a freestyle, mandala I drew and watercolour penciled for relaxation...so fun
Greetings friends,
Warm wishes to you. :)
I did not come to awareness of my own autism until midlife which meant I lived many, many long years of confusion, suffering and pain as I tried desperately to meet what were essentially unreasonable life expectations that I felt I must meet in order to be of worth. The struggle I lived while trying to keep up with perceived expectations of others left me feeling like a miserable failure much of the time.
Mindfulness meditation and its beautiful teachings on self- compassion saved me from my own self- destructive tendencies by centering me in no-self; the peace inherent within us all. I wish this grace for anyone suffering just to be themselves in a world which wants to pigeon hole, marginalize and which by its very ignorance and design so often brings harm to persons who are autistic.
When in doubt, be kind!
I, for one, am hopeful that the next generation of autistic youth will have easier, healthier lives than those of us who've come before them. Awareness is the first step towards increased inclusion...though there is still much ground to be covered for the lives of autistic persons to become less precarious.
Forging friendships with some persons in the autism community, both locally, and internationally has been life changing for me. One, through the wonderful site called PEI Autistic Adults (a peer support group begun a few years back by a most awesome and devoted PEI senior seeking companionship on what is oftentimes the loneliest of journeys) as well as a most heart-warmingly delightful second communication with a dear friend and artiste extraordinaire who found me here on my blog through some writing I had posted on the internationally viewed, rich and varied site The Art of Autism has been life changing for me.
Did I say that already? Life changing!
These relationships have enriched my life and that of my family in ways that are difficult to describe. I have found a sense of belonging and been the recipient of so many kindnesses which have improved my self- acceptance as well as my self- knowledge in countless ways.
My west coast, artiste friend, an incredibly generous woman a teeny bit older and a whole lot wiser than I, and I may someday weave some of our correspondence into a tapestry to share more widely for the benefit of others. We shall see. (thank you G! xo)
Below I have included an enlightening little list of some factual autism traits to help with increased understanding. When I read this I still become flush with the memory of relief I felt when I first saw myself in a similar list six or seven years ago now. Aaah! Yes...
Anyhow, I just wanted to share the list (which was shared with me) below for your understanding. You may recognize yourself or someone you love therein: List source Sensory Stories by Nicole @sensorystories
"It's Autism Awareness Month, so time to set some things straight about autism...
What people think autism is: what it looks like in movies
What autism actually is:
- Sensory over/under sensitivities including extreme sensory anxiety when overstimulated
- Social and communication differences
- Social interactions are often challenging/draining
- Anxiety when routines are disrupted
- Struggles with transitions
- Repetitive movements (also known as stimming) & behaviors (e.g. preferring comfort foods and clothing items)
- Uncomfortable giving eye contact (not necessarily unable to give it)
- Intense special interests
- Difficulty consuming information that is not of interest
- Rigid thinking (for example, can have strong feelings about how to interpret and follow rules)
- Often takes things literally and has a hard time with subtext and unwritten rules
- Meltdowns/shutdowns as a result of unmet needs (some are visible to others, many are not)
- For some... difficulty understanding and expressing emotions (which is called alexithymia) for others, extremely capable of expressing emotions
- Hyper-empathetic for some, difficulty with empathy for others
- Exceptionally good attention to detail and high accuracy when completing assignments or work tasks
- Often analytical and extremely good at understanding complex concepts
- Able to maintain deep focus and concentration
- Excellent long-term memory and recall capabilities
- Often creative problem-solvers due to unique thought processes and perspectives
- Often honest to a fault and extremely trustworthy
- A loyal and extremely generous friend
- Has a beautiful mind and a beautiful heart
- Deserving of love and support
· In most cases, there are no obvious signs of autism in adults... as most of us have learned (through many years of extreme difficulty, and in many cases, trauma) to adjust to fit in. So, on the outside, we often appear "normal" when really, we're struggling... a LOT. "
and: if you have the time...and interest...
Hello,
On April 2nd we come together for World Autism Awareness Day, to bring attention to autism and improve knowledge and understanding of the different experiences and characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum. Every Autistic person should have the right to self determination, and to achieve their ultimate potential without unnecessary systemic obstacles. By working together, we can ensure Autistic individuals in Canada are heard, understood and accepted.
In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, released a statement. Please see the following link to the message: Message from the Minister of Health – World Autism Awareness Day - Canada.ca
Sincerely,
National Autism Strategy Secretariat
Division of Children & Youth
Centre for Health Promotion
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch
Public Health Agency of Canada
Government of Canada
Here is the body of the letter which the above hyperlink directs the reader to:
Message from the Minister of Health – World Autism Awareness Day
Statement
April 2, 2024 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
Today is a day to raise awareness of autism worldwide. It is a time where all are encouraged to improve their knowledge and understanding of the different experiences and characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum. It is also a day to showcase the value that autistic perspectives bring to our workplaces, educational spaces and communities.
This day is also about recognition, and the sharing of stories to celebrate the successes of Autistic people. We can learn so much from hearing about life experiences. Sharing personal stories fosters openness and inclusivity which are key to achieving true acceptance. Increased awareness and acceptance, in turn, create more opportunities for Canadians on the autism spectrum to thrive and reach their full potential.
Our government is actively collaborating with the autism community towards a shared goal of improving the health and well-being of Autistic people in Canada. Addressing the complex and diverse needs of Autistic people requires a coordinated effort between all levels of government and service providers. Feedback from those with autism, caregivers and families, Indigenous partners and other stakeholders will help us as we collectively plan for the future.
A year ago, the government passed important legislation that calls for the development of a federal framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families and caregivers. In the coming months, this framework will be released outlining broad overarching principles and best practices to guide the national autism policy, programs and activities in Canada at all levels of government. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to work on the development of an autism strategy. It will complement the framework and will support its implementation. The strategy will be a multi-year action plan that outlines specific short and medium-term initiatives at the federal level. It will include measures that address each of the key priorities shared last fall.
The strategy will build on existing federal programs and initiatives, including the Disability Inclusion Action Plan led by Employment and Social Development Canada and disability-related tax measures offered through the Canada Revenue Agency, such as the Disability Tax Credit. The strategy will also be informed by recommendations founded in the ongoing research on autism by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and its support of the Pediatric Autism Research Cohort (PARC). PARC was created to better address the diversity of autism, to help develop care plans that are geared to an autistic child's specific needs and to inform government programs and policies in offering personalized services and supports for those children and their families.
Engagement with Indigenous communities to identify autism priorities that reflect their needs in a way that is self-determined and culturally appropriate is ongoing. The results of this engagement will inform future updates to the strategy.
Together, the strategy and framework will guide Canada's direction by supporting Autistic people living in Canada, their families and caregivers. Our government is also determining an approach for this important work to be carried out by a national network of key stakeholders.
Every Autistic person should have the right to self determination, and to achieve their ultimate potential without unnecessary systemic obstacles. By working together, we can ensure Autistic individuals in Canada are heard, understood and accepted.
The Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P.
Contacts
Christopher Aoun Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health 613-291-4176
Media Relations Health Canada 613-957-2983media@hc-sc.gc.ca
Search for related information by keyword: Health and Safety | Public Health Agency of Canada | Ottawa | Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) | general public | statements | Hon. Mark Holland
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Date modified:
2024-04-02
As always, thanks for reading!
May you be well, safe and at ease and may you always have the courage to live the beauty that you are.
Jill