Global Autism Awareness Week and the launch of a new Facebook group

It's autism awareness week this week (March 27th - April 2nd 2023) and a coincidence (or is it?!) for the launching of a new Facebook group for autisic book lovers (writers and readers). It's an idea I've had for some time as there are many autistics who have books as their special interest. I've already done some blogs on my own experience of the writing and reading process. Do we approach the writing and reading of books differently?  I didn't even know until recently that the creative arts was such a flourishing thing with us! I had imagination so I couldn't be autistic, could I?

 

https://youtu.be/RFb0xfTs72M

I'm an author and also a reader, but I'm only able to read about a dozen books a year for reasons I've outlined in earlier blogs, and slow processing means I always have a backlog of reads. Sadly even more at the moment because of sore eyes and eye strain. So writing is my priority and first passion! I know there are others where reading is their first passion. I know there are many indie authors (some of whom will be autistic) who are longing to reach more readers and would be happy to do some giveaways or provide reviews copies in exchange for a bit of love for their books and a few more reviews and shares. I know too there are many autistics whose special interest is escaping into books, who can't get enough of the written word. So why not have a group where we can marry these two together? 

So this is the subject of my blog today - the launch of the new Facebook group. I will put the link in the written blog. 'The group is called Autistic Authors and Readers - books are our special interest.' (link below) I have spread the word mainly in one women and autism group, who kindly let me do so. So we have a shortage of men at the moment. Also would be lovely to have some younger people and people of colour. But all autistic book lovers -and those with ADHD I should add - are very welcome if they're happy to keep to the spirit of the group which is to connect and engage with our shared love of books. Hopefully some readers will discover some new authors and books from people like them. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/243261171372852/permalink/243261191372850/

Topics may change and evolve but at the moment the aim is to connect and engage with our shared love of books. Authors may wish to discuss about the writing process, their success or otherwise (!), their books and characters; readers may wish to chat about what sort of books they love. 

Authors may post their books, blogs, websites and book promos in the comments section, preferably no more than one a week but no rules set in stone yet.  Just the usual: to be kind and civil, no spam, give as much as you take, no racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism and no flashing GIFS. Hope to see you there!

Thank you! 😊 

Noise or change to routine - an autistic's nightmare dilemma

This week has been a bit fraught in anticipation of next week when we’re expecting building works next door. We autistics hate disruptions to our routines but sensory overload is another one of those things which bothers us greatly. I think it bothers most people but many autistic people just can’t switch off. Just as many of us love certain songs music, we can have extreme reaction to other sounds (and indeed other senses). Chris Packham addressed this in his recent programmes 'Inside The Autistic Mind'. He mentioned the apparent contradiction of sensory avoidance and sensory seeking eg loving certain music or sounds of nature etc.

But I'm mainly talking about sensory avoidance today. So for me, I'm hugely distressed by unexpected noise like scaffolders, impact noise - footsteps above me or sudden bangs from the floor above me or next door. It makes living with neighbours distressing and having to rely on their goodwill. If soundproofing isn't ideal that only adds to the distress. I will talk about this more in a later blog in relation to my one of my books but I don't have the spoons at the moment to put it together at the moment.

Last time during lockdown we had the balcony above us done and the hammering and crashing pounded and resounded through our small abode and we couldn’t escape during lockdown. I had a migraine on one day and ended up shouting at the builders. Our housing association hadn’t given us any warning either. So this time and armed with a diagnoses I have taken the bull by the horns and we’ve decided to escape. Autistics like to know exactly what will happen and when but the weather might be bad and so the builders might delay and that’s all another grist to our anxiety mill. 

Other things that I've always hated and had no idea they were related to autism (in me), is phones suddenly ringing. When I was a child and teenager they didn't go to answerphone either. You will see a picture of the kind of phone we had in the 1960s in my video although I didn’t have to deal with the phone as a child. One such phone features in my novel ‘Did You Whisper Back?' which I’ll discuss more another time. 

Later we had a plastic 1970s phone and it would just ring and ring until someone answered the bugger, or until it finally rang off! I always feared if it was someone for me. I didn’t realise but other autistics have said that they feel better when they do the phoning. I’ve always said this too, as I’m more in control, although I hated ever having to do this in front of other people eg at work. Then there’s the doorbell. That sudden urgent noise through the house, especially when it’s unexpected.

There's also visual sensory overload. I hate flashing lights and don't even start me on GIFS! They can trigger all sorts of reactions and conditions in the neurological sensitive eg migraines and are a factor in other conditions such as agoraphobia, more about which another time.

So, not much about writing today. Just to say my special interests get disrupted with any upheaval. I can’t carry on with chaos or interrupted routines. I have had to choose between disruption to routine or noise for several days. Not a great choice!

As ever, I’d love to hear your own thoughts. So please do leave a comment here or on my video which I’ll be uploading to the usual places.