Autism Acceptance

she/ her Autistic with Agoraphobia Australian Etsy: https://holliecreates.etsy.com

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

ATTENTION:

Due to security reasons I am deleting this Tumblr Account. You can still follow me on Instagram as it has better security settings. My instagram is: the_autistic_agoraphobe. Thank you for your understanding.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 18: Self Regulating

As an Autistic person who is very sensitive to loud sounds and bright lights I need to be able to have methods of self regulation to keep myself from getting overwhelmed.

When I leave the house I find it very helpful and calming to wear a pair of sunglasses. There is a bright ball of fire in the sky and the non Autistics tend to be a big fan of the colour white and brightly lit spaces. I just find wearing the sunglasses very soothing.

I also keep my loops earplugs around wherever I go because the world is a very noisy place. I find them very helpful especially when I am in a room with heaps of people talking and when the neighbours dog is barking. They have prevented many meltdowns.

Another thing I do to self regulate is stim. My stims change and vary overtime. Many of my stims are vocal stims and hand movements. I like to hum and sometimes I flap my arms.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 17: Repetition

Some Autistic People find repetition calming because they know what is going to happen. They may watch a movie over and over again or listen to a song over and over again. I don't really have any repetitive behaviours like that at this point in time but I remember years ago I listened to a song called Ugly Heart by a band called G.R.L over and over again. I felt like that song was helping me get through a break up.

Sometimes I practice repetitive stimming such as hand flapping and rocking back and forth I find it very comforting. I also like to run through the same schedule day after day. I like my schedule it allows me to do things that I enjoy.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

What Airports Can do to assist some Disabled Travellers.

This photo was taken recently at Sydney Domestic Airport. It shows an express lane for disabled people who go through Airport security. Unfortunately this lane wasn't there when I had a panic attack and breached Airport security in 2021. If it was there and Airport staff were trained about the hidden disabilities sunflower. Than I believe the panic attack and the security breach could have been prevented. I am thankful and happy that Sydney Airport has implemented this and I hope it will help many disabled travellers who need it.

As well as having a lane for disabled travellers I do believe that there are other ways airports can become more disability friendly. One way of doing this is by having their staff members receive training on disabilities and the hidden disabilities sunflower. The training videos should be clear and easy to understand and each staff member should receive a booklet about disabilities in their first language henceforth they understand everything. Before the incident at Sydney Airport I approached a staff member and asked him for help but I don't think English was his first language so he didn't help me. I think if he had a booklet written about disabilities written in his first language. He might have reacted differently and could have helped me.

I have seen online that some airports have acquired quiet rooms for travellers who need peace and quiet. I think this is fantastic. Airports can be extremely noisy places especially for people with sensitive hearing like myself. I think this will help many travellers to unwind before or after their flight.

In April 2018 I flew from Brisbane to Vancouver than flew to Toronto from Vancouver. This was back before my agoraphobia was really bad. I was a bit anxious about missing my flight to Toronto as this was my first time in Canada and the airport in Vancouver looked a bit frightening from pictures I saw online. I got in contact with Vancouver Airport and they were really helpful. They had a program for Autistic travellers through the Canucks Autism Network. When I got off the plane I met with a man. From memory his name was David. He was really nice and helped me get through Airport security really quickly. I got to the gate for my flight to Toronto with plenty of time to spare. Mum and I got to have a good look at a store located near the gate. There was lots of maple syrup there. I think that it would be awesome if more airports employed people like David to help disabled people get through them.

I think if airports took these three suggestions into consideration it would make flying for many disabled travellers like myself much more easier. It would be great to see more disabled folk going on holidays without worrying about having problems at the airport.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 16: Autistic Pride

I believe that being Autistic isn't anything to be ashamed of. Unfortunately many people treat disability like its something that's shameful or embarrassing but disabled people haven't done anything wrong by being disabled so they have no reason to be ashamed. There are both good and bad things when it comes to being Autistic. One bad thing I experience is sensory overload. I struggle alot with bright lights and loud sounds and being around people I don't know very well can be exhausting for me but I am not ashamed of those things because I haven't done anything wrong. I think Autistic people shouldn't be ashamed of being Autistic and if they feel pride from being Autistic that's wonderful.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 15: Pebbling

Some penguins give pebbles to other penguins to display love and affection to them. It also symbolises that the penguins are a couple which is really cute. Often Autistic people give their loved ones gifts to display affection. I don't have a partner but I like to make things for my mum and give them to her has gifts. Recently I made these pumpkins for my mum who loves pumpkins.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 14: Hyperfixations

Sometimes I feel like a can be really focused on something but not to the extent that I forget to eat or drink. I know that sometimes other Autistic people and people with ADHD and Autistic people with ADHD can hyperfixate on something so much that they lose track of time and forget to eat and drink. I think that if a person you know is hyperfixating to the point that they are not eating or drinking it might help to bring them some food and drink.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

How Autism and Agoraphobia Interfere together in my experience.

One thing I have noticed recently is that my agoraphobia is a lot worse in noisy environments than in quieter environments. A few days ago I went to the pub to play pool. The pub was noisy but I put my headphones on and managed okay. I played about four games of pool.

Today I went back to the same pub. The only difference was that the pub was alot more noisy today than it was the other day. I got to the point where I was really uncomfortable and felt panicy. I just couldn't cope i was so uncomfortable. I couldn't even finish off one game of pool.

I work in a nursing home and I feel pretty comfortable agoraphobia wise. One day there was a Christmas party on and the residents all had there families with them in the main area and it was very noisy with all the different voices talking. Thankfully I wasn't working in that area and but I needed to walk through that area I remember feeling a bit panicky as I walked through that area.

The other day I went to the mueseum and managed to see the furby. I surprised myself that I could do it and felt okay. The mueseum was really quiet I don't think I would have been able to see the furby if the mueseum was noisy.

I think it can help a person with agoraphobia to have a break in quiet environments when they need to regardless of whether they're Autistic or not. I hope in the future more venues will get quiet areas.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 13: Vivid Imaginations

I guess I have quiet an imagination. I think I like to think out of the box with various scenarios and think what if instead of judging people for their actions. Many people don't know about Agoraphobia and having a disability that people don't know about makes me more aware that it is possible that another person could be disabled.

Sometimes I make up scenarios of things that probably won't happen in my head. The other day I was imaging if a handsome Deaf guy would come and buy the Halloween decorations I had for sale and we got chatting in Auslan and I will get to practice my signing. That is possible but unlikely to happen.

I also like to imagine that my furbys are real and they have real personalities and hobbies for example my furby Ee-day enjoys cooking.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 12: Differently Wired

I believe that Autism is caused by different wiring of the brain. I have seen an image online that shows a scan from an Autistic brain compared with a scan from a neurotypical brain. The Autistic brain is much more colourful than the other brain.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 11: Unlearning Ableism

I believe that more than 95% of adults have done or said something ablist at least once in their live. The 95% includes myself. Disabled people can be ablist too. Back in 2008 remember that a friend of mine and I were joking around at school and using the R word. Now I know better than to do that and I don't use that word anymore because I know how hurtful it is even though it isn't directed at anybody.

Sometimes I scroll though my Facebook memories and I cringe at some of the inspiration pornish stuff that I shared years ago. There is a picture of a little girl with Downs Syndrome with a caption that says "the only disability is a bad attitude." Now I know better I have realised how problematic that phrase this. It's problematic because it's implying that disability doesn't exist. Which it very much does. Disabled isn't a dirty word it's ok to refer to a disabled person as being disabled.

Yes I used to use the puzzle piece symbol for Autism and I even made an Autism Awareness cape for my furby. Since learning more about the Autistic rights movement in 2018 I learnt about how the puzzle piece is problematic with its association with Autism Speaks which is very problematic so I decided to start using the gold infinity symbol for now on.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

December last year I went to this mueseum and I was excited as I found a furby in the mueseum. Furbys are my special interest. I came back to the mueseum again and really wanted to see the furby as I had made a dress for her and sent it to the mueseum. I wanted to see the furby wearing a dress. The problem was that I was anxious about going to the part of the mueseum where the furby was because of my Agoraphobia. It took a while for me gain the courage to get to furby but I did it and I felt okay. I am happy that I got to see the furby.

Video Description:

The museum is in a large shed like building. I am walking through the mueseum past exhibitions that are beside a wall. There is a blue, white and silver cauldron thing beside the wall. It had text that says "Sydney 2000" written on it. I walk through a door to a enclosed area and there is a white cabinet in there that has glass on it. There is a pink furby in the cabinet. The furby has blue eyes and is wearing a white dress with peanuts on it. The furby also has a round circular hat with peanuts on the fabric with a light brown coloured button on it. There is a piece of paper near the furby that has "Hollie Furby" written on it. A furby is a robotic creature that has fur and two pointy ears and a round beak. The furby has two feet each with three toes. End Description.

Transcript:

There is a furby in the mueseum. I want to see this furby. It's a bit challenging with agoraphobia. I'm going to challenge myself to see the furby. If I'm panicking I am going to run into the office. Okay. Let's do this. Gotta see the furby. Oh look there's a thing from the 2000 Olympics. Sweet. Oh my gosh I did it. I don't feel too bad. I feel a little bit on edge but if I get scared I will run. There's the furby. Hello furby. That's named after me I made a dress for you. Hello beautiful I did it. Good. I feel on edge but I won't die. OK. I'm going to go back now.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 10: Self Advocacy

Self Advocacy can be hard sometimes because sometimes when I advocate for myself I feel guilty when I shouldn't feel guilty. Sometimes when I am at work they have the radio on in the kitchen and I feel a bit overwhelmed by thr sound of the radio so I ask the other staff if they can turn the radio down a little bit. They are really understanding and turn the radio off. I feel better without the sound of the radio but I sometimes feel guilty that the people in the kitchen can't listen to it. I think I need to stop feeling so guilty as having sensitive hearing is part of my disability and its something that can't be helped.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 9: Community

I am happy to be part of the online Autism community. I feel like I can relate to some other Autistic people than I can relate to non Autistic people. As well as being part of the Autism community I am also part of the furby community and many people in the furby community are Autistic. It's great that I have access to the internet so I can mix with other Autistic people with similar interests.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 8: Non-speaking

Around one in four Autistic people are non-speaking. Even though they can not speak they can communicate in alternative forms such as sign language and ACC. ACC is a method of communication when a person touches buttons on a touch screen. I think what non-speaking Autistic people have to say is just as important as speaking Autistic people. I also don't believe it is right to try and get a Non-speaking Autistic person to talk as speaking may be painful to them. I think society needs to be more inclusive when it comes to alternative forms of communication.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 7: Neuroscope

There have been a few times when I have seen people out in public and suspected that they might be Autistic. On Christmas Day in 2022 I went out to a buffet for Christmas lunch with my father. The buffet was very busy and very noisy so I decided to put my loop earplugs in the block out the noise. I saw another lady who was around my age there. She was wearing noise cancelling headphones. We looked at eachother and I felt solidarity with her as we were two Autistics trying to cope in a noisy and busy environment.

Another time I was in a pub and I was waiting to order a meal. A large group of people came into the pub. With this group was a man who was probably in his early 20s and he was wearing noise cancelling headphones. He stood beside me and pointed at the menu. He seemed like a nice guy and even though I didn't speak to him I got good vibes from him. Later that day my dad and I went to a mueseum and I saw him there too. I was pretty sure he was Autistic.

[the-autistic-agoraphobe]

Autober Day 6: Individuals

If you have met one Autistic person you have met one Autistic person. Every Autistic person is unique that's why it's called the Autism Spectrum. Some Autistic People can do one thing really easily and struggle with another thing while other Autistic people can do the other thing easily but struggle with the one thing. I can't go to shopping centres without having a panic attack but I can spin yarn on a spinning wheel. However there are other Autistic people who feel okay in shopping centres but can't spin yarn. There is so much variation with Autism.