Gosh Amy I enjoyed listening to that podcast so much. As always, you have a way of relating your experience of autism that always advances my understanding in ways that I rarely encounter. I feel like listening to and reading you helps me to find the frequency on the human radio dial where autism resides. Secondly, it’s really interesting to me when I can compare someone’s writing voice to their speaking voice, and i find it really refreshing when they are deeply congruent … when the voice I hear when I read is the voice I hear when you speak. My theory is that this speaks to a writer’s ability to express their authentic self.
That's such a high compliment, Tom, I'm not even sure what to say. I'm so thankful to know someone like you who takes the time to really absorb my content and consider it so thoroughly. It really makes me feel so honored. Thank you.
Amy, you are articulate and wise, and it was such a pleasure listening to you speak on the podcast. And I always feel that the day is worth it if I can learn something about how other people live and deal with this life that we all have. I also believe in there is something mystical about routine; our minds are always working in the background, and that (hopefully) gives our direction a little more clarity. Like you, light bothers me -- any bright light! -- and my routine is to rise at 5, work alone, and work with just enough white holiday lights.
Thank you so much, Pat. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Gosh, the thing about the mysticism of routine was so difficult for me to articulate. I wasn't sure how to put it, and going down that conversational path caught me off guard.
I'm pretty sensitive to all light, but there are certain lights that are far worse for me than others. I'm also sensitive to sound, smell, touch, and taste. I wish I could get up as early as you. Mornings always make me happy, but I struggle to wind down at night and get enough rest. My nervous system is often on high alert from the stress of the day.
Yeah, I wish I could've gotten my point across better, but I think my anecdote did it well enough. A lot of the time, accommodation is a simple thing, but people won't do it because of some view that they "shouldn't have to" because your request is outside of the norm, and they don't understand why someone would need a particular accommodation. Also, if your disability isn't immediately apparent to them, and it doesn't fit into what their personal definition of disability, then their willingness to accommodate is often very low.
For some reason, this reminds me of the last time I went to Ikea (probably the last ever). They had a DJ in the middle of the store. The music was so loud, you could barely hear yourself think. Most large stores are generally very sensory unfriendly in the first place, but Ikea seems intent on making the shopping experience as scary and disorienting as possible. It's not just bad for people with sensory issues, but some people who need their hearing for other things, like locating the people they're with. I was reading a thread in an autism group about Ikea. Multiple people said they had to be escorted out of the store because of panic attacks (and the fact that the place is literally a maze).
In California, you can sue a business for not providing accommodation, but I highly doubt anyone ever does this. What disabled person has a bunch of lawsuit money lying around?
Oh, I can definitely help with cover letters now. The Lit Mag Love class I took with Rachel was super helpful. Send me an email whenever you want help.
Gosh Amy I enjoyed listening to that podcast so much. As always, you have a way of relating your experience of autism that always advances my understanding in ways that I rarely encounter. I feel like listening to and reading you helps me to find the frequency on the human radio dial where autism resides. Secondly, it’s really interesting to me when I can compare someone’s writing voice to their speaking voice, and i find it really refreshing when they are deeply congruent … when the voice I hear when I read is the voice I hear when you speak. My theory is that this speaks to a writer’s ability to express their authentic self.
That's such a high compliment, Tom, I'm not even sure what to say. I'm so thankful to know someone like you who takes the time to really absorb my content and consider it so thoroughly. It really makes me feel so honored. Thank you.
Amy, you are articulate and wise, and it was such a pleasure listening to you speak on the podcast. And I always feel that the day is worth it if I can learn something about how other people live and deal with this life that we all have. I also believe in there is something mystical about routine; our minds are always working in the background, and that (hopefully) gives our direction a little more clarity. Like you, light bothers me -- any bright light! -- and my routine is to rise at 5, work alone, and work with just enough white holiday lights.
Good writing to you. Pat
Thank you so much, Pat. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Gosh, the thing about the mysticism of routine was so difficult for me to articulate. I wasn't sure how to put it, and going down that conversational path caught me off guard.
I'm pretty sensitive to all light, but there are certain lights that are far worse for me than others. I'm also sensitive to sound, smell, touch, and taste. I wish I could get up as early as you. Mornings always make me happy, but I struggle to wind down at night and get enough rest. My nervous system is often on high alert from the stress of the day.
Thank you so much for listening.
Yeah, I wish I could've gotten my point across better, but I think my anecdote did it well enough. A lot of the time, accommodation is a simple thing, but people won't do it because of some view that they "shouldn't have to" because your request is outside of the norm, and they don't understand why someone would need a particular accommodation. Also, if your disability isn't immediately apparent to them, and it doesn't fit into what their personal definition of disability, then their willingness to accommodate is often very low.
For some reason, this reminds me of the last time I went to Ikea (probably the last ever). They had a DJ in the middle of the store. The music was so loud, you could barely hear yourself think. Most large stores are generally very sensory unfriendly in the first place, but Ikea seems intent on making the shopping experience as scary and disorienting as possible. It's not just bad for people with sensory issues, but some people who need their hearing for other things, like locating the people they're with. I was reading a thread in an autism group about Ikea. Multiple people said they had to be escorted out of the store because of panic attacks (and the fact that the place is literally a maze).
In California, you can sue a business for not providing accommodation, but I highly doubt anyone ever does this. What disabled person has a bunch of lawsuit money lying around?
Oh, I can definitely help with cover letters now. The Lit Mag Love class I took with Rachel was super helpful. Send me an email whenever you want help.