Message from discussion being my autistic self

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From: "natureloverchris" <NLCh...@centurytel.net>
Newsgroups: alt.support.autism
Subject: Re: being my autistic self
Date: 5 Oct 2005 14:23:13 -0700
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SpiderHam77 wrote:
> Chris:
>
>   Your story is compelling, and I do know that in school today the
> amount of teasing and abuse doesn't happen.  Mainly because autism is
> reconized at such an early age, and the other kids of the clas are
> taught about it.
>
>   My son who sufferes from Autism is in a mainstream class in school,
> and both him and the other students benefit from him being there.  The
> other kids when they see my son is struggling with some all pitch in to
> help, and give him the direction he needs to complete a task.

it sounds like a good situation. I'm not sure it's better everywhere
but I'm glad progress is being made
>
>   And my son follows their lead, and tries to interact as much as
> possible with the other children.  I think complared to 20 years ago
> when we were all in school there is a huge difference in the amount of
> tolerance.
>
I hope so

>   One thing though, and I'm not trying to put you down, but you as the
> person who suffers through it need to take the intiative.  Hate to say
> it, but you almost need to be more aware of your surroundings, and take
> the needed steps that you don't get to the point where you need to
> stim.
>
ummm... I've been trying to think how to reply and I'm still lost.

I stim almost all the time. I stim when happy, tired, excited,
concentrating and overloaded. Part of being more myself is letting
myself stim. if I'm not disrupting other people why should I have to
stop? I don't make loud stims in settings like that and by moving a bit
away from people it was even less likely that I would 'bother' people.

it almost seems like you are saying stims are bad. I was aware of my
surroundsing, that's why I moved further from people. I was aware I was
exhausted and was not going to able to inhibit my stims. my only option
for not stimming on Rosh Hashana day would have been to not go.

I was proud of myself because I *did* take initiative to meet my needs.
for one of the first times I let myself sit where I was going to be
confortable. I let myself stim. I let myself be myself.

>   And try not to be to upset with people around you if they don't
> understand whats going on.  For the most part alot of people in the
> current 20yrs or above has never had to deal with an autistic person in
> mainstream society.
>
I don't expect understanding. I'm shocked if I get it.

>   I thank the hard work of parents with these children in the past in
> bringing forth the publicity it has now.  And we as parents with
> autistic children need to carry on the work.
>
And I thank the hard work of autistics like Larry, Joel, Terry and
Amanda

>   There is no need to be in the closet.  Simply come out and enjoy
> life.  If you start to have an episode, then pull yourself away for a
> few min.  I know it's hard to redirect on your own.  But the more you
> educate other people around you about whats going on, the more you'll
> find that upon seeing you in a certain state, they will want to try and
> help.
>
I'm getting such a mixed message from this post. "don't be in the
closet" but then you talk about pulling away if I have an episode. what
do you mean by episode? if stimming is an 'episode' it seems you do
want me to live in the closet. and late me restate, I do manage my
stims. I don't do loud stims in public. I don't do things I know are
distracting (like pacing, throwing things, etc)

chris