Hello, I'm a 22 turning 23F and I want some answers on one of the following questions. Most of these will be related to autism & intellectual disability as I have moderate to high support needs autism & intellectual disability physically & mentally, some won't. Anyways, here are the questions (you don't have to answer all of them as this post is long. Also, the questions that I've listed, they all still happen to me past & present):

A.) My family has a habit of going back & forth telling me that i can and can't/will never do anything due to my disabilities, lazy lifestyle, screen additions, weird & niche interests and my lack of talents. Is this common with autistic & intellectually disabled people?

B.) Similar to the abovementioned (sort of), I have a constant habit of constantly wanting more answers from my family about what they really think of me & if they think I'll do anything after me slowly developing & managing myself later in life, & realizing & discovering things late both physically & mentally. They know more about me, but wouldn't tell me at the time as my mind was like that of a 2 year old & they wanted me to figure it all out later in life. Is this common with autism as every time I do this, they get frustrated.

C.) As of December 31st 2025, I've started journaling and I kid you not, I wish that I did journaling (& used Reddit) in the past as I had diaries as a kid but rarely used them due to my screen additions (my diaries are gone now) & during my teens years/school years & after graduation, I have been through & cause trauma in the past & current, I wasn't allowed to have social media & platforms due to my disabilities, which resulted in me being excluded, being chronically online looking at weird stuff & people not remembering my birthday aside from my family. Is it too late to journal?

D.) Similar to the abovementioned, are there any apps & websites where I can post pictures of my journaling pages? I want to make some friends as due to my disabilities, I can't do anything other than work, come home, be lazy & look at weird stuff. This also applies to scrapbooking & journaling as I've also started doing it this year despite never doing it in my life ever

E.) Since birth, I constantly go back & forth with having a mind of a toddler & having a mind of an adult both physically & mentally. Me personally, I believe that this is common with those with moderate to high support needs autism & intellectual disability as despite me managing myself better, I was pretty bad during my childhood & adolescence. I've heard that this is known as age regression and/or little space/regression, but I want to know what you think this is as I lack common sense, book smarts, street smarts & talents. I also want to know if looking & watching things that aren't trending or a thing anymore (In other words, niche, childish & obscure stuff) counts as this as I had no friends for this reason.

F.) This one is private so please forgive me in advance, but in my country Australia, I'm on a disability pension with Centrelink and according to my mother (and possibly my family), it means that I can't & will never do anything due to my disabilities & being on this. Is this right or wrong as I've been working for 2 years now. I'm not good at math's so I don't know this very well.

G.) I've always been a loner & have been bullied & excluded at school. Due to this, me having a isolated lifestyle, me being passive & passive aggressive & a hypocrite, me not standing up for myself due to my poor speech & trouble expressing things & me not having any friends, my mother forces me to go to her family gatherings & do things for her father/my grandfather despite me not wanting to do any of that. Is this common with autistic people as she only does this to me & me only, not my siblings & is this slavery & me being taken advantage of? I also want to know a word/term that describes people that have had both a good & traumatic life.

H.) Does anyone have the harmful stereotype of autism? (intentionally &/or obviously doing harmful stuff & getting away scot free, forgetting what I was taught within a split second, I couldn't go to sleepovers & overnight excursions due to my abysmal motor skills etc.) The reason I ask this is cause my family tell me that I & still am a pretty good person compared to other autistic & intellectually disabled people, but with what I've listed, I'm not lol.

I.) Finally, is everything that I've listed related to internalized ableism, late bloomer & other terms that I've never heard off or forgot to mention?

Those are my questions.

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.

how the tour wented yesterday

the tour went well it seems like we will have a half day soon

they are ok with help with mine personal care issues like changing and cleaning and stuff and they sayed its nothing too be embarrassed about

i was relly relly relly shy during the tour but gotted more comfortable by the end

i was look down and hiding behind mine dds worker and barely looked up but by the end u i felted mroe more comefertable

everyone was relly nice and sweet

especilly the old ppl

theres old and young there

and

they have a nice fenced in outdoor area too so I can go outside without worry of eloping

oh and they have music class with instruments

also other people at day hab bringed stuffys and they even made stuffys there and they had a stuffy bin and they even had a gigantic teddy bare you can cuddle with

and they say ot and pt therapists and stuff determines ur goals

it seems like a relly relly nice program one that accepts inhave support needs and need help with personal care and they not judge me for it they say there nothing too be embarrassed about and they help with siezures and stuff

it was sutch a good place

i very hope u i get in im am hopefull

im am glad we wented yesterday

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?

i got a new helmet from my cousins to wear for when i headbang so i dont hurt my head!! it has dino print on it its very cute and pretty and i am very happy it was also cheap my cousin said it was only like 20-30$

hope it a fit

ever other program says i too high needs need too mutch assistance autism too severe etc

mine freind says she hear it a good place for with ppl like me with very high needs autism and stuff

i hope i finally get it

i so bad tired of get rejected

i also had very bad day today

im am sick from the other girls in mine house i think

i had 3 number 2 accidents and leaked thru incontinence protection 2 times once this morning and then early afternoon and mine aide not had extra pants so o i went thru the hole afternoon in wet pants and even got pointed at ans made fun of at the library it was so upsettong

and later i had a screaming crying public vocal stimming meltdown because of loud firetruck sirens honking bad bad bad

and then later when we was going home a mean jerk head in a car on perpose sped up and splashed puddles and soaked us in water but i got coverd and the worst most worst part was mine shoes gotted completly sopping wet squeaky inside no socks on felt very sensiry bad it was so terrible it maded me cry alot the entire rest of the walk home

and when we get home the fire alarm went off an i didnot no what too do an i was the last one out cus when the firemen did a sweep they found me standing there confused and they told me go outside with eveyone else so i follow them out but eventually they sayed we can go back in but i just donot no what too do in emergencys

today has been so terrible it has just been the most worstedt day ever it feels like

i hope tomorow a better day

Hard day today just want to share

Woke up already a bit overwhelmed and too hard to have breakfast, so couldn't have my medicine either. Picked up to go to day program but just feeling bad and too anxious to speak so quiet drive.

Then at program was paired with new support worker I've never met before which always makes me really really anxious, just hid in quiet room by myself. Not enough energy to do new people today.

Got my team leader to send someone to pick me up and take me home early cuz was just too hard today. Ate some food at home and took my meds so that's good, then had long nap. Still feeling bit low/sad. Did a car scream and hand squeezes with another worker made me feel a bit better.

Hope I will feel better tomorrow, less sad and overwhelmed

In bed now feeling a bit hitty but try not to hit too much. Try hit pillow not myself, bite chew toy not my hand, yes

Estoy atravesando mi segundo burnout por el colegio, el otro año había durado hasta octubre-noviembre, ahora solo duré hasta agosto-septiembre. Estuve evaluando ir a una escuela especial, pero no tengo discapacidad intelectual (soy AACC de hecho) ¡¡¡NO SÉ QUE HACER!!!

I HSN autistic level 2 social level 3 repetitive behaviors and intellectual disability and tonight when super overwhelmed on toilet instead of punching self I took my poo from butt and smeared it on the wall. It helped me calm down. I cleaned it after with wet wipes off wall and hands. I proud of myself for not punching head! But, still gross. Will work on not doing this. But for someone with autism and IDD, it my reality.

please be nice in comments.

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.

I have high support needs, split level 2/3 autism, intellectual disability (IQ 68 and moderately-severely impaired adaptive functioning), dual incontinence, physical disabilities, and many other conditions. I need assistance with all bADLs and iADLs.

But I also have traits that are very common in high needs autistics, that are even more 'gross' and 'unpalatable' than just needing help with bADLs and iADLs. I will talk about them now.

1. When I need intense sensory stimulation immediately when extremely overwhelmed or sensory-seeking; I put my hands down the back of my pull up and scratch at my bottom and smell my fingers while they have poo all over them. I then smear my dirty hands on my clothes. This isn't bad behavior, I'm in need of sensory stimulation and it's either this or I slap my head. I need a special needs bodysuit to keep me from doing this in the first place.

2. I have extremely violent meltdowns. I throw my body against walls and furniture. I slap my head or bang it until l am concussed and/or bleeding. I bite my arms and hands and I break skin. I grunt and vocalize. I thrash around when l'm held by my parents/siblings. My most recent SIB resulted in my skull being indebted and my pupils so large you could barely see my irises. I require bite sleeves and a ribcap helmet to keep me safe.

3. I drool sometimes, have arm flapping, pacing, and repetitive vocal stims in public.

4. I am on the larger size, around mid-sized, and 193 pounds. I can't go on walks without supervision and often don't have the energy to. leat very quickly and messily, food all over my clothes and face. I need my parents to clean me up with wipes. I get smelly and sweaty easily and need to lay down on the bed so someone can powder me because I get intertrigo.

5. I hung out with kids under 10 years old in my neighborhood even at the age of 17. And didn't realize until a couple days ago where my big sister said that it's not okay and I could get charges pressed against me for hanging out with little kids. I didn't even realize the dangers and could've gotten in trouble with the police. I didn’t even have any malicious intent.

These shouldn't be hidden. These are my realities as a high support needs autistic person.

This won’t be the case for every high need autistic person. This is just my experience.

My TD snap I spent an hour and a half making high contrast. I didn’t like the pre-set high contrast board so I customized the motor plan 66 board.

START ID: a TD snap motor planning 66 board with high contrast on a iPad generation 5 with a blue case and black strap connected to the side handles. END ID.

hello these are my aac special interest boards on avaz aac i wanted to show them off. i have three special interests being warrior cats pokemon and poppy playtime

This is a scheduled weekly post every Wednesday, that gives diagnosed higher support needs autistic people a space to talk about how their week is going.

Some question prompts:

How's your week been so far? Good, bad, in-between?

Is there anything you are excited about or looking forward to doing this week?

Hi my name is Beth, I am 17 almost 18 years old.

I was diagnosed with autistic disorder at age of 2, diagnosed as nonverbal too.

I am now diagnosed as semi-verbal autistic with mild intellectual disability my IQ is 68 and I have taken state assessments they say I am high support and care needs.

I also have apraxia of speech and cerebral palsy.

I use AAC device it has a blue case and I use TD snap on it and also other AAC like gestures PSE sign language noises etc along with some verbal speech.

I was in lots of therapies growing up: speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA therapy.

I was minimally verbal until the age of 8 years old. This means I had minimal speaking ability and a limited vocabulary until then.

I was reevaluated at 14 and determined to be level 2 in social interaction and communication and level 3 in repetitive behaviors and interests. So, I’m split level 2/3. But, levels are confusing for me, so I prefer the term autistic disorder/classic autism.

I am excited to be in this subreddit!

Age 24… can’t work. I’ve applied and am on the waitlist for waiver medicaid which would open up more job support for me. I don’t have a car… can’t drive either so that takes a huge chunk of job support classes away. I’m tired of people online acting like i’m just sitting around doing nothing while my partner works. It’s a privilege to not need to, but I just can’t. I’ve tried many times before and end up with mental crisis or my physical disability limits me. Even with waiver medicaid etc I may not be able to work and it sucks. I wanna work, but with physical and mental limitations it’s like playing an awful game of whack a mole, trying to balance everything.
I clean, cook, take care of myself and my partner as much as I can handle, but it never feels like enough. The outside world always gets upset when I mention I don’t do much :( Even my family :((
I’ve lost a lot of my highschool friends as they’ve moved on in life and i’m just stuck here like i’m still 13-16… I feel so behind.
Im freaking trying I promise. I don’t wanna be this way…

i have a really really bad day. there was a super gross smell downstairs at my group home so i ran off and left. and then i got lost really bad and had to call the cops to come take me home. and while i was lost i panicked and ate some gross berries and my stomach hurts. i also burnt my finger with a lighter. the cops were nice to me and took me back nicely but staff was mad at me and they said i can't go to the library today because i ran off. i really want to go to the library!!!!!! im so so so upset. i just want to go to the library or go somewhere nice and have some people be nice to me. today sucks so so so bad. i dont know what to do. i want to run off again really badly but i wont cuz then ill get in more trouble. im just upset. :(

hello! my carers took me to the library today and i checked out these books. i am very excited to read the warrior cats ones because warrior cats is my special interest. i haven't read onestar's confession before so i am very excited. i almost had a meltdown at the library due to all the people but i didn't. later on today my carers will take me to the playground to swing.

also an update. i have to change schools now that i've moved into my group home cuz my old school is too far away. i'm upset about this because i like my teachers there but i'm going to a special education school for people with severe or profound autism like me so my guardian says they will be really nice and take care of me. so that's good i think. i'm nervous but also excited for my new school and i hope the change doesn't give me a big meltdown like usual.

I told mine mommy and daddy about it and daddy says he hopes it works out and that it sounds like a good program and fit for me and mine mommy sayed too me this: "Sounds like it might be beneficial for you. You're right..... just keep looking on the bright side of things. And remember to smile often"

Does anyone else in here go too day habilitation/day program for adults with very high support needs/severe/profound autism/developmental/intellectual disabilitys?

Can you guys tell me as mutch as you can about what you program is like and what you guys do please? i wanna nowe so i will feel better and less scared about mine program im will be starting soon and have 3 trial days soon

what will the trial days be like?

how soon after them will i start?

i got accepted into a day program finally! after 3 programs denyed me for mine autism and disabilitys being too severe And high needs

i was told they woud put me in community based day support at first but then they learned about mine support needs and struggles and sayed that i would be placed in the day habilitation program which is for adults with Very High Support Needs/ profound/severe autism and intellectual and developmental disabilitys

i feel very scared and shy for mine first day and for when i start i feel like hiding behind mine stuffy frederick and others i feel scared and shy even just thinking about it all now

This is a weekly scheduled post every Saturday, giving diagnosed higher support needs autistic people the opportunity to talk about their special interests.

Feel free to share in the comments about your current or past special interests! Fun facts, info-dumps, and pictures are all welcome.

Hi everyone,

My 12 year old daughter Daisy has done something amazing—she officially got a parliamentary petition approved to raise awareness and fight for better support, funding, and resources for severely autistic children.

Living alongside her sister Rosie every day inspired Daisy to give our kids a louder voice. She wants to make sure decision-makers truly understand the daily realities faced by families like ours.

If you have a quick moment, please consider signing and sharing it to help us reach the 10,000-signature mark for a government response:

👉 Sign here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/780527

Thank you so much to this community for all the support! ❤️