#gifts for adults on the autism spectrum

[noisycowboyglitter]

Bunny Easter Egg Jigsaw for Autism Awareness Month | 400 Piece Puzzle

The phrase "Bunny Easter Eggs Piece Autistic Different" likely refers to a unique puzzle or concept that combines Easter imagery with autism awareness. This description could represent a jigsaw puzzle or art piece designed to celebrate neurodiversity during the Easter season.

Buy now:19.95$

The design might feature colorful Easter eggs and a friendly bunny, symbols traditionally associated with Easter. However, these elements could be depicted in an unconventional manner to represent the diverse ways autistic individuals perceive and interact with the world. For instance, the eggs might have distinct patterns or textures, symbolizing the unique sensory experiences of those on the autism spectrum.

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The bunny character could be portrayed engaging with the eggs in atypical ways, perhaps lining them up precisely or focusing intently on specific details, reflecting common behaviors associated with autism. The overall composition might incorporate puzzle pieces, a symbol often used to represent autism awareness, seamlessly integrated into the Easter scene.

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This concept celebrates the idea that being "different" is not just acceptable but valuable and beautiful. It encourages viewers to appreciate diverse perspectives and challenges traditional norms of both Easter imagery and societal expectations.

Such a design could serve as an educational tool, sparking conversations about autism and neurodiversity while maintaining a festive Easter theme. It embodies the message that autism is an integral part of an individual's identity, to be recognized and celebrated alongside other aspects of life and culture.

Autism Awareness aims to educate the public and create a more inclusive world for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It focuses on celebrating their strengths, understanding their challenges, and fostering acceptance. World Autism Awareness Day takes place on April 2nd, with Autism Speaks [Autism Speaks] hosting events and resources throughout the month.

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Choosing gifts for autistic adults can be thoughtful! Focus on their interests and sensory preferences. Consider fidget toys, weighted items like blankets or lap pads, noise-canceling headphones, or aromatherapy tools. Subscription boxes with sensory items or art supplies for their hobbies can be a hit! Remember, experiences like museum passes or tickets to a special interest event can be fantastic gifts too.

[eeveeas123]

I got lots of more stuff for Christmas: A Fuecoco plush, a new shirt and more! (I made a separate post about my previous gifts)

[im-a-lil-bitch-boi]

my mom: ur not autistic, stop

also her: describes aspects of my childhood that r v obvious signs of autism

[valkerymillenia]

Finally had the appointment with the psychiatric specialist. Had to get up at 6am and go to a whole other city but I got it.

He was a guy (not the actual doctor I was supposed to see because she's on medical sabbatical). And he was nice but I am awkward with strangers and there were some things... Look, I just hate medical gender bias and there was a little here.

But most of all, there was... Some ableism?

Don't get me wrong, he was good and proper and did his job, he was also nice (and very young), but I was there for an ADHD and autism screening so I could have an official documented diagnosis and, well, there was quite a bit of gender bias about these disorders... And a significant amount of unconscious ableism too.

I'm already being treated for these things but my current doctors (psychiatrist, psychologist, and GP) don't have expertise in this area because these disorders aren't usually diagnosed in adulthood and that is their field, and this guy is the "expert" so we need his stamp on the matter just to dot the i's.

Turns out we didn't have enough time for all the tests because someone messed up and scheduled this as a follow-up appointment instead of an assessment but we made do. Here's my problem though: he only wanted to focus on the ADHD.

Also, he ignored a lot of details I was trying to put on the table but I might be reading too much into this.

According to him, yes, I definitely have ADHD and it's good that I'm already testing the medication for it but he wants to see what else he can do and if he can fix the side effects, but we didn't really have enough time for a full evaluation so he sent me home with a bunch of written tests to take so he can check them next month and have a more concise idea of my issues.

He also cut some of the older medication I had that is now obsolete with the new stuff.

I'm fine with all that. Grateful even.

But I wanted to talk about the autism diagnosis, I've been trying to approach this with doctors for years, I've desperate to be heard ever since I learned just how strongly the symptoms applied to me every since I was born, I'm been desperate ever since I discovered the gender bias in diagnosing females, I did so much research and talked to other autistic people and associations that gave emotional support, but the doctors keep brushing it off, not because they don't agree but because they literally don't want to talk about autism in general, they don't even wasn't to explain why they don't want to talk about it, the stigma is just too big.

Eventually, this is what this doc said:

"Look, autism is a spectrum and all so it's complicated. You definitely have serious autistic traits for sure but I don't think we should test you for it, there's no point because you're an adult and you've already learned coping mechanisms and masking the hard way, you struggled a lot but you're here, there's really not much else we can do help with and not much treatment we can give for this so why saddle you with a bad label?"

Like, it's so ableist. He totally missed the point? I told him I don't really care about what treatment they can give me, I just want confirmation because:

1. there's safety in labels, much more comforting to know I'm normal zebra and not a failed horse,

2. having the diagnosis gives me access to more information and a better ability to find good coping mechanisms and helpful tools for my daily life,

3. having the diagnosis allows me to find community and get mutual help and support without judgement,

4. having an official diagnosis helps me get certain amenities (or at least understanding) to make my life easier, be it with work or family life, even with social security or at certain events,

5. and finally, just because I survived my childhood without a label and found a way to blend in with neurotypicals doesn't mean that's a good thing (I was horribly bullied and abused for a reason), it doesn't mean that I'm currently happy pretending to be what society expects, doesn't mean it's not fucking exhausting, doesn't mean I don't deserve validation for my struggles.

But noooo, his whole focus was on "we can't medicate to FIX it so why bother" and on "what people would think of you if you had that label".

Bitch, I don't care about either of those, I don't care what people think of me, I care what I think of me, and autistic is not a slur, contrary to what people in this country seem to think! I just want to understand myself and my own struggles, and whenever I get harassed for being different I want to be able to defend myself with this knowledge.

For fucks sake, just test me and show some support!

I stg the doctors in this country are so scared of the word "autism", it's insulting.

[officeobject]

I always get nervous when opening gifts, especially since everyone will be watching (unless someone else is opening at the same time, but I also prefer gifts to be opened one at a time and stuff), so I try to come up with enough happiness upon my face - my face doesn't look nor emote like my actual self, which makes this extra hard, and doesn't always align with my feelings, nor attempts to control - my squish is one of the things that can make me excessively smile and emote though, which is funny, because their face is deadpan/a mix of emotions, when staring at me though, which makes even a short glance, feel confrontational - they CAN otherwise emote, their body and face just seems to act the same way around me as when they're alone (or at least when not actively looking at me), though actually, even less expressive then - they can be expressive during a phone call, even, but again, besides the body, will deadpan as soon as their eyes are on ME - I can sometimes see them think, or have a vibe of what their emotions might be, etc, but no message will get across. I still know they like me though, and a very long time ago in our friendship, they used to smile at me almost every time, but they stopped, and no matter what emotion they have, their face will still seem to me like a serious "😐". I still know they like me though. Also, they're 30 (based on appearance), so no, weird facial stuff doesn't always stop when you get older.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Please remember that we autistics might not react the same way you would when opening our presents. We may act underwhelmed or bored while opening our presents. This is not an indicator of how happy we are. Don't get upset just because we didn't act the way you wanted us to. Don't take it personally.

Enjoy your holidays!

[waitineedaname]

I have caved. here is my pitch for why Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama needs to win the @autismswagsummit (or at the very least get to the finals)

people have already talked about his intense autism coding (difficulty reading social cues, low empathy/high compassion, strict moral code, flat affect, bluntness, hyperfixating, emotional dysregulation/emotions being all or nothing) but I'm going to put my English degree to good use and talk about the narrative importance of Mob's autism

the entire plot of Mob Psycho 100 would not exist without Mob's autism

first and foremost, the 100 in Mob Psycho 100? it's a symbol of Mob's emotional dysregulation. the narrative uses a percentage counter as a device to indicate Mob's emotional state -- the percentage till Mob's "explosion." emotions and psychic powers are directly related within the narrative, and because he fears the strength of his emotions/powers, he's been repressing his emotions since he was a child. however, as anyone who tries to repress their emotions can tell you, that only works for so long. the percentage meter indicates the build up of emotions until he cannot repress them anymore -- until he essentially has an emotional meltdown through a psychic explosion. these explosions aren't strictly negative emotions either; they can range a wide spectrum of emotions, from rage and sadness to gratitude and trust. any buildup of emotions can be overwhelming and trigger a meltdown

aside from that, the core thesis of the series is self-acceptance. Mob starts off the series with painfully low self-esteem, for a number of reasons -- he dislikes that he doesn't fit in, he feels massive guilt for allowing his psychic powers to hurt his brother when they were little. he wishes he didn't have these powers (which, I cannot emphasize enough, are a metaphor for autism) and he wishes he could just be "normal." over the course of the series, it is emphasized over and over that psychic powers are normal, they're just another trait a person can have. there's good parts of them and bad parts, but at the end of the day, they are a neutral trait. you can understand why "your autism is a normal part of you, not something to be hated or feared" is an important message

which brings us to the final arc of the series. Mob Psycho 100 does not end with a climactic battle with some big bad, but rather with a confrontation between Mob and the part of himself he's locked away. this other part of him symbolizes a lot of things, but most importantly it symbolizes his psychic powers and his autism. since he realized as a child that his psychic powers (autism) could potentially hurt someone if he's not careful, he's been shoving that part away from him and attempting to mask and be "normal." this manifestation of his psychic powers/autism is, understandably, pretty bitter and angry about this. at the end of the day, he just wants to be accepted for who he is -- not for the face he presents to the world, but for who he really is on the inside. the culmination of the whole story comes through his loved ones showing him that they love him in his entirety, even when he's volatile or upset. they love Mob as who he is, and because his psychic powers (autism) are part of him, they love that part of him too. the resolution comes when Mob finally accepts all parts of himself, even his psychic powers (autism) because they're nothing to be feared or hated. they're just part of him.

genuinely, Mob Psycho 100 is the best representation of autism I've ever seen. Mob isn't the only autistic coded character in the series (I could go on and on about Serizawa's adult autism or the relationship between Ritsu's gifted kid syndrome and his undiagnosed autism) but his autism is definitely the most important to the plot of the show. his autism is presented realistically, with kindness and nuance and, most importantly, with neutrality. even if you don't vote Mob in the autism summit (which, you should. come on.) if you're ever wanting a show about autism and self acceptance that is kind without being saccharine, I cannot recommend Mob Psycho 100 enough

also if this isn't a damning indication of the importance of autism in Mob Psycho 100, I don't know what is

@autismswagreblogs

[liminevator]

#0808 - TraumaDear Empathetum

?? - Unlabeled and Sexless (It/They/He) - Monster - Phonian

File Rating - C-rank

Home Floor - Floor 108 "White Gardens"

TraumaDear is a very enigmatic denizen that none of us really know much about, it's mute and only communicates through writing or manipulating audio sources such as radios, speak-n-spells, or the elevator itself. They always speak of themselves in third person and any communication may be seen as a bit juvenile to some, as they seem to struggle forming complex sentences or communicating any of their own emotions easily. A psych evaluation was performed to try and gauge the possible source of this and did diagnose TraumaDear with autism spectrum disorder. There's nothing special requested by TraumaDear for people to do to accommodate him aside from just patience and kindness, stating he is an adult who can handle himself, but just needs a little help sometimes. It has been noted though that bright and/or flashing lights, plus loud and/or high pitched noises do cause TraumaDear noticeable distress, please be mindful of this and treat him with care if something happens.

Speaking of care, TraumaDear is known to be incredibly sweet and kind to others at every possible opportunity, even if they don't offer it the same in return, to an extent that it could even be considered stubborn sometimes. It seems to sense how people feel by reading their minds, and is drawn especially to people who are experiencing exceptional levels of distress or despair, doing whatever is in its power to help them feel better even if its only for a few moments, its favorite way to do this is by giving away flowers it picked from its home floor. Their favorite phrase to say to anybody whenever able to communicate it is "TraumaDear loves you."

Overall, TraumaDear is a genuine delight to have around on the elevator, be sure to always keep a little something with you as a gift for them just in case, I'm sure it would make his day.

-- -- --

Excess info:

D.O.B. - 03/21

Height - 8'8’‘ft / 264.16 cm

Weight - 173lbs / 78.5kg

Skin - Entirely pitch black, except for a white face and red heart marking on chest.

Eye Color - Black

Song - Monophonic Synth

Distinct Traits - Has a dark black crack under his right eye, right eye does not move in sync with the left and seems to be almost blind on that side

Notable Abilities - Manipulation of any audio transmitting devices, psychic abilities with an unknown extent (is currently known to be capable of mind reading and some telekinesis.)

Soul - White (Love)

Death Count - 3,005

[bunnylouisegrimes]

Negative Ramblings about being ND

I hate growing up neurodivergent and struggling to pick up the pieces as to what made me do and what makes me continue to do the stupid things that I do.

I hate realizing that growing up being a gifted kid carried its own set of issues. But all those issues were made worse by also having executive dysfunction on top of it all. And why did I have that? Because I probably am autistic/have what was once called Aspergers. But nobody knew, nobody asked. It took me finally becoming an adult and being old enough to reflect upon and seek resources online to realize and understand I'm not crazy and I'm not alone.

No, I'm not lazy or selfish or inattentive. I just struggle to move between tasks. I'm clumsy because I struggle with fine motor issues. I have a monotropic mindset, and I get stuck on things and "obsess." It can be hard for me to do certain tasks, and it takes me time. I struggle to fit in and make friends. I struggle in all these areas socially. Maybe I'm not as blatantly obvious as others may be because it's not as severe as them. Maybe I did speak early. Maybe I was making eye contact and responding to my name. But isn't autism a spectrum? Everyone will exhibit different symptoms and intensities of their symptoms. Hell, I probably would've been diagnosed with Aspergers because the literal defining trait that separated Autism and Asperger's at one point was that Asperger's didn't have a language delay that Autism did.

Despite the fact I will excel in all these other areas due to my giftedness, I will still make lots of mistakes. It can be hard to fix or change so much about me because how do you undo how you developed and grew? How do you undo what makes you you? How do you undo how you naturally think or feel as a human?

I would like an official diagnosis, and I would like to talk to someone. But what difference does it make? I am stuck the way I am. I am stuck being a broken and defective human. I keep trying to change or improve for my parents' sake, but I fail each and every time. Hell, they don't even believe I could be autistic. Their default response other than their denial is always, "That is not an excuse for (insert whatever it is I did wrong here)." Of course, it's not an excuse. That's not what I'm saying, but I want you both to understand why I do the things I do, my rationale and reasoning. It's not that I don't care. It's not that I hate you. It's not that I think it's all about me.

What does it matter? What does any of it matter?

[altocat]

I wonder if Sephiroth would bond well with a neurodivergent person? (Canon or OC character, because ideas) because there’s a lot in his own upbringing and environment that’s strictly controlled. He’s gifted at something (combat), but the world around him seems to force him into that field’s box and doesn’t uniquely let him express himself, or explore other interest that would otherwise fulfill normal human parts of life. It reminds me a lot of the neurodivergent experience, especially peeps who were diagnosed late under the spectrum of neurodivergent categories (ADHD, autism, etc.), and having someone who can relate to the: “I’m supposed to use this gift but I feel absolutely empty and unseen, so what’s the point” would be comforting for him, to know he’s not alone. Idk, maybe this is just me daydreaming 😅 I can kinda see some of the ND experience in some of the ways he was limited by Shinra and the adults in his life as he grew up.

I personally like to hc Sephiroth as being rather neurodivergent himself, or at the least I hint at it. Either way, relating to someone similar might prove to be a rewarding experience for him.

[d1rlin]

Time to discuss on my main/side page, what the hell is a special interest?

Did I make this because I'm petty and hate people fake claiming others because of the term special interest? Yes.

So let's talk about it,

So what is autism in a brief summary?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong disorder, the degree of impairment in functioning because of these challenges varies between individuals with autism.

Ethnicities such as a person of color, Asian, or other ethnicities may not present how a caucasian person would. A reason may be some non Caucasian's (a bodily white person) was taught it's okay to punish their children with physical punishments. And because of that some traits of autism such as autistic meltdowns may present in a different way and not in a way that you'd normally see it. Source and source

THIS DOSENT MEAN CAUCASIANS DO NOT GET PHYSICALLY PUNISHED. SOME DO. IT DEPENDS ON THE HOUSEHOLD AND WHAT THE PARENTS WERE TAUGHT

Brief description of types of interests. Source

Circumscribed Interest - an intense and restricted interest in objects or topics that often results in functional impairment.

Unusual Preoccupation — an intense interest in an object or topic that is unexpected for the child's age or development.

Atypical Attachment - an intense attachment to specific or unusual objects.

Moving on to the topic of discussion,

When we talk about special interests what do you think of? Trains, animals, maybe even math. And yes that is some others may have, but it's not limited to just those. Some people with autistic (not always the case but is pretty common) have those as a special interest. I know as a child I had a special interest of an owl. This would have me draw owls where ever and whenever, it was a favorite topic of mine. Much like how someone may enjoy rambling about certain shows, certain topics. These topics is to soothe the person in question, or to use as an award for good behavior. Think of it as you were gifted a golden sticker because you did well in class despite feeling overwhelmed and anxious, the sticker can provide an extra layer of praise and comfortability for the person.

When in school I know we had severely bad anger issues, which lead into fights, being explled and kicked out of school. However during that time a former in school the counselor gave me a stress toy that I took everywhere and had time where I needed time for myself. It was a way to cope with the stress that comes with my disorders including autism. Since I don't speak about having autism a ton, nor speak to a lot of people this may seem derange towards a normal person. But enough about me, let's go back to the academic sources rather than my rambling.

Neurotypical individuals also develop special interests, often in the form of hobbies. Although past research has focused on special interests held by children with autism spectrum disorder, little is known about their role in adulthood. The current study investigated differences in the content, number, and specificity of the special interests held by adult individuals with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypical individuals, using Internet discussion forums as a data source. Quantitative analysis of forum posts revealed significant differences between the diagnostic groups. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder reported having more interests in systemizing domains, more specific interests, and a greater number of interests overall than neurotypical individuals. Understanding special interests can lead to the development of educational and therapeutic programs that facilitate the acquirement of other important social and communication skills. Source

special interests are wrongly assumed to be obsessive. Even though persons with autism nay experience special interest as an 'addiction', they do not feel that they are unwanted or distressful (Baron-Cohen, 1989), as is the case in obsessive-compulsive conditions. Rather, they are a source of pleasure.

This poor understanding of the defining features of special interest is reflected by the fact that scholars use over 70 different term variants to describe such interests. By analysing the salience of these terms in 80 academic papers focussing on the subject, the author has found that 'special interests' is the most salient term, rather than 'circumscribed' and 'restricted' interests, or'obsessions'. The value of special interests to higher education becomes more clear when it is recognized that their defining features is an intrinsically motivation to know all there is to know about a subject without regard for the social or practical contexts in which it is embedded. In a rare study focussing on special interests in so-called 'high-functioning' adults, Aday (2011, p. 112) found that 85% of a sample of 150 reported one or more special interests; of this group, 90% pursued their interests) daily, and 35% for six hours a day. A larger and more recent study found that 65% of a sample of 687 adults with autism reported at least one special interest; 56% of the sample pursued their special interest(s) every day, for 0-2 hours by 31% and for 2-4 hours by 37% (Grove et. al., 2018, p. 4). Source

Some important information especially when it comes to mental health diagnosis'

Some people may opt to be self diagnosed because they were withheld of the acknowledgment they were diagnosed especially as an infant or child.

Does a parent have a right to receive a copy of psychotherapy notes about a child's mental health treatment?

No. The Privacy Rule distinguishes between mental health information in a mental health professional's private notes and that contained in the medical record. It does not provide a right of access to psychotherapy notes, which the Privacy Rule defines as notes recorded by a health care provider who is a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents of a conversation during a private counseling session or a group, joint, or family counseling session and that are separate from the rest of the patient's medical record. See 45 CFR

164.501. Psychotherapy notes are primarily for personal use by the treating professional and generally are not disclosed for other purposes. Thus, the Privacy Rule includes an exception to an individual's (or personal representative's) right of access for psychotherapy notes. See 45 CFR 164.524(a)(1)(i).

However, parents generally are the personal representatives of their minor child and, as such, are able to receive a copy of their child's mental health information contained in the medical record, including information about diagnosis, symptoms, treatment plans, etc.

Further, although the Privacy Rule does not provide a right

for a patient or personal representative to access psychotherapy notes regarding the patient, HIPAA generally gives providers discretion to disclose the individual's own protected health information (including psychotherapy notes) directly to the individual or the individual's personal representative. As any such disclosure is purely permissive under the Privacy Rule, mental health providers should consult applicable State law for any prohibitions or conditions before making such disclosures.

https://depts.washington.edu/bhdept/ethics-medicine/bioethics-topics/detail/82#:~:text=If%20the%20physician%20has%20some,justified%20to%20withhold%20truthful%20information.

Other recourses for autism and special interests

[noisycowboyglitter]

Butterfly Heart Take These Broken Wings and Learn to Fly: Perfect Gift for Dreamers

"Butterfly Heart Take These Broken Wings And Learn To Fly" combines powerful imagery and lyrics to create an inspiring message of resilience and transformation. This phrase blends the symbolism

Buy now:19.95$

of butterflies with a line from the Beatles' song "Blackbird," resonating with those who have faced adversity and emerged stronger.

The butterfly represents metamorphosis, beauty, and the delicate strength found in nature. Its journey from caterpillar to winged creature parallels personal growth and overcoming challenges. The heart symbolizes emotion, love, and the core of one's being.

"Take these broken wings and learn to fly" speaks to the human capacity for healing and self-improvement. It suggests that even when we feel broken or damaged, we have the innate ability to rise above our circumstances and soar.

This concept often appears in various forms of art and merchandise:

Buy now

Inspirational posters or wall art featuring butterflies and the quote

Jewelry, such as necklaces or bracelets, incorporating butterfly and heart designs with the phrase

Tattoo designs combining these elements

Self-help or motivational books using this theme

Clothing items like t-shirts or hoodies with the imagery and words

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The message resonates particularly with individuals who have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life changes. It serves as a reminder that personal struggles can lead to growth and that beauty can emerge from pain. This empowering concept encourages people to embrace their experiences, heal, and ultimately transform their lives for the better.

Butterfly Gifts for Adults offer a sophisticated and whimsical touch to gift-giving. These presents cater to grown-ups who appreciate the delicate beauty and symbolism of butterflies. Popular options include elegant jewelry pieces such as butterfly-shaped pendants, earrings, or brooches crafted from precious metals and gemstones. Home decor enthusiasts might enjoy butterfly-themed wall art, decorative pillows, or high-quality glass paperweights featuring preserved specimens.

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For fashion-conscious adults, consider silk scarves or ties with subtle butterfly patterns. Nature lovers might appreciate butterfly identification guides, photography books, or garden accessories designed to attract these graceful creatures. Practical yet stylish items like butterfly-embossed leather journals or desk organizers make thoughtful gifts for professionals.

These gifts blend mature aesthetics with the transformative symbolism of butterflies, appealing to adults who value both beauty and meaning in their possessions.

[eeveeas123]

✨Merry Christmas and happy holidays!✨These are my first few presents: A “Wicked” pillow, a “Friends” book and a set of weights! (I made a post about wanting weights before). I got a beautiful pink dress too but I’ll post a picture of me in it later. For food I got fishy crackers, original Pringles, Nutella, white cheddar popcorn and fancy milk chocolates!

This year I hope to get into a day program, meet new friends and do more autism advocacy work! (Particularly speeches or interviews). For those following (Who are curious): My service dog, Eevee, is doing well! She’s still working happily as ever! I’m still stressed but I’m doing a bit better. My other fellow residents (AKA: My family, consisting of my grandparents, Mum, aunt, little brother and 2 cats) are facing challenges (Chronic illness, anxiety, depression and not having a car) but still doing their part! I saw my Dad for the first time in a few years (I was really anxious) but despite my worst fears, it went okay! It’s 11:20 right now on Christmas Day! Again:✨HAPPY HOLIDAYS!✨

[myrthing]

Thoughts that don't help when you're trying to sleep:

"Hey, remember that person who told you they were probably autistic, and they were going to get another evaluation, because the first time they were tested as a teenager the conclusion was that they weren't on the spectrum, but now they're saying they didn't get diagnosed as a teenager because they deliberately lied to the tester because they didn't want to be autistic back then?"

And the answer, brain, is that yes, I do remember, and do I have to bring up stuff that upsets me while I'm trying to sleep?

It's been a couple of years, and I'm old enough I really shouldn't still be bothered by this memory, but here I am.

Just the idea that you could lie your way out of an ASD diagnosis. It took a little while to recognise just how much the idea hurt me, because I'm so used to shrugging off my own emotions, and the person thought it was a Funny Story™️ so I treated it as one initially.

I'm level 1 autistic, and I was diagnosed when I was nearly an adult, after I burnt out of high school when I had previously been a gifted high achiever my whole life; do you seriously think I went into my evaluations excited about maybe having autism?

[luischocolatier]

14th of March, day of High Intellectual Capacity

Today's the day of HIC or as it it commonly known, "giftedness".

It is a very misunderstood neurodivergence that causes people that have it, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, a lot of big issues.

People tend to see it as a label that people who do good in school are given, but it's far, far from it.

It's closer to the autism or ADHD spectrums, in this case being a series of cognitive and behavioral patterns that lets the person have more creativity and a faster processing of information while also causing developmental problems, such as bad emotional regulation, underdeveloped social skills and a lot of other problems, sometimes even physical or psychological lacks.

And the problem doesn't end there. Because of the popular perception of what being HIC or gifted is (basically a smartass who loves being right and correcting people and being awarded things at school), many kids (and often adults too) who get the diagnosis are instantly labeled with a stigma, allowing people to freely bully them because they're the "big brain with no emotions" which can't be further from the truth.

This combined with the pressures that parents put on children when they get labeled as HIC because of their supposed potential, can result in stress, academic and professional failure, and higher rates of depression and even suicide.

Today's a very important day for this stigmatized neurodivergence, and so, I must say

I AM GIFTED. I AM HIGH INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY. I AM OKAY. I AM PROUD.

[spayki]

Savant syndrome is a condition in which an individual with a developmental disorder has exceptional intellectual gifts in one or more specific areas like, enhanced memory. Often, these individuals are on the autism spectrum. The condition can be congenital, or can be acquired later in childhood, or even in adults. Typically, a particular skill occurs singularly in each person with savant syndrome. However, in some instances multiple skills occur in the same person. Regardless of the type of skill, it is always combined with exceptional memory.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Tilly in Technicolor Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

❝ "Like a crystal prism. You absorb the world around you but somehow release this brilliant spectrum of colors through your words that people see themselves in. It's a gift." ❞

❓ #QOTD What would you name your signature nail polish color? (Shatter the Stars purple or The Blood of My Enemies red for me)❓ 🦇 Tilly Twomley is a chaotic rainbow, while Oliver Clark is a constant midnight sky. When they're seated beside one another on a flight to London, even the smallest interactions--from taking their seats to ketchup explosions--seem to end in disaster. They have no clue they'll be working together all summer, interning for Tilly's sister's nail polish start-up. Between Tilly's ADHD and Oliver's autism, their different ways of communicating and seeing the world tend to clash...while bringing them together, too.

💜 The books that take me by surprise are always the most difficult to review. Mazey Eddings' YA debut is a stunning exploration of two neurodivergent minds; a story only Eddings could have written, as she was diagnosed with both ADHD and autism herself. It's evident in the internal dialogue, which grants readers vivid insight into both beautifully unique minds. Tilly is a relatable young adult with no idea how she fits in the world with her mind's unique wiring, while Ollie is eager to design a future for himself, despite his inability to process situations at times. Tilly's boundless energy and mood swings clash with Ollie's preference for familiarity and control. Their differences create the perfect opposites attract romance with beautiful neurodivergent representation from someone who understands both mindsets personally. The chapter titles are fun, the character growth is natural, and the supporting cast brings depth to both Tilly and Ollie's worlds. Tilly in Technicolor is hopeful, charming, and heartwarming all at once; a full spectrum of emotion we don't get often enough.

🦇 I could praise this book for ages, but it does have an unsteady start. Despite the delicious slow burn, the transition from coworkers to friends to lovers wasn't as smooth as I would have liked. I also think the tense relationship between Tilly and her mother was resolved too easily. As someone with parents who "want what's best" but can't empathize with certain conditions (in my case, depression and anxiety), Tilly's mother's sudden acceptance felt too abrupt. The ending felt abrupt as well; this was one of the few times I would have appreciated an epilogue.

🦇 Recommended to any YA lovers looking for a beautiful, unique coming-of-age story. Though it certainly has its fluffy moments, the story is also real and raw; a must-read. (I do think we should categorize this as New Adult, though.)

✨ The Vibes ✨ ❤️ Neurodiversity Rep (Autism & ADHD) 💜 YA Debut 💙 Meet Cute Disaster 🗼 Traveling Europe 💛 First-Person Dual POV 💚 Slow Burn 🤍 Forced Proximity

❝ "They don't have the right to make you feel uncomfortable to fit their ideas of what's proper." ❞

🦇 Major thanks to the author @mazeyeddings and publisher @stmartinspress / @wednesdaybooks for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley @netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #TillyinTechnicolor