The birds are taunting her.

#Caturday

I have an appointment with a social worker today to try and get help for my autistic burnout which is preventing me from getting a job, and I have no idea what to expect. And you know how much we don't like that. 😬

So does anyone have any advice or anecdotes to share?

Edit: Well it wasn't great, but not bad either. Some things are clearer now, what I have to do, just not as clear as I would have liked. There are still some loose threads, some undetermined variables. But I have steps to take and I guess we'll see how those go.

Thanks everyone for all the replies and boosts/favorites!

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #AskingAutistics

RE: https://mastodon.social/@DS90210/117230489226525025

Any other ND folk vibing this? 😆

#ActuallyAutistic #ADHD #Neurodivergent @autistics

Fun fact: The original pilot of Star Trek: The Original Series, was rejected by NBC for being "too cerebral".

A bit on the nose, eh? 😆

#StarTrek #StarTrekTOS

Black Cat Appreciation Day was on Monday, but you can still appreciate Pixel today.

#cats #catsofmastodon

Ok, I think I'm getting in over my head on this computer problem, any help much appreciated! (Linux/Opensuse TW/KDE/btrfs)

Symptom: Everything that tries to save something to my home partition (configurations, sessions, kwallet, etc.) says that I have no space left, and thus won't work. Some programs won't even load (Vivaldi, Steam). Every file manager I have tells me that I do have space left.

History: Before this happened I had tried updating a game in Steam thinking that it would warn me if there wasn't enough room on the disk to do so (silly me). Then the whole desktop crashed and I had to restart.

Tried: 1) deleting several GB of files. I can now download files to /home, but all the other stuff still won't work.
2) running fsck from bootable flash drive. Mostly didn't do anything. Finally got it to tell me to use btrfs check instead (I am using btrfs).
3) I did that and it told me that there were errors. The only things that looked like errors was in "Checking free space tree" where it said "Space key logical (number) length (number) has no corresponding block group" twice with different numbers.
4) Not being terribly familiar with btrfs yet, I read the fine manual for btrfs check. There were lots of warnings about not trying to repair a btrfs without experienced help, else risking your volumes. So here I am.

#linux #opensuse #btrfs

Happy B’day to the man, the myth, the Legend, Minion!

So just a few days and one year after I posted this Appendix (#2) to my Introduction post, I just want to add for anyone reading it that 1 - OSES is now called The Techne System for Foundational Skills (or just Techne for short), and 2 - is available online right now, completely free with no subscriptions or sign-ups: https://techne-system.neocities.org

It's still in an early development phase (version 0.4), but there is plenty of useful material there, over 35 lessons covering 23 topics, and more being added all the time. So take a look and see how it might help improve your life!

I've also created an alt profile where you can keep up with changes and also ask questions, or talk about anything related to the program: https://mindly.social/@hephaestus

And remember that Techne is meant to be an evolving system, so I'm happy to accept any constructive feedback or even contributions if you have anything that could benefit the program. Not only text, but pictures, diagrams, videos, audio readings, whatever can help people to learn the material. Become part of the Techne community!

#Techne #OSES

Suddenly I'm wondering how many cases of cognitive or memory decline, or other psychological problems that were attributed to old age were in fact due to some form of neurodivergent (or possibly other) burnout, but weren't seen as such due to this not being well understood? :blob_cat_thinking:

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #neurodivergent #adhd

You can all thank @SilverArrows for inspiring this bit of early morning weirdness.
Meet the real "A" Team:
#ActuallyAutistic @autistics

I need some help with my linux system. I'm trying to upgrade my openSuse Tumbleweed, but I run into this file conflict, and I don't know what to do about it. Yast only gives me the option to continue or abort, but if I abort, then nothing gets upgraded. But I'm worried that if I continue, it will break something important. Here's what it says:
"File /usr/bin/dbus-launch
from install of
dbus-1-daemon-1.14.10-5.4.x86_64 (Main Repository (OSS))
conflicts with file from package
dbus-1-x11-1.14.10-4.3.x86_64 (@System)"

#linux #opensuse

So tomorrow is the big day that I've been... anticipating... for months now: my first appointment with a psychiatrist. And yeah, I'm a bit nervous. First of all, what kind will they be: a nice, caring person who actually listens and is well informed about and supportive of neurodiversity? Or an old-school, manipulative elitist who likes having control over people and may have more control over my life than I want them to? How much self advocacy am I going to have to do? (Of course I've been madly scripting since I got the appointment.) And how much of that will do any good?

And then there is the possibility that, thanks to a misunderstanding with another doctor, that this one will likely think that I am there to get a diagnosis for autism and adhd. But really what I want is someone to talk to about my situation, goals, and options, like how to navigate the system and whether a diagnosis would benefit me more than any potential drawbacks. I worry that when told this that they will get angry and tell me that I just wasted their time (typical RSD). (sigh) I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 😬

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #ActuallyADHD #AuDHD

I just had an idea that I want to run by the neurodivergent community as a possible way that some of us might be able to help each other. I have no idea if anyone would be interested in trying it, or even if it would work, so I want to know what others think.

If you want, you can skip down to "The Idea" below, or you can bare with me for a tiny bit of background first for some context.

So like many of us I have executive function issues. For me, when I get a new interest, I hyperfocus on it for a couple of weeks or months, and then I stop. Not because I lose interest in it, it's more like running out of gas while still on the road: you really want to keep going, but the damn thing just won't move. This is not really a problem for most of my interests, but for certain projects, it can leave them unfinished, which really frustrates me.

So far the only thing that I've found that can give me energy to continue a project is engagement. If I can find someone to talk to about it, that helps. If they talk with me about it, that helps more. If they actually work with me on the project (assuming that it's the kind of project that someone can help with), that helps the most. The trouble of course has been finding people who are also interested in the same thing(s), thus this pretty much never happens for me.

But now I recall some people in the autistic/ND community saying that they actually like listening to other people info-dump about their special interest(s). So this got me thinking...

The Idea:

Basically this shares some traits with body doubling and mutual aid. If someone like me needs engagement to work on a project (or maybe even just share an interest for the sake of some social contact), and someone else would be interested in helping out this way, the second person would be like their interest-buddy (hopefully a better name will be found). Kind of like how some people help others by body-doubling, except this will be with talking or maybe even participating instead of presence. And like body doubling, it can be a one time thing, an ongoing arrangement of some kind, whatever the two (or more?) people agree on. But unlike body doubling, it can be done (well more easily anyway) over the internet. Social media posts, DMs, chats, voice, whatever. Of course discovery would an issue, but no different than for body doubling or mutual aid, so I'll leave that issue.

So how about it? Is there any merit to this? Any use? Any interest? (And I mean in general, not just for me.)

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #ActuallyADHD #neurodivergent #AuDHD #ADHD

Why bother with a cat bed when you can just use... another cat?

#cats #catsofmastodon

Does anyone like to hear anecdotes of autistic joy?

I just read a post talking about autistic people's love of trains, and while I don't share that particular one exactly, I do have one or two other loves when it comes to infrastructure.

When I was in elementary school, we had a vending machine for milk, but it was always out of order. This made me sad because there was just something about getting nourishment from a machine that captured me. It wasn't until the last day of school that, on my way out with my mother, I noticed that the machine was now working. I insisted that she buy me some milk from it, which I'm sure seemed weird, but even by then I was used to being unusual.

The apex of this particular love came when my older brother took me to the college he was going to (I was still pre-teen at that point). I don't remember why we went there, but he took me to the lunchroom (or whatever it was called) to get something to eat. All along one wall was a bank of vending machines of every kind. And along another wall were floor to ceiling windows overlooking the airport (we were a few stories up).

The high I felt, eating my favorite soup* from a can both from and pre-heated by a machine while watching planes come and go was indescribable. I desperately wanted to go back but alas, never got to.

* Actually I'm not sure if it was my favorite soup at the time, or if that's when it became my favorite soup. 🤷

#ActuallyAutistic #AutisticJoy @autistics

Hey everyone, remember that project I am working on called OSES (Open Source Education System)?

(If not: it's a free, open educational program to help people overcome barriers and reach their potential—covering subjects such as critical thinking, psychology, communication, systems thinking & community development. More details in my pinned post: https://autistics.life/@murdoc/114175617261126366)

The project is almost ready for its first alpha release (v0.1)! I'll be putting it online soon for early review and feedback.

However, "OSES" was always a placeholder. I want a name that will appeal to more people, so I need your help choosing one.

Here is a link to a quick survey/poll to vote. The poll will be open for about a week.
https://framaforms.org/project-naming-survey-1772612666

I'll share results and may ask some follow-up questions afterward. Thanks!

#education #OpenEducation #naming #poll #feedback #OER #selfimprovement #CriticalThinking #OSES

@autistics
Update: After a few hours of anxious waiting today, I just got a call from the social worker... I'm approved! 🥳 🎉 👯

Now I can concentrate on getting a family doctor, getting diagnosed, getting therapy, and hopefully finding a job that won't burn me out like a car without oil or coolant. Still a long road, but there is real hope for the first time in decades. 😊

Now to spend a few days recovering from all the work that went into this. :comfy_blob_cat:

#ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyADHD #neurodivergent

One giant leap for a neurodivergent,
One small step for neurodivergents.

I think that makes sense. :blob_cat_thinking:

So I had a big victory today. I have been applying for income assistance with my provincial government. I was hesitant because I had tried it once before many years ago and it was such a dehumanizing experience that I couldn't continue past the first orientation meeting. They were more concerned with catching people trying to defraud the government than they were helping anyone. But a friend of mine that has been helping me get my life together pushed me into it.

Yesterday I had an assessment over the phone that lasted an hour. Yes, I hate the phone too, so this was nerve-wracking. But due to my situation they said that since I didn't have a diagnosis for anything (I told them I was autistic, ADHD, and suffering from burnout), that unless I could get a doctor's note right away saying I can't work, that I'll be denied. I don't have a family doctor so the woman told me to just walk into a clinic and do it.

Now I thought that it was over because I didn't think I could convince a doctor that I couldn't work for these reasons in one visit any more than I could convince this woman. But I went in today, waited in the waiting room anxiously, and then told the doctor my situation. I barely had to explain anything, just that I was applying for income assistance, needed a note saying I couldn't work, and when he asked the reason, I told him that I was pursuing a diagnosis for ADHD, autism, and burnout. He said ok, I can give you three months.

😳

🤯

And that was it. I got the letter. Didn't even charge me for it. 🎉

Now this doesn't automatically mean that I'll get the income assistance, but my odds sure look a lot better. I've met all the terms this woman laid out for me. I guess we'll see... 🤞 In any case, while I'm still exhausted from this whole mess, my mood is sure a lot brighter now. 😊

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #neurodivergent #ActuallyADHD

@KinocKayfar @muminitaly @LordCaramac @gerrymcgovern @ReggieHere @chikl
You are absolutely right about what you say in your second and third paragraph there. And the best part is that such a plan has already been designed. It is called Technocracy and was designed specifically because North America at the time (about a century ago) had become able to produce an abundance (i.e. post-scarcity). I'm sure that more areas would be able to do it today as well, such as Europe. All that's left is to get enough people informed about it so we can make it happen.
https://www.technate.org/tiki-index.php?page=Begin

#Technocracy #technate

You know one of the things I hate most about being self-realized (aka self-diagnosed) autistic/ADHD? It's that it essentially puts me (us) in the same category as the "I did my own research" crowd. Don't trust the experts, the science is wrong, etc. I feel dirty.

I love science. I love what it has done for humanity. I think we need to appreciate and support it far more than we do now. I much prefer to defer to experts who know more than me on any particular subject. I do keep in mind that anyone can be wrong about any particular thing, but the majority of the time they are more likely to be right than me.

So I'm left having to justify to people why my research is right and the "experts" are wrong in this particular case and not others. I sound like "I'm right and the everyone else is wrong." Ugh.

I know that there are good reasons why self diagnosis for us NDs is valid, if you take the time to go through them and understand them*. But getting other people to listen to it all is hard. Plus, like I said, it just goes against the grain for me. It makes me feel like a hypocrite. It just sucks that this one branch of science is lagging so far behind where it should be. So aside from reading over the reasons yet again, I can only take small comfort in this one quote I've posted on here a few times already:

"There is probably no field of scientific investigation in which more resistance has been encountered than in those domains which have affected the superstitions men have entertained about themselves."
-Technocracy Study Course, 1933

* https://codeberg.org/alicewatson/asd-self-dx/src/branch/main

#ActuallyAutistic @autistics #neurodivergent