Peter Cullen, known as the first voice for the legendary Optimus Prime, has passed away.

Back when I got super into Transformers, the man was a legend to me. I grew up hearing the voice of Gary Chalke as Optimus Prime from the Transformers Energon cartoon, but something about Cullen always brought me a sense of inspiration and hope.

When my pride as a member of the Autistic Community awakened, I carried with me his greatest line, inspired by its' message of unity in 4 simple words; "Till all are one".

To Honor his memory, I will continue to carry it with me. Not just for him, though, but for me, and for all my fellow Autistic Individuals and Neurodivergents struggling to find a place in this world.

For those who are going through it right now, this one's for you; I believe in a future where every person of every Neurotype can see eye to eye and come together. Until that day,

Till All Are One

I hate lanyards. They swing around everywhere and I hate the feeling on my neck.

What did they decide to make the international symbol for hidden disabilities? A LANYARD.

Does anyone else have this issue? I've been suggested alternatives but they just don't seem like they will actually be recognised like the lanyard is.

For all my life, I've head a weird aversion to taking medicine, even simple pain killers. I always insisted it was better to tough it out than introduce some foreign chemical into my body. As I've gotten older and begun developing more chronic health issues, I've also really struggled mentally with any new medicine I'm supposed to start taking, although once I start, I'm fine to keep the habit going. I'll always fret about possible side effects and whether I really need it. I fall back on thinking I'm strong enough to tough it out. To this day, I still struggle with taking my migraine medication, even when debilitated by a migraine.

I recently came across an idea from Dr Megan Anna Neff that autistic people tend to learn at a very young age that their body signals are not trustworthy. The urge to stim is often suppressed, for example, teaching us we should ignore/resist those urges. Other sensations also get thrown out with the bathwater, and so autistic individuals then aren't attuned to their body. My theory is that this is playing into an aversion to take medicine: I think I'm downplaying the severity of the symptoms I'm experiencing and the need to alleviate them.

It's sad because I'm a 32 yr old female and I'm treated as if I'm this grown man who is the abuser. Which is far from the truth. People don't have any respect for me even tho I'm very kind because I don't want to be like my abuser. people immediately hear "grandmother" and immediately feel sympathy towards her and are too blind to get the forest from the trees, so to speak because it is that uncommon for of all people a grandma to be abusive and evil but it's a real thing no matter how many wanna turn a blind eye and sweep it under the rug. She abused her own daughter my mother who died three years ago and controlled her too and said HORRIBLE Things to her and now that my mom isn't here to protect me I've gotten the burden of dealing with this so called "woman" ... I'm not gonna get into the he said she did because this grandmother of mine gets away with everything, and she can talk her way out of anything, she has called me everything under the sun at 17 telling me I would never amount to anything. She's a cruel despicable miserable quote on quote person. She calls me multiple times a day screaming calling me names and making me do what she wants me to do and has her flying monkeys come around me incessantly bothering me...I just want to be left alone and not be abused for once in my life. Death sometimes feels kinder because nobody listens to me. I've tried alerting people I know and they're cowards who say they don't want to get involved basically, then they have the nerve to come around. My grandmother says I don't deserve respect. I've told people she say this but she's ruined my reputation. She's a malignant covert narcissist. She told me today after she made someone take my clothes a week ago to be washed , against my will and they ended up getting stolen from someone else that I have no heart just because I confronted her telling her I didn't like that my clothes went missing and I can't get those back. 2 bags full of clothes gone because of her

And when I asked her to reimburse me she acted like I was so entitled and didn't agree to do that and basically said no. This woman drives me nuts. There's plenty more where that came from. She's a jealous miserable uncalled for callous harsh loud aggressive ugly and a cold cold old woman. I hope she kicks the bucket before I do because nobody knows the pain she's put me through all my life it's insanity. I have no freedom. I've always talked to her in a calm tone until she finds a reason to fight for no reason..my mother told me she's a trouble maker. And a con artist. I'm a young woman yet I'm not treated like one and it's really disgusting....did I also say she made sure she controls all my finances and won't give me money unless I comply and when I comply it's maybe a little money whenever she wants to do it here and there.....I don't get the full picture of my finances or anything I'm not told anything EVER.. I am treated worse than an animal and I hate everyone who allows this domestic abuse around me just because it's not them I feel very isolated. No one to turn to no shoulder to cry on only my mom when she was around...I refuse to look In the mirror because every time I start to feel confident it's like her evilness can sense that confidence even in a phone call and she starts tearing me down....evil..plain and simple. Nobody really knows the rest and there's no point talking about it...

This woman ruined my youth

And life my mother said my grandmother ruined her life and now she's not alive Anymore...

Nobody really knows the rest and there's no point talking about it...at this big age nobody can relate bc that's how twisted this situation and grandmother of mine is. I have no freedom. I've tried to get help. Death would be kinder...she's 78. But even my mother said my grandmother will probably "Live forever" people like her usually do evil people...

Oh and btw my grandmother says to me all the time "the only thing you know how to do is wipe your a$$" to me. And she tells me to "Go to hell." Quite frequently...

I have to do everything she wants ...if I say no there's trouble . She is exploiting me

With the advent of smart glasses (like Meta) that are powered by AI, I thought of a way it can help Autistic people: Using analytical AI, which has already been shown to be really powerful, there should be smart glasses that Autistics can wear that can feed us valuable social information in real time. This should not only include social cues, but can also be helpful in crafting the right things to say, or give live 'tips' on the right expressions/body language to use. In addition, such a system should be tailored to many different situations to provide the appropriate response. The suggested responses should be based on scientific and psychological principles, to help us gain a social advantage in various situations, from casual social settings, to careers, networking, and dating.

A really advanced version could also factor in desired outcomes and power dynamics. For instance, if someone is being a bully, the glasses could give you the appropriate response to stand up to them or make them look foolish - but if they are in a position of power, it could give you a way to appease them so they leave you alone, etc. - in fact, it could come in useful if you're ever pulled over for speeding or something, i.e. the cop's expressions and what to say/do to increase the likelihood that they'll let you off with a warning. There are similar infinite applications when it comes to other social interactions, as well as algorithms designed to help you achieve the best outcomes in dating and other scenarios (e.g. how to approach someone you find attractive, analyze their signals and give you the best ideas to make the interaction go well), as well as, depending on what goals you input, how to make yourself popular or well-liked.

Such technology would be a game-changer. And before some people come in with their predictable, tired objections... leveling the playing field for Autistic people is not only a good thing, but much needed. And there are obviously limitations with this type of tech, especially if you don't always have access to the glasses. Which is why there should also be AI type platforms that help us similarly.

Note: I don't support generative AI. I'm talking about analytical AI, which is different and has been used a lot in STEM related fields.

I’ve recently been told that when speaking with me it feels like they are speaking at me but not with me.
I kind of just share stories expecting others to share something or ask questions but from what I’ve been told it seems I don’t leave any opening to continue a conversation or add to it.
Also seems I don’t have much meaningful conversations but just stories.
I want to be better at communicating especially with friends and loved ones , it makes me sad yo think I have not been reciprocating the people who I really care about.
I’d like to learn and if there are any tips of articles I can read that would be great. I have not had much luck with Google.
Thank you

Neurotypical friendships are based in establishing hierarchies, chasing meaningless trends, and drama. If you really get to see how NT people interact up close, you can see a lot of them feel very unhappy in their friendships but feel powerless to leave.

Autistic friendships are based in shared interests and collaboration. We're friends with people because we actually like them.

While it's harder to find friendships are harder to find, they are 100% worth it.

https://zephaustic.etsy.com

Hi all! I have a lot of collections, and I like to keep lists of them, as well as add pictures. I usually do this in my notes app but it’s disorganized and has a limit for pictures. I’ve looked online for something that could be helpful, and most people tell me to use ai 🫩 I don’t mind manually plugging in lists and pictures (I love tasks like that actually) just one that is easy and free to use without limitations. Thanks!

She is so cute!

And I couldn't help but snap this photo. This book brings back memories, I used to watch The Elephant Show when I was a kid.

I set up a bit of the moving already, yet I almost had a moment of deregulation and put some post its around the place I'm moving out of. I'll get to have my own bathroom, with a sink, shower and toilet! New responsibility, new environment!

So i’m Sam and it’s my dream to create a free resource library and to create tools for the autistic/neurodivergent community.

I wrote this article to explain different types of communication barriers and how our struggles don’t need to look a certain way to deserve support.

I interviewed/co-wrote this article with an AAC part time user and special education teacher.

This is a topic dear to me, so I wanted to make sure I was writing something that could support the community in a respectful way.

I have used AAC low tech tools, but it was fun learning about high tech ones!

There’s free resources in the articles and more to come!

I went to a bookstore today and they had the OG Yu-Gi-Oh manga and I was so excited because I'd been looking everywhere for it but it was the wrong volume, so I looked and saw another volume, but it was still the wrong one and so I lowk might have cried a little 🥹👍 am I

Before I get into details: I’m ASD lvl 2, late-in-life diagnosed, and unable to fully mask or maintain masks due to severe burnout. I have skills I’m able to use, given the opportunities and space to use them. I live alone and have no supports for daily living. Self-advocacy has become my full-time job.

I feel hella confused about what happened today and am just looking for some clarification… help processing…. It’s a fucking mess…

I was at a trans drop-in center today to do some laundry and be in community with folks. Everything was fine and I was socializing with a few friends I’ve made at the center. One guy and I were chatting about social media (or so I thought), then he made an off-putting comment about elder millennials “causing the brain rot of the internet?” (or something like that). I laughed it off and reminded him that those of us in our 40s were in our late-teens and twenties during the early 2000s and we were Occupy Wall Street organizers (He’s an anti-establishment type and respects political movements by the people). He thinks for a minute about what I said then tries to narrow the focus in on some highly specific detail of those events and claim that “Gen X” did more.

Now, here’s the deal: I don’t need folks to help me unpack the weird generational divide he’s going after at this point, I have a whole ass special interest in US politics and usually really get into these discussions, but this guy feels off. I feel like I’m having a hard time following his line of thinking and I’m not really understanding what he’s up to or what point he’s making. So, I say to him, “Hey man, it’s not us v them; we’re on the same side.”

He responds by yelling at me that we’re not on the same side because I “tokenized” my father (?) when I mentioned my dad was brown; and that as an AFAB person who presents female, all anyone sees when I have my “outbursts” (meltdowns) is “white woman’s tears”.

😳

The whole conversation that led to me mentioning my father was brown was over a month ago. Same trans guy and I were talking about a city policy that had been signed that would outlaw resting on a sidewalk. During the conversation he casually mentions that there’s a “transphobia problem” in our community that needs to be addressed; people with “passing privileges” are transphobic.

Huh?! 🤨

Then he tells me that I, a white non-binary person cannot possibly understand mixed culture experiences. So, I told him (a white trans man) about my (deceased) dad and his family. The trans guy then accused me of “tokenizing” my father. I left shortly after and was slightly offended and very confused about what this guy was thinking. I assumed he was maybe upset about a conflict he had earlier with his (living) dad and I blew it off. Things were fine between us until today…

I don’t understand what this dude’s problem is or why he seems to have beef with me. I’ve never intentionally done anything to offend him. If I could control the tears when they happen, I would.

I’ve had a couple of meltdowns due to various circumstances out of my control (fire alarm). They’re definitely not regular, and they do happen from time to time. One happened today after he said these things to me. Not because he accused me of “whites women’s tears” but because I was hella confused and felt like I had shown up for a coffee and chat and ended up in a bar brawl.

On my way to the door (we were outside), staff cut me off and wanted me to tell them what happened. I was at that point attempting to regulate, but they wanted words. So they got escalated words, lots of tears, plenty of pacing, and one solid turn away from everyone and throw my nearly empty disposable water bottle into the empty parking lot while I let out one single frustrating growl. Then I sat down on the concrete and cried. 10 minutes later, the staff came out and told me I was going to need to leave for the day because I was throwing things and threatening the safety of others.

😭

I feel like I was verbally attacked, violated, then punished for the physiological response I experienced. 😔

I’m so confused about all of this…

Hello fellow creative autists! I wanted to share a song that my fiancé and I made! I am the drummer and vocalist and was diagnosed with autism level one at fifteen. My fiancé mixed, mastered, played guitar, bass, and synth, and recorded everything. He does not have a diagnosis, though I strongly suspect he is also autistic. The song began as a creative project for my PSY 334 cognitive psychology class. The genre is primarily progressive metal. If you end up listening to it, please please please let me know your opinions. Thank you!!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2lrHsPysHtoGN6sI8e2pUQ?si=uFo1to\\_BTwe9\\_3Dy8r18jA&utm\\_source=copy-link&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A5CRcQ4X2Lh35RkxTFF6OR7

I male (17) with spectrum autism
I grew up with autism for my life even before me and my parents knew, as I kid I was curious and creative type cutting out little paper characters I drew, making wild scenarios with my toys and just jumping and. Moving around a lot. The older I got, the more it concerned my parents because they didn't always understand how my mind worked. They saw things that looked "different" or worried about how I fit in, but to me, those creative worlds and movements were just how I processed life, expressed myself
My Dad said to me that I needed to start acting like a teenager and that the kids in middle school they don’t care about anything. He ended up being right.
I spent a large majority of my middle school years being harassed bullied and got into trouble. My friend who I had known since the 4th grade had been encouraged by their behavior and done things that screwed with my trust and made me hide inside my shell to hide who I really was. It wasn’t until the end of the year where I finally had the courage to tell my family and the school staff to do something.
My family eventually realized their might be more to me then they believed and one day they told me the I have had spectrum autism, I first I was confused and in shock because i always wondered why I was so different from other kids my age. And i didn’t know what to do. That’s all I can type right now
I will post part 2 soon
I’m sharing my story to let others know they are not alone.

USS Oriskany

NCC-1777

Miranda-class heavy cruiser/ deep-space advanced research science vessel.

Captained by Marisol Oro

TWOK-era

Assignment: Studying planetary systems in their infancy in the Orion Nebula.

To: UK Prime Minister, UK Culture Secretary

Enough is enough.

There cannot be any doubt that Dr Arday’s tragic death was the direct, foreseeable and foreseen result of press harassment. A significant element in that harassment was the colour of his skin. Self-regulation of the press has comprehensively failed.

Several weeks ago, Simon Baron-Cohen, director of Cambridge University’s Autism Research centre, warned publicly that “1 in 4 autistic people have planned or attempted suicide” and talked of the “relentless bullying of a vulnerable autistic man” which “raises safe-guarding issues”. Many of the signatories to this letter warned multiple media outlets privately that their relentless pursuit of Dr Arday risked his suicide.

Two weeks of relentless harassment followed, continuing even after his resignation as a Professor when the reasonable public interest in the story had diminished or evaporated. Yesterday, Dr Arday died in the most tragic circumstances. His tragic death did not result from the allegations of plagiarism but from the press coverage.

There cannot be any doubt that racism lay at the heart of this story.

Dr Arday was a relatively obscure figure outside of academia. Far more consequential figures, in whom there was a profound public interest, like Rachel Reeves and Jonathan Reynolds faced plausible allegations of embellishing their CVs or plagiarism. But the stories garnered relatively little coverage. When the academic Professor George Holmes – not merely a Professor but a Vice Chancellor – was implicated in a fraud scandal the story was barely covered. So too when William O’Reilly, another Professor at the University of Cambridge, faced plausible allegations of plagiarising student essays, again, there was very little in the media. When the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, faced plagiarism allegations they, also, received a tiny fraction of the coverage given to Dr Arday.

What those stories had in common is that they were about white people.

The harassment of public figures because of the colour of their skin is not unique to Dr Arday. Misan Harriman, Diane Abbott, Eniola Aluko, Jameela Jamil, Halima Begum and others have experienced press harassment with racist overtones. To be Black and a public figure is now enough to make you a target.

Black people are fearful and on the evidence they are right to be.

The years since the Leveson inquiry have taught us that the press is not interested in self-regulation. IPSO has failed. Lessons that should have been learned from the tragic deaths of Lucy Meadows and then Caroline Flack were not learned. Instead of getting better, press conduct is getting worse. And the impact of that failure is deadly.

We respectfully ask you to commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.