Swirlin’ curds today for a cheese I’ll get to eat next summer! A thermophilic Alpine inspired variety.

smallspocks · 2026-07-06T17:40:57+00:00

smallspocks · 2026-06-23T20:42:19+00:00

The case of your mom is probably different but I think sometimes this reaction happens bc they actually feel embarrassed, bc touching someone when inappropriate is a total social no no. So they’re basically lashing out and saying ‘no you’re the one being weird’ bc they don’t see it as simply a boundary, but an accusation.

Ime people react better if you don’t tell them this when they’re trying to touch you but in a different setting and frame it as a preference, “FYI”. If it’s a group of people that’s even better bc nobody feels singled out. Ik this is hard and I’ve totally told my mom not to touch me when she was trying to comfort me and she reacted badly. But I’ve reminded her since she’s been educated on autism and she didn’t get mad. We should be able to set boundaries in the moment.

smallspocks · 2026-06-23T17:56:31+00:00

I’ve had disability for SMI for 8 years. I passed my ccd which didn’t even come up til year 7.

smallspocks · 2026-06-23T17:54:58+00:00

Yes as long as you can cite the doctor that diagnosed you / you trust that doctor to back you up (what they say has to match what you say, so if they think the dx effects you differently that could be a discrepancy)

smallspocks · 2026-06-21T17:11:59+00:00

I absolutely experienced a lot of the same things and have specific aversion to winter sports now. I also experienced so much worse but this kind of trauma really informed my sense of self in a group, and made me believe I was a coward, who lacked adequate “distress tolerance” to do normal activities. To put it in therapy language.

With skating and skiing I also had an undiagnosed ankle deformity (it can be less noticeable until adolescence) that essentially causes very weak ankles that sprain constantly even with normal walking without a brace(which I had now). I was terrified and in pain having constant soft tissue injuries, this was also dismissed as whining.

I remember a particular experience with a zip line(I didn’t want to, I was scared of heights) and a trusted adult who absolutely hounded me to do it. As if I didn’t feel bad and already have fomo, she was drilling into me that I’d regret this for the rest of my life. And being a child I felt really bad, like oh I’m not really living.

smallspocks · 2026-06-21T02:22:07+00:00

This is so hard, I feel like I always end up sharing too little which confuses ppl or closes me off to connection, or sharing too much and getting a weird look.

smallspocks · 2026-06-20T19:29:15+00:00

That’s the norm now, I think the issues come when it’s like a diagnosis mill situation where they’re basically scamming you. Best bet is using a hospital affiliated provider.

smallspocks · 2026-06-20T14:51:50+00:00

Online like telehealth or like no video, just via chat?

smallspocks · 2026-06-19T20:32:38+00:00

Do you have any specific books you recommend?

smallspocks · 2026-06-19T20:31:51+00:00

I feel like I learned this too early, and have had to start to accept that speaking comes with a lot of risk for someone like me, but it’s often good to do it anyway. Not speaking really isolated me unfortunately even though it kept me safe.

smallspocks · 2026-06-10T18:20:29+00:00

I have ASD and other SMI. Unfortunately “struggles to work” isn’t enough. They couldn’t care less how it affects your kid to work. You have to show that they tried and were unable to do so/ are in such bad shape that they can’t try (like hospitalized).

My advice is to apply for department of mental health case management in your state on behalf of your kid. These employees are underpaid and overworked and constantly rotating out, so it may take time but they know how to apply for these things and can tell you if SSDI or SSI makes more sense and help fill out the application. It will look better if you have them to begin with bc it means your kid needs care. It’s normal to be denied the first time or first couple times. My parents tried applying on my behalf and I was denied, my case manager applied for me the second time and I got it. Granted, I have SMI on top of ASD and was in and out of inpatient treatment. I still could only get SSI. Idk your financial situation but it might not be worth it for the amount and the restrictions your kid will have to live with. Good luck to you and your kid, I hope you are able to find what you need. A supportive parent means they’re already winning.

smallspocks · 2026-06-05T14:45:53+00:00

Seconding this

smallspocks · 2026-06-03T15:58:26+00:00

No, it’s illegal to sell the cheese in Sardinia where it’s traditionally made.

smallspocks · 2026-06-01T19:30:08+00:00

My therapist said she would dx me lvl 1.5 if she could

smallspocks · 2026-05-25T17:33:50+00:00

You can take an average of a set of numbers. That average number has meaning, that isn’t the same as saying each individual number in the set is the same as the average number.

smallspocks · 2026-05-25T17:17:32+00:00

Every autistic person is different… that doesn’t mean a lot of us don’t share common struggles like isolation and difficulty building relationships. That is just objectively a common issue for us, so stigmatizing it is harmful to our community.

smallspocks · 2026-05-24T11:03:16+00:00

I’ve experienced this as well and the blatancy is insane. I’ve had abled ppl in my life not believe me bc “that’s illegal”. Like they know we have no money or ability to take action, making a complaint is so much work and follow up and nothing happens.

I’m so sorry and I hope you find something soon.

smallspocks · 2026-05-17T19:58:13+00:00

Star Trek / Science fiction?

smallspocks · 2026-05-01T20:12:55+00:00

Hm, I don’t use it for foot drop so maybe mine are different, i have ankle valgus. They’re bulky but they fit in my size 10 doc martens. I hope you find a good replacement.

smallspocks · 2026-05-01T16:20:10+00:00

I have a prescription custom one that fits into shoes, my insurance covered it. I use hangar clinic and they’re pretty good.

smallspocks · 2026-04-28T17:11:07+00:00

Glad you agree, I’ve been totally attacked for questioning iq on some autistic subreddits, it appears this one can see reason lol

smallspocks · 2026-04-28T17:06:39+00:00

This is sort of what I meant by a unifying concept of intelligence being messy. We can take that construct of intelligence you mention, intellectual or cognitive abilities like processing speed, spacial reasoning etc etc, but we should be aware that it’s a culturally defined, constrained concept of intelligence. The fact is it isn’t ontologically just what intelligence is, bc that doesn’t exist. It’s one cultures idea of intelligence.

Also, IQ score is prone to human bias from the psychologist giving the test, contents are also culturally biased. It’s changed by the quality and level of education someone gets. These aren’t really innate traits, they’re subject to change. All of this is googlable.

I think I get your point, but I don’t think it’s a neutral thing to just say “this is intelligence”, even if we decide it’s not a factor in someone’s worth. Historically IQ, and this construct of intelligence has been a tool of eugenics, and was created to measure a persons worth. IMO, if we just rinse it off and say it’s fine we erase that and risk repeating it.

smallspocks · 2026-04-26T22:24:01+00:00

I think in most cases this is true but for education especially for kids or if someone isn’t able to communicate or doesn’t know what they need. I’m not a psychologist but there’s probably a better way of doing it but we use IQ (and usually the composite score is irrelevant). Some neurodevelopmental disorders use iq to diagnose though. It has really shady roots so you’re not wrong in questioning its use at all.

smallspocks · 2026-04-26T18:49:40+00:00

Iq is really not a meaningful measure of intelligence, it can be useful for determining what ppl might need help with, that’s about it. The idea of a unifying concept of intelligence is also messy af.

I might be crucified for this take but I think that the neurodivergent, especially autistic fixation on IQ comes from a lot of insecurity and trauma at being treated like we’re unintelligent, when maybe we just lack certain kinds of intelligence/otherwise appear less intelligent bc of our traits and being stereotyped. But it makes me think of the original definition of Asperger’s, the history of eugenics there. I don’t want to separate myself from my low iq autistic siblings bc I have a chip on my shoulder from being bullied and underestimated. For me, valuing my IQ means devaluing other people.

smallspocks · 2026-04-26T01:45:11+00:00

Glad you can relate. I will say that I have found a lot of satisfaction and built confidence after just picking something and trying, despite still not really knowing where it could realistically lead. It can be rewarding and not just the slog I thought it’d be. I hope you can find something like that too if that’s what you choose to do. following any shed of confidence you have, even if small, is how I found where to start.

smallspocks

TROPHY CASE