I have to say I actually voted for the Green party in the election, even though I feared they wouldn't win in this area, but after reading the manifestos I just really struggled to vote for Labour. I don't agree with everything the Green's manifesto said - but overall they are the closest to my own values. I've been very worried about PIP and support for disabled people more generally, and at the moment I can't say I have a lot of confidence in Labour - although I'm sure they will do better than the Tories on these issues, and my worries have been augmented by the fact I'm still waiting the results of my PIP review which happened a couple of months ago. Every time the postman puts a letter through the door I feel super anxious. I do think the NDM approach has added to my fears to be honest, because the more autism is trivialised, the more I fear my difficulties and support needs will not be taken seriously. Personally I think all autism is a disability that should be taken seriously, and level 1 autistics also need support too. The fact that there are people out there saying autism is a superpower or just a difference is really causing confusion. I sometimes find other people's autism experiences a bit alienating to be honest, as they seem so accomplished in ways I can't imagine being able to be. For example in one group I attend online there was a person who has autism and adhd (which I would have imaged would make someone more disabled) but who runs 2 businesses as well as doing coaching, is married with kids, and who doesn't seem to have any RRBs and who has been high masking since she was a very young child. I honestly don't know how to relate to that. It's not that I don't recognise that autistic people can own a business, or be married, or have kids etc, but when they can do all of it and seemingly lack features that I thought were an essential part of the diagnostic criteria, it throws me.
Interesting, I hope your assessments go well. I really hate the ideologies promoted by the neurodiversity political movement too as they clearly do not acknowledge the vast scientific evidence that at an extreme level, where impairment occurs, these conditions come with innate harms irrespective of society. By denying the inherently impairing nature of the disorders, they are erasing people's experiences and that should not be tolerated. Indeed, it can lead administrations and individuals with power to reduce accommodations and treatments as "gifts" or "differences" can be interpreted as not deserving of help.
Relationships and friendships are so hard, my personal experience is that I believe a neurodivergent individual can be better friends with another neurodivergent individual where they share similar experiences. (Even though I’m married to a neurotypical 🤪). I can heavily mask my traits, which my wife now realised! A friend is someone who can truly see you is important. Having similar interests is great. Being honest, asking how they’re doing/how they are and being kind, truthful, respectful and finding time for one another other. Apart from being married I don’t have a friend who truly sees me, I think if I never get invited out, called or receive messages then I don’t have any friends. I think there should be coaching on this. It’s mad, how am I married with two kids!
Probably levels are going to have the biggest impact when they can affect whether someone is deemed "fit for work" or are eligible for benefits. As I mentioned in your last video choosing levels if very hard. As regards employment I would say level 2 best fits someone who has major problems gaining and retaining employment. As a result of that such a person is likely to end up dependent on others or the state for financial support. Some level 2 people cannot work at all; others could with very considerable support and very careful placement into a job. Unfortunately that kind of consideration to help autistic people into the right kinds of jobs is very rarely forthcoming and the state - goaded on by reactionary media and attitudes more generally - often throws them into the job market with no support at all which is a recipe for failure. I hope this government will have a more sensitive attitude but that remains uncertain.
Interesting political comments. Like many on the Left I've become disillusioned with Labour in recent years . In overall policy terms the Greens are a much more attractive proposition but only in a tiny number of places do they have a chance of winning. I was originally going to vote Green where I live which is usually a very safe Conservative constituency but this time around it looked possible Labour might win here for the very first time so I stuck with them - unfortunately they lost by a few hundred votes. I will probably vote Green in future but if Labour have a chance I would still vote for them.
I have to say I actually voted for the Green party in the election, even though I feared they wouldn't win in this area, but after reading the manifestos I just really struggled to vote for Labour. I don't agree with everything the Green's manifesto said - but overall they are the closest to my own values. I've been very worried about PIP and support for disabled people more generally, and at the moment I can't say I have a lot of confidence in Labour - although I'm sure they will do better than the Tories on these issues, and my worries have been augmented by the fact I'm still waiting the results of my PIP review which happened a couple of months ago. Every time the postman puts a letter through the door I feel super anxious.
I do think the NDM approach has added to my fears to be honest, because the more autism is trivialised, the more I fear my difficulties and support needs will not be taken seriously. Personally I think all autism is a disability that should be taken seriously, and level 1 autistics also need support too. The fact that there are people out there saying autism is a superpower or just a difference is really causing confusion.
I sometimes find other people's autism experiences a bit alienating to be honest, as they seem so accomplished in ways I can't imagine being able to be. For example in one group I attend online there was a person who has autism and adhd (which I would have imaged would make someone more disabled) but who runs 2 businesses as well as doing coaching, is married with kids, and who doesn't seem to have any RRBs and who has been high masking since she was a very young child. I honestly don't know how to relate to that. It's not that I don't recognise that autistic people can own a business, or be married, or have kids etc, but when they can do all of it and seemingly lack features that I thought were an essential part of the diagnostic criteria, it throws me.
Interesting, I hope your assessments go well. I really hate the ideologies promoted by the neurodiversity political movement too as they clearly do not acknowledge the vast scientific evidence that at an extreme level, where impairment occurs, these conditions come with innate harms irrespective of society. By denying the inherently impairing nature of the disorders, they are erasing people's experiences and that should not be tolerated. Indeed, it can lead administrations and individuals with power to reduce accommodations and treatments as "gifts" or "differences" can be interpreted as not deserving of help.
Relationships and friendships are so hard, my personal experience is that I believe a neurodivergent individual can be better friends with another neurodivergent individual where they share similar experiences. (Even though I’m married to a neurotypical 🤪). I can heavily mask my traits, which my wife now realised! A friend is someone who can truly see you is important. Having similar interests is great. Being honest, asking how they’re doing/how they are and being kind, truthful, respectful and finding time for one another other. Apart from being married I don’t have a friend who truly sees me, I think if I never get invited out, called or receive messages then I don’t have any friends. I think there should be coaching on this. It’s mad, how am I married with two kids!
Probably levels are going to have the biggest impact when they can affect whether someone is deemed "fit for work" or are eligible for benefits. As I mentioned in your last video choosing levels if very hard. As regards employment I would say level 2 best fits someone who has major problems gaining and retaining employment. As a result of that such a person is likely to end up dependent on others or the state for financial support. Some level 2 people cannot work at all; others could with very considerable support and very careful placement into a job. Unfortunately that kind of consideration to help autistic people into the right kinds of jobs is very rarely forthcoming and the state - goaded on by reactionary media and attitudes more generally - often throws them into the job market with no support at all which is a recipe for failure. I hope this government will have a more sensitive attitude but that remains uncertain.
Interesting political comments. Like many on the Left I've become disillusioned with Labour in recent years . In overall policy terms the Greens are a much more attractive proposition but only in a tiny number of places do they have a chance of winning. I was originally going to vote Green where I live which is usually a very safe Conservative constituency but this time around it looked possible Labour might win here for the very first time so I stuck with them - unfortunately they lost by a few hundred votes. I will probably vote Green in future but if Labour have a chance I would still vote for them.
I’ll be your friend :)