Autism Article Round-Up: May 2020

I Self‑Diagnosed My Autism Because Nobody Else Would. Here’s Why That Needs to Change.

by Rakshita Shekhar
May 23, 2020

A formal autism diagnosis can facilitate the development of self-awareness, social identity, and self-compassion. It can empower an individual to assert themselves with others, and receive timely access to services and help. 

Clinicians tend to be on the lookout for explicitly visible features, as decades of autism research has taught them to be, unaware of the presentations in people with high IQs, typical speaking abilities, and females. 

Currently, the ADOS – 2 — an assessment of communication, social interaction, play, and restricted and repetitive behaviors — is the only valid diagnostic tool for adults. But it is susceptible to false negatives in the case of females and adults who have high intellectual and/or camouflaging abilities, often reflecting the biases of the scientists who created them.

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Sharing the Spectrum Podcast

Dr. Grandin re: COVID:  “Too many kids are getting too overprotected and they aren't learning basic skills like shopping and laundry, cooking. Okay, they're at home, they could learn that now. That's something that they could learn.”

2020 Home Goals: basement bathroom

One of my goals for this year was to get the kitchen walls evened out, sanded, and repainted.

My husband built the bathroom from scratch in 2009 and we painted a bright yellow since it was in the basement and we wanted it to feel cheery.

Before

Now that it has become our bathroom (we moved our bedroom to the basement in August 2019), I wanted something more soothing.

We chose "Garden Fairy" by Behr.

After

Venturing out to the grocery store

Since my husband is out at work (I'm working from home), he does the groceries. Today was my first time going to a grocery store since March 23rd. Two months ago. 66 days without being out to a store.

My goal was "exposure therapy" so I took a very short list of items.

I wore my mask, waited to get a cart. 
Waited to enter the vestibule. 
Used the sanitizer wipe on the cart handles. Applied hand sanitizer.
 

Went in and picked up the bananas. 
Picked up the wrong package of hamburger buns but felt I had to take them since I had touched them. 
Loaf of bread.

Was about to go down an aisle and realized there were directional signs.

 

Eggs. Coffee cream. Milk.

Waited for people to finish in front of me so I could move forward.

Three bags of pretzels. Four large party size Doritos bags. A chocolate bar.

My glasses fogged up. I took slow breaths. 
Everyone was solemn, like in a funeral home.

I lined up for the check-out. 

Spoke to the cashier through plexiglass. 

Packed my grocery items into my bags. 

I was in the store for less than 30 minutes.

Transferred them to my car trunk. Returned the cart. Drove home.

Burst into the house in tears, overwhelmed and close to hyperventilating.

Clearly I'm going to have to do this several more times before I return to a physical workplace.

2020 Home Goals: kitchen

One of my goals for this year was to get the kitchen walls evened out, sanded, and repainted.

Before:

Pre-covid we bought a paint that I hoped would be a soothing colour in a room that teems with energy during meals with four children!

The shade is "Jade Mountain," by Behr

After (May 2020):

The original grey-blue was obviously a more relaxing colour, but I'm glad to have a happier colour during such a bleak year.

How we are handling COVID-19 two months later

The week leading into March Break I shared my plan of how we were going to handle COVID-19 changes in our home.

Now two months later, here's a update.



Work
Wednesday, March 18 was my last day in my library building. We were sent home to work and part-timers were laid off on April 16.

I work full-time at home, 7 hours a day in front of my computer. In addition to continue to supervise my remaining full-time staff, I'm leading the Online Reference Team, book reviews, working on staff appraisals, reports, professional development, etc.

Husband continues to work outside the home as his business is essential. He wears a mask. When my husband isn't home my kids are left to fend for themselves. 

School
The older kids sleep in until noon, the younger ones play together and make crafts or read. School is 12:30-3 for Grade 10, 1-3 for Grade 8, 2-3 for Grades 5 and 3. I emailed the teachers and told them I couldn't do more than what the Ministry of Education mandates. In addition to their online learning, 3 of them have Google Hangouts with their teachers once or twice a week. 

Piano lessons take place via Zoom once a week and I'm impressed with their teacher and their ability to adapt to this format.

Family
We are still doing pretty well limiting the kids' recreational screen time to 2 hours a day, however the evenings include watching TV for a couple of hours. I just don't have the energy for any more togetherness.

Once a week my siblings, parents, and any nieces and nephews who want to join get together on Zoom to catch up. This is something I hope we can continue past the pandemic.

Church
We attend weekly by viewing the service online. We attend a weekly small group via Zoom and the two older boys attend their respective youth programs weekly via Zoom.

Celebrations
We have celebrated Easter, Passover, Mother's Day, two friends' birthdays all virtually.

Boredom
I read (in this order):
The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware
Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids, by Kim John Payne
Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive, by Jessica Turner
Lightly: How to Live a Simple, Serene, and Stress-free Life, by Francine Jay
The One, by John Marrs
Such a Fun Age, by Kiley Reid
American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins
The Testing trilogy (The Testing, Independent Study, and Graduation Day) by Joelle Charbonneau

I subscribed to CRAVE and binge watched The Good Doctor, The Handmaid's Tale, and have started Orphan Black.

How about you? How have you adapted during this time?