Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft 1:27 pm on 17th September 2019

Five tips to tell a temper tantrum from a meltdown

[

et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”3.29.2″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(224,153,0,0)” background_color_gradient_direction=”123deg” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” custom_padding=”6vw||6vw||true|false” bottom_divider_style=”slant2″ bottom_divider_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.38)” bottom_divider_height=”100%” bottom_divider_flip=”horizontal” hover_enabled=”0″ fb_built=”1″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″ background_enable_image=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.29.2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”3.29.2″ type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.29.2″ hover_enabled=”0″]

Overview & purpose

I have joined multiple autism-related online groups on several platforms. If you can think of “Autistic [something]”, you can be sure that an “Autistic[something] group” exists online. I haven’t figured them all out, yet: for example, I have no the faintest idea why there are MULTIPLE groups for the same purpose. Why there are several “autism parents” groups on Facebook, for example? Result of an autism politics schism? Exceeding the maximum number of members allowed by the platform? Who knows.

There is a number of themes/topics that seem ubiquitous, though, in “autism parents” groups, regardless of any other group characteristics. And one of these topics is violence – both verbal and physical — of their autistic child. Every so often, another exhausted, bruised parent shares their day; the day brimming with swearing, punches, kicks and bites. The post almost always concludes by the parent feeling sorry – no, not for themselves!!! They feel sorry for their autistic child, for the child’s suffering and struggle (emotional AND physical). The parent is absolutely terrified about the child’s future.

Group Response

The group invariably responds with messages of sympathy, empathy, emotional support and genuine warmth. (The post on emotional empathy in autistic people will be published soon!) Reading the responses is an emotional rollercoaster: I feel their pain, which drags me down (slowly, but surely), only to soar up revelling in the warmth of unconditional love for another human being.

But sometimes, instead of these hope-inspiring emotions, I feel the nagging teeth of irritation. Sometimes, I end up with a mouthful of anger bred by the irritation: anger at the system, at the non-existing support services for Autism families, who rightly feel hard done by when the NHS shoves them towards the exit at the moment when the parent is overwhelmed by the autism diagnosis — even if they already knew.

SOMEONE SOMEWHERE needs to help these families: to introduce them to Autism, to support them as they learn, to stay with them as they are working through their grief towards acceptance and finally embrace their child holistically – i.e., as a whole human being, Autism and all.

But there is no one. So I thought it might be helpful to jot down a few hints that should help you and them to distinguish between an autistic meltdown and a temper tantrum. It is an important skill for anyone who has to deal with autism at any level and any age.

I must include a caveat emptor: there are cases where differentiating between the two is impossible. This happens more frequently with non-verbal, non-communicative autistics. In these cases, a direct observation of the episode by an autism expert might help shed light on the issue (ideally, a video recording, with the linked note describing ABCs of the episode:

A–Antecedent: events around the episode. Whatever was happening around the person in the preceding 5–10 min: the environment, the people around, the person themselves.

B — ehaviour: what happened during the episode.

C — Consequences: the immediate aftermath plus events up to 10–15 min after the episode.

Autism & violent behaviour.

I have observed general public accept that Autism is invariably linked to some degree of violence. Therefore, when an autistic person does become violent, the group response suggests that violent behaviour is ANTICIPATED AND TOLERATED from the neurodiverse person, regardless of absence of diagnosis of Learning Disability (traditionally defined as IQ<70 )!

I wonder if this trope contributes towards the surprising persistence of Autism stigma and some Autism myths.

The myth of Invariably Violent Autism.

This particular myth must have come from the persistent portrayal of autistic meltdown in media, which usually goes like this:

An autistic person is exposed to a strong, unexpected, sudden stimulus that has come from nowhere, giving you an impression that someone somewhere flipped the switch.

Without fail, and with no buildup or warning signs, the autistic person is transformed from an adorable sweet quiet person with an amazing talent into a prehistorical monster who hits anyone approaching him for any reason, bangs his head against some hard surface, and swears at high volume.

Eventually, the magic switch is flipped back which is immediately followed by an autistic person discontinuing their performance: screams, swearing, banging, hitting, kicking, biting, etc.

Mysteriously, it always happens around the time when I am about to collapse into a full-scale meltdown myself. Every. Time.

“What’s wrong with this picture,” you may ask. Nearly everything.

Anatomy of meltdown.

The meltdown isn’t a Skinnerian or even Pavlovian response to the stimulus. You don’t blow up in a meltdown the very moment the stimulus comes on. It is a process, build-up over a period of time. Altering any parameter of this process will affect the timing and the intensity of the meltdown. For instance, a sound of high strength and high frequency (i.e., loud and shrill) will need a short period of time to provoke a meltdown. The low strength low-frequency sound (i.e., a quiet bariton) may not only fail to produce a meltdown – it may actually have a calming effect on the person.

The build-up period is the golden time. It may last seconds, minutes or hours. It is effectively the only window where a calm distraction may be welcomed AND may avert meltdown. We often have a “tell”. Close family members & carers usually know what it is; even if only subconsciously. One adult autistic I know has a muscle twitch of his cheek, just below the eye. His mother knows she has no more than 10-20 seconds to intervene before all hell breaks loose. One of my children -who is ordinarily HYPER-Hyper-hyperlexic – freezes in an “arms crossed, legs squeezed, stare ahead” posture, and maintains silence. (Even simply writing about it has nearly caused a mirror reaction in my own body just now). I know it’s best not to approach my treasure at that very moment (and for 30-60 min thereafter, giving her full freedom, punctuated only by safety concerns). If anyone makes any – ANY – demand on them at that point, OR if they are subjected to the slightest stimulus in the environment, we have IT.

IT is the autistic meltdown. IT is NOT PRETTY. IT is a primal rage that temporarily turns the prefrontal cortex (i.e., our self-control) off. Often, IT isn’t remembered by the person experiencing IT. IT may involve somewhat coordinated movements, or throwing things, or hitting you, or banging head, or rolling on the floor; we may be laughing hysterically – no, its not funny – it is unconsc ious! – or crying, and wailing, and cursing. We usually repeat the same word or the same simple sentence (like, “This hurts”). We may be simply stimming, but with little conscious control of our body, we can hurt you while doing that. No joke.

FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY SAKE, STAY AWAY. ENSURE THE AUTISTIC PERSON SAFETY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND STAY AWAY.

When IT happens, we are not ourselves. Our deep well of love for you and/or our gratitude to you are in our prefrontal cortex. Which is kind of cut off at that moment. So, please be careful.

This lasts for minutes, usually, but may last much longer. Sometimes, it may lead to catatonia (a post on catatonia is coming). Minimum stimulation, please, unless we request otherwise. That means:

dont ask questions,
don’t say anything,
dont hug or cuddle me – unless you know I want it
turn on lights or music or TV.
Just leave me alone. Seriously. I am not being rude. I need this to survive.

My key message for parents is this: all kids have temper tantrums. Autistic kids are not exception.

And here are the tips!

So, this is the autistic meltdown for you, described above in VERY, VERY, EXTREMELY GENERAL terms.

If you have been around any kid over 14-16 months old, you know what temper tantrum is.

My key message for parents is this: all kids have temper tantrums. Autistic kids are not exception.

All kids must learn to deal with frustration; autistic kids most of all. No one gets all what they want in life: I am sure Sergey Brin, Bill Gates & Joe Bezos, they could tell you about their secret wishes. Something no money can buy.

And our autistic kids are no different. You might think, “What a heartless bitch!” right about now. You may believe that I say these things because I have not known bullying, cruelty, hardship or mental illness. I assure you, I am on first name terms with every factor stated here.

Simply put, I believe temper tantrums thrown by autistic kids should be treated the exact same way as all other kids around them, whatever is your preferred way.

I deal with them quickly and quietly: the moment the tantrum starts, I walk away. Tantrum NEEDS an audience. They get up and run ahead, arranging themselves for a good tantrum exactly in my way. I can’t miss them. Unless I turn. After about 3 repeats, they have naturally calmed down, because they have been more engaged with the idea of tantrum – not the tantrum itself – for a while. They disengaged with whatever frustration lead to the temper tantrum in the first place. On the 5th run, their eyes have their sparkle back – they might even be grinning! Rarely the game goes beyond the 7th reiteration.

And here I list the five top tips to differentiate between a temper tantrum and an autistic meltdown.

The Five Tips to tell tantrums from meltdown.

What was the A-ntecedent of the violent behaviour?

The tantrum is nearly always ABOUT SOMETHING. The person/child’s request has been denied, and the child is expressing their frustration. (To a stranger, it looks like a child’s means of achieving their goals. The stranger might be even correct. It doesn’t mean that the child is manipulative and evil! Remember, autism means that emotional regulation may not be as robust as that of NTs. A child has lower frustration threshold, too. It is OUR role to help the child learn the skill of emotional regulation and self-control: and we will!)

A prolonged exposure to either high number of stimuli, or high power of stimulie, or both. Sometimes, a tell — Meltdown. It doesn’t have an identifiable reason, looking from outside.

2. B-ehaviour during the violent episode:

Well-coordinated movement with a specific purpose. Speech – more than 2 word sentences. May express anger that is aimed at a particular person(s) (this is usually whoever is “responsible” for the tantrum, from the tantruming person’s point of view). Low risk of accidental injury — tantrum.

Uncoordinated, aimless movement. No directed, purposeful violence. Limited speech. High risk of accidental injury — meltdown.

3. Is the child C — ognizant of the behaviour?

Yes. – tantrum.

No. – meltdown.

4. D — eath of the episode – if you are uncomfortable with the word “death” (my Mum is!), substitute “discontinuation” for “death”.

A temper tantrum can be discontinued fairly promptly, once the aim has been achieved. It may vary in intensity, mellowing out (e.g., when the audience disappears from the scene) and growing stronger again after that. If you “stood your ground” & stuck to your guns, the episode could go on for a while. Sometimes, they go on for such a long time, they require help to terminate the tantrum. Here, a SENSORY REWARD and/or the SPECIAL INTEREST (aka Fixation, aka Passionate Interest, aka Obsession, aka Focus Object or Focus Subject – these last two are my personal contribution to the field – [feigning bowing, then curtsying]) may be enormously helpful in switching the perseveration behaviour of the child.

The autistic meltdown episode cannot be discontinued at will, e.g., by talking to the child. As a rule, the recommendation is to ENSURE THE SAFETY of the child and MINIMISE ALL SENSORY INPUT/STIMULATION. The child is unable to communicate with the world at that particular moment, apart from the fact that his meltdown is a major attempt at communication – subconsciously, of course. NO HUGS/HOLDING THE CHILD. NO QUESTIONS. NO TELLING HIM YOU LOVE HIM. The best way to show and share your love is to stay at a safe distance. In limited cases, the upset is so great or the tantrum length so significant that the kid may literally go from the tantrum into meltdown.

5. What is the E-nvironment of the episode?

Tantrum — any environment.

Meltdown — sensory-rich environment or anything breaking rules & routines.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Video” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” fb_built=”1″ gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” box_shadow_style__hover=”none” box_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” box_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal” allow_player_pause__hover=”off” allow_player_pause__hover_enabled=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover=”on” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover_enabled=”on” inner_shadow__hover=”off” inner_shadow__hover_enabled=”off” make_fullwidth__hover=”off” make_fullwidth__hover_enabled=”off” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||” max_width__hover=”100%” max_width__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_hue_rotate__hover=”0deg” filter_hue_rotate__hover_enabled=”0deg” filter_saturate__hover=”100%” filter_saturate__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_brightness__hover=”100%” filter_brightness__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_contrast__hover=”100%” filter_contrast__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_invert__hover=”0%” filter_invert__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_sepia__hover=”0%” filter_sepia__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_blur__hover=”0px” filter_blur__hover_enabled=”0px” mix_blend_mode__hover=”normal” mix_blend_mode__hover_enabled=”normal” animation_style__hover=”none” animation_style__hover_enabled=”none” animation_repeat__hover=”once” animation_repeat__hover_enabled=”once” animation_direction__hover=”center” animation_direction__hover_enabled=”center” animation_duration__hover=”1000ms” animation_duration__hover_enabled=”1000ms” animation_delay__hover=”0ms” animation_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” animation_intensity_slide__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_slide__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_starting_opacity__hover=”0%” animation_starting_opacity__hover_enabled=”0%” animation_speed_curve__hover=”ease-in-out” animation_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease-in-out” hover_transition_duration__hover=”300ms” hover_transition_duration__hover_enabled=”300ms” hover_transition_delay__hover=”0ms” hover_transition_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover=”ease” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease” _i=”1″ _address=”1″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” box_shadow_style__hover=”none” box_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” box_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal” allow_player_pause__hover=”off” allow_player_pause__hover_enabled=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover=”on” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover_enabled=”on” make_fullwidth__hover=”off” make_fullwidth__hover_enabled=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||” filter_hue_rotate__hover=”0deg” filter_hue_rotate__hover_enabled=”0deg” filter_saturate__hover=”100%” filter_saturate__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_brightness__hover=”100%” filter_brightness__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_contrast__hover=”100%” filter_contrast__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_invert__hover=”0%” filter_invert__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_sepia__hover=”0%” filter_sepia__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_blur__hover=”0px” filter_blur__hover_enabled=”0px” mix_blend_mode__hover=”normal” mix_blend_mode__hover_enabled=”normal” animation_style__hover=”none” animation_style__hover_enabled=”none” animation_repeat__hover=”once” animation_repeat__hover_enabled=”once” animation_direction__hover=”center” animation_direction__hover_enabled=”center” animation_duration__hover=”1000ms” animation_duration__hover_enabled=”1000ms” animation_delay__hover=”0ms” animation_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” animation_intensity_slide__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_slide__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_starting_opacity__hover=”0%” animation_starting_opacity__hover_enabled=”0%” animation_speed_curve__hover=”ease-in-out” animation_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease-in-out” hover_transition_duration__hover=”300ms” hover_transition_duration__hover_enabled=”300ms” hover_transition_delay__hover=”0ms” hover_transition_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover=”ease” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″ column_structure=”3_5,2_5″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blog posts_number=”4″ _builder_version=”3.17.1″ header_font=”|800|||||||” header_line_height=”1.6em” body_font=”||||||||” body_line_height=”2em” pagination_font=”|800||on|||||” pagination_text_color=”#ffa53b” pagination_font_size=”14px” pagination_letter_spacing=”1px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″][/et_pb_blog][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.17.1″ header_font=”|800|||||||” header_line_height=”1.6em” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”2em” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||true” border_color_all=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1.1″][/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft 5:31 pm on 19th June 2019
Tags: Autism ( 3 ), Autistic ( 2 ), Disability ( 3 ), Olga Bogdashina, sensory integration

Olga Bogdashina

Autism Oxford organised another major event: this time, featuring Olga Bogdashina, the pioneer woman who brought sensory issues in Autism to the attention of professionals & researchers. Refreshingly lacking political correctness, she & I found we agree on many issues concerning Autism politics.

Naturally, a book had to be signed. 🙂

Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft 11:46 am on 13th June 2019
Tags: Autism ( 3 ), autism parents ( 2 ), Autistic ( 2 ), Disability ( 3 ), employer autistic employee ( 2 ), employment ( 2 ), reasonable adjustments. ( 2 ), Support ( 2 )

Terramagnus and his Neurodiversity 2.0 manifesto

https://terramagnus.com/neurodiversity-2-0-a-premanifesto/

This is my personal opinion. For the full manifesto click on the link above. Comments and disagreements are welcome. Shrill hysterical outbursts are not.

What about the SEVERELY DISABLED AUTISTIC PEOPLE?

Run primarily by neurodivergent people for neurodivergent people.

This still doesn’t address the issue of severely disabled autistic people taking part in the intercourse. The sensible thing to do, of course, would be to include their parents as a proxy for the severely disabled autistic person, but it is my understanding this alternative is not very popular with neurodiversity 1.0 supporters. You might have already considered that, but it’s not clear from your manifesto. I would be interested to hear more about it.

Workplace inclusion

Focused on mainstreaming inclusive practices into the general workforce.

Wholeheartedly support the above point. This is an absolutely overdue necessity.

Who is neurodivergent?

Inclusive of a broader subset of the neurodivergent population, and not just autistic people.

I am curious as to who exactly do you mean as non-autistic neurodivergents? If there is anything that I don’t like about neurodiversity 1.0, it is their proclamation of conditions that are clearly established as mental illness as variants of neurodiversity. I’m talking about conditions such as bipolar disorder one or schizophrenia. My argument with this position is twofold: 1. I don’t understand why we would stop at bipolar disorder & schizophrenia? Let us include depression as well, and anxiety! These, too, can be argued to be conditions emblematic of neurodiversity. How was the bipolar and schizophrenia chosen to be included into neurodiversity movement? The only thing I can come up with is – and I’m not joking here – being weird. No, seriously: depressed people are simply sad, the anxious people are simply anxious. But people with bipolar 1 disorder or schizophrenia… ohhh, they can be weird, alright! They can be just as weird as autistic people! So they must be included into neurodiversity right?

Inclusive positons.

Inclusive of all of the same roles available to the general population.

Agree.I would say something along the lines of positive discrimination – that is a legal term (at least in the UK) which means that if there are two equally qualified candidates for the job you positively discriminate for the person with disability (or with a protected characteristics as they say), and you appoint that person instead of the mainstream candidate. I think codifying something like this would be useful.

Career starts in preschool. Possibly earlier.

Deliberately thoughtful toward developing long-term career plans.

I admit i cannot understand the context of this statement. I mean, I understand you are talking about careers for NATs, not just A JOB where Autistic person will most likely be underemployed, but someone in management will get a pat on the head for “increasing the diversity” of the organisation and “increasing employment among autistic people”.

The problem I foresee: you are already 20 years too late for THE ADULT AUTISTIC OF THE FUTURE. Because by the time they reach the employment world, you have already missed the most critical periods for brain development. They already grew up into adults shaped by merciless bullying on the playground. They already formed a certain view of the world, and of themselves in this world. They already failed to learn the skills critical for successful career: persistence, belief in yourself, finishing your work, meeting deadlines. Not because they are stupid, but because they were assumed to be slow, so the expectations were set very low.

Call it Pygmalion effect, self-fulfilling prophecy or whatever: we live up and down to the expectations of the authority figures. This is real.

Compensation parity with mainstream peers in similar roles is a key performance indicator (KPI).
A bit too ambitious for a SINGLE KPI. Not possible to achieve quickly, and will lead to quick disappointment. Better to set a number of intermediate objectives: baby steps, you know…

Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft 1:34 pm on 10th June 2019

Neurodiversity movement: past we are proud of, future we doubt

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ background_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” min_height=”199px” custom_margin=”23px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” bottom_divider_style=”arrow3″ bottom_divider_color=”#0000cc” saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”#0000cc” _builder_version=”3.24″ title_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”3em” meta_font=”||||||||” background_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” text_orientation=”center” min_height=”140px” custom_padding=”57px||0px|0px||” text_shadow_style=”preset5″ text_shadow_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” global_module=”683″ saved_tabs=”all”][/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″ min_height=”2917px” custom_margin=”42px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||67px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”What is Neurodiversity? What is Autistic Dark Web? Where is Autism-Doctor standing on that matter?” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%101%%” _builder_version=”3.24.1″ header_level=”h2″ header_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_letter_spacing=”1px” body_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” body_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#e6f2ff” text_orientation=”justified” global_module=”697″ saved_tabs=”all” inline_fonts=”Walter Turncoat”]

Today, the autism community is splintered in many ways, many layers, many directions. One of the most important – and most fundamental – divisions is concerned with the perception of autism: both within the autistic community AND without.

Neurodiversity Movement

There are two factions, with each faction containing a section of moderates and a section promoting extreme views: one takes a very positive (or, at the very least, neutral) view of autism. They emphasise their view that Autism is a difference – not a disorder, disease or dysfunction.

They insist that Autism is NOT a disability in its own right – yet demand to be afforded legal protections under disability discrimination law and call those who disagree with this confusing approach”ableists”.

They defend this curious position by an unusual argument that, while ASC per se is not and cannot be disabling, they end up feeling, functioning and being treated AS IF they were disabled. Not due to the impact of Autism, but because Autism diagnosis makes the society view them through a different lense, from a different angle. It is this perception of Autism that makes the society impose limitations on the autistic people, consciously or not.

This group insists that social graces are “stupid and unnecessary”, that we must be allowed to be themselves and should not have to “mask” and “camouflage” when around others.

They believe autism should and will be removed from psychiatric diagnostic manuals, comparing it to homosexuality (which was, indeed, miraculously transformed from a diagnosable psychiatric condition in to a mere symptom of “ego-dystonic homosexuality” in 1973 between DSM-II and DSM-III, until the idea of abnormality of homosexuality was rightly thrown out of the window entirely in DSM-III-R). By bringing up the homosexuality example, which is painfully, shamefully valid, they invoke a degree of legitimacy in this argument.

They believe you should be able to self-diagnose as autistic, at least while it is still a diagnosis. They argue that, ultimately, the term “autistic” should become an identity label, like the term “gay” has become.

Consequently, doctors – and anyone who reminds them there is any link between autism and medicine – are not particularly welcome. More on this, and other aspects of ND later.

The particularly fiery ones with the particularly extreme views on the subject became self-appointed judges (and executioners!) of anyone who dares to say anything other than songs of rapture and exaltation about autism in general, or – this is seen as an example of extreme immoral parenting, betrayal and lack of moral rectitude – your child’s autism.

This group self-identifies as Neurodiversity movement – online they are defined by the hashtag #ND, #ActuallyAutistic, etc Those on extreme right of that group I identify as Neurodiversity extremists.

Anti-Neurodiversity – aka the Autistic Dark Web

The other group has declared that autism is nothing if not disability, that only clinically insane, painfully naive or not too bright people can assert autism is all rainbow and pink unicorns – this group does not appear to have a universal name on and offline. Their most active and most cohesive presence exists on Twitter. Online, they are loosely grouping themselves under the #ADW (Autistic Dark Web).

In this series of posts, I will be recording my stream of consciousness on Neurodiversity and Autistic Dark Web-type thinking. I will explain my arguments pro and against each one.

I will explain, too, why I choose to claim the middle ground, not following either of the two groups.

In this post, I would like to consider why it is extremely difficult to change minds of the most ardent supporters on Neurodiversity side.

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”Autism-Doctor|d8c55f969e” layout=”top_bottom” name_field=”on” title=”Join to show support” footer_content=”

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

A utism is an emotive condition; perhaps one of the most emotive conditions in my experience as a physician. Few other conditions evoke such powerful emotions and provoke such heated debates – with the exception of deafness, perhaps.

What are the reasons behind such power?

There’s a peculiar detail that is characteristic of autism (and, perhaps, deafness, again). People involved in working with autism usually have a personal link to the condition: the professional either is autistic themselves, or one(some) of their loved one(s) is(are) on the autism spectrum.

Of course, it’s common for HCPs to get inspiration to pursue a career in healthcare by an illness affecting their loved one. A common example is a son growing to be an oncologist because his mother had cancer at some point during his childhood. But even this phenomenon – whilst not rare – is not nearly as common as the link between personal link to autism and working as an autism professional.

In fact, I cannot name a single autism professional without such a connection. This link may be obvious or obscured; the professional themselves could be consciously aware of such link OR it might be resting in their unconscious.

Like Tony Attwood says, “It takes one to know one”. But, why?

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_image src=”https://autismhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cutest-baby-eye-contact.jpeg” _builder_version=”3.24″ width=”100%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.24″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” width=”96.7%” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”2em|2em|2em|2em|true|true”]

Take Tony Attwood, for example. You know, of course, that Professor Attwood – Australian psychologist – is an internationally renowned expert on ASC. He became fascinated by autism 3-4 decades ago, recalling in an interview that he felt he had a certain affinity to NATs. But only recently, watching some family videos dating back to the time he was a young father of preschoolers – only recently, with his children in their 20s-30s – only recently did he realise that his own son is definitely on the spectrum, with classic signs and behaviours characteristic of Asperger’s syndrome.

No one actually said this out loud, but what does it mean for Tony himself, given that Autism “is among the most inheritable mental health conditions” (Rutter, 2012)?

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_image src=”https://autismhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Ragdoll-with-AUTISM-blocks.jpeg” _builder_version=”3.24″ min_height=”401px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.24″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” width=”97.2%” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”5em|3em|5em|3em|true|true” inline_fonts=”Cormorant Garamond,Cormorant Unicase,Georgia”]

Different bodies, different minds.

I believe, the reason is simple: our thinking (i.e., reasoning, learning, recalling, decision-making: all brain activity that makes us what we are) is FUNDAMENTALLY different. And that means that it is FUNDAMENTALLY IMPOSSIBLE to really understand each other fully.

With the best will in the world, an average NT cannot possibly appreciate the depth of the impact that ASC has on our lives. They are unable to grasp the cosmic multitude of impairments and talents that could be part & parcel of the condition.

It is impossible for them to even estimate the significance of profound differences in our basic physiology that are commonly disabling. For example, consider hyperacusis (heightened sensitivity to sounds) or vastly different patterns of brain activation during casual social tasks (e.g., small talk).

Without such understanding, it will naturally be challenging for NTs to empathise or even sympathise with NATs.

They may be able to understand our struggles on the intellectual level – if we provide them with such information. But the real understanding between us & NTs – the natural integrated understanding, when both parties “get” each other naturally, intuitively, on the cognitive, emotional and intuitive levels – that kind of understanding is very hard to achieve.

Now WHEN we are unfamiliar with it AND we can’t understand it, we come to fear it. It’s not complicated: we fear because we can’t say if it will attack us. We can’t even make a general prediction as to if it is dangerous in general. But we assume that it is & it will – because it’s safest that wa.

At that point in our minds we are in the fight or flight situation. Our choice is strictly binary – or so we tell ourselves – and depends on relative advantage. If there’s more of us, we choose to fight.

Meanwhile, we laugh at it. In psychology, humour is categorised as a mature defence mechanism. That is, we are defending our psyche – our soul/mind, our cohesive sense of self – from something that threatens that cohesion. In this case, it’s fear of the unfamiliar, unknown and unknowable.

Humour fulfills its defensive purpose by diminishing our perception of the threat. Put it simply, we cannot be fearful of something AND find it funny at the same time.

N.B. Please note: I am not saying that people fear autism or autistics. No, what they fear is the unfamiliar, the strange, the unknown, the alien that they autism & autistic people represent to them.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” width=”95.5%” min_height=”2053px” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”0em|2em|0em|2em|true|true” inline_fonts=”Cormorant Garamond,Merriweather,Merriweather Sans,Cormorant Upright”]

That same fear makes you avoid any engagements with autistic people, unless inescapable.

And that gives us the origins of the stigmatising behaviour: the avoidance & exclusion of the stigmatised group, the humiliation thru making fun of its members, the tendency to attack them.

But online, especially on social media, it’s still ok, apparently, to land the first verbal punch – even when your opponent is not overtly aggressive. In fact, many do happily land the first insult in an “intertribal” argument between followers of Neurodiversity movement and the adherents of the autistic dark web. (There are decent & interesting people on both sides – genuinely – so I am only talking about the extremists on both sides of the argument here.)

And few tribes are so ruthless, so obstinate, so cantankerous, so zealous in their proselytising as the ardent extremists of neurodiversity movement. (Please don’t think I am attacking #ND because in my heart I support the #ADW – I SUPPORT NEITHER; a post on #ADW is coming; I had to start somewhere).

Neurodiversity origins belong to the time when few people were even aware of the condition called autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). I’ve come to believe that such zeal was appropriate for that time, convinced by these descriptions of autistic people in the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century media (quoted from Silberman’s Neurodiversity book:

autism diagnosis was a fate worse than death (p.431 of Kindle edition, 2016)

“a terminal illness . . . a dead soul in a live body.” (ditto)

“The first mention of Asperger’s syndrome in an English-language newspaper, in the Toronto Star in 1989, described “strange” and “clumsy” nerds who read books compulsively without understanding them, were incapable of friendship, and burst into tears and laughter for no reason “like stroke patients who have suffered brain damage.” The second mention, in the Sydney Morning Herald, led off with the sentence, “It is the plague of those unable to feel.” (p.432, Kindle edition, 2016).

I’ve come to believe that without the strength of their convictions, we would not have been able to have this debate today.

I realise it’s likely that I only qualify for my diagnosis now only thanks to the hard work of the ND movement back in those times.

I’ve learned that often you have to be shrill and loud to bring change about. Especially, for changing the centuries’ old status quo

I am truly grateful to Neurodiversity movement for what they have achieved.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_contact_form module_id=”et_pb_contact_form_0″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″ title_level=”h2″ title_font=”Merriweather|900|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”1.5em” title_letter_spacing=”1px” captcha_font=”||||||||” form_field_font=”||||||||” border_radii=”on|20vw|20vw|20vw|20vw” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#0080ff” button_bg_color=”#ffff00″ button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#0000cc” button_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” button_icon=”%%151%%” button_icon_color=”#ffff00″ box_shadow_style=”preset5″ box_shadow_vertical=”0.3em” box_shadow_spread=”0.5em” box_shadow_color=”#ffff00″ box_shadow_style_button=”preset2″ box_shadow_vertical_button=”0.3em” box_shadow_blur_button=”1em” box_shadow_color_button=”#ffbf00″ custom_margin=”80px||84px|||” global_module=”698″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Email” field_title=”Email Address” field_type=”email” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Message” field_title=”Message” field_type=”text” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][/et_pb_contact_form][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_blurb title=”Reflexive response to stigmatising treatment” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_level=”h2″ header_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_letter_spacing=”1px” body_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” body_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#e6f2ff” text_orientation=”justified” min_height=”400px” custom_padding=”93px|||||”]

Now, picture an autistic person who has been bullied so much that he has become first defensive, and then aggressive in response to any threat or perceived threat. It might appear insignificant to others, but he is raw. He can’t help it. This is his response now, and it is reflexive.

Naturally, evolutionary this response was the most adaptive – for milennia. We did not descend from people who had to stop & think to plan their response to every unexpected encounter.

Think about this, though: landing the first strike on anyone who you suddenly found standing in front of you with an angry expression – that was, too, an evolutionary adaptive response. Would anyone recommend this tactic in present day and age?

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”3.23.3″ header_level=”h2″ header_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_letter_spacing=”1px” body_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” body_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#e6f2ff” text_orientation=”justified” min_height=”1148px” custom_padding=”42px||62px|||” inline_fonts=”Merriweather”]

Here is the deal: once the status quo is shifted from the dead stop, you need to shift to a different set of strategies: those that call for cooperation, understanding, patience, collaboration. Strategies that encourage debate, while ensuring that it doesn’t degrade into a shouting match, hurling insults at each other.

*******

Are true zealots capable of such shift?

Oftentimes, the answer is, “No”. That is not an indication of lack of intelligence. Far from that; to shift the status quo drastically, you must be a very intelligent person.

It’s not about intelligence at all.

Rather, it is about the “zealous personality”. You must have formidable beliefs in your ideals. You must be passionate about those. It is the passion that drives you forward. It is the passion that empowers you, validating your ideals. It is the passion that sustains you as you sacrifice everything for your convictions: your time, your money, your health, your loved ones and, eventually, your life.

The zealots are driven by ONE passion, which almost always dominates the rest. That passion feeds off the power engendered by a personally significant external event. (Alternatively, it can be generated by a series of regular & frequent events – each one is relatively minor, if considered in isolation from others. Yet, their cumulative effect is often greater than the effect of a single major event).

Whatever the cause, the outcome is always the same: behaviour that is shaped not by a balance of emotions, but one super-emotion, capable of subverting and sublimating all others.

The event required to generate emotional response that has BOTH requisite intensity AND longevity to become the zealots driving emotion is normally too traumatic to ever work it through the regular activist movement.

Because that is exactly what is happening: zealots, through their zealous activities, are working through trauma of their past.

And until the trauma is worked through, taken apart brick by brick, examined closely (brick by brick), identified accurately, and then carefully – brick by brick – destroyed in the safety of therapy; until that happens, that trauma will continue in the driving seat of your life. And you will be riding along, as a help, to open the gates & make sure theres nothing in the way for your single-minded driver.

You will go to places that YOU may not wish to, saying things YOU may not wish to. Because it’s not you making these decisions. It is the most powerful emotion of your life, born in the worst trauma of your life.

You may achieve success in the endeavours that you dedicate your life to. You may achieve fame – or, at least, notoriety. But deep down, it won’t feel like YOUR success, YOUR fame, YOUR actions. You will always feel slightly alienated from them. And you will be right, of course. They will belong to you, but the traumatized you. You as you don’t want to be.

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_image src=”https://autismhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Blue-puzzle-piece-on-pink.jpeg” _builder_version=”3.23.3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”3em|3em|3em|3em|true|true”]

So, why wouldn’t I try to convince anyone?

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]had my trauma. I had my driver. That driver ruined much in my life. That driver us also responsible for much of the success I have had.

For me, identifying my driver was the head-spinning, neck-breaking, mind-boggling revelation. It cost me a few years of therapy. When I shared it, excited, with my husband, he was unimpressed. “I could have told you that free of charge”, he replied. But that’s the point – I needed to work it out for myself. People telling me would not have made a tiniest difference.

In the same vein, I realised that I can’t break through the resolve of ND zealots: they need to see their mistakes themselves. They need to understand. They need to stop fearing. To feel safe.

Because when we understand & we don’t fear, we allow ourselves to become sensitive to others & their feelings. We become receptive to others’ thoughts and ideas, willing to consider them and weigh them in our mind.

To paraphrase Irene Brown, vulnerability is the source of all power & creativity. And the ND extremists cannot allow themselves to be vulnerable, admitting that they may need to adjust and adapt. So, we can’t look to them for new & creative solutions.

So, I don’t argue with them anymore. If they genuinely want to ask a question or raise a point – and do so in a civilised way – I will respond, in the same respectful tone. I don’t block people for the sole reason they do not share my beliefs and convictions, & I follow thinkers on both sides of the divide. But I don’t take disagreements personally. And I leave the discussion when I see it’s becoming personal.

Also, I no longer consider myself to be a proponent of #Neurodiversity.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=”on” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”26px” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ background_color=”#e00b00″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#0000cc” button_bg_color=”#ffbf00″ button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#ffff00″ button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”Oswald|700||on|||||” box_shadow_style_button=”preset2″ box_shadow_color_button=”#ffff00″ text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_module=”417″][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/autism-doctor-aka-drliliya” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”pinterest” url=”https://pinterest.com/liliyawheatcraf” icon_color=”#e00b00″ _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]pinterest[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https://facebook.com/AutismdashDoctor” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Liliya T. Bakiyeva Wheatcraft 7:23 am on 8th June 2019
Tags: Fundraising, Patreon, Sponsorship, Support ( 2 ), TAHCS, Volunteer

Our raison d’être

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.24″ background_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” min_height=”199px” custom_margin=”23px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||21px|||” bottom_divider_style=”arrow3″ bottom_divider_color=”#0000cc” saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”#0000cc” _builder_version=”3.24″ title_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”3em” meta_font=”||||||||” background_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” text_orientation=”center” min_height=”140px” custom_padding=”57px||0px|0px||” text_shadow_style=”preset5″ text_shadow_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” global_module=”683″ saved_tabs=”all”][/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.24″ custom_margin=”-59px||-165px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_cta title=”Our unique mission:” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_font=”Merriweather|900||||on|||” header_text_align=”left” header_letter_spacing=”1px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ body_font=”Merriweather|900|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_font_size=”20px” body_letter_spacing=”1px” body_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ body_text_shadow_color=”#0000cc” text_orientation=”left” custom_padding=”33px||22px|||”]To serve the needs of autistic people on both extremes of the Spectrum – recognising that autism can be disabling & disadvantageous AS WELL AS enriching & enabling.[/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″ min_height=”2917px” custom_margin=”42px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||67px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”3em|5em|3em|5em|true|true” inline_fonts=”Cormorant Upright,Eczar,Gloria Hallelujah,Metamorphous,Allerta Stencil”]

Why bother with Autism-Doctor™ – there are tons of autism blogs already?!

We are not “just another blog”…

We have two practical aims:

To raise funds for a unique project – a hospital for Autistic People.

Designed and developed by autistic people.

Treating autistic patients.

Training autistic professionals.

Allowing autistic employees shine in a supportive environment.

The hospital training external professionals: i.e., internships, secondments, etc.

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd is bilingual in language of autism and language of medicine

THE UNIQUE PLACE TO OFFER AN EDUCATED OPINION FROM DUAL PERSPECTIVE

Autistic people yearn to be recognised as such. You and I want people recognise that we ARE on autism spectrum. That, while advantageous in some respects, in others it leads to disability. We want people to know that we are not rude and selfish a**holes. Want them to know that there’s a wide range of personalities, gifts and disabilities found among people on spectrum. That we have incredibly smart and the most empathic people among us, as well as those who are intellectually disabled and require round-the clock care.

We know, too, that medical professionals especially tend to ignore and disregard us and whatever we have to say.

That many of these professionals know little about autism and are superarrogant in their mistaken belief of having “Specialist knowledge” of the condition.

The world needs to hear more from Temple Grandins and Tony Attwoods, from Wenn Lawsons and Olga Bogdashinas.

Unfortunately, substantial numbers of healthcare professionals will ignore even these titans of autism advocacy and education. Some will do so out of conscious medical arrogance. Others are thinking so literally that they genuinely don’t appear to understand allegories, similes and metaphors we frequently use to describe our experiences – I had on occasion to “translate” autistic expressions to some of my colleagues & trainers alike. Every party would end up perplexed & confused: other docs were surprised that I “got it”, I would be perplexed how did they NOT get it, and the autistic patient would “get confused” into addressing me (the trainee) primarily from that moment onwards.

And we commit to reflecting the realities of the entire Spectrum of Autism.

This principle is behind everything we do & everything we stand for.

Naturally, many organisations make such claims. But when you look closer, you will see that they don’t quite live up to it. They end up being hijacked by supporters of one extreme viewpoint & slowly but surely take over the message & the function of that organisation. (Naming names later, in a different post).

We make our message very clear and we’re not embarrassed to broadcast it openly & repeatedly: the social media, our home page, all the written materials we have been working on producing. Just look at tweets by the founder (@BakiyevaLiliya).

We are working for YOU: whether you are a University Professor or a parent of a severely disabled autistic person.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.24″ background_color=”#ffff00″ z_index=”10″]Become a Patron![/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_image src=”https://autismhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Three-men-call-to-join-autism-doctor.jpeg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.24″ max_height=”15em” custom_margin=”-5px|15px|-5px|15px|true|true” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_blurb title=”What is Neurodiversity? What is Autistic Dark Web? Where is Autism-Doctor standing on that matter?” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%186%%” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_level=”h2″ header_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_letter_spacing=”1px” body_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” body_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#e6f2ff” text_orientation=”justified” global_module=”697″ saved_tabs=”all” inline_fonts=”Walter Turncoat”]

Today autism community is splintered in many ways, many layers, many directions. One of the most important – and most fundamental – divisions is concerned with the perception of autism: both within the autistic community AND without.

There are two factions, with each faction containing a section of moderates and a section promoting extreme views: one takes a very positive (at the very least, neutral) view of autism. They emphasise their view that Autism is a difference – not a disease or dysfunction.

They insist that Autism is NOT a disability in its own right – yet demand to be afforded legal protections under disability discrimination law and call those who disagree “ableists”.

They defend this curious position by an unusual argument that, while ASC per se is not and cannot be disabling, they end up feeling, functioning and being treated as if they were disabled because of the limitations imposed on them by the society.

They insist that social graces are “stupid and unnecessary”, that we must be allowed to be themselves and should not have to “mask” and “camouflage” when around others.

They believe autism should and will be removed from psych diagnostic manuals, comparing it to homosexuality (which was miraculously transformed from a diagnosable psychiatric condition in to a mere symptom of “ego-dystonic homosexuality” in 1973 between DSM-II and DSM-III, until the idea of abnormality of homosexuality was rightly thrown out of the window entirely in DSM-III-R).

They believe you should be able to self-diagnose as autistic, at least while it is still diagnosable; afterwards, it should become an identity label, like “gay”.

Consequently, doctors – and anyone who reminds them there is any link between autism and medicine – is not particularly welcome. More on this, and each aspect of ND later.

This group self-identifies as Neurodiversity movement – online they are defined by the hashtag #ND, #Actually Autistic, etc Those on extreme right of that group I identify as Neurodiversity extremists.

The other group has declared that autism is nothing if not disability, that only clinically insane, painfully naive or not too bright people can assert autism is all rainbow and pink unicorns – this group does not appear to have a universal name on and off line. Online, they are loosely grouping themselves under the #ADW (Autistic Dark Web).

In this series of posts, I will be recording my stream of consciousness on Neurodiversity and Autistic Dark Web-type thinking. I will explain my arguments pro and against each one.

I will explain, too, why I choose to claim the middle ground, not following either of the two groups.

In this post, I would like to consider why it is extremely difficult to change minds of the most ardent supporters on either side.

[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_blurb title=”Do YOU want to keep this site ads-free? ” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_font=”||||||||” body_font=”||||||||”]All you have to do is:

a) joining the AD™ community

AND

b) pledging financial support on Patreon.

The decision is YOURS.[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.24″ text_orientation=”center” width=”68.3%” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”129px” custom_margin=”2em|2em|2em|2em|true|true” custom_padding=”2em|0em|2em|0em|true|true” filter_hue_rotate=”340deg” filter_saturate=”196%” filter_brightness=”75%” filter_contrast=”140%” animation_style=”zoom” animation_delay=”100000ms” animation_repeat=”loop”]Become a Patron![/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_blurb title=”So, what’s up with Autism-Doctor? Who is behind it?” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_level=”h2″ header_font=”Merriweather|900|||||||” header_text_color=”#0000cc” body_font=”Cormorant Garamond||||||||” body_text_align=”justify” body_font_size=”18px”]

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd is a brainchild of one person who is supported and encouraged by a couple of volunteers.

Sadly, I haven’t been employed/working for 2.5 years. I am not counting an occasional speaking engagement, attending professional seminars, reading professional literature/research, helping run autism training days and engaging in autism discussions as work. First, these mostly have required money going out, rather than in to my bank account. Second, I need to work on changing my mindset; for years I have derived great enjoyment from seeing patients and much satisfaction of knowing my expertise makes a real difference in people’s lives. Those pleasures were separated from the pleasure of receiving my paycheque at the end of the month.

And it is very difficult to combine these pleasures in my mind. In a way, I feel I have already been rewarded, with the “peaceful easy feeling” of making a difference, so asking for a financial reward is kind of being greedy .

Maybe, it’s just me. Maybe, it’s the way I grew up/my upbringing.

The point is, state disability and welfare benefits cannot lift this project off the ground – or sustain the forward momentum once we get it going.

Read on to discover what we do need for that.[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_contact_form module_id=”et_pb_contact_form_0″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″ title_level=”h2″ title_font=”Merriweather|900|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”1.5em” title_letter_spacing=”1px” captcha_font=”||||||||” form_field_font=”||||||||” border_radii=”on|20vw|20vw|20vw|20vw” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#0080ff” button_bg_color=”#ffff00″ button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#0000cc” button_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” button_icon=”%%151%%” button_icon_color=”#ffff00″ box_shadow_style=”preset5″ box_shadow_vertical=”0.3em” box_shadow_spread=”0.5em” box_shadow_color=”#ffff00″ box_shadow_style_button=”preset2″ box_shadow_vertical_button=”0.3em” box_shadow_blur_button=”1em” box_shadow_color_button=”#ffbf00″ custom_margin=”80px||84px|||” global_module=”698″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Email” field_title=”Email Address” field_type=”email” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Message” field_title=”Message” field_type=”text” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”3.16″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][/et_pb_contact_field][/et_pb_contact_form][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.24″ width=”80.4%”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.24″][et_pb_cta title=”Support Autism-Doctor to Build TAHCS” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Pledge on Pateron” _builder_version=”3.24″ header_font=”Merriweather|700||||on|||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”1.5em” header_line_height=”1.7em” header_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ body_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_font_size=”18px” body_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”1.5em” button_bg_color=”#e00b00″ button_font=”Oswald||||||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_alignment=”center” button_rel=”off|on|off|off|off” button_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ text_shadow_style=”preset2″ text_shadow_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)”]Go ahead, pledge whatever you can afford! You may think that all you can afford is £1.00, that it is too little – DON’T LET THE SMALL AMOUNT YOU CAN AFFORD STOP YOU FROM CONTRIBUTING!

WHY?

Apart from the financial aspect of the pledge, there is the fact that every pledge, however small, means another voice of support. And if I am to go to big investors, I ABSOLUTELY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
There are about 700, 000 people on autism spectrum in the UK alone. IMAGINE IF EVERY AUTISTIC PERSON IN THE UKPLEDGED JUST £1.00 EACH?!
1. We would have been able to hire at least four full-time staffers: an administrator, an architect and a lawyer.
2. I would have been able to concentrate fully on content for this page and fundraising, without the need to engage in individual services to earn my daily bread.

So we would have the TAHCS™ built much faster

meanwhile I could provide you with much more quality content here, on YouTube and on social media, posting here the information that I would otherwise have only been able to cover in 1-2-1 sessions.

[/et_pb_cta][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.24″ background_color=”#ffff00″ z_index=”10″]Become a Patron![/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.24″ text_font=”Cormorant Garamond|600|||||||” text_text_align=”justify” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_2_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#002699″ header_2_font_size=”1.3em” header_2_letter_spacing=”1px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”#00d5e0″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”1em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”1em|1em|1em|1em|true|true” custom_padding=”3em|5em|3em|5em|true|true”]Other ways to contribute…

2). You could subscribe to Autism-Doctor YouTube channel, which I am launching within days.

3). Become our sponsor and/or offer us affiliate marketing opportunities. One caveat: as this is a site FOR autistics BY autistics, I am very mindful of the potential for sensory overload.

4). Get in touch if you have any ideas to make Autism-Doctor better still.

5). Drop a line if you would like to offer us your talents.

For example, I am toying with idea of publishing cartoons illustrating social rules and unfamiliar situations for autistic people of different ages and different levels of development (intellectual AND social)*.

Sadly, drawing is not among my talents: in any way, shape or form, digital or analogue. But it might be yours.

Or, you might have a creativity masterpiece sitting in a closet. On your bookshelf. In your journal. Maybe, this is the time and place to share it with others.

Perhaps, you would like to offer a guest post: whether to disseminate results of your research or express your opinion on an issue important to you.

6) Like and share Autism-Doctor on social media, tell your friends about it – if we deserve it, of course, in your opinion.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_image src=”https://autismhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/adobe_post_20190602_2311428820480755104886651.png” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.24″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”Autism-Doctor|d8c55f969e” layout=”top_bottom” name_field=”on” title=”Join to show support” footer_content=”

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ form_field_focus_background_color=”rgba(153,204,255,0.75)” form_field_focus_text_color=”#0000cc” header_level=”h1″ header_font=”Oswald||||||||” header_letter_spacing=”1px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ body_font=”||||||||” result_message_font=”Allerta Stencil|700||on|||||” result_message_text_align=”center” result_message_text_color=”#e00b00″ result_message_font_size=”2em” result_message_letter_spacing=”1px” result_message_text_shadow_style=”preset2″ result_message_text_shadow_color=”#ffff00″ form_field_font=”Merriweather||on||||||” form_field_text_align=”center” background_color=”#ffece5″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(249,132,230,0.39)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(124,174,249,0.77)” background_color_gradient_type=”radial” background_color_gradient_start_position=”10%” background_color_gradient_end_position=”90%” border_radii=”on|17vw|17vw|17vw|17vw” border_radii_fields=”on|3vw|3vw|3vw|3vw” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#0000cc” button_bg_color=”#fff3e5″ button_border_width=”3px” button_border_color=”#ffff00″ button_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” button_use_icon=”off” box_shadow_style_button=”preset2″ box_shadow_color_button=”#ffff00″ text_orientation=”center” global_module=”695″ saved_tabs=”all”][/et_pb_signup][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=”on” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”26px” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ background_color=”#e00b00″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#0000cc” button_bg_color=”#ffbf00″ button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#ffff00″ button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”Oswald|700||on|||||” box_shadow_style_button=”preset2″ box_shadow_color_button=”#ffff00″ text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” text_shadow_style=”preset4″ global_module=”417″][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/autism-doctor-aka-drliliya” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”pinterest” url=”https://pinterest.com/liliyawheatcraf” icon_color=”#e00b00″ _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]pinterest[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https://facebook.com/AutismdashDoctor” icon_color=”#0080ff” _builder_version=”3.23.2″ background_color=”#ffffff” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

Autism Online Training & Consulting

Recent Updates

Five tips to tell a temper tantrum from a meltdown

Overview & purpose

Group Response

Autism & violent behaviour.

The myth of Invariably Violent Autism.

Anatomy of meltdown.

And here are the tips!

The Five Tips to tell tantrums from meltdown.

Olga Bogdashina

Terramagnus and his Neurodiversity 2.0 manifesto

What about the SEVERELY DISABLED AUTISTIC PEOPLE?

Workplace inclusion

Who is neurodivergent?

Inclusive positons.

Career starts in preschool. Possibly earlier.

Neurodiversity movement: past we are proud of, future we doubt

Neurodiversity Movement

Anti-Neurodiversity – aka the Autistic Dark Web

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

Different bodies, different minds.

*******

Are true zealots capable of such shift?

So, why wouldn’t I try to convince anyone?

Our raison d’être

Why bother with Autism-Doctor™ – there are tons of autism blogs already?!

So we would have the TAHCS™ built much faster

meanwhile I could provide you with much more quality content here, on YouTube and on social media, posting here the information that I would otherwise have only been able to cover in 1-2-1 sessions.

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

Overview & purpose

Group Response

Autism & violent behaviour.

The myth of Invariably Violent Autism.

Anatomy of meltdown.

And here are the tips!

The Five Tips to tell tantrums from meltdown.

Share this:

Share this:

What about the SEVERELY DISABLED AUTISTIC PEOPLE?

Workplace inclusion

Who is neurodivergent?

Inclusive positons.

Career starts in preschool. Possibly earlier.

Share this:

Neurodiversity Movement

Anti-Neurodiversity – aka the Autistic Dark Web

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

Different bodies, different minds.

***

Are true zealots capable of such shift?

So, why wouldn’t I try to convince anyone?

Share this:

Why bother with Autism-Doctor™ – there are tons of autism blogs already?!

So we would have the TAHCS™ built much faster

meanwhile I could provide you with much more quality content here, on YouTube and on social media, posting here the information that I would otherwise have only been able to cover in 1-2-1 sessions.

Autism-Doctor™ Ltd

Share this:

*******