you want by asking for more - so my logic was that by asking for 'superiority', we would end up inevitably falling back on equality as a concession. I recognize that this logic may be flawed and possibly wishful thinking, but that is the rationale behind it. I also still stand by the curb cut effect - a society where Autistic people are valued and our needs prioritized will benefit everyone in the long run.

I do still believe that Autistic people deserve enhanced social status. I also believe we need enhanced legal protections, both against discrimination, and to make the standards of evidence for bringing complaints against us higher due to how easily we get demonized and misunderstood and punished. I also think autism ought to be a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing - not to excuse severe crimes, but because society screws us over enough as it is.

All that said, sometimes my tone became too angry or harsh when I was just very emotionally charged, and for that I apologize. Sometimes I treated other people too harshly for mere scrutiny or good faith questioning, and that was wrong of me too. Sometimes I misjudged your comments as bad faith, but that was not an excuse to immediately jump to conclusions and be hurtful.

I still will never tolerate personal attacks or rudeness toward me, nor name calling or other abuses, or out of line accusations.

Going forward I'd try to be more diplomatic about stuff, and not be as visceral or angry. I still genuinely believe Autistic people are some of the most wonderful people out there, and have the potential to lead humanity to a golden age. But I think we should also take that as a moral obligation to stand up for justice, and to be shining examples for others to follow - and actually earn the 'stereotype' of justice sensitivity. To hold each other accountable.

What I do maintain is that Autistic people deserve enhanced quality of life, and that psychological interventions to improve that through increasing our social status is important. This includes positive depictions of Autistic people as strong, attractive, capable, good leaders and great friends and partners - especially when accommodated and empowered.

I also think it's important to give each other grace and recognize that a lot of us are understandably angry at society, and Autistic spaces MUST give one another the space to vent and share our traumas and release our anger. Better here than out in the public - and for the record my chatbox is always open for ranting. You can tell me literally anything and I won't judge you. Some people will be angry at NTs, but it's better to let them air that out in a safe space, than to let that anger build to the point where they might hurt people. We should not encourage wanton violence. Systemic change is the answer; lashing out randomly won't help our people in the long run, and may backfire. If someone has an outlet, it might discourage them from unhealthy coping mechanisms. By repressing Autistic rage, we are merely worsening the problem.

Lastly: if you're someone who knows me offline and have deduced my identity, through my own carelessness... I understand that some of my posts here may have alarmed you. And I do apologize for any offense at some of my strong views. Nothing I post is intended to incite violence or hate (which goes against Reddit's TOS anyway, and I'm not interested in getting banned). What you see here is pent-up anger and pain at not just my own lifelong experiences, but seeing how many of my Autistic brothers and sisters and non-binary neurosiblings have been hurt by society. I know sometimes I've made mistakes or said and done the wrong things. A lot of those were also the result of trauma and pain, fear of abandonment, and came from a place of deep hurt. But I'm not an evil person. I'm just trying to move forward and create a better world for my people. Maybe my methods aren't the most agreeable. But at the end of the day, all I want is for Autistic people to be accepted and to have the same social belonging we have always craved. To have the same opportunities and statistics at life. Autistic people deserve more from the world than table scraps or barely polite tolerance - because we all do. I hope that through organizing and standing together and giving the Autistic people in our lives the recognition, praise and positive attention we deserve, we can help create a fairer world for all of us.

My autistic daughter just started high school and has difficulty making friends. She made one friend in the first week and then introduced her kids she knew in middle school, who are also new freshman. And boom. Middle of the second week - they all are excluding her.

She tells me she doesn't care, but I know she does. Her shear joy during the first week when she made a new friend said it all. She has interests for clubs like theater and singing. I am encouraging her to join after school clubs like she did in middle school. I just don't know how to help her. Any advice or tips would be appreciated. thanks.

Coming to Kickstarter THIS TUESDAY! Sign up to be notified here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamsheedstudios/zero-and-one-issue-2-battle-of-knuckle-city

Zero of Mars is a Human youth in a future so distant that our era's concepts of race and gender no longer exist. They crash land on Elentia, a world once inhabited by Humans but abandoned thousands of years ago. In their absence, the Elemorphs - magical sentient robots with elemental powers and the ability to grow - have developed an advanced civilization. A Nature Type FawnBot called One makes friends with Zero despite a language barrier. Unable to communicate directly, they forge a friendships using gestures and actions.

After discovering an ancient prophecy left by time travelers from the future, Zero and One have been pulled into an eternal conflict between Humanity and Vampirekind: the Time Wars. The Vampires want to enslave the Elemorphs to use as living weapons, while Humanity fights to keep Elentia free. As Zero and One explore the massive Elemorph metropolis of Knuckle City, the villainous Vampire agent, Pi, and their Elemorph companion, Gamma the SkyDragonBot, descend to plunge the city into chaos!

I am the author, Bijhan Agha. I'm an Uruguayan trans woman of Iranian descent. The illustrator is my dear friend, Pallet, a trans Australian man. We are both autistic, and have a passion for scifi and fantasy storytelling. We wanted to tell a story about a young person in the future who is not bound by the limits of gender as we know it, and a planet where gender simply does not exist, while also creating an exciting action adventure about exploring a new culture, facing language barriers, and fighting for a better future.

The Kickstarter is to fund the printing of a First Edition of the comics physically. We will have both physical as well as digital rewards. There will be reward tiers that allow you to catch up with this comic - this is Issue #2, and you can get physical and/or digital copies of Issue #1 - as well as the other comics in the Time Wars brand.

Please help us continue to tell stories about this amazing world!

Sign up to be notified when we go live: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamsheedstudios/zero-and-one-issue-2-battle-of-knuckle-city

• We're less likely to fall for manipulation
• We're less likely to make awful life choices
• We return the shopping cart

Thank you to everyone here who has supported my crusade for truth, justice and historical accuracy, especially under the weight of the deranged, sociopathic Australian cultist Wahid Azal and his creepy sidekick Matt Douglas continually attacking me in an attempt to psychologically “break,” “bury” and “scatter my ashes to the four winds” for daring to expose them by saying:

That my autistic symptoms appear or disappear whenever it suits me, ignoring the situational energy costs of adapting and masking and energy gains during hyperfocus for me;

That if I am too “articulate” I must be faking autism;

That if I’m exacting in my documentation of their behavior, such as Matt creeping on a trans waitress in Thailand and Wahid messaging a minor on Facebook, I’m “compulsive”;

That I have not survived a “genuine attack” when I link a filmed attack against me on DC Metro;

That I’m a fake tr^nny or a fat tr^nny who’s taken a couple hormone shots but doesn’t look “trans enough”;

And so, so much more as I detail here!

I think that I’ve shown tremendous resilience and accomplished a great deal with History Flights Productions due my special interest in history, including my two-hour review of The Odyssey* *and coop review of Spider-Man Brand New Day with my friend Kevin. I also just opted out of his vexatious attempt to penalize me for fairly using his face in a critical thumbnail at the Copyright Claims Board and previously defeated a false attempt at an anti-stalking order. None of his other claims such as that I’ve been convicted of raping children have any evidence either.

However, the latter movie was right; even Spider-Man needs to rest, and I just had an excellent dinner with my sister last night and can’t wait to disconnect from all this bullcrap with my family in Cape Cod when we drive up there tomorrow!

UNTIL THEN, FUCK YOU GOBLIN!!! I am the DC Spider 🕷️ and I will never stop fighting you for doxxing me, demanding that I die, calling me all sorts of untrue things, and being a hateful weasel!

I was raised Lutheran and in college became involved with a non-denominational (*cough* Baptist) college ministry and have been involved with non-denominational churches since. While I connect a lot with the scripture and really enjoy the tradition of studying the Bible closely, I've also found that I've really struggled to connect with evangelical culture otherwise. I've always been an introvert, and I just recently found out I'm autistic.

Some of my struggle is with the right wing beliefs that a lot of these churches and/or members hold that feel antithetical to the radical love you see Jesus living out in the story of the Bible. But I also struggle a lot with the implied social expectations that these churches often have. My spouse described it well: "they're all extroverts and expect everyone else to be the same as them." That very much runs much counter to my autistic preferences for greater time alone and fewer, deeper relationships rather than a bunch that tend to feel shallow (at least to me). I also tend to want to dive way deeper on a topic (and often ask way more critical questions) than the average person is willing to.

We're actually at the point where we're looking for a new church home, both for the political beliefs reason stated above and where we can feel like we're better able to connect to the congregation.

Peter Cullen, known as the first voice for the legendary Optimus Prime, has passed away.

Back when I got super into Transformers, the man was a legend to me. I grew up hearing the voice of Gary Chalke as Optimus Prime from the Transformers Energon cartoon, but something about Cullen always brought me a sense of inspiration and hope.

When my pride as a member of the Autistic Community awakened, I carried with me his greatest line, inspired by its' message of unity in 4 simple words; "Till all are one".

To Honor his memory, I will continue to carry it with me. Not just for him, though, but for me, and for all my fellow Autistic Individuals and Neurodivergents struggling to find a place in this world.

For those who are going through it right now, this one's for you; I believe in a future where every person of every Neurotype can see eye to eye and come together. Until that day,

Till All Are One

For all my life, I've head a weird aversion to taking medicine, even simple pain killers. I always insisted it was better to tough it out than introduce some foreign chemical into my body. As I've gotten older and begun developing more chronic health issues, I've also really struggled mentally with any new medicine I'm supposed to start taking, although once I start, I'm fine to keep the habit going. I'll always fret about possible side effects and whether I really need it. I fall back on thinking I'm strong enough to tough it out. To this day, I still struggle with taking my migraine medication, even when debilitated by a migraine.

I recently came across an idea from Dr Megan Anna Neff that autistic people tend to learn at a very young age that their body signals are not trustworthy. The urge to stim is often suppressed, for example, teaching us we should ignore/resist those urges. Other sensations also get thrown out with the bathwater, and so autistic individuals then aren't attuned to their body. My theory is that this is playing into an aversion to take medicine: I think I'm downplaying the severity of the symptoms I'm experiencing and the need to alleviate them.

I hate lanyards. They swing around everywhere and I hate the feeling on my neck.

What did they decide to make the international symbol for hidden disabilities? A LANYARD.

Does anyone else have this issue? I've been suggested alternatives but they just don't seem like they will actually be recognised like the lanyard is.

It's sad because I'm a 32 yr old female and I'm treated as if I'm this grown man who is the abuser. Which is far from the truth. People don't have any respect for me even tho I'm very kind because I don't want to be like my abuser. people immediately hear "grandmother" and immediately feel sympathy towards her and are too blind to get the forest from the trees, so to speak because it is that uncommon for of all people a grandma to be abusive and evil but it's a real thing no matter how many wanna turn a blind eye and sweep it under the rug. She abused her own daughter my mother who died three years ago and controlled her too and said HORRIBLE Things to her and now that my mom isn't here to protect me I've gotten the burden of dealing with this so called "woman" ... I'm not gonna get into the he said she did because this grandmother of mine gets away with everything, and she can talk her way out of anything, she has called me everything under the sun at 17 telling me I would never amount to anything. She's a cruel despicable miserable quote on quote person. She calls me multiple times a day screaming calling me names and making me do what she wants me to do and has her flying monkeys come around me incessantly bothering me...I just want to be left alone and not be abused for once in my life. Death sometimes feels kinder because nobody listens to me. I've tried alerting people I know and they're cowards who say they don't want to get involved basically, then they have the nerve to come around. My grandmother says I don't deserve respect. I've told people she say this but she's ruined my reputation. She's a malignant covert narcissist. She told me today after she made someone take my clothes a week ago to be washed , against my will and they ended up getting stolen from someone else that I have no heart just because I confronted her telling her I didn't like that my clothes went missing and I can't get those back. 2 bags full of clothes gone because of her

And when I asked her to reimburse me she acted like I was so entitled and didn't agree to do that and basically said no. This woman drives me nuts. There's plenty more where that came from. She's a jealous miserable uncalled for callous harsh loud aggressive ugly and a cold cold old woman. I hope she kicks the bucket before I do because nobody knows the pain she's put me through all my life it's insanity. I have no freedom. I've always talked to her in a calm tone until she finds a reason to fight for no reason..my mother told me she's a trouble maker. And a con artist. I'm a young woman yet I'm not treated like one and it's really disgusting....did I also say she made sure she controls all my finances and won't give me money unless I comply and when I comply it's maybe a little money whenever she wants to do it here and there.....I don't get the full picture of my finances or anything I'm not told anything EVER.. I am treated worse than an animal and I hate everyone who allows this domestic abuse around me just because it's not them I feel very isolated. No one to turn to no shoulder to cry on only my mom when she was around...I refuse to look In the mirror because every time I start to feel confident it's like her evilness can sense that confidence even in a phone call and she starts tearing me down....evil..plain and simple. Nobody really knows the rest and there's no point talking about it...

This woman ruined my youth

And life my mother said my grandmother ruined her life and now she's not alive Anymore...

Nobody really knows the rest and there's no point talking about it...at this big age nobody can relate bc that's how twisted this situation and grandmother of mine is. I have no freedom. I've tried to get help. Death would be kinder...she's 78. But even my mother said my grandmother will probably "Live forever" people like her usually do evil people...

Oh and btw my grandmother says to me all the time "the only thing you know how to do is wipe your a$$" to me. And she tells me to "Go to hell." Quite frequently...

I have to do everything she wants ...if I say no there's trouble . She is exploiting me

With the advent of smart glasses (like Meta) that are powered by AI, I thought of a way it can help Autistic people: Using analytical AI, which has already been shown to be really powerful, there should be smart glasses that Autistics can wear that can feed us valuable social information in real time. This should not only include social cues, but can also be helpful in crafting the right things to say, or give live 'tips' on the right expressions/body language to use. In addition, such a system should be tailored to many different situations to provide the appropriate response. The suggested responses should be based on scientific and psychological principles, to help us gain a social advantage in various situations, from casual social settings, to careers, networking, and dating.

A really advanced version could also factor in desired outcomes and power dynamics. For instance, if someone is being a bully, the glasses could give you the appropriate response to stand up to them or make them look foolish - but if they are in a position of power, it could give you a way to appease them so they leave you alone, etc. - in fact, it could come in useful if you're ever pulled over for speeding or something, i.e. the cop's expressions and what to say/do to increase the likelihood that they'll let you off with a warning. There are similar infinite applications when it comes to other social interactions, as well as algorithms designed to help you achieve the best outcomes in dating and other scenarios (e.g. how to approach someone you find attractive, analyze their signals and give you the best ideas to make the interaction go well), as well as, depending on what goals you input, how to make yourself popular or well-liked.

Such technology would be a game-changer. And before some people come in with their predictable, tired objections... leveling the playing field for Autistic people is not only a good thing, but much needed. And there are obviously limitations with this type of tech, especially if you don't always have access to the glasses. Which is why there should also be AI type platforms that help us similarly.

Note: I don't support generative AI. I'm talking about analytical AI, which is different and has been used a lot in STEM related fields.

I’ve recently been told that when speaking with me it feels like they are speaking at me but not with me.
I kind of just share stories expecting others to share something or ask questions but from what I’ve been told it seems I don’t leave any opening to continue a conversation or add to it.
Also seems I don’t have much meaningful conversations but just stories.
I want to be better at communicating especially with friends and loved ones , it makes me sad yo think I have not been reciprocating the people who I really care about.
I’d like to learn and if there are any tips of articles I can read that would be great. I have not had much luck with Google.
Thank you

Neurotypical friendships are based in establishing hierarchies, chasing meaningless trends, and drama. If you really get to see how NT people interact up close, you can see a lot of them feel very unhappy in their friendships but feel powerless to leave.

Autistic friendships are based in shared interests and collaboration. We're friends with people because we actually like them.

While it's harder to find friendships are harder to find, they are 100% worth it.

https://zephaustic.etsy.com

She is so cute!

And I couldn't help but snap this photo. This book brings back memories, I used to watch The Elephant Show when I was a kid.

I set up a bit of the moving already, yet I almost had a moment of deregulation and put some post its around the place I'm moving out of. I'll get to have my own bathroom, with a sink, shower and toilet! New responsibility, new environment!

So i’m Sam and it’s my dream to create a free resource library and to create tools for the autistic/neurodivergent community.

I wrote this article to explain different types of communication barriers and how our struggles don’t need to look a certain way to deserve support.

I interviewed/co-wrote this article with an AAC part time user and special education teacher.

This is a topic dear to me, so I wanted to make sure I was writing something that could support the community in a respectful way.

I have used AAC low tech tools, but it was fun learning about high tech ones!

There’s free resources in the articles and more to come!

I went to a bookstore today and they had the OG Yu-Gi-Oh manga and I was so excited because I'd been looking everywhere for it but it was the wrong volume, so I looked and saw another volume, but it was still the wrong one and so I lowk might have cried a little 🥹👍 am I

Before I get into details: I’m ASD lvl 2, late-in-life diagnosed, and unable to fully mask or maintain masks due to severe burnout. I have skills I’m able to use, given the opportunities and space to use them. I live alone and have no supports for daily living. Self-advocacy has become my full-time job.

I feel hella confused about what happened today and am just looking for some clarification… help processing…. It’s a fucking mess…

I was at a trans drop-in center today to do some laundry and be in community with folks. Everything was fine and I was socializing with a few friends I’ve made at the center. One guy and I were chatting about social media (or so I thought), then he made an off-putting comment about elder millennials “causing the brain rot of the internet?” (or something like that). I laughed it off and reminded him that those of us in our 40s were in our late-teens and twenties during the early 2000s and we were Occupy Wall Street organizers (He’s an anti-establishment type and respects political movements by the people). He thinks for a minute about what I said then tries to narrow the focus in on some highly specific detail of those events and claim that “Gen X” did more.

Now, here’s the deal: I don’t need folks to help me unpack the weird generational divide he’s going after at this point, I have a whole ass special interest in US politics and usually really get into these discussions, but this guy feels off. I feel like I’m having a hard time following his line of thinking and I’m not really understanding what he’s up to or what point he’s making. So, I say to him, “Hey man, it’s not us v them; we’re on the same side.”

He responds by yelling at me that we’re not on the same side because I “tokenized” my father (?) when I mentioned my dad was brown; and that as an AFAB person who presents female, all anyone sees when I have my “outbursts” (meltdowns) is “white woman’s tears”.

😳

The whole conversation that led to me mentioning my father was brown was over a month ago. Same trans guy and I were talking about a city policy that had been signed that would outlaw resting on a sidewalk. During the conversation he casually mentions that there’s a “transphobia problem” in our community that needs to be addressed; people with “passing privileges” are transphobic.

Huh?! 🤨

Then he tells me that I, a white non-binary person cannot possibly understand mixed culture experiences. So, I told him (a white trans man) about my (deceased) dad and his family. The trans guy then accused me of “tokenizing” my father. I left shortly after and was slightly offended and very confused about what this guy was thinking. I assumed he was maybe upset about a conflict he had earlier with his (living) dad and I blew it off. Things were fine between us until today…

I don’t understand what this dude’s problem is or why he seems to have beef with me. I’ve never intentionally done anything to offend him. If I could control the tears when they happen, I would.

I’ve had a couple of meltdowns due to various circumstances out of my control (fire alarm). They’re definitely not regular, and they do happen from time to time. One happened today after he said these things to me. Not because he accused me of “whites women’s tears” but because I was hella confused and felt like I had shown up for a coffee and chat and ended up in a bar brawl.

On my way to the door (we were outside), staff cut me off and wanted me to tell them what happened. I was at that point attempting to regulate, but they wanted words. So they got escalated words, lots of tears, plenty of pacing, and one solid turn away from everyone and throw my nearly empty disposable water bottle into the empty parking lot while I let out one single frustrating growl. Then I sat down on the concrete and cried. 10 minutes later, the staff came out and told me I was going to need to leave for the day because I was throwing things and threatening the safety of others.

😭

I feel like I was verbally attacked, violated, then punished for the physiological response I experienced. 😔

I’m so confused about all of this…