Winds of change are blowing in ASDigest
towers. With a new year and a new fresh
attitude, we’ve been searching through the
best of the autism community news,
celebrities, autism research and personal
inspirational stories to bring you this year.
Not only that but we’ve some of the best
young writers on the Spectrum, Paddy Jo
and Beth are both in different universities
but both have spectrum diagnosis. I would
like to personally thank them for the hard
work they put in to putting their world into
words for us to read every month.
Having the rapper Marshall Mathers
diagnosed with autism at the age of 35
has made me ponder about my own
late diagnosis and again raises the
question of how many adults are really
out there on the spectrum but
undiagnosed. How many of them turn
to other courses of self medication (see
further on my piece about marijuana)?
This month finds me also embracing
change. Or trying to!
My daughter is in her transition period for
high school, and will soon be moving to a
much larger school. Recently I’ve found
myself thinking about the small pink bundle
I bought home with me eleven years ago,
and how proud I am that she has grown
into a sensible, lovely individual with her
won thoughts and opinions.
I can’t help thinking that perhaps I was
right you know that we all have a place
on
this
colourful
spectrum
somewhere…and that neurotypical is
just a word they made up for “boring” .
As always enjoy what we have to offer
and see you next month!
But this also scares me so much, letting go
and letting her make her own decisions,
trusting her to know what’s best for her. I
know that I have a few years of her being
around permanently yet, but I can’t help
worry about the changes that face her very
soon. New beginnings and how fiercely
independent she is. It’s a bittersweet
experience!
Shãn
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