Autism UP Close

13/01/2023

If you need support for mental health 💚

05/09/2022

People not labels

30/04/2022

💚

09/03/2022

Time to end stereotypes

Autieselfecare on Instagram

04/03/2022

Great story to dispel myths about non verbal people.

'One of the key messages that Fiacre has, that just because I don’t speak and just because I might jump around or flap or make funny sounds, it doesn’t mean that I’m not intelligent or that I don’t understand everything or that I can’t express myself'

03/03/2022

❤️

Getting an Autism diagnosis late in life can be a tricky and elusive undertaking. This guide shares what I learned going through my Autism assessment.

28/02/2022

❤️👏🏻

“People are so afraid of variety that they try to fit everything into a tiny little box with a specific label,” says 16-year-old Rosie King, who is bold, brash and autistic. She wants to know: Why is everyone so worried about being normal? She sounds a clarion call for every kid, parent, teacher...

26/02/2022

They are calling it “the lost generation.” Parents who discover they are autistic because did their children.

I was 45 when I found out.

22/02/2022

Great news!

Sales outfit MetFilm renegotiated rights with distributors to make deal happen.

15/02/2022

We need more efforts on this

Without a diagnosis, girls might experience social difficulties and traumatic situations – and grow into women who blame themselves.

12/02/2022

by Amanda Diekman

09/02/2022

Before Phoebe found out that she was autistic, she felt like everything about her was "wrong". Receiving her diagnosis has allowed her to accept her true identity.

24/01/2022

Isn’t it about time ?

The author, scientist and Colorado State University professor is as responsible as anyone for broadening our understanding of autism.

22/01/2022

♥️

“What is autism?”

Autistic people process information differently. Some things feel really intense, taking up a lot of our attention. Because of that, we pay less attention to other things.

This can affect our social interactions, communication style, relationships, physical movements, habits, interests, and sensory experiences. Autism is called a “spectrum” because of its unique effect on each person.

neurobeautiful.com/book

(Originally posted on 8/12/17.)

20/01/2022

Sadly, gender is a major issue still in many aspects of life - even autism diagnosis

Did you know that autism presents differently in men and women? In this article, we explain the signs of autism in women. We also list where you can get help and support if you think you or someone you know is autistic.

14/01/2022

With so many labels, is it diluting or helping?

The differences between autism and high sensitivity.

10/01/2022

Our Autism UP Close Project was featured in the Irish Independent magazine why is weekend! Thank you for the coverage of our project creating a positive platform for autistic people with a photography book, comic book, website and film! Let us know if you would like to be involved ! Www.autismupclose.com

10/01/2022

Our goal is to make school more inclusive and enjoyable for all children.
It’s not fair that so many await a place in a school that can accommodate their needs. What can schools do to help more?

When we don't understand autistic kids we create a toxic environment for them.

09/01/2022

Delighted to share our new website with you. Please share for us - thanks!

https://autismupclose.com/

Welcome to… AutismUp Close Multimedia Project AUTISM UP CLOSE Hi there. We are the Autism Up Close leadership team, and we appreciate you taking your time to hear about our project. This is a multi-media campaign to highlight the unique and diverse ways in which autism influences the lives of thos...

03/01/2022

Stimming is a much misunderstood way people calm themselves. It’s good for people to understand it’s importance.

31/12/2021

Why don’t people say “Aspergers anymore?” I get asked this often. Here’s the reason. It’s just so important we understand more about autism including increasing our language to be inclusive.

"It’s up to them to decide if they want to be named after someone like him."

31/12/2021

We are relearning some ways to “treat” autism realizing masking is not the goal once sought by many.

My daughter is not ‘typical.’

Trying to force her to be something that she’s not doesn’t work.

Let’s play a game, shall we?

Hey, mom, you need to be autistic now.

What?

Don’t worry; we’ll show you how. We’re going to give you therapy to make you autistic.

But I’m not autistic.

Not relevant.

But ..

We’re going to teach you to act autistic. All. The. Time.

But ..that’s not who I am.

Yeah, we know, but you’re going to have to get used to it.

But it’s NOT WHO I AM.

No, it’s not, but it’s who you need to at least appear to be if you’re going to succeed in this world.

WHAT??

**

It hurts to be told - and shown - that who you are is not okay.

That how you experience the world is ... wrong.

That how you act is … wrong.

That how you express excitement, show fear, communicate joy, share sadness, and, and, and ... are wrong.

It is a life of No.

It is an environment of negative, toxic energy.

No.

No.

No.

A gummy bear for suppressing your natural instincts.

A sticker on a chart for mastering a facade.

It is exhausting.

It doesn’t work.

We cannot be who we aren’t.

Even if we can pretend well enough to convince the panel of judges.

Pretending to be someone you aren’t isn’t a life.

It hurts.

So I will not strive for normalcy for my autistic child.

It’s an asinine and dangerous goal.

Low self-esteem.

Depression.

Alcoholism.

Drug abuse.

Su***de.

I’ve seen them all.

And I emphatically reject that trajectory.

My daughter is not ordinary.

She is not typical.

She is not a standard-issue human.

She’s much, much more.

So I will do everything I can to arm her with the tools that she needs to get by in a world that doesn’t fit.

I will teach her what will be expected of her in every situation I can think to include.

And I will tell her, by word and by deed, that her quest is not to make others comfortable, but to find the space in which both she and others can be as comfortable as possible, together.

That it is not a one-way street.

That she has every right to say, in her way, ‘The fact that I don’t fit the mold doesn’t mean that I’m the wrong shape. It means that we need a more flexible mold.’

I once believed that normalcy was our goal.

No more.

Now, we strive to appreciate and celebrate and foster that which is, truly, extraordinary.

{image is a photo of Brooke and me laughing, with huge thanks to Connerton Photography.}

30/12/2021

It’s time for more inclusivity

27/12/2021

27/12/2021