neurodiversity – Astro Autistic

My Ontario Autism Plan Story

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This isn’t a story about my child on the autism spectrum, this is a story about me: an autistic person.

Continue reading My Ontario Autism Plan Story

The Freedom to Respect My Limits

The most valuable skill I’ve learned since moving out from my mother’s house is paying attention to my limits. I’ve finally had the opportunity to notice the point at which I’m pushing myself too hard and will burn out. This is because I’ve been able to live in a supportive environment where I’m allowed to say “no” when I can’t safely do something.

What Do My Neurodivergent Habits Look Like?

As a neurodivergent person, I struggle a lot with building habits. It’s hard for me to do the tasks that I want to become habits. It’s hard for me to continue to do those tasks consistently for any length of time. And most of all, they never become automatic. Perhaps a neurotypical wouldn’t consider the end result a “habit,” but you can’t get far as a neurodivergent person by trying to adhere to neurotypical standards.

So, what do my habits look like?

Growing Up Under the Autism Radar

My mother may have been a nurse in a psychiatric ward, but she could never seem to accept that I am disabled. I don’t know whether either of my parents ever suspected I was autistic, but they never pursued a diagnosis for me. Even when I was a teenager and my difficulties managing a neurotypical life became more and more clear, my mother still couldn’t accept that the reason was anything other than laziness. She opposed me getting evaluated for depression, she opposed me getting evaluated for ADHD, and I still don’t think she believes that I’m autistic.