Comments on: Things I haven’t done.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:37:00 +0000

so that (# 24) explains why Athena wants to go to “bedoop” as she calls it before typing article summaries that are due in a few hours. Inertia……….she wants me to do them in the morning………..

we’re both to blame for that.

Ivan and Athena

By: howard rotterdam

howard rotterdam — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:44:40 +0000

Amanda: I am a college instructor in the area of special education and must admit to an incomplete knowledge and understanding of autism. Your short video was recommended to me by one of my students. I found it fascinating and quite illuminating. You describe your thought processes as different and not necessarily higher or lower, better or worse, than any one else’s cognition. I’m curious as to how you developed your typing skills and at what stage of your devlopment you discovered your abiltiy to write and communicate in that form. With your permission, I would like to suggest to my future students that they view your video and read your blog. You seem like a very remarkable yung woman.

By: andreashettle

andreashettle — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:18:34 +0000

Re, inertia: as someone with ADD, I have a BIG problem with that one. It’s one of the reasons why it can be a big struggle to make myself do housework, or even seemingly basic things like make doctor appointments and so forth. But to most people it just looks like “laziness.” And if I try to explain why it’s hard (“Before I do X, I need to do Y, and Z, and A” all of which SEEM like simple things by themselves but FEEL overwhelming because each and every one of them involves first overcoming inertia, which is NOT so simple) then it just sounds like I’m “making excuses” and should just DO Y, Z, A, whatever, so I can get to X.

By: Pandora

Pandora — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:33:48 +0000

When I or my children fail to get things done that other’s are expecting I have taken the position of giving out a pretty basic standard reply of “sorry we did not get this done”. It can be very draining for me, the primary care giver, to explain over and over the long laundry list of reason’s which probably just seem like excuses to other’s anyway. I accept the fact that we will not get everything done that may be asked of us. I am not a perfect person nor have I met one. What I do understand is each person is unique.

Thank you for sharing your own personal experiences.

By: Noetic

Noetic — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:37:15 +0000

Oh, and the inertia thing. By now I would hope you know I understand exactly what you mean. It evades me how anyone could possibly NOT find it normal to find it so difficult to do such simple things as sign a form. I have to constantly trick myself into these things, but my parents have sort of helped me with this when I was little. And not in a hugely forceful way or anything, although at the time it felt a bit that way.

By: Noetic

Noetic — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:30:45 +0000

As (I think) the person mentioned in the post, I feel ashamed that I missed this for so long ;)

By: Jesse the K

Jesse the K — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:47:32 +0000

Your list of “medicalities” is my list of “why I couldn’t possibly have a blog.”

Big lesson for me, ages 50-51: pay yourself first. When I’m counting spoons, I have to set aside *my* allotment first. When I have time for either a nap or one more task, I have to take the nap.

Best wishes.

By: Ettina

Ettina — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:09:51 +0000

I have joint pain if I stand still too long as well. Since I also tire easily, my usual solution is to sit instead of standing. Oftwen I will crouch, balancing on my heels, in line-ups (which probably looks strange, but is more comfortable).
On a side note, I hate line ups, partly because I keep moving into ‘other people’s space’ while the people behind me are moving into ‘my space’. And people stand too close together in lines in general.

By: Evonne

Evonne — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:18:33 +0000

Berke — I know Amanda already “Amen”ed you on your #6 comment, but yeah, seriously. Yeah.

By: M

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:57:32 +0000

I’m guilty of both the assumption ping pong and forgetting things about people unless reminded. Another factor of ableism? Almost like reminding people that you are a Not-Like-Me bugs them so they have to get defensive (probably unconsciously).

I hope I haven’t put any demands on you, and I’m sorry if I have. I really appreciate the time you put into blogging.