Astronautism

Hi, I’m new around here. I have autism (diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome) and a masters degree in Space Systems Engineering. I enjoy surfing and I occasionally jump out of aeroplanes for fun. I completed the International Space University’s Space Studies Program last summer, a professional development program for future leaders of the global space industry. I'm here to learn and to share, about autism, diversity, and things that make me tick. Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | WordPress | Linkedin

[adamelkins500]

Adam is rebooting. Please insert startup coffee and press any key to continue… ☕️ I’m still getting out on my bike from time to time when the weather is good, and grateful for such beautiful countryside to cycle through; we’ve got some nice spots here in Somerset. Fingers crossed for some better weather coming up: I’ve decided now is a good time to reboot my life… 🚲☀️🙂 #Bike #Cycling #BikeRide #Explore #Adventure #OnYourBike #Bridgwater #Somerset #Sedgemoor #SomersetLevels #Canal #BridgwaterAndTauntonCanal #Water #Countryside #Spring #Summer #Sprimmer #sunshine #BlueSky #Nature #Wildlife #NoFilter (at Bridgwater and Taunton Canal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPTWhyWDCms/?utm_medium=tumblr

[adamelkins500]

My bike has saved my sanity during lockdown. I’m disappointed that I didn’t cope with lockdown as well as I had wanted but I had been looking forwards to some warm weather to get out on my bike in and we certainly got it. This was Parchey Bridge, on a very warm day in May. I’m fortunate to have some attractive countryside to explore and particularly grateful for my bike to explore it with right now. Hopefully the weather will warm up again soon so I can explore it further. #spring #summer #sprimmer #warm #sunny #sunshine #BlueSky #countryside #ParcheyBridge #KingsSedgemoorDrain #Sedgemoor #Somerset #SomersetLevels #Bike #cycling #OnYourBike @onyourbikebridgwater #BikeRide (at Chedzoy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBn4acrgYRn/?igshid=y5xdbh6y4lml

[adamelkins500]

This photo of Sassy soaking up the spring sunshine the other day is just begging to go on Instagram. 😻☀️ #Sassy #Cat #Kitty #Caturday #CatsOfInstagram #Spring #Sun #Sunshine #Sunny https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aDELBgKDf/?igshid=1uutys3wc1p0o

[adamelkins500]

I’ve been feeling like a shadow of my former self lately, so the other day I went down to Exmouth for a day at the beach. #beach #sea #exmouth #summer #sun #sand #devon #SouthWest #travel #DayTrip #DayOff #ChillOut #relax ☀️🏖🌴🗺😎 (at Exmouth Sea Front) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gwFsBAvmd/?igshid=126ukqi1jruak

[adamelkins500]

Sassy would like to wish everyone a happy #InternationalCatDay. Either that or she wants a cuddle. Possibly both. 😻 #cat #kitty #CatsOfInstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B06QoTkgvJ0/?igshid=1ikoeunosk3ce

[adamelkins500]

Toasty ☀️🔥🥵 (feat. @weatherunderground) but before anyone points out how much hotter it gets in other countries just look at how the temperature drops tomorrow! #weather #UKWeather #hot #sunny #heatwave #summer #UK (at Bridgwater) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0WKhH0A1et/?igshid=11l1tip45kwlc

[adamelkins500]

Today is #WorldAutismAwarenessDay! I’m one of some 700,000 autistic people in the UK. There are a lot of misconceptions around autism and we are often capable of far more than people realise: for example, I have a masters degree in aerospace engineering, completed the @spaceuniversity Space Studies Program, completed two skydives, visited several countries across two continents and climbed a 2500ft mountain. Many of us are capable of living a wide range of lifestyles with only modest support. Unfortunately we still face many obstacles in life due to a widespread lack of understanding. Most seriously, only 16% of autistic people are in full time work and we often face spending years out of work. Progress is being made but there’s still a long way to go. • • • • #AutismAwarenessDay #AutismAwarenessWeek #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAcceptance #WorldAutismAcceptanceDay #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Aspergers #AspergerSyndrome #30DaysOfAutismAcceptance https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvwo8PYgOmS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qrl9ddgopqsw

[sarcasmicmotivation]

[adamelkins500]

I resemble this remark. 😯

[theselfcarelifestyle]

The coping mechanisms that I’ve outgrown:

Avoiding, ignoring, staying passive, hiding, shirking responsibility, blaming and pitying myself

The coping mechanisms growing in their place:

Accepting, feeling, actively searching, listening to my inner dialogue, awareness, communicating my needs, respecting my agency and owning my actions

[13faeinapenguinsuit]

Ngl, I’m right in the middle… I accept, feel, actively search for, listen to my inner dialog about, am aware of, communicate my needs for, and respect my agency and owning that…

… I still avoid, ignore, stay passive, hide from, shirk, blame and potty myself when it comes to coping.

I’m a work in progress. I’ll get there. You will, too.

[adamelkins500]

I feel like I’m being called out here. Perhaps that’s a good thing…

[anxietyproblem]

[adamelkins500]

😐

[thewokewordsmith]

S/O to all the autistic people on tumblr. You are valid. You matter. Don’t let anyone tell you other wise. You are not a burden and you don’t need to be fixed. You just need to be you. Be proud of who you are and remember you are perfectly fine just the way you are.

[adamelkins500]

Diversity In Space Careers

Next month I’m off to the Diversity In Space Careers (DISC) conference in London. It has been too long since my last space conference so I’m looking forward to it, and to catching up with some of my friends—even if I can’t actively participate in the space industry much right now.

SpaceCareers.uk on Twitter

“Join us in making a change in the space industry! Tickets available now for Diversity In Space Careers. @RoyalAstroSoc @UKSEDS @WSW_UK #D

I’m glad to see the space industry working to promote diversity, but it comes on the heels of a report by AGCAS, entitled “What Happens Next? – A Report on the First Destinations of Disabled Graduates”, looking at the career outcomes of graduates with disabilities. This report, compiled annually, highlights the disadvantages faced by disabled graduates, but a key thread in this year’s report is the particular disadvantage faced by autistic graduates: we are least likely to be in full time employment, least likely to be in permanent employment, and most likely to be unemployed, of any of the disability groups studied.

While these results are frustrating it’s good to see attention being paid to them (even if it just confirms what we already know). I’ve been grappling with these obstacles myself for too long now, and it’s time for change.

AGCAS shareds expertise in student career development and graduate employment through a growing research programme. We also produce expert

[adamelkins500]

I got myself a new iPad yesterday! My old one served me well, but reached a point where I couldn’t update apps or iOS and was so slow I could barely use it. This new one is much better: lighter and faster than both my old iPad and my even older Mac! 🙂 https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCJ4c7gKaI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rjrmy96aem0a

[adamelkins500]

Sassy is trying to be a doorstop, in that she lays in the doorway and makes you stop to cuddle her. 😼😄 #cat

[adamelkins500]

With summer here and the weather warming up, it’s time to wake up my Instagram account. Last Wednesday I took myself to Exmouth for an afternoon by the sea. It felt good to get my feet back on the sand for once… 🏖☀️😎 #sea #beach #sand #exmouth (at Exmouth Sea Front)

[gentle-reminder]

gentle reminder

treat yourself the way you would treat your best friend - you and your feelings are just as important as anyone else’s

[adamelkins500]

This has been lurking in my drafts for a long while now. It was clearly important to me when I first saw it, maybe it’ll be important to someone else now. 🙂

[adamelkins500]

I don’t know if anyone follows me or not here, but I’ve recently realised how long it’s been since my last post. My iPad—the centre of my digital world—is really old so I can’t download updates any more, and recently some apps have stopped launching or working properly. I might be able to get a new one soon, though it involves going further into debt for a while 😒