Autism - what would you want to tell people?

[What3words]

I might have a chance at work to do a talk on neurodiversity.

Not my main job at all! I have some ideas but just wondering. If you/your kids are neurodiverse what do you think are the main things you want others to know?!

That they aren’t putting in their sensory or anxiety issues

Its a bit of a broad topic. I think it would depend on the audience. So id want health care to know a different thing than a shop or school

That I'm not just a bit weird.

Are you neurodivergent?

Bloom yes hence them asking me I think!

Not healthcare. More loosly education sector - but not particularly focused on kids.

I could talk non stop.... and have so many things I could say but was wondering about going for a top 10 or a quiz or something with key points. As I'm not going to cover everything in one go!

I meant to say. I can think of so many things to say that I can't actually filter down to what I think is most important (yay executive function issues!).

And to colleagues they don't all know I'm autistic.

They may not know much themselves beyond general reasonably educated public but not nec knowing about autism.

That we're not "all a bit Autistic"

It sounds quite a challenge.

I think if it waa my colleagues id be wanting to focus on positives.

Is it to help them do their job or just part of general diversity training

That there are other neurodiversities that are not autism or ADHD.

That they might actually need sick leave or extra toilet breaks.

That they are not being rude or blunt.

Small talk may be harder for them

They can feel emotions very strongly.

That if you have met one autistic person then you have met one autistic person- they are not all the same!

I think a fair number of people have a fair idea about autism, so you could approach it from a ‘things you might not know’ perspective.

When we had a talk at work from an autistic person, he mentioned neural paring, ranging, temperature control and a number of things that had never occurred to me. It helped me realise that DS1 was autistic, and that I probably was, too.

You could spend some time addressing strengths (but not superpowers!! 🙄) and female-specific presentations?

South Country- yes I was thinking of maybe a quiz with "are we all abit autistic" on it, and maybe something about spectrum not being linear with "more/less autistic".

Nomorebinary- yes I was wondering about a Q that asked what other comes under this banner and having a slide with different things. I won't have a lot of time.

I was thinking about maybe a "top 15 myths /facts" ?

I'd rather they not know that I have it.

That autistic people are far more likely to experience bullying and mental health issues.
That's we're not all 'on the spectrum'.
That every autistic person is an individual and everyone presents differently.

The outlaws- I'd love to do "other senses than the main 5" I won't have ages to do anything justice though.

"Autistic people have superpowers" could be a mythbuster.

Drews- I won't be announcing it to everyone... I just suspect that's why I was asked!

I want to talk about double empathy problem /counter the "lack of empathy" maybe?

We're not all on the spectrum.

Autistic people aren't on a spectrum either.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning individuals have different symptoms/problems from a long list of possibilities.

(I know you know this, but millions, and 99% of posters on this forum come up with the same drivel !)

I'd add that people with selective mutism can STILL HEAR YOU and will come home and tell their mum all the juicy gossip you think they couldn't understand...

My suggestion of positives wasnt meant to mean superpowers!
Id just feel nervous colleagues would start to be dismissive.

I think the best thing I’ve heard is “you’ve met one autistic person, you met one autistic person” (sadly I can’t remember where I first heard this to give credit). This is too true. I am the parent of two autistic children (of the same gender - which does matter before someone jumps on me - boys and girls are already known to present differently). My girls are both so different one sensory seeking, one sensory avoiding and so many other differences. People have an assumption that all autistic people are rainman like but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Frith there's a lovely graphic I've seen online with a colour spectrum/pie showing how everyone has a different combination of strengths/weaknesses or things they're affected by within autism. Rather than it being linear.

I think you're right this is a key thing.

Along with "are we all a bit autistic".

I want them to go away knowing somethings too so may have an A4 handout but how do you condense everything.

I love neurowildes images (facebook/Instagram- autistic OT) I might buy access to a few to use.

Yes to positives though- sense of justice /different perspective on the world/ attention to detail... etc? Other key ones?

I'd love to do about sensory seeking/avoidance and other senses.
I could do a general intro and focus on senses but it's more of a 20min tidbit. Not enough to talk about executive function /changing tracks/etc. There's so much!

They might let me do more though if they like the intro?!

This is a very good description. I heard someone say (again) the other day that we're all a little bit on the spectrum. Does my head in