Autistic and Trying to Find a Faith Community?

I'll start by saying that this contains discussion of faith communities whose behaviour hasn't been ideal, further down, so comes with a content warning for that.

I'm an external adviser to churches.  I'm brought in by some to help explain what autism is, and help prevent mistakes, misunderstandings and problematic ideas.

I'd like a world where autistic people have the choice of looking for a safe, welcoming faith community.  No-one should have to explore a faith if they don't want to.   But if you do want to, the last thing you need is a faith community that doesn't want you there.  That's not OK.

So, what should you look for?  I'll talk here about churches, since that's my own faith.  But the same things may be true for other faiths, too.

Firstly, maybe ask other autistic people locally if they know of a good church.  Online autism groups, perhaps?

Maybe there's information online about places that are welcoming for autistic people.  For example in the UK, there's a site called https://www.achurchnearyou.com/ You can put the word Autism in the search box, and a town or city location, and it may show some nearby from the Church of England.  Alternatively, the Inclusive Church network has churches that wish to include as many people as possible, and who should be willing to work with autistic people to find safe and accessible ways to be fully included  https://www.inclusive-church.org/find-a-church 

Have a look for the website and details of that church.  Anything online that gives you a clue what sort of church it is.  Some have online recordings of their teachings (sermons).

Churches have different ideas about disability or neurodiversity.  It depends on the leaders of the church and their own background.

Jesus was pretty brilliant with neurodiversity and disability.  He had an autistic friend, Nicodemus, for example.  And he usually asked people what they would like for themselves; he didn't just barge in and do things to them without their consent.

It'd be good to find churches that are like that.  Churches where people see you as a friend, and want to know what works for you (if you want to share that information with them).

As we know, autism is a neurodiversity, not a disease. Although, many are severely disadvantaged, and some need support for particular things (just like everyone else does - but our things are more particular).  On average, autistic people are more fair, more keen on social justice, more accurate, more determined to follow rules.  More loyal, and more focused on our specialist areas.  Some are church leaders, musicians, prayer partners, children's team members and all sorts of other roles in church.  So, it's important that a church is willing to learn what it is. And to realise it's every age, gender, background, IQ.

Many autistic people, as we know, also have major sensory and social differences.  We socialise differently, and we encounter the world differently.  It can be too bright, too loud, too intense.  We may use different body language and different speech and writing patterns, which are our culture and our way of communicating (not a broken version of 'real' communication).   So we need churches that are keen to learn about the different communication, and keen to help us stay in sensory and social situations where our brain can cope OK.

Some of us need a bit of extra support, for example knowing what sensory and social hazards are ahead of us in that church service or event.  It is important to have a church that doesn't do the whole eye-rolling thing where this is seen as a Huge Burden.  We are all members of God's church, all loved, all important.  All part of the Body of Christ.  We're not a burden.

So, what different ideas about autism might a church leader have?  Important to start by saying that lots of church leaders are great.  I am part of several absolutely fantastic church groups, now, filled with people I love spending time with.  It's possible.  They're out there.

But here's a few sorts to be wary of (and this applies to many religions, not just Christianity):

Medical Model:
Some that believe that autism is a medical condition that needs curing.  Either by doctors, or by praying at the person. It's not.  Although individual autistic people may wish for a cure, and that's a personal choice.

The "You're a Sinner" Gambit:
Some that believe that autism is caused by sin, and it's our fault for not being sin-free.  It's nothing to do with being sinful.

The "You could choose not to be disabled/divergent" fantasy:
Some that believe that autism is our choice, and we could just choose to not be autistic.  A bit like thinking that being (say) 5 ft 6 is a choice, or having size 7 feet is a choice.  Very strange indeed.  But, some think it.   And they're not correct, of course.

The Charity Model:
Some that think autistic people are a special gift from God, given to the church so that people can show how Kind they are to us.  You may be pitied and helped, whether you like being pitied and helped or not.  Mmm, not good. Others in the church may be given praise for being 'kind' to you, possibly awards and publicity for it.  You will be barely mentioned in the article.  It looks very good for publicity, but is the opposite of enabling and inclusion.

The 'You were meant to suffer' sadists:
Some that think autistic or disabled people are given 'suffering' by God, and therefore it's good that we 'suffer'.  Because that way we'd get into heaven faster, or similar.  Very strange.  Also wrong.  But in places like that, no-one would give you any assistance if you needed it, because they think God wants you to struggle.  Cruel, really.

The 'it's my church, it's all for me' gambit:
Some may think that church should be all about them, and don't like anyone else getting any 'attention'.    So they will tell others that autistic people or disabled people are attention-seekers.  Nope.  Most of us absolutely hate public attention on us, as it is an additional social 'load'.  

The rumour-spreaders:
Some may claim that all autistic people are 'dangerous'.  In reality, autistic people are generally less violent and less criminally-inclined than other people.  There is no link between a diagnosis of autism and any malicious conduct whatsoever.

The Predators:
A few may think you are an easy target, either for assault, or for taking your money or stuff away from you and saying it was God who commanded it. And you would be punished by God if you said no.   Watch out for that, because that's criminal nonsense.  God never said any such thing.  Ask, if you can, about their safeguarding policies and training.

Having said all of that, remember there are lots of actual good faith groups out there.  Yet at present, going to church whilst disabled is a bit like entering the Wild West.

If your church is getting training on disability/autism etc, who from?  Do the checklist with them:
Is it material written by disabled/neurodiverse people, or in equal collaboration with them?  Equally supported, equally mentioned by name, equally paid (if paid at all).
Is it material delivered by disabled/neurodiverse people who are good and experienced people in training?  Lots of such individuals out there.   Or, at the very least, by allies who promote the work of the disabled/neurodiverse people?
If it's all non-disabled people, talking about us without us, avoid.


The Church of England has updated autism guidelines which are hosted by Oxford Diocese, and written by me in collaboration with many fantastic people and groups. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/mission-ministry/faith-in-action/disability/ is a link to the page.

As I say, there's lots of really good faith leaders out there.  But there's also a few really strange ones who really do need some training.  

Watch, listen, think.  And if you're not sure, stay clear.

Hoping you find a fantastic place, filled with love and hope, if you so wish.  There's good ones out there.  

What do we mean by autistic females? A third are Gender Diverse.

We need to talk about autistic females, and what we mean by that.

Rita George has been working on this subject for some years.  The picture above is from her 2016 paper, Here. 

I'll talk us through it.  It shows the results from 216 autistic people ("ASD" on the chart) who have 'female' on their birth certificates, and 158 non-autistic people ("TD (Typically developing) who likewise have 'female' on their birth certificates.  They were asked what their gender identity is.

For the autistic people that many have been referring to as females, a third do not use the word 'woman' to describe their gender.  Some identify as male or as Transgender.  Some as BiGender, fairly large numbers identify as Genderqueer or couldn't find the right word from that list so ticked 'other'.  So, 1 in 3 of the autistic people we're calling female or woman may not identify with those words.

Why does it matter?  Because we get all these conferences for 'autistic females/women', and all those books for 'autistic females/women'.  There are blogs about autistic females, videos about autistic females...

...and the rest are erased from view by nearly all of the big reports, budget holders, major charities.  In most cases there's not a mention of gender diversity.   There's mention of males. There's not mention of the other gender diversities. 

The other gender groups may be missed from research, because there aren't studies that ask for their participation too. So we are missing up to a third of our data set, and the research on 'all autistic people' may not be correct.

Pretty much everywhere they go, they are missing from the list. A full third of autistic people many may think of as women (but who identify otherwise) are being routinely ignored in the places where it would matter to their lives and survival.

Why in particular does it matter?  Because we know from research that individuals who are autistic and have a different gender or sexuality are at far greater risk of bullying, exclusion and really, really bad outcomes from that.  Greater risk of suicide. Greater risk of poor health.  It matters because if we are trying to improve outcomes, we need to know what our starting points are, and we need to work with autistic people in collaborative and good ways.

We're not doing our best for autistic people until we look very seriously at gender identity, instead of only using the male/female binary and thinking we've done the job.  Do I mean that conferences for women should call themselves something else?  No.  Do I mean they should give equal billing to other gender IDs when it's a conference about males or females? No.  I mean that when someone's on that platform talking about "men and women" it would be good to remember the greater diversity too.  I mean when people commission books, they might want to commission more on gender diversities.  I mean when people set budgets for a conference series, they might want to set one for gender ID differences also (and some have - thank you).  I've worked for decades to raise public aknowledgement, diagnosis and inclusion of autistic females, and I also raise the same for the other marginalised gender IDs now.

I've focused here on what we mean by females, because this is the subject of this blog post.   More than 1 in 5 of the autistic people we're perhaps calling male don't identify as male.   We're not assisting them either by failing to notice or include them.

Autistic people are immensely diverse.  We need to be mindful of this, and of our collective responsibilities to seek good outcomes for all.  We need more good research for, by and with autistic people in partnership.  We need more support for those who are struggling to survive, in a society where hate for autistic people is too common, and hating gender-diverse individuals is too often seen as OK.  Seen all the stuff about 'Oh my, there could be a gender-diverse person in the toilets!".  Imagine that life of non-existence for our young autistic Trans individuals, struggling to survive, for example.  The only time people notice them is to hate them for needing to pee....?  Is this the best we can do?

Too many of our loved and wonderful autistic young people pay for all of this with their lives.

Every single life is precious.

Thank you for reading.

The joys and benefits of autistic people.

I was reading some research papers today.  One paper was pretty shocking.  It said that researchers are often told to report only negative things about autism.  If they find positive things, that's not relevant. Why?  We're not entirely sure, but there are some ideas.  For example, sometimes they are being paid by groups who get a lot of money from pills, potions and other 'cures' for things.  And sometimes they are being paid by groups making large sums from 'challenging behaviour therapists'.  If autism is known for its strengths, its positives, who would want it cured?  Who would spend a fortune on 'behaviour analysts'?

This week in the newspapers we've been told that a hostile foreign nation had been altering news about whether autism is 'caused' by injections, to put doubt into people's minds. Autism seen as a terrible tragedy, an awful thing.  Do we want our children to have it?  Oh my!  Let's all panic!  Let's not vaccinate, and instead risk our children dying of something awful, rather than have That Dreadful Autism Thing.

Wait...we're not dreadful.  We're actually mostly rather lovely.

For a start, autism is a natural part of human diversity, not a vaccine damage.  We've always been here. 

Let's look at some of the shocking things that could happen if you child is autistic.  Ready?  Are you braced for the horror of it?  Sure?  OK, here we go...  All generalisations of course because we're all individuals, like everyone else...

More honest than the average child.
Will play more fairly than the average child.
Is likely to be far more dedicated than the average child.
Is likely to be more able to focus on a specialist thing than the average child.
Is likely to be an excellent observer.
Is likely to be able to detect things that the average child cannot detect, using senses that can see and hear at a great range than others (for example).
Is likely to be more loyal and settled into a good steady life.
Is more likely to be more generous and give of their time to charities.

This is terrible, isn't it.  However will society cope with having too  many children with those features?

I know that there'll always be a few who say, "What about the children who are Really Autistic and living in care homes etc?". 

I'm really autistic.  I can't live independently.  No, really.  Yes, me.  Yes, I'm communicating with you.  That's what happens for most of us.   We grow, we learn, we communicate.  Different timeline. Technology. (Technology is great, isn't it.  We built that for you).

Yes, some children are autistic and have severe disabilities too.  For example, they might be autistic and have a very low IQ.  Or they might be autistic and Blind.  Or they might be autistic and have severe epilepsy.  Or they might be autistic and have ADHD and a defiant behavioural condition of some kind.

What society has been taught to do is call all of that 'severe autism'.  Which it isn't.  It's multiple things affecting one child, which of course is hugely difficult for the young person and for their families.

And yes, absolutely there needs to be support for the young person, and support for their family.  But getting rid of 'autism' won't get rid of the rest of the situations that mean they need care.  What on earth would getting rid of autism mean?  It's literally us, as much us as us being (e.g.) female, or age 55, or white, or heterosexual.  It's not a disease or an add-on that can be removed.

In this particular post I'm talking about the majority of autistic people.  The ones who start off as just-autistic.   If they're allowed to thrive, they'll end up just-autistic, too.  

Go back and re-read that list of positives.

I'm autistic.
My family is autistic.
My friends are autistic.
My colleagues are autistic.
Some of my fellow students (Post-Grad) are autistic.
Go into a craft fair and look at the autistic people doing the crafts.
Go listen to some music and spot how many autistic musicians are in that orchestra etc.
Walk into any large Professional Practice in the UK - accounts, law, surveying, etc - and look at how many autistic people are in there, diligently providing excellence.
Go into healthcare places and look at the autistic healthcare professionals.
Wander into the places of faith, and listen to autistic leaders.

1 in 30 of the population around you.
Providing love, care, generosity. Perhaps specialist skill.  Passionate interests.  Watching out for danger for you.

Next time you're told there may be a future with us still in it, the words you're looking for are 'Hurrah!' and "Yes please!'  Because the world needs all kinds of minds, and all kinds of people.  It's better because we're here.  And it's better because you're here too.

Thank you for listening.

Autism, School, Exclusion. What's fair?

The picture shows a school classroom as I see it, as an autistic person.  A kaleidoscope of shape and blinding lighting, with vague outlines which are probably other students.  Deafening noise.  The stench of different smells.  The confusion of many voices, including some heard through walls from neighbouring halls and classes.  School uniform that feels like barbed wire on my skin.

In the chaos, a different voice which I have to try to listen to.  It's so hard.  My brain doesn't want to tune the rest of the noise out.  Apparently I've been asked something, but I miss it.  The voice gets more strident, the class turns to look at me.  The intense stares overwhelm me.  The person next to me jostles me and it feels like an electric shock on my skin.  Only six more hours of hell to go.... only six....

Some of our autistic pupils simply cannot do this alone, without 'time out' to recover from the pain and exhaustion during the school day.  Not for hour after hour of puzzling painful chaos.  

Some will respond by 'shutting down', e.g. going quiet and still, as if they are ignoring the teacher and the instructions.  It's a desperate emergency strategy by their overloaded brain, allowing it to stay at least partly functional.  

Others will go eventually into meltdown, if not allowed escape or respite from the hell.  An involuntary state, in the same way that an epileptic seizure or  a diabetic incident is not a 'choice'.  It's not a display of anger to get their own way.  They may be so anxious, so utterly overwhelmed, that they will push others, flail their arms, sound angry, when in fact they are terrified,exhausted, overwhelmed.

How would you be responding, if that was your experience, day after school day, endlessly repeating?  We've turned classrooms into a hell for autism.  Fluorescent lighting. Endless noise.  Everywhere, bright patterns and overloading information. Groupwork and social time. Crowded hallways and relentless academic pressure.  Autistic children mostly could cope in the quieter schools of decades ago.  Not a hope now.  Generalising of course.  Some can cope, just about.

There's been a Court case in the UK.  A Judge has noticed that a lot of autistic pupils are excluded from school, for having meltdowns.  The Judge also noticed that some schools were doing almost nothing to help those young people to cope.  It was unfair, the ruling said.  We cannot simply exclude autistic pupils for entering meltdowns. Meltdowns are part of autism for a good number of autistic young people.

I'm personally glad of the Ruling from the Court.  Whilst mindful that of course everyone needs to be safe, the way to achieve safety is to stop hurting the autistic children.  Punishing them for responding to pain is not something any of us need to do.

What  schools need to do is to understand autism.  In understanding it, we can help to stop putting the children in pain and exhaustion.  It's actually quite easy.  And quite cheap.

Make sure your school is getting really good autism training, from autistic experts and our allies.

Make sure the school are getting really good consultancy advice about children, way before any crisis, from autistic consultants and allies.

 Notice I said 'autistic experts' and 'autistic consultants'.  People who can detect what's happening in that environment, using similar sensory systems to the pupil.  People who can explain autistic language and culture.  Yes, there is a different autistic language, a different autistic culture.  In the same way as it's important to respect the culture of children from different ethnicities, it's important to know about, and respect, autistic culture and communication style also.

I advise avoiding the use of some 'behaviour control' programs such as forms of ABA that force the child to behave as if they are not autistic.  That's not a solution.  We know from new research that it can lead to disastrous harm and suicide. The work just published by the University of Coventry refers.

Most of us, let's all work together.  Because autistic children are generally honest, generally great fun, generally fabulous young people with much to offer.  But, left in constant pain and/or fear, you'll never see that side of them.  And, excluded, their future may be as bleak as their time in school may have been.  They need you on their side.  Let's hope that Court Judgement means that schools will be given the training and the resources they need at long last.

Thank you for listening. 

Stairs and Autism

"Why are stairs a problem for some autistic people?"  We get that question a lot from trainee Occupational Therapists and Social Care assessors, amongst others.    A logical question to ask, because autism doesn't appear to be a mobility difficulty.

It's about sensory processing.

The picture at the top shows a flight of wooden stairs.  Did you know that was what it was?  My brain doesn't see wooden stairs.  It sees some vague stripes.  How would I know that was stairs?  How do I know where to put my feet?  I'm having to guess.  Not good.

Stairs are also an exercise in balance, and the sense of balance is another difficulty for many autistic people.  We may not know exactly where our body is, in relation to the things around us, also.  Thus, navigating a flight of near-invisible stairs, up and down, becomes epic.  I can manage to nearly fall down stairs on a weekly basis.  Only a lifetime of knowing to pace myself, grab the rail, brace against the opposite wall, or otherwise find a 'third point of contact' works.  In the holiday accommodation we're in at the moment, the stairs are steep, with narrow treads and uneven heights, some going into a semi-spiral at the top.  I've nearly fallen three times so far.

On a bad day, stairs are unclimbable for me.  Yet people will look and think, "There's nothing physically wrong with you, so you must be exaggerating".  If only we were.

So, when assessing autistic needs, be aware of the Stair Perils.  Ask about how often the person loses their balance on stairs, or worries about climbing or descending stairs.  Ask what helps them at the moment.  Consider whether accommodation can be provided that helps with this.  Maybe hand rails both sides.  Maybe no stairs at all.

Thank you for listening.

Autism, Christianity, LGBTQ. Why it's important. Safeguarding. Caring.

There are different beliefs about God and what he thinks of LGBT+ people.  

In the Church of England, it's still a difficult subject for some, though recent research shows that the number who are e.g. against equal marriage has dropped a lot in recent years. (British Religion in Numbers website).

There are huge differences in the answers given by people of different ages. The chart below is from research on attitudes to equal marriage done by Jayne Ozanne's group in 2016.

It shows that below age 34, most CofE people are fine with equal marriage.  But over age 55, a majority are not.  That opposition from the over 55s is dropping, too.  But, of course, in many churches, most people are over age 55.  And most powerful people in churches are over age 55.  So we have a church where it's been difficult and sometimes dangerous to be openly gay in some places, for example. Where it's been acceptable to be called all sorts of unpleasant things, and told to Just Forgive.

What we do know is that when people get to know e.g. a gay or lesbian married couple, living ordinary lives, doing ordinary things like everyone else, as neighbours, work colleagues and friends, they usually can't remember what they were objecting to.

I am one of many people communicating for and with the autistic population.  About 3 in every 100 people are autistic.  About 2 million in the UK, on the best and most recent workings-out e.g. the count of all school age children in Northern Ireland, for example.

And at least 3 out of every 10 autistic people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, asexual, intersex, etc.  In other words, part of the LGBTQ population.  The figure for autistic females is higher, at around half.  So, that's about 600,000 autistic people who are part of the LGBT+ communities, in the UK.

Yes, perhaps half the autistic women in the country are part of the LGBTQ population.  

Autistic people are as likely to be Christians as anyone else.  As likely to be churchgoers, church leaders, musicians, organists, treasurers, youth workers.  No, I'm not joking.  We made it so awful for people, when they disclose they're autistic, that we forced people into hiding.

Now, we have a genuine bit of thinking to do here, as a church.  Why?  Because we know that autistic people are often a vulnerable population, with a suicide rate nine times higher than others.  Dying on average at age 54 after a lifetime of difficulties caused by society.  So many are homeless, having been denied jobs as well.  We know that they are routinely targeted for bullying, ostracism, fraud and every other form of crime. We know that the rates of targeting for sexual assault are sky high, to use a phrase.  3 out of every 10 autistic women are victims of rape, for example.  Some 6 out of 10 are likely to be diagnosable as having trauma conditions, after what's happened to them. 

These aren't 'angry activists' and 'dangerous/toxic people', storming the gates of your church.   Many are understandably fearful of the people around them, for really good reasons.   Most are communicating using a different body language and spoken language method to you, which so often leads to misunderstandings between the two cultures (autistic and non-autistic).  Such good research out in these last couple of years on this.  Try http://annsautism.blogspot.com/2019/01/autism-some-vital-research-links.html for the links.

If e.g. half of autistic women are part of the LGBTQ communities, struggling to survive, what is our response to those tens of thousands in our parishes?  Is our response to lock the church door in their faces, or bring them in for a good bit of condemnation? Or leave them for the nearest predator in the church to prey on?  To throw a medicalised phrase their way, or perhaps put a fiver in the collection box for some autism charity and hope God approves?

 And is that what God asked us to do? 

Or is that bread and wine for all who want to follow Jesus?  In love?  Is that safe fold, watched by the Good Shepherd, only for some of the flock, or for all who yearn to follow Him?

If wanting a safe church for autistic people leads people to see me as a warrior, that's OK.   But it's not war I bring.  It's fellowship.  And maybe that's the thing some fear the most....because to make our churches a place where all belong takes acknowledgement of fear-of-difference, and that's a hard thing to do.

We are commanded to see everyone as being made in the image of God.

Leave no-one unloved.

Thank you for reading, from this autistic member of the LGBTQ community, who follows Jesus, and always will.  

What do I mean by "We're OK being Autistic" ? #TakeTheMaskOff

I'm OK being autistic.

Just saying that is controversial.  There are all sorts of responses, when autistic people say that.  For example, "What about people who are really suffering?  Are you some kind of autism supremacist who doesn't care about Real Autistic People who are Really Suffering?"

So, it's important to explain what I mean when I say, "I'm OK being autistic".

For a start, I'm autistic.  Readers of this blog (and my continued thanks to the 40,000+ of you) will know that I was not able to use spoken words to communicate, for years.  That I would rock and flap, lining things up, practising the same thing over...and over...and over...and over.   That I couldn't build friendships.  That being under fluorescent lighting even as a child had me running at top speed from it, blinded, crashing into people and things.  That trying to access a simple event like a dance class or a school play or party would leave me shaking with fear and hiding under whatever I could hide under, to escape from the sensory hell.  And I have an autistic son.  And partner.  And friends.  And other family.  And colleagues.

I'm autistic now. Always will be. But thanks to a lifetime of being told that I must disguise the pain, at all costs, I learned to mask.  To put on a false front, be the person that others wanted me to be.  Smile when in pain.  Be really nice when in pain and remember every one of my manners, even if non-autistic people can get away with being angry or snappy sometimes.  We're not allowed that.  Cope when in pain.  Not Be Me.  Never, ever be me.  Never.  If I was the real me, I would experience hatred from others, more isolation, more loneliness, more condemnation, more false accusation (because of ignorance of autistic culture and communication).  All whilst trying to work and care for family members.

And, do you know what happened?  It broke me.  It took a lot to 'put myself back together again', and now I work differently.  Because no-one ever, ever wants to experience being pressured until they collapse from it.

I look around at my fantastic autistic family, friends, colleagues.   The ones who have done the best masking, the best disguising?  Broken.  Or sitting amongst a trail of debris from broken relationships, broken job situations, broken health.  I look at the research showing the suicide rates, the average age of death (54).  Not from some genetic malfunction.  From relentless pressure, relentless humiliation and pain.  Anyone would die early from that.  We need less focus on pleasing shareholders with news about 'genetic cures', and more listening to autistic people.  Sorry, people hoping to make a huge profit out of drugging us or manipulating our autistic genetics.  What about giving us adapted lighting instead, or jobs based on experience not interview?  No money in that for you?  That's a shame, isn't it.

We need more realising that actually we don't need to be in that level of pain.  

How much of that pain and exhaustion is because society makes life hell? I know that many of my most 'routine-based' difficulties stopped when I realised I was in sensory pain.  I had no idea that I was in pain all the time, because it was 'all the time'...so I thought it was normal.  I just thought everyone was encountering the world like me, and I was just getting exhausted and stressed and panicked for no reason.  Once I adapted my life more, much of that pain stopped.  Much of the resulting stress stopped.  One example, yes - but a useful one.

There is a myth that if we disguise being autistic, it'll all go away. The future will be lovely.  All will be well.  A myth that autism was some sort of behavioural choice by us to annoy people around us, so if we stop the behaviour, we've 'cured' the autism, we've given autistic people their lives back.  Rhubarb, to use an apt word.

It's a myth.  There is no perfect future from having to pretend we're not ourselves.  Only the extra hell of having to mask each day.  

So...

I'm OK being autistic.

I'm OK with you being autistic.

And, like so many other people, I campaign for a world where autistic people are not expected to be in pain all the time. 

Where we can acknowledge and accept that we process things differently, and build a world together where everyone benefits.  

Where buildings are better for everyone (and also helps autistic people).  Where shopping is better for everyone (and also helps autistic people). 

Where schools are no longer an endurance course of pain and fear (which will help everyone, and especially us).  

Where transport is accessible. (And hurrah that in the UK, autistic people learned today that we'll be able to apply for disability parking badges.  I was one of the people who campaigned for that too, so that e.g. families struggling with an autistic child, in traffic, can park closer to places and have less risk of death or injury).

I campaign with others for a world where families are properly supported, where accommodation is given to people which doesn't cause sensory hell.   Where people are enabled to work, enabled to access healthcare and education, enabled to access and contribute to the whole of society, faith, culture and learning.  

We have so much to offer.

So, lovely readers, that's the sort of things I mean, when I say, "I'm OK being autistic".

And, if you are serious about making a difference to the lives of autistic people, you'll want that for us too.

Look for the hashtag #TakeTheMaskOff on Twitter for more information.  Find out more from as many #ActuallyAutistic people as you can.  All sorts of us.  Whether using spoken language or not.

Thank you for reading.