#SelfAdvocacy

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

Put yourself first and don’t apologize for it

[dominicdelagol2]

I've learned to be a self-advocate in roughly around 2020, no later, and I've certainly learned so much thanks to the #actuallyautistic community online!

Mercury with a big message: Nothing about us without us!

Check out my comic, Element Eon!

[autism-unfiltered]

The Power of Self-Advocacy in Autism

One of the most empowering aspects of being on the autism spectrum can be the development of self-advocacy skills. Learning to express our needs, rights, and wishes can profoundly shape our experiences and the way we navigate through the world.

Self-advocacy doesn't have to mean we take on every challenge alone; it’s about understanding our needs and being able to communicate them effectively to those around us. It can mean seeking appropriate supports and accommodations, standing up against discrimination, or simply making choices that align with our individual comfort and happiness.

But self-advocacy also poses its unique challenges, particularly when it comes to facing misunderstanding, prejudice, or outright denial of our needs. It's a skill that requires constant learning and adaptation.

What are your experiences with self-advocacy? How has it helped you in your journey? What obstacles have you faced and how have you overcome them? I’d love to hear your stories and tips for effective self-advocacy.

[neptunecookies]

i REALLY need to talk to my psychiatrist abt this, but i feel like she won't believe me. what do i do?

The Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist

This is a checklist to help one understand Borderline Personality Disorder. One may use it to self-diagnose or as a worksheet to present to a doctor or therapist  or other medical professional and better communicate symptoms they are experiencing. All information is taken from the DSM-5.

Section I Must check TWO or more of the following:

I have identity problems, including: I have an unstable sense of identity, I have poor self-esteem and excessive self-criticism, and I often experience dissociation when I am under stress.

I am unstable in my goals, aspirations, values, and/or career plans.

I have a heightened sense of empathy and am hypersensitive to the feelings and needs of my peers, although my perceptions are often biased towards negative attributes.

There is a lot of instability in my relationships, in that I am needy, mistrustful, and anxious.

__ / 4 Total

Section II Must check TWO or more of the following:

I have cognition problems and difficulty retaining information and remembering people and events.

I have affectivity problems and difficulty controlling the range and intensity of my emotional responses.

I have problems with interpersonal functioning and being aware of my own actions and feelings and how they affect others.

I have difficulty controlling my impulses.

__ / 4

Section III Must check ONE or more of the following:

I am very impulsive and often act on things without planning.

I engage in dangerous, risky, and/or potentially self-damaging activities with no concern to my personal limitations.

I am easily angered.

__ / 3 Total

Must have at least FOUR checks TOTAL by the end of this section, including ones from previous section (If you checked two above, you only need two here, for example):

My emotions are incredibly unstable, and I change moods often (sometimes within minutes), feeling things more intensely than others seem to.

I experience intense feelings of nervousness, tenseness, panic, and/or anxiety. I have fears of the future and of falling apart or losing control.

I get separation insecurity and fear abandonment.

I am frequently depressed and feel hopeless and have a difficult time recovering from such moods.

__ / 7 Total

Section IV Must check FIVE or more of the following:

I have a fear of abandonment and do my best to avoid it.

I switch between idealizing and devaluing the people in my life. My relationships are often unstable and intense.

I have an unstable sense of self and often question my identity.

I am impulsive.

I have attempted suicide and/or I self-harm.

I have frequent mood swings.

I often feel empty or depressed and have doubts about my future.

I am hot-tempered.

When stressed, I am paranoid and/or I experience dissociation.

__ / 9 Total

Section V Must check ALL of the following:

My symptoms impair my personality and social functioning 

My symptoms are consistent across a broad range of personal and social situations.

My symptoms have lasted a while and started in early adulthood or earlier.

My symptoms are not caused by medication, drug use, or another medical condition.

-

At this point, if you have checked the minimum, you may qualify for a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The next section is a compiled list of symptoms, behaviors, thought patterns, etc. often found in borderline patients.

If you did NOT meet the minimum, check out Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. If you checked ALL of Sections II and V but still did not meet the minimum in other sections, look into other personality disorders, especially other Cluster B’s.

-

Section VI Common Symptoms and Behaviors associated: 

I have disordered eating patterns.

I am sometimes obsessive.

I sometimes get intrusive thoughts which I am unable to ignore.

I become attached easily.

I often “bait” people in order to start a conflict.

I have trouble sleeping, or I sleep too much.

I have a child-like curiosity.

I am dependent on others.

I sometimes mimic or mirror others.

I have nightmares.

I have difficulty processing information.

My appearance changes often.

I have an extreme need for acceptance.

I have a natural rejection of people in authority.

I constantly feel like I need to prove myself over and over again.

I very much live in the moment, to the point where past actions don’t matter. How I judge others (and myself) depends entirely on what is happening right now.

I isolate myself, even when I need social interaction.

I am often defensive.

I have anxiety/panic attacks.

I experience memory lapses.

I consider myself a perfectionist.

I react very strongly to mundane experiences.

I have a difficult time making decisions.

I have difficulty completing tasks.

I often feel misunderstood, mistreated, or victimized.

When I am upset, I am unable to calm down without help.

I castrophicize my problems and see the smallest things as the end of the world.

I often see my problems as unsolvable and hopeless to fix.

I hold grudges.

I alternate between seeing others as completely for them or against me.

I have a hard time recalling someone’s love for me when they’re not around.

I change my opinions depending on whom I’m with.

Sometimes the slightest provocation will make me feel abandoned.

I feel distrustful and suspicious a great deal of time.

I rush into relationships based on an idea of a person rather than the person themselves.

__ / 35

[always-angelic-aspie-alice]

Fight with grace 💪❤️

I have been reflecting a lot about what it means to truly be a graceful, strong, kind & assertive advocate. It means to live my life my way & not to take sh!t from anyone.

Like recently someone called me a b!tch but you know what I have since embraced the term b!tch to mean a lot more than a hollow, strong word used to undermine & insult me. I am not insulted because I took a vulgar & rude sound to flip it around to re-contextualise it so that I am a b!itch if I am:

strong in my beliefs

strong enough to fight for myself

being an advocate for others

not being affected by negativity

trying to sh!t in my life & using it as fuel to light my fire

making the most of my existence my way even if it means doing things that make others unhappy because they do not approve

maybe most importantly, fighting with grace however it suits me

but also realising if I do something that of audacity then I will need to deal with the consequences (good, bad, or neutral)

Xo, Susannah from Always Angelic Aspie Alice 🦋

Courtesies: photo of the mushrooms, not mine; by an artist online (do not remember but if someone knows then I will credit the correct author); short quote of the three words fight with grace by Susannah from 2020 (although the words fight with grace are by coincidence within a longer quote by Han Elaine)

[a-controversial-mind]

Embracing Neurodivergence: Unconventional Paths to Success

I hope someone out there finds this useful x

Every journey to self-discovery is unique, and mine began with my children. Advocating for them and their needs led me to start a charity dedicated to supporting SEND families. Little did I know that in raising awareness for them, I would also raise awareness for myself. As an undiagnosed AuDHD woman, I could empathise on a deeper level with their experiences because I had felt similar struggles.…

[eddievillanueva]

“Lecture Notes Fate Panel #13” (Radically Honest Meeting Notes) 4/15/23 - #burnout #lecturenotes #meetingnotes #goodluck #burntout #radicalhonesty #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #advocacy #selfadvocacy #slidenotes #betterthanyouthink #tryhard #trauma #academia #drawing #sketchbook #drawingoftheday #photooftheday #collage #coloredpencil #ink #inkdrawing #art #artwork #artschool #watercolor #markers #alcoholmarkers https://www.instagram.com/p/CrD1WEauBXM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theblackautist]

Posted @withrepost • @bridgeslearningsystem With the beginning of a new year on the horizon, it's the time of year we often set goals for the future. We hope a goal of yours is to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach (if you haven't already!). But why wait for Jan 1st to get started? We broke down some easy steps to get started on a neurodiversity-affirming approach tomorrow as well as some goals you can begin next year: ⭐️ Follow #ActuallyAutistic and neurodivergent voices. These folks are foremost and always experts on themselves and should always be your first step in a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Scroll back through our posts for creators we’ve tagged over the last year that you should add to your feed! ⭐️ Start incorporating sensory-friendly items. This could look like adjusting the lighting, providing fidgets, or getting rid of those candles! Start with our FREE sensory-friendly checklist, link in bio. ⭐️ Take an introduction to neurodiversity course. We offer a great one hosted by #ActuallyAutistic and neurodivergent presenters, link in bio. ⭐️ It’s time to throw out those deficit-based goals. We’ve got a FREE worksheet on reframing social engagement and participation goals on our website, link in bio. Use that as a starting point! ⭐️ Basic needs, activity/interest needs, and sensory needs are ALL valid and necessary for students to be authentically supported. How are you creating space in your approach to acknowledge and validate these needs? ⭐️ Ready to really take the next step? Try our neurodiversity-affirming curriculum, the SEA Bridge. With over 40 workshops and a robust library of resources for educators and parents alike, it’s a great place to make your goals a reality! How else are you incorporating a neurodiversity-affirming approach in the new year? Let us know in the comments! . . . #Neurodiversity #NeurodiversityAffirming #Autism #AutisticYouth #Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence #StrengthsBased #SEABridge #HAVENBridge #SelfAdvocacy #AAC #Interoception #ValidatingNeeds #TeachersOfInstagram #SLPsOfInstagram #OTsOfInstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CmJ40heuCzd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sagesentiments]

life is too short to allow others to dictate your narrative

#selfadvocacy #selfcare #bestrong #youreincontrol

[fannytasticlife]

Regaining Your Glow: Overcoming Underestimation in the Workplace

Being underestimated is not a reflection of your worth but others' inability to see your potential. #Fannytasticlife #WorkplaceSuccess #CareerGrowth #OvercomingChallenges #ProfessionalDevelopment #SelfAdvocacy #Resilience #Glowup #StayConfident

Glowing! Recently, a friend remarked, “Wow, you look amazing! I feel like you got your glow back.” This compliment resonated deeply with me, as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Reflecting on the past four years, I realized that I had been in a space where I was consistently underestimated. This experience forms the core of this article—how being underestimated can impact your…

[cyber-soul-smartz]

Empowered Journey: Embracing Self-Advocating Self-Expression and Reclaiming Your Narrative

New Article! Discover self-advocacy's power and how reclaiming your narrative fuels growth. Learn mindful techniques and start your transformation today! Read now and share. #selfadvocacy #mindfulness #reclaimyournarrative #personalgrowth

Embrace the power of self-advocacy and introspection. Reclaim your narrative, shatter self-doubt, and let your authentic truth shine. Discover the journey of mindful self-expression and personal growth. #EmpoweredJourney#selfadvocacy #mindfulness #reclaimingyournarrative #personalgrowth #healing #empowerment In the face of adversity, a profound inner strength awaits discovery. This is the power…

[personalisedsupports]

Disability Support Services in Melbourne

Disability support services are provided to people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. They provide respite care, day programs, and employment assistance. These services are funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

A new 'TripAdvisor-style' website has been launched to help people with disability find the right supports. It connects people to services in their area, and allows them to rate and review providers.

Support for students with disability

The Disability Gateway provides information and services to help people with disability, their friends and families find the right support. It is free to use, and it is available to anyone living in Australia. It also provides help for those who are not NDIS participants.

Disability support services melbourne help individuals overcome their physical or mental disabilities and live a normal life. They view disability as an obstacle that can be overcome rather than a barrier that prevents them from participating in society. They provide various types of assistance to disabled individuals, including financial assistance and access to special equipment and facilities.

They can also provide training and employment opportunities, and they offer home support for those who cannot leave their homes. Other services include positive behaviour support, physiotherapy, speech pathology and counselling. They can even help with finding accommodation and arranging for accessible transport. Their work can help individuals with disability build their confidence and self-esteem and contribute to the community.

Support for carers

If you are a carer for someone with disability support providers, you can access support through a range of services. These services are funded by the Australian government and include free counselling, advocacy and education for carers. In addition, many national and state-based disability organisations run local support groups and selfadvocacy networks. These groups are a great way to get informal advice and make friends.

The National Disability Advocacy Framework 2023-2025 aims to improve national consistency and accessibility for advocacy support for people with disability. It will also provide funding to enable people with disability to attend disability-focused conferences.

The NDIS review has recommended that governments invest in more foundational supports outside of the scheme. These are called 'evidence-based supports' and include things like physiotherapy and speech therapy. The new supports would be available to everyone, and the costs of these services will be covered by the NDIS. The review also calls for a more transparent application process and fairer criteria for NDIS access, as well as greater navigation support to access quality services.

Support for people with mental health issues

There are a number of services that can help people with mental health issues. These include the Victorian Dual Disability Service, which works with specialist mental health services to support people who have a dual disability (developmental disability and a mental health issue). The service is free and offers appointments for both people with disability and their family and carers. The organisation also provides a range of supports for people with depression and other mental health concerns, including suicide prevention.

It is important for disability workers to be familiar with the symptoms and behaviours that indicate a mental health issue. If they suspect a client is experiencing a mental health concern, they should follow their organisations policy for health and safety and call emergency services.

Many people with disability are eligible for government financial assistance, including the Disability Support Pension and the National Companion Card. They may also be eligible for other government subsidies, such as concession cards or payments to cover medical expenses.

Support for people with physical disabilities

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers disability support services to help people with physical disabilities live a full life. These services include equipment, daily living assistance, and community participation activities. They can also provide psychological support and respite care.

Some individuals may be eligible for financial assistance, including the Disability Support Pension, a concession card, and other payments to cover medical expenses. Other funding programs may also be available for people with disability, such as the Continence Aid Payment and the Mobility Allowance.

Disability advocacy organisations can help individuals with disability and their carers with issues such as access, discrimination, and disputes. Some of these organisations include CYDA, the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability, Reinforce, Vision Australia, and VALID. They can also assist with obtaining a Companion Card, which enables the holder to travel for free with their attendant carer on public transport. This program is a national initiative. Lastly, the NDIS supports Disability Employment Service (DES) providers to assist disabled job seekers and those who already have jobs with training and workplace support.

[shadow-words]

Bloganuary: What are your biggest challenges?

_Bloganuary: What are your biggest challenges?_ I'm doing "Bloganuary" on Wordpress! #autism #writing #selfadvocacy @actuallyautistic@a.gup.pe

So I guess I’m going to be attempting to do “Bloganuary,” for January. We will see if I can respond to all of the prompts. This is probably going to be pretty free-form as I don’t always respond to prompts in a way that uh…actually follows the prompt. (This has been a Thing on occasion…though does not count as a challenge, just my brain being eccentric.) If I don’t do personal type posts, I will…

[thealiciacouri]

Are you advocating for your own health? 

Or do you just go with whatever you’re told to do?

Educating yourself is paramount when facing a difficult diagnosis. Get the support of others who have gone through it and come out the other side, seek truth in the treatments being recommended, and make decisions that YOU can live with because the decisions you make will affect you for the rest of your life. 

#patientadvocacy #selfadvocacy #MyHealthJourney #JourneytoHealth #Heartsistas #breastcancersurvivor #healthylifestyle #strokesurvivor #heartsurvival #womenshealth #diabetesawareness #women #heartattack #blackbeautiful #blackwomen #blackhealth #womenofcolor #support #community #girlfriends #HealthEquity #EqualTreatmentForAll #BlackIsBeautiful #healthcareforall #womenheart #nonprofit #hearthealth #advocacy #AudaciousConceptsInc #AliciaCouri #AudaciousConfidence

[earlsings]

you shouldn't feel guilty for needing help—just remember to pay it forward. when you allow yourself to receive the guidance, love, and support that you need, you become better equipped to show up for the people you love. everybody wins. . . . . . #wordporn #affirmations #empowerment #life #wisdom #blkcreatives #happinessquotes #community #loveyourneighbor #encouragement #realfriends #depression #444 #clarity #individualism #wellness #mentalhealth #holistic #wordsofwisdom #quotestoliveby #shadowwork #soulwork #ego #healing #author #selfadvocacy Reposted from @michellcclark https://www.instagram.com/p/CnMypCPLJLa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=