Funkonovo/Allison's autism Blog

After a 2 decade hiatus, I finally did something I'd been wanting to do since my maiden voyage at age 18. I got inked- again! This is a repeat victory for someone who used to agonize over blood tests. I had to get a lot of them when I was 17, as I was on medication that required periodic blood tests, particularly for Lithobid, which I am no longer on. I was also hospitalized over 20 times (I stopped counting after 20), and blood draws are a part of the experience. I had wanted a tattoo since I was 12. I used to get the stick on ones from Claire's. I saw a little butterfly on the sheet of stick ons, and I knew once I was of age (18 was legal for tattoos back in 1997) I would be getting a tattoo. Being stuck like a pig definitely helped me prepare! My dad would've been against it, but he had passed in 1994 (23 years ago today). My mom was cool with it-I got the second child privilege. By contrast my older sister couldn't date or get her ears pierced until she was ...

Autistic woman 4 square sequence typed personal autism attributes. April is 2 days away. I understand if you subscribers (thank you for reading) wish not to read all the notifications flooding into your inbox. Go to pixteller.com to create your own autism awareness infographic. It's free and easy enough for this quasi-Luddite to operate. Compassion before judgment!

Autism  It isn't over in 30 days It doesn't only affect the male sex, children, teens or white people. It isn't just a different way of thinking. It is meltdowns and shutdowns from sensory overload. It is often expressing oneself better through writing than words. It is often too loud, bright, smelly, rough and itchy. Eye contact creates panic. It is needing safe places In which to process and recover. It is helped by people listening instead of judging. Sleep can be fleeting Bowels inflamed Head banging, flapping or rocking Chewing or spinning stim jewelry to alleviate anxiety Noise canceling headphones, sunglasses and hats Sometimes medication It can mean marriage and kids It can mean one, both or neither It is a vast spectrum In which women are being treated as the newcomers There all along Diagnosed in middle age All too often it means  poverty isolation persecution unemployment and saddest of all, much talent and creativity remain...