asplanet.info

- Listen to those with lived experience, the children of yesterday -

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Many of us on the spectrum, when supported and encouraged can be great at many things, often our intense focus and passion for life means when given the chance we embrace fully whatever we do. Maybe obsessive to an outsider, but to us to be totally lost in what we are doing is often when we find real joy and pleasure, allow us our differences. We all view, see, sense the world differently and that's what makes life so interesting...

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For me today just another day, like yesterday and tomorrow I guess will be another, what ever we do days come and past, slow or fast a continuum of life, time never stops even if we turn off the clocks. Right now outside my window the world is covered in shimmering wet, the sky a mix of fluffy white, heavy grey with a hint of blue, hope for maybe the rest of today!

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Some real facts about our differences: all CHILDREN when feel a little insecure may bite on paper, arm a blanket, whatever available at moment of stress and spectrum children often have many more frustrations when not felt understood or listen to, and that in itself can be extremely stressful, children at times get told off when they are simply overloading. This can makes situation worst seen this happen, happen to me. I am not blaming anyone but a misunderstood difference often. When children overloading if not allowed to find their own space to desensitize often start stimming and if stressed often will bite on things!
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Spectrum children are often over sensitive to everything and pick up on everything around them sensory wise, that includes everyone else's moods, a stressed parent can trigger a spectrum child's overload! As an asperger mother one of the hardest things for me was at the time having no clue in regards to sensory overloading etc... there really is very little if any advice for new mothers and to me that is scary, my first child an aspie and we would pick up on each other's stresses and overload, we did get to understand each other as likeminded.

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http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/health/2009/12/07/chetry.childs.brain.cnn.html

"I have always said our brains simply different and depending

on what co-morbid's how different, but the more differences

we have the harder in general it is for us to fit into society..."

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My name is Alyson Bradley I am on the autism spectrum, I was diagnosed in 2007 not so long ago with Aspergers which is just a part of my neurological complexities. I guess you could say I am intellectually disadvantaged and have a combination of differences sensory, neurological and mental, having dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and more, who knows but since being diagnosed I seem to collect labels, not sure I will ever fit into one set of tick boxes, to me the criteria are simply for the professionals trying to figure, but I do know I am a unique individual like we all are and I am simply a little more neurologically complex than many!

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Shortly after being diagnosed my son Stuart Bradley also was diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum and unknowingly I have grown up surrounded by Autism spectrum disorders, many of my extended family are now starting to be diagnosed, a lot less common than any of us think. Suddenly becoming a part of a minority group after I was diagnosed, at first shock, then I grieved for the lost of the person I thought I was and then came the wonderful revelations and life started to make sense as never before.

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Raising Awareness of AS - The beginnings of my journey :

 http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=67

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For those of us on the Autism spectrum and for the parents of children on the autism spectrum daily life, school, work continues to be that bit harder. Families often experience high levels of stress in caring for children on the autism spectrum who can have communication and behaviour challenges and can put huge financial pressure on families.

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Each individual on the autism spectrum has a unique range of abilities and needs, strengths and weaknesses - some autistic individuals need significant support with everyday tasks, while others need limited support, it really depends on many factors and/or associate conditions they may or may not have. However, most autistic individuals share some difficulty in making sense of your world and we all need to know why we at times are treated the way we are, act the way we do and if we have children on the autism spectrum we need to understand them.

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Individuals need to know if they are on the autism spectrum somewhere, and/or have any neurological differences to be able to understand self and how they may impact on others, I feel it should not be about any word, label but a matter of understanding how and why we do things, many choose not to be diagnosed, partly often older people feel they have got so far, so why now, the cost, finding a good specialist.. Many reasons, but if we choose to be diagnosed or not we all do have to understand how we act and how that affects others...

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People ask me why  raise awareness, my answer apart for having a son on the autism spectrum and by hopefully raising awareness his journey will be much easier than mine, and many still do not know enough about ASD, do you really know!

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School Children - what do you tell your school / teacher:

Most schools should have their our guidelines policies, special needs teachers. But be aware not always up todate with governmnet policies. I often feel with individual teachers if want to understand more good to start with some basic information, like here otherwise individuals can get confussed, another good source I feel: he National Autistic Society - What is Asperger syndrome? http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=212
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We also need to keep in mind that those of us on the autism spectrum are as different and varied as those that are not on the spectrum. So I often feel best to list your individual child's needs, differences. Myself I just simply dealt with each situation at school and explained as a need, I found/find easier than overloading with information and easier for the school to process, I have one child on the spectrum and one not and have always treated them the same. And as with all children at times have needed some support understanding via school, infact my none autistic child often needs more support, so the important thing is to work with school teachers to help ensure your child's individual needs are met, as school have many varied needs to deal with and thats not easy in itself.

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More basic facts: Autism is the fastest growing developmental difference / disability worldwide today. It is estimated1 in 100 children born this year will be diagnosed with Autism.I have heard its estimated that around 40% of all school children have some form of neurological difference which includes ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia…Is the autism spectrum too broad?:

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/puzzlepieces/16838/?

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Aspergers syndrome a form of Autism a lifelong developmental difference / disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them, people on the autism spectrum have difficulties with everyday social interaction. Many of us like to be called autistic, which means a person on the autism spectrum, high / lower functioning does it matter, we are all neurologically different and it just so happens some of the most brilliant minds to date are on the autism spectrum.

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AS:  Aspergers Syndrome (but that’s all part of the Autism Spectrum) so either

ASD: Autism Spectrum disorders

Aspie/Autie: Aspergers / Autism

NT: Neuro typical (Just a way of indicating a person who is not on the Autism Spectrum, as there is no "normal" - it’s just a concept that a majority of people agree on, as we are all born as unique individuals. I know some people like to say just "typical" but I often just use NT to explain not on autism spectrum, no offence intended. I tend to say none autistic individuals these days…)

Spectrumite – a generlized term to describe individuals across the autism spectrum

I am just one of the group of mothers, individuals working to help raise awareness and understanding, to enable autistic individual’s freedom to be embraced, allowed and be accepted and to help instigate change for many vulnerable people and help ensure overdue support for individuals adults and children alike.

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I want to help bring greater insight into understanding many issues and differences such as communication, sensory, social differences. For me raising awareness it is important as a person on the autism spectrum, as quite often my biggest barrier continues to be lack of understand from others and being expected to act and be like everyone else, which can at times be extremely exhausting. We all need to remember that no 2 people with autism are alike; we are as diverse and different as those individuals not on the autism spectrum. But for some reason, maybe the media many continue to stereo type our misunderstood difference.

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Autistic people do things differently, many of these factors depend on many other things and what associated conditions we may or may not have, it’s taken me 2 years of research to really understand fully, as there is no one list.

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Asperger syndrome a form of autism, I have Aspergers but call myself autistic I have no problem with that but others seem to, autism, autistic just a word to me and in brief the way I see it our center - I call this my Autism heart, our very core of who we are / differently minded part... which to an extent feel many none autistic individuals do not quite understand. So often the most important thing our centre, gets neglected, in turn at times we can feel at odds with society, not in balance / harmony.

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Discovering if you have Autism can take a while and I often feel people are their own best judges to start... as there is no simply check list and  I wasn't diagnosed with any think until in my late 40s, in fact first discovered dyslexia which lead me on a path to find out more, some parts of me, never match up or still quite made sense...

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As for diagnosis this I feel something to consider very carefully , my advice  write down as much information as you can will really help, back to when you were a child. As we get older we learn to change and adapt, we often still have many differences, and often even pretend, act the part to fit into society. So research, read and read some more, as much as you can.

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Some things you can do, list, check and do basic test :

 AS Symptoms (Full Official Criteria), test and more

http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=63

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Read web sites like mine written by and for people on the autism spectrum often giving great insight from a autistic point of view,as i have been told!

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Then decide do you want to be diagnosed, if you do visit your doctor, some may not diagnose adults, if this is the case listen to what they have to say, there reason and if still want to be diagnosed find another doctor or can be diagnosed via a clinical physiologist direct, not easy to find one that specializes in Autism / Aspergers there are some and then there is the cost, if have school children ask also at the school special education section for advice.

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As just one individual on the autism spectrum these are my views, so join AsPlanet forum and hear other autism spectrum individuals speak diagnosed and undiagnosed they can help you decide, and your find we are just like anyone lese really, just think a little differently, often out side the box, interesting, diverse and many brilliant minds!: http://www.asplanet.info/forum/

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Read some of Autism spectrum thoughts and stories:

Asperger Peoples individual Thoughts:

 http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=95

My Way of Thinking : From one of AsPlanet Forum Members (Beastinblack) blog:.

http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=142

From the partner of a ASD individual, a great insight on how we impact on others

http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=153

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I would like to see a shift in people excepting, allowing and understanding us more, instead of finding a need to want to change / conform, there has to be a middle ground where we can live on our terms not everyone else’s…

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Autism awareness information sheet : A mothers views who has Aspergers, we have different strengths and weaknesses: My name is Alyson Bradley and I am just one of a group of mother’s working to help raise awareness and understanding, bring greater insight for many issues and differences such as communication, sensory, social differences. There is no simply list, as being on the autism spectrum is a whole way of being. For those of us on the Autism spectrum and for the parents of children on the autism spectrum daily life, school, work continues to be that bit harder. Some Autistic individuals need significant support with everyday tasks, while others need limited support. Families often experience high levels of stress in caring for children with Autism who can have communication and behaviour challenges, which often puts huge financial pressure on families.  Each individual with Autism has a unique range of abilities and needs, and the severity differs depending on many factors and/or associate conditions. However, most autistic individuals on the autism spectrum share some difficulty in making sense of your world.

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Different diagnostic criteria used to evaluate is an area of controversy and may change as it evolves, and maybe change the way we all think about, measure the autism spectrum disorder. Language development is a large factor that often keeps the autistic individual isolated, along with many other factors, differences  and so I wish to help educate, give my insight as an autistic individual and bring better awareness to all. The biggest being early language development, in autistic children the language is delayed in the first three years of life, in Aspergers, early language is preserved. Often non-verbal individuals may seem like a severe case of autism to the outsider, but often have other amazing strengths such as memory and retention skills... we are just wired differently and are privileged in a way to see the world I feel at times more intently, sensing our surroundings. Some of us have co morbid conditions just like any one does and many of us have anxiety from exposure to society, being expected to fit in on everyone else's terms all the time can be exhausting!

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Before I was diagnosed myself I had never really heard of Aspergers I had heard the word autism, but never knew there was a huge autism spectrum with so many diverse and different individuals. But somehow too many things seem wrong to me, never quite made sense for a long time, life was not working and I felt worn out, confused and frustrated, because however hard I tried I was somehow different, the one other’s would rather talk about. I remember saying to a friend of mine just before I found Aspergers " what is wrong with me, why am I not like everyone else" and we both just laughed, she said your just you, I guess that was all she could say, but partly feel she enjoys my eccentric ways at times, it’s what makes me who I am!    

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No one knows the answers for autism as mysteries as the universe, how or why and I know many differing points of view. But I feel I was born different, when growing up I never really fitted in, had friends, had various communication problems, I did not always communication like everyone else, these days most of you would not notice but often a struggle for me it’s like at times my voice won't say what my brain wants it to i.e. inconsistent speech errors and capability, often can drop ending or beginning of sounds in words strewn together in a phrase, or find pronouncing some sounds extremely hard. My whole world had to be so ordered, I guess for me a way of copying. Having my own children did help me change many of my ridged ways and has given me a real strength and purpose and I feel a need to help others understand, no child should be at odds with the world, and so feel every parent should become aware, as knowledge can help so much.

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Autism the word that was to change my life, I began searching the Internet, reading books in a need to know more. At first I had a mixture of feelings about the diagnosis really. In one way it didn't change anything, I was still the same. But in another way it was life changing, as for the first time in my life I could start to get to know and understand me, accept and allow. Things that never even accrued to me before,  how my differences have in fact impacted on others, why so many things affect me differently. Why I am in a minority, the one that questions pushes boundaries and likes to do things in a way that may not at times make sense to others, but does to me.

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Speaking as a person on the Autism spectrum with Aspergers and other neurological differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and as a mother, my older son is also a neurologically different individual. Our biggest problem often being not understood by others and being expected to act and be like everyone else and at times have both experienced being picked upon and bullied for not always fitting in. Our biggest challenges are often social interaction and how we communicate, including difficulty using body language, eye contact, small talk, gestures to regulate interaction and things like ability to see someone else’s perspective. At times we may seem rude or abrupt, but never mean and very honest if not to honest at times.

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There are many factors that from one extreme of the autism spectrum to the other most adults and children experience at varying levels - repetitive behavior, self-stimulation often for comfort, obsessive tendencies, can be very selective i.e. only wanting to play with red bricks and or spending hours lining them up, disrupt this moment and the child or adult may become stressed and react. Can seem controlling, but often a need to control their own situations as not always allowed to be themselves, or act in a way that’s comfortable for them in society in general, relating to others on our terms and being accepted often being another huge hurdle, trying to fit in, pretending and still getting rejected can be extremely hard when growing up, often needing time out / alone time I like to think to rebalance.Often seeming reluctant to any change in routine, and holidays can simply be hard work without understanding, we like to over prepare and have clear instructions, stops the over worrying, thinking , analyzing that many of us do, over procrustean on things and a need to be exact, right .

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Problems with different textures, smell, color. Selectivity wanting to eat from the same plate or eat food of the same/certain colors, many of us will eat in a certain order, way..On a daily basis autistic people across the spectrum are expected to fit into a world that can seem foreign to them and this can increase feelings of alienation and as often lack of social skills, difficulties establishing friendships / relationships as we express, show our emotions differently, but we still have feelings and care. And then there is education, employment uncertainty for parents and adults what the future may hold. This can be a huge worry for these individuals and their parents already often feeling like the outsiders. At times having to spend far too much time on finding, getting support especially education wise where still huge gaps and lack of funding and employment wise still very little awareness or support for autistic individuals. We process information differently and often can have huge strengths, but with that we can also have weaknesses and the strengths can get forgotten or missed.

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Being misunderstood and put into situations we are unable to cope with, leading to sensory overload etc…, which is often caused by being exposed to a society that at times tries too hard to conform and change individuals and misses the person right there. i.e. a child starting school no one realizes the child is playing up because the noise alone is too much for them to cope, no one notices how the noise affects the child (sensory overload) the child runs, screams and instead of being taken into a quite place to recover they get told off.. Anxiety exposure kicks in, anger / frustration, withdraw, over load, meltdown, shut down! To a point I have backed out of society in order to cope, I want to be a part of your world but change I find hard, which affects most of us on the autism spectrum, too much wrong pressure can scatter our thoughts until our routines are back in place.  Often the ones we judge wrongly are the ones in need of the most help!

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The positives are what also often distinguishes us, here are just a few words that come to mind in my opinion, which of course vary as we do: Honesty, genuine, dependable, integrity, reliable, loyal, trustworthy, non judgmental, free of many prejudices, sensitive, very accepting of other differences. We pay attention to detail and often notice things others may miss, will stick to the facts if feel others are wrong, principles. We can be a little over enthusiasm and have a great need for knowledge which often may seem to outsiders obsessive research. Of course this can lead to all sorts of talents when encouraged, as often interesting, complex and intelligent, creative in our own differencing ways and for some of us at times feel we are ahead of our years in some respects!

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Autism never boring, as autism spectrum disorders are illusive because they are not identifiable by a common trait or behavior and no one strategy works for all of them. We have ability to love totally, unconditionally, live in a moment, less materialistic.  We can be in our own company for hours and not feel lonely and have great conversations with ourselves. We were born to think "outside of the box" open new doors for none autistic individuals, and even though the characteristic traits of autism can make life difficult and uncomfortable at times, they have been responsible for some of the world's greatest achievements throughout history - intense focus and potential to become leaders rather than followers. 

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I guess I am lucky that to a point I now function well in the world, but not as well as some may think. My ASD son thanked me the other day for understanding him and not insisting he does the same things as everyone else all the time, says it all really. But like all mothers with ASD children we can only do what we feel is right for our individual child's need, and that can vary greatly on the autism spectrum, but we can all embrace, allow and accept and do whatever we can to make these children lives easier and speak out and help others understand… Written by Alyson Bradley – Aspergers Parallel Planet my own web site written by and for those of us on the autism spectrum, ASD point of  updated : May 2009

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Copyright © 2007 Alyson Bradley

www.Asplanet.info - Aspergers Parallel Planet

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Of course I am just one individual and these are my views, of course many others individuals views on web site and asplanet forum. But there are many people here in NZ and world wide working together on and off the autism spectrum to help make a real difference, such as the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline was developed collaboratively with input from international and New Zealand researchers and experts, adults and teenagers with ASD, parents of children with ASD, and medical, educational and community providers. Regular updates on implementing the NZ ASD Guideline are provided at:

 I am also on this group and would love to hear your views in regards to the guidelines and / or please add your questions, experiences, comments below.

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"One day maybe autism will be just another word, and we will

be able to say autistic without a reaction, but until then

you’re not alone as the autism community is growing daily."

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Something else to consider Clothes as many individuals on the autism spectrum  have sensory sensitivity and can be over sensitive to many things, including certain types of clothes, material etc...  it can vary greatly depending on individuals, but a few things to give you an idea soft seamless clothing without internal label usually helps, I can be affected by some cheaper materials like  polyester even the smell, nylon just the thought puts me on edge, also real knit sweaters irritate me... I prefer mainly comfortable clothes like polarfleeces, cotton t-shirts and like clothes to fit well or be loose, never tight..  most bra fasteners irritate me!

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