FairyBelle

Start training for my new job role tomorrow. I will be a technical support agent now. After nearly 3 weeks of training without access to the computer system for the sales position that they moved us all to when the insurance company we worked for left, and me hunting down and nagging at many members of upper management and HR, they finally gave me a program transfer. Only because I played the autism card 🙄 They made it very clear a program transfer would not have happened if it were not related to my disability. I had stated I would not be able to adequately perform the sales role due to my autism. They wanted 8 pitches and rebuttals daily, or we were at risk of losing our jobs. Oh. hell. to. the. no.

I live in Canada, and from what I understand, my province (Ontario) is slowly reopening. Hard to say for sure as I don’t have cable TV which makes it harder to keep up with the news. Online articles can often be wrong, I’ve found. I think it’s too soon. I may have the unpopular opinion here, and I know a lot of people are tired of quarantine, I am too. I feel like reopening things so soon is just asking for more trouble though. Did we learn nothing from the Spanish flu in the 1920’s? My mom and I were just talking about that the other day, actually 🤔

Glad to see you're somewhat adjusting and coping, Gear I really wish we had autism peer support groups where I live. Anything to do with autism and adults is so limited in my province in Ontario, and most services require you to be 'lower functioning.' Forgive me, I don't like functioning labels, but I can't think of a better way to phrase it at this moment. I find myself getting some of my support through FB groups for adults and women on spectrum, and the Twitter Actually Autistic community. I have some friends who are on spectrum as well, but a lot of the time I feel isolated. Getting my official diagnosis allowed me to breathe a big, deep breath, and go, 'Ahhh! Okay, good! I'm not a broken neurotypical, I'm a perfectly fine autistic. I just think and feel differently than some others.' A lot of people have accused me of not being empathetic enough, I've also learned through my diagnosis journey that this is not the case. I do lack some cognitive empathy, because I can't imagine what it's like to be anyone other than me, but I've also realized that some people think I'm unempathetic and not supportive because I don't provide emotional support in the ways they find most beneficial. I tend to be logical and to try and help to find practical solutions, sometimes mixed with validation, sometimes not, depending on the situation. Now I've learned to accept myself as I am, and to realize that people need to speak up if they need something from me or I am doing something ineffectively. We are all adults. Using our words and communicating is paramount. I went off on a tangent.. Bringing this back in, I really wish we had an autism support group around here. I'd love to help others and give back, as well as get support myself ❤️ Let me also just say, pets are so therapeutic to me. I saw you mention dogs. I love my two cats beyond words, and they really help me to feel less alone too. They help me get out of bed every morning by meowing for food

Anyone else finding the change of routines, and changes to really, oh, *everything* in the world right now is triggering their autism? I feel far more stressed than usual. More sensory and emotional overload, more meltdowns. 🤦‍♀️

Festive, seasonal depression. Luckily, still functioning for now.

Got my official, formal, on paper diagnosis on 11/21/2019. Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1. Was informally, verbally diagnosed until then. Feels pretty normal, nothing has changed, except I no longer question if I’m absolutely correct and not lying when I say I’m autistic now 😊

I personally think your therapist saying that just might be enough, Argh. My life has been so hectic. I was just granted full time hours at my work placement. My wife is coming back this Friday, bringing my mother-in-law and aunt-in-law with her for the ride. They will be returning home later this weekend, and only staying in our city for a bit of Friday evening. My wife is staying here with me permanently. I’m really fearful that I may be scheduled in for this Friday now, and miss seeing my in-laws, which kind of makes me sad. I won’t get my schedule until tomorrow, and I need Sunday and Monday off. I emailed my employment coach about this, and he called my boss, then called me back. He told me I have to ask for it when I go in tomorrow, but that they are now aware of it. A lot of stress lately, and definitely a lot different from my work training program, which was a steady schedule of Monday-Friday, from 9-4:30. They were also very accommodating and understanding of my disability, AKA, my autism. No one even knows about my autism at my current job, I chose to not disclose. Sometimes that complicates things. Keep your fingers crossed for me that if I’m scheduled in for Friday, I get off work at a decent time. Even better yet, cross your fingers for no Friday shift at all. Also, please keep your fingers crossed for my getting my Sunday and Monday off approved 🤞🏻

I work for a youth centre. It was for a social event. Right now I’m in a paid work training program at said youth centre. The second phase of this program, I’ll go to a job placement in the community. Did you have a good day, Gear? It seems uneventful, which are the types of days I like, personally.

I’m glad you got your bathroom fixed up, Gear. Your doggy sounds sweet, I love dogs 🐶 ❤️ Today was a lousy work day. Loud, live music during gathering lead to me covering my ears. Which lead to a coworker getting upset and calling me rude and disrespectful. Leading to another coworker telling her I’m not rude, just autistic. I left the room eventually, flapping and wringing my hands, because I uncovered my ears as to not be rude. This caused sensory overload. I then had a meltdown in another room, rocking and crying. Two coworkers came in to console me. That was the only positive.

Thanks Gear. 😊 Your friend’s cat sounds like a typical kitty, but I know that can be a real PITA. Not much new here. Friday I went clothing shopping and helped my grandma get her new iPhone. Saturday I saw the Detective Pikachu movie with my friend Sam, then slept over at her house. Now we’re just about to have breakfast. It’s been a pretty good few days, tomorrow will be my first day of paid ‘work.’ I’m ready.

Oh good, people are sharing. I’m glad to hear you got your new pens in the mail, Gearhead. Sounds exciting 😊 Thanks for participating, Cerberus. No worries if it isn’t daily, I’m just trying to get some people talking in this section of the forums. I hope you don’t get the sniffles and your cat is alright. Good news for me today, I got hired on for the paid training program I’ve been trying to get into. I was told about my poor eye contact and social skills, I did my best to work on them, and today I was taken aside and told that due to taking the direction and implementing it, and all of my growth, I would be offered a position in the paid training program. I’m so excited, one step closer to have a paid job after! 😃

Hi all. I wanted to attempt to create a thread for autistic members to come in and chat, give updates on their day to day lives, etc. This section of the board isn’t very lively, which I find to be a shame. Perhaps we can change that. I’ll start. Today has been uneventful. Made some phone calls, fed some pets, did some chores. One incident of sensory overload. Have work tomorrow and an appointment after work.