Tag: autism

Society demands that we keep overcoming, overcoming, overcoming. But we don’t have to. Nowhere is it written that to be a really real human you have to brute force your way through your limits. Nowhere is it written that not doing so makes you less worthy. For most people, constantly refusing to acknowledge that you have limits is seen as a problem. We all have limits & we are supposed to acknowledge them, know where they are, work within them.

Kassiane S., ‘Overcoming’ Is Not a Moral Obligation (via theaubisticzionistconspiracy)

Barely started this, and I am already in love with everything about it. The handle on the yarn is gorgeous – it’s Moda Vera Beetle, a 50/50 cotton acrylic blend – and the radial lines of the faggoting lace (not an epithet, a historical knitting term) are really pleasing and stand out despite the bright colourway. I hope to have this finished in time to wear to Mardi Gras, as it’s kind of the perfect mix of autistic/queer pride between the spiral design, the sensory friendly fabric and the rainbow colours. Pattern is Breathe by Siew Clark.

Be kind to yourself. Stop telling yourself that whatever you are struggling with “should” be easy. If something is hard for you, it is hard for you. There are probably Reasons, though those may just be how you are wired. Acknowledge these things. When you finish something hard, be proud! Celebrate a little.

And really, just stop saying “should” to yourself about your thoughts and feelings in any context. You feel how you feel. The things in your head are the things in your head. You can’t change either directly through sheer force of will. You can only change what you do. Stop beating yourself up for who and what you are right now–it isn’t productive. Focus on moving forward.

How to keep moving forward, even when your brain hates you (via mental-wellness)

When disabled people, Autistic and non-autistic, say that they use identity-first language to refer to themselves, a common retort is “I don’t understand why you would define yourself by your disability.” To me, this doesn’t make sense. I call myself disabled because I don’t think my disability needs to be held at arm’s length, not because I believe that I’m autism on legs.

(As with my other traits, I refer to my disability with an adjective-noun construction which is common to the English language. I would also describe myself as a long-haired woman. So far no one has come forward to demand that I instead refer to myself as “an individual with long hair,” or accused me of “defining myself by my hair length.”)

I’m starting to think that when people say “defining yourself by your disability” they really mean “talking about yourself in a way that reflects the belief that your disability is not detachable.”

Illusion of Competence (via glitterencrustedbunghole)