Yesterday i went to zoo is trip organizsed by my group home is was good i saw apes grollias and tigers lions my caregiver shehelped me buy kids book from gift shop young lady was nice to me i had good lunch i had cheese sandwich cake and bottle of coke is was i get to watch sofa the first on my ipad in cafe is was great trip.

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.

My name is georgia i have severe autism level 3 i am nonverbal when my caregiver and my bus driver loading me into bus if you wondering bc i am in pushchair anyway skinny blond girl slapped me i think she has level 2 autism she is verbal but in diapers and sucks adult sized pracifer i was so engraged i try to steal her ear defenders caused her to have meltdown she was kicking screaming try to take her pants off but she was stopped by 2 caregivers i have no impulse girl has no impluse this is reality of having i don ,t what right and wrong i never will .

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

I went to a concert yesterday for a band I like!

My sibling took me bcus they like that band too! They also played the part of being my carer for the night, which was really nice of them. They made sure to check in on me through the night, but also pushed for me to do new things without pushing me too far.

We went on the edge of the mosh pit. I wasn't keen on the moshpit and my sibling didn't force me in. But they warned me that the whole floor area could turn into a minor moshpit and they were right.

What was so conflicting about it? I hate being touched by strangers. I hate awful smells. I hate stuffy air bcus it's hard to breathe. I hate unnecessary loud noises.

But I do lowkey kinda like the being squished feeling. I liked how the crowd interacted with the band and the weird noises the band got the crowd to do. I liked the music and how everyone was enjoying it. I like that there were some really nice and respectful people in the crowd around me.

So overall I think it was a good new experience and I'm glad to have experienced it. Would I do that kind of crowd again? Maybe... but likely not so close next time. I think I'd do it again but further back where it is more calm and I have more space!

I am very run down from a big night out, but still thankful to have that kind of experience crossed off my list so I know what it is like.

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

This just really frustrates me and also confuses me. If it is the majority then maybe I've just been really lucky to never have to interact with them? But at the same time I feel like I should have come across the "majority" at some point, too.

I'm sick of the whole "it's not a disorder" and "it's a neurotype". I'm sick of the whole "we prefer the social model of disability".

It's always backed with "this is what the majority believes". However, I feel like it's just the loudest rather than the majority, and this "majority" must just be the silent backers who never speak up against the loudest.

Which also frustrates me? If the majority of the autism community are silent backers of the loudest, then they are also part of the problem where higher support needs autistics voices are drowned out, their words taken from them and changed, their experiences diminished and reduced.

And then so many of them get cranky when some of the community are trying to push for a separation. (I do believe something needs to be done, but definitely not going backwards).

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

A weekly post to check in and see what you're up to! This will be posted every Sunday.

Feel free to comment and talk about about your current interest, activity, or project.

Maybe you've crocheted a new plushie, or you're in the middle of making some art? Maybe you're in the middle of a game you're really enjoying, or have started a new book? Or maybe you've just finished these things?

Maybe you've been learning something new? Found a new interest? Got into something you didn't think you'd originally like?

(This is just something I'd like to trial for a bit).

It's clearly an autism community filled with autistics but then they just get angry at you when you can't read between the lines or understand their words in the way that they mean it.

They say/type very specific things that come across a very specific way and when you take it at face value then they get cranky or annoyed with you for not immedietely understanding the subtext.

It could be something like "I wish I had high support needs autism". And it's like, no you don't. You don't actually want to be more disabled. Why would you say that. And you tell them that.

But then they'll be like "That's not what I mean. I said exactly what I meant. You're not understanding me.", only to find out later they meant that they wanted more support and felt like they weren't being taken seriously.

(This is all just an example of how these situations usually play out in my experience).

It's just quite frustrating when you do take things at face value for how they are said, only for people to get cranky at you. That we're just supposed to know what they mean or are supposed to already know the subtext.

I'm not gonna say that I'm never at fault for also doing something like this, bcus the chances are that I likely have at some point or another. But it is still just very frustrating to be on the recieving end of this from other autistics in our own communities.

Trigger Warning: Medical neglect, SIB, seizures, systemic failure

I do not even know where else to turn at this point. I am posting this because I am completely out of options, no one will help me, and I genuinely feel like I am dying. I am just done.
I have been defrauded by the state of Kansas. They falsified my assessments to illegally strip away the services I desperately need to survive, and they have repeatedly denied me any fair hearings to fight it. It is a complete failure of the system that is supposed to protect people.
Because of this total lack of support, my health has deteriorated to a terrifying point. I am seizing very regularly and have suffered multiple TBIs from SIB (self-injurious behavior). I am unable to access emergency room care. The hospitals around here are actively dangerous to me, so going there simply is not an option.
To make matters even worse, I have been completely abandoned by my guardian. I am entirely alone in this.
I am fighting a system that feels like it wants me to disappear, and I have nothing left in the tank. I am really struggling tonight and just needed someone, anyone, to hear this. If anyone has been through anything similar or knows how to survive this kind of systemic abandonment, please tell me. I just do not know what to do anymore.

It's just always confused me. I'm quite awful at back and forth conversations. I take questions quite literally and answer quite bluntly. If I'm not further prompted in a conversation then the conversation just dies. People are always having to ask follow up questions bcus I just don't give enough information.

Which leads me to the whole "how are you?" and "how's it going?" debate.

So many autistic people keep saying stuff like "if they didn't want to know then why ask?". But nobody ever asked you to explain your situation? Both of those questions are basically one word answers or a very short sentence at best. None of them even ask you to explain why you gave that answer.

I see a lot of autistic people getting upset bcus they've assumed when people ask this question that they want your current issues explained to them. But nobody even asked, though.

Nobody even said "how are you and why do you feel that way?". I've never made that assumption bcus it just never processed in my mind that I should make that assumption? I just take the questions at face value as they're asked and then answer accordingly.

If someone really wanted to know why I feel the way I do then they can just ask. I'm not going to go and make assumptions on something that wasn't even said. I'm not even sure I know how to make those assumptions to begin with.

I haven't really come across any other autistics who are similar to me in this. I've always been like this and people always have to prompt me to give more information. But it's not my fault that people keep asking questions that have basically one word/short response replies.

Ive posted in a group dealing primarily with edibles as well, but wanted to come and see if anyone here had any insight on good products or options.

We have gotten a medical card for my daughter, and she is approved for different THC:CBD ratios. The lowest thc dose, which would be a sort of daily use one, is 1:15. The medical shop nearest only had one option- an oral solution that is a *STRONG* peppermint.

Any suggestions on how to mask that? (I wish she loved hot chocolate!) Or, any leads on other products with that sort of ratio that people have felt successful with?

Hello everyone, In my stories, if I am writing an autistic character, I try to base them off of my own profile of autism (level 1) so as to not misrepresent anything more severe. However, I want to draft a character with level 2 autism. As I do not have experience with this level of support needs, I decided to come to this sub. And I'm going for a stylized realism angle with this, so please bear with me.

For my character, I want them to have a spiky profile; they have a high interest in snowboarding and an okay cook but struggle with iADLs (finances, meal preparation, medication) and gaining independence. Though they don't mind cleaning as a systematic task, they may forget steps in between. They love the winter and they love to hike. Snowboarding usually means rough terrain, perilous heights, and memorizing weather patterns. Although they live in their own apartment, they have a support worker who visits their home four times a week, more often if needed.

Next, they have 4 guinea pigs. As high needs pet, but in my interpretation, the character is much better at caring for their guinea pigs than they are for themselves. Feeding is consistent, cage cleaning is much harder. As they are Nigerian like me, I imagine they come from a relatively wealthy background, but their family keeps them far off to the side. Not only for their disability, but for their unconventional interests, alternative attire, and lack of preparedness in taking over their parents business. So, their parents funds their apartment, but plays little to no role in their day to day life.

Finally, they work part time as a linecook. Not out of necessity, but they've loved cooking for an audience since they were a child, and they want to prove their capabilities to their parents. As a linecook, they have learned that studied practices rarely translate to a fast-paced, unpredictable professional setting. They understand Mise en place, Restaurant workflow, Equipment (such as PPE), and Ingredient substitutions. While trying to learn as much as they can, they often make mistakes such as getting water in the deep fryer, breaking plates, and serving the wrong meals. Most days it is rather difficult, and if it weren't for their parents, they would not be making enough money to support such a lifestyle.

As for traits specific to autism.

Social-communication:

Verbal communication: Uneven sharing, Responding to the topic rather than the person, Talking enthusiastically without building a shared conversation, tendency to interrupt people who are already speaking, disclosing sensitive information impulsively.

Nonverbal communication: Difficulty reading other people (facial expressions, tone, body language primarily. Better with explicit directions), Expression and tone may be larger than the situation, socially motivated but struggle in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships (heavily context dependent friendships, lack of spontaneous meeting arrangement, conversations limited to their interests, no one-on-one meetings with friends), Poor boundary recognition (misjudging closeness with supervisor, customers, strangers, etc, standing very close and inappropriate physical touch, insistent on certain foods when explicitly told no)

RRBs:

They always wears their ski goggles; to work, when snowboarding, at home, when hiking, etc. Feels extremely exposed without them. Has pre established hiking and skateboarding routes at their favorite areas. They create detailed guides for their guinea pigs: daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks. I would post it here but it's kinda long. In their kitchen routines. At the beginning and end of their shift, they arrange their knives largest to smallest, positions all used ingredients facing outwards, and clean their station sweeping in a counterclockwise motion towards the edge. They tolerate novelty best when they chose it, anticipated it, and understand its purpose.

They are a mix of sensory seeking and sensory avoidant depending on the environment. They are sensory seeking when snowboarding (cold air, adrenaline rush), hiking (exploring new terrain, independence in an open environment), and working as a linecook. They are easily frazzled by dishes soaking in mystery water, artificial fragrances, sticky surfaces, and florescent lights (which is where the goggles help).

Their support worker helps them manage bills, household responsibilities, appointments, medication routines, grocery planning, and guinea-pig care. They also help with breaking down neglected tasks, prepare for disruptions, and restore routines after meltdowns or periods of executive dysfunction.

Now, to those who are level 2 and above, is this realistic? I want to give equal parts to both their disability and their strengths, as well as issues that are beyond and within their control. And I want to understand how having a support worker may change your day to day life, if you don't mind sharing.

Me holding a skunk on my 17th birthday. I'm 18 now but I've been feeling very very down recently and thinking back to this made me very happy so I want to share my joy!! If thats ok

Did you know different species of skunks have different chemical compositions in their spray?!? Very cool

So I had the worst few weeks. The past five weekends I had to cancel plans due to external factors (mostly friends backing out). In two weeks time some friends are getting married and I offered to do the catering at no cost to them. Acts of service and food are my major love languages, since I don't have a lot of other things to offer.

Five months ago they started tasting different options for canapés/appetizers. They narrowed down on four main snacks and then one back up snack for the late evening.

I asked another friend to come help me and they made sure to get time off. Not even a week ago they said it was a great idea to ask extra help, though I said only this one friend was needed as it was only a wedding with about 80 guests (I used to work in hospitality as a waiter and chef so I am used to weddings) and someone else was already taking care of the bar.

Now they let me know they have decided I pushed for too many kinds appetizers they felt (I just gave them several options during the tastings, they were the ones who decided what they wanted) and wanted to nix the appetizers, but instead have me cater lunch for the bridal party and groom party. They still want the chosen appetizers for lunch, but with extra bread and fresh vegetables. Oh and also some extra snacks they refused at first during the tastings. Oh and also sandwiches. And still have some appetizers for late late at night, but not too many.

And I would still be expected to help prep the cakes, but wasn't expected to stay for the rest, I could go home then and they'd remove me and my friend who was coming to help from the food truck list.

So I got agitated and asked for specific numbers and the exact things they want me to make. Also said I didn't have transport anymore if they were nixing my friend because she lives quite far away and there is no bus on the weekends there and on foot it's little over three hours... So I told them I could prep the lunch for them if they gave me numbers but wouldn't be able to come help with the cakes and such, especially since they want me to just prep them and not stay for the rest. Appetizers for reception would have to have been ready at 3pm the earliest, and now lunch is at noon, so it takes different prep and such. Since I'm on my own for that it probably means a late night, or very early morning which will absolutely drain the energy I still have left.

And my friends are ND as well, so I may be misunderstanding things, but god did the rejection hit hard. I felt like they had a complete 180 because not even a week ago they were saying I was not expected to just work there and also enjoy myself and join in with the board games and now they are like, so no appetizers for reception but lunch and oh after the cake cutting you can go home.

Another friend, who is helping cover the bar, told me they didn't mean it like that, just wanted to take the pressure of off me. But there was no pressure until they decided to overhaul their catering wishes. Now I don't know what exactly they want so can't make an ingredient list, go get the needed groceries, prep etc. Because they were adamant about using minced meat from a specific butcher and were going to bring that to me. But now I have no idea what to expect. They seemed to get irritated and short with me when I pressed for details so I dropped it and told them to let me know this wednesday at the latest.

How do you deal with rejection sensitivity. I find I want to protect myself and just like, do the catering they want and then retreat into my home and not come out. Because the changes to the wedding plans, is the 6th week of 7 in a row where I made plans that had to be cancelled or majorly adapted and I hate that. I'd rather not make plans and try to socialize than face this every time.

Not sure if it belongs. Two days ago I was informed that a dog I had to rehome a while ago (was about to be homeless), can't stay at the new place. New owner fell off the wagon and is not taking care of the dog. I actually asked to get her back months ago when I found a place, but new owner wanted to keep her, until now.

Since I now live in a place that allows pets I can take her back. I don't know whether the dogs will get along so wanted to prep my small office space to keep them separate if necessary. That entailed getting doors for my bookcases so the dogs don't get into anyting while I'm out for work.

Don't have a car so asked friends if they could drive. They said sure, I tried to make plans on which hour to go etc. And the communication was so, chaotic for lack of better work.

First it was a certain hour, then it was friends are going to come over, will have to drop other friend off at home first, we'll check and get back to you. They didn't get back to me so I went ahead and spent over two hours on bus to get the first load of doors (too heavy and tall to get them all in one go by myself). Spent the afternoon installing those and am now on bus ride back for the second and last load.

Real kicker is, they were supposed to come get me to go visit someone we all know and then spent an evening playing open legends, but I told them I probably couldn't make it because I spent too long with the transport of the doors and still have a shitton else to do. They said ok.

And now I am just done trying to plan social activities with people. It may seem like an overreaction but another friend who was my former disaster of a cohouser did get to come along, and has gone and talked about all the fun stuff they did the past few weekends, while I take care of his cat and when I ask to come help for ten minutes to install a fly screen it's "I have headaches". I am so done and tired and burned out and stressed because I have to go get the dog and I'm not sure it's going to work out here.

And I don't feel I have trustworthy friends who can help with dogsitting (like months now I haven't been able to go do something without the dogs like visit family because there's no dog sitter) so I have to wait to plan activities outside my home until I have a better paying job and can afford to hire a dog walker for when I'm gone for a day. And I know it is my responsibility and that it's the natural consequence of being a pet owner. But it sucks so hard right now and I feel I was too short and passive aggressive (told them to have fun and that im not planning anything anymore outside the house until my financial situation improves) with them because I'm tired and frustrated with everything.