June 22, 2025 • 37 mins
***NEW PODCAST***
Spectrum Voices Conversation presents "Harry's Facebook - 27th April 2025".
Discussion of Facebook posts shared on the Autistic Radio Facebook page.
We discussion topics shared by the following organisations.people:
Pandas Online
The Autism Dad
The Autism Community & Action (TACA)
Embrace Autism
I've Been Autistic All Along?
The Autistic Teacher
The Neurodivergent Experience
Recorded on Sunday 27th April 2025.
Podcast runtime - 43 minutes.
#Parenting #AutisticBrain # Socialising
#SafeSpaces #Individuality #Performance
#Masking #Belonging
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
We speak our words, we listen,we speak our words, we listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: good evening everyone. (00:18):
undefined
This is Harris Facebook forSunday, the 27th of April, 2025.
This is where we share the mostrecent posts from the autistic radio
Facebook page, and have conversationsbased on the topics that are shared.
And the first post is from Pandas online.
(00:40):
Is an author promoting acceptanceof neurodivergence and support.
And they're also involved in theirown neuro bearers project, which
promotes understanding of autism,especially through young children.
And what they shared is regardingthe feedback that they get and
(01:01):
they say, what is the feedbackthat stays with us the most?
They say it's from parents who say neurobearers gave them space to finally talk
with their child about what it reallymeans to be autistic, that it helped
them to see their child more clearlyand help their child feel more seen.
Neuro bearers isn't justabout teaching information.
(01:25):
It's about starting conversations,recognizing strengths and gently
supporting young people to make senseof their own brains without judgment.
And that's what makes it so powerful.
So some of the comments made was, itopened a conversation with my daughter
about what it means to be autistic, andanother one says it focused on strengths
(01:48):
while still being honest about challenges.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (01:52):
I like the phrase start in conversations
here as part of feedback.
I'm very curious as to what peoplethink or how, I can't even say
this how conversations are started,how to start conversations.
I'm curious also about thatphrase make sense of their
own brains without judgment.
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com: That reminds me of something. (02:15):
undefined
My son had said to me thisweek, he was quite annoyed.
His teacher had said to himthat she understood his brain.
'cause he was like, how can she understandmy brain if I can't understand my brain?
And I wonder if there'ssomething about that there.
And what you were saying, Raymond,
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (02:32):
no, it's like admitting you don't know your own
brain as the start of a conversation.
That's where I think the fluidityis because nothing's fixed there,
nothing's structured, and it's, that'swhat is resisted by the powers at be.
And yeah, I think that'swhere the transformation is.
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com (02:52):
Well, I'm getting from that small bit information
we've got there about the Pandas onlinething is, it sounds like a course
that, but they're saying that in thecourse they're not just gonna be like.
Throwing information at people, butin the course it's more about like
, having those conversations and likedrawing out a strengths-based approach.
Makes sense.
. Jules-AutisticRadio.com (03:14):
It feels to me that the attention behind
it, it's this course, isn't it?
So there's gonna be worksheetsand there's gonna be online.
It feels to me though, behind.
Educate parents about autismso that they are in a position
to have the conversations thatneed to be had with their kids.
(03:37):
And I think we've started to feeland trust that there's a degree that
neuro bears are gonna do it with anactual experience of autism angle from
us where so many other organizationsare really skimming the surface.
And they often use outdatedinformation that ends up being harmful.
(04:01):
So if they manage , to start thoseconversations between parents and
kids about whether the kid is neurodivergent and the parent isn't, or
whether they're both neurodivergentit's got to be a good thing.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (04:17):
That's making me think about how do we feel about the
idea that autism runs in the family.
You define the difference therebetween, you know, the child and
the parent being both autisticand then the child and the parent.
Maybe not sharing that becauseif you wanna create conversations
and understanding, you know,it may be around the fact that
(04:42):
there's shared genetics.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (04:45):
Yeah.
I think the problem with geneticsis that shared genetics is really
a bit of a misunderstandingabout the way genetics work.
Just because you get two setsof genetics from two parents
you create unique individuals.
Just because those genes, the onesthat hold or influence neurodiversity
(05:09):
and end up with neurodivergent kids,that doesn't mean they get expressed.
So yes, you can have somebody who wouldnever be considered to be artistic.
Two parents that would never be consideredto be autistic, but an autistic child.
And that has happened many times.
(05:29):
So just because there's so many exampleswhere the parent looks at themselves
after a diagnosis of their kids andstarts to recognize something in
themselves or their uncle or their family.
We have to really think that inthe majority of the cases, perhaps.
We are really talking about thekids being different to the parent.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: The next post is from the Autism (05:52):
undefined
dad, who's a public figure.
Rob Gorsky autism parenting support,empowering, inspiring autism parents
since oh nine, Northeast OhioResources Support and Milk Talk,
host of the Autism Dad podcast.
(06:13):
Love Kelly.
C-N-N-A-B-C-B-B-C.
What it's shared is the following.
You don't need to justify yourchoices to people who weren't
there for the hard parts.
The journey is yours and yourdoing better than you think.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: I come across this (06:31):
undefined
running.
I think from my memory, it's one ofthe better ones out there, and it might
illustrate what I was trying to reachtowards earlier because I believe the
parents are not people who considerthemselves to be neurodivergent and they
(06:56):
talk openly , to autism mums, basicallyto people who are often criticized.
It's moving into that situationwhere there's so much difference
between the parents and the kids.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (07:10):
Yeah.
It always seems to be difficultconversation in many parts when it's
parents, mother, father, who are not,or do not consider themselves to be
autistic or new divergent, and thecriticism that many of these parents
have when they talk about how they'vebeen parenting and how they're trying
(07:33):
to get to understand the autistic childand what, you know, the methods of what
they've been doing and how to deal withcertain situations, behaviors, et cetera.
And autistic people are saying,what you have done is wrong.
You are harming the child.
And I've seen a lot of the, andthat must hurt a lot of people and.
(07:56):
It can be done in many ways, it's abit more approachable and a bit more
understanding and not criticizing,but just basically explaining how
certain things have come across.
Because as we all know, everyautistic person's different.
So every autistic child, of course,is going to be different in the
way they behave and some, youknow, may a lot more than others.
(08:19):
And when someone sees a child acting thatcertain way anyway, you know, out public.
Criticism to the parent is theparent may be being too soft.
This demand from certain people insociety that should be more harsher
and let that, you know, teach thatchild to behave better even though
it's more complicated than that.
(08:41):
So these conversations can beput, you know, in a better way.
And, it could be quite toughconversations, but I kind understand,
the positions these parents are in.
Don't get me wrong, but a lot of parents,you know, that are like the other side of
the scale who enjoy the power, et cetera.
I know that sounds harsh,but it does happen.
So that's why you get so many people, boththe people that are autistic, that are
(09:07):
resistant to the sort of parent methodif the parent isn't autistic themselves.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (09:13):
So it's the parents who don't need to
justify their choices as parents.
Yeah.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (09:20):
Well, that's what it seems to be saying.
You don't need to justifyyourself to everyone.
You do the best that you can andnot, and people aren't always there
in your journey, so they won'thave a complete understanding.
And it's just basically a comfort,you know, support the people who may
be very hard on themselves becausethey feel that they may be doing a
(09:41):
lot wrong because of criticism fromothers, or even just self criticism.
It's just something that people needto read or need to hear, be better
support, that they're doing theirbest under their circumstances and
mean know life itself is hard anyway.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (09:57):
Yeah.
So it seems to be like a particularthing about parent and that can be
applied as a general thing to everyone.
Yeah.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (10:04):
Well, yes.
It's kind of general thingabout everything in a way.
You know, there's no such thing as normal.
There's this sort of kindof normality sort of.
Kinda yardstick you kindause as a measurement to what
you're doing right or wrong.
The next post is from the AutismCommunity and Action, but a nonprofit
(10:25):
organization and a known as attacker.
The mission is Teer provideseducation, support, and hope
to families living with autism.
And what the Post is about the theaterbased social skills interventions,
which they say shows improvements insocial communication and cognition
(10:45):
and youth autism, and that's partof their 25 days of autism facts.
So building social connectionsand friendships in autism.
Emerging research on the efficiency oftheater-based social skill interventions.
Tb SSIS shows improvements insocial communication and social
(11:07):
cognition in youth autism.
They provide a comfortable, interactive,and stigma free environment for
individuals to practice socialinteractions in New York without the
pressure of traditional learning setting.
And.
Friendship, friend,connection, joy and self worth.
(11:28):
The social challenges can makethem harder for kids with autism.
Parents can also play a keyrole in supporting en fostering
meaningful connections.
Practical strategies like playdates, shared interests and
structured activities can help.
And the provided links onlearn how to support your child
in the appropriate resource.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (11:50):
Well, I'm tempted to say that life is a performance
anyway, so to get ae bit more honestabout role playing and identities is
at an early age is can be fruitful.
I think it was one of the things I enjoyedat primary school when I used to get
signed off from going away to the swimminglessons and was left back with the others
(12:12):
like myself, who were then given a.
Play act and amateur dramatic sessionwith our support teacher where we
would act out stories, which is great.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (12:27):
I've just written in the text and I'm only
being partly humorous, but this is agreat help for creating appropriate
masks as a survival technique,which some people will feel Wow.
That's a horrible thing to suggest thatautistic people should cultivate masks.
(12:48):
But there is something in that,that sometimes we do have to
have an appropriate mask to fitcertain circumstances, particularly
circumstances where we're at risk.
So if you are doing it knowinglyin a theater situation, if you
(13:10):
are creating a performance.
Actually, you are not ending up inthat negative masking situation where
you lose your identity because you areexamining it in that hands-off way.
You are cultivating a powerful skilland that might actually enable you
(13:33):
to unmask more the knowledge aboutwhat is a performance or what isn't.
A performance could be.
Really helpful for autistic peopleand I would like to sign up for this.
I would like the60-year-old version of this.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (13:51):
I was gonna say, maybe we could ask Robbie
about improv nights, but he doesmore sort of like open mic, you know?
But I know people used to do improvnights with poetry and stuff and Yeah.
But these are one man orone person performances.
There was this kind of likeengagement thing in the space.
(14:12):
I'm trying to remember where thatwas even offered when I was a child.
It was a bit like, you know, a lotof things like singing in the choir.
There were these like shadow areas thatyou'd never quite had full access to
or you were maybe afraid to go therebecause of how other people thought.
Yeah.
(14:32):
Playing rugby at my schooland stuff like that, you know,
nobody played rugby at my school.
Cricket.
No way.
You know, so when somebody taught me howto do something like that, it's exotic.
So, and that to me is whatneurodivergent difference is all
about, is this exoticism that shouldbe like almost perfectly natural.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (14:56):
Yeah, I agree.
And.
Kids having the opportunityto try something new.
So many of our actors and ourcomedians and our entertainers
are actually autistic.
A unusually high percentageI would put forward.
So giving kids an opportunityto test it and and try it
out seems like a great idea.
I want to go to the text because Ihave, you know, prompted somebody
(15:20):
to point out something that isalso true that masks can get stuck.
And social skills are fluid.
So what I said have has to betaken in a rounder context.
This I find in insightful, somebody'swritten that by 14 years old, you are
(15:41):
having to choose roles without evenknowing why you are choosing role.
Robbie (15:48):
When I'm at the open performance, that's when I mask.
The permission to be myself.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: That's an amazing phrase. (15:56):
undefined
Permission to be myself.
I'm not gonna go positiveor negative about it.
I'm very open about it.
I find it a fascinating thought.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (16:06):
I think that permission to be yourself, if you are an
adolescent, experimenting with what thatself might be through theater is something
that could be life changing for you.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (16:21):
Yeah, you could end up like at a very young age, being
open to discovery and very fluid, whichmeans that later in life you incredible
adaptation and you know, openness.
And that's why I think that postabout being 14 and having to choose
roles is like these demands aremade upon you, you know, and at you
(16:43):
possibly don't even know how to.
With that,
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (16:46):
the performance thing, an interesting one.
I used to enjoy in school.
Particular, I enjoyed some classes ondrama and the only thing it put me off
was can remember the report card thatactually says I was absolutely terrible.
(17:07):
I wasn't good at working in a team.
I was all about myself andthat put me off in school.
You know, I'm not saying that I would'vewaited for become an actor or anything,
but I may have been more involved.
But what I've done since and isperform reading out and stuff that I've
(17:27):
written like poetry for instance, andI've done reading stories, but poetry
is the worst thing that I've done.
And I did that when I wasin a local writer group.
And I went round to local librariesat the time and it was kinda weird.
It was like this sort of nails,everybody was taking their turn.
It was like, you know, they were prettydecently, attended and everybody was kinda
(17:52):
taking their turn to go up and kinda readout stuff and just sitting and waiting on
it and hoping that I'd pick up first soI could sit and relax for the rest of it.
See actually been up there and doingit, it's just like it was automatic
thinking before it, and maybe overthinkingof what might happen, like a bad
thing might happen, you know, it'llslow my words or that'll fall over.
(18:14):
When I was up there and just red,through the poetry and then after
it, whether people liked it or beingpolite, there was always applause.
It was such a great feeling.
And you wanted to do it again because itwas a great experience and it was also
great to see other people who, that you'reaware may have had confident issues.
(18:37):
Not just people with autism, butanyone who went through these groups
and they went up and they read outa story or they read out poetry
and sometimes even done a song.
Although that was rare,but they did do it.
So performance is such a great outletfor so many artistic people, and you
(18:57):
can see why people are ed to do it,especially actors when they're actually
performing a character and generally acharacter who's someone else obviously.
So it just opens up this greatkind of thought and conversation
and the conversation as well,because you're generally playing.
(19:19):
Certain characters to mask yourselfwhen you have conversations to
the situations that come up andwhat you're preparing as well.
So it's really interesting theconversation that we could take from this.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (19:33):
I'm recalling them social parties that my family used
to have where there often was a kind ofacting out that went on after a while.
You know, everyone had a song.
I've mentioned this before, peoplewould go into characters, you.
Just mocking each other,say, or, you know.
Yeah.
And there was that kindaexpression back then.
(19:56):
I don't think it's gone away.
It is just mutated into something else.
But because like technology and beingonline, there was and it makes me
think of these parties as being asituation where I think a lot of people
in my family were maybe using copingstrategies to, you know, compensate
for kinda hard lives, you know?
(20:17):
Yeah, just reflecting on that there.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (20:20):
The next post is from Embrace Autism
and Neuro Mental Health Service,a Science web study and diagnostic
center, research Based Informationand Empowerments, bio Autistics or
Autistics Embrace Your Advantagesand what they say is this, autism is.
(20:42):
It can come in many differentflavors, slices, sizes,
shapes, types, or ingredients.
But at the end of theday, it's still ache.
Someone's autism might look differentfrom the outside or result in different
types of behaviors, but at theend of the day, it's still autism.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (21:01):
Isn't that difference then what is being shared
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com (21:04):
are like ics, like sandwiches.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (21:07):
If we're gonna split into sandwiches and cake,
can we be the sandwiches please?
Because you know, cake is just sugary,fatty, all show a no substance.
Can't we be the sandwiches please?
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (21:24):
It's the point being made here that cake is shared,
whereas Nicholas offering of sandwichesis more a sort of a personal issue.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (21:33):
I suppose sandwiches would be a better description.
I suppose there's a behalf here anyway.
That is interesting.
And the way things appear to be goingpolitically, particularly the United
States, although it's happening elsewhere,been said before, it's like it's.
(21:54):
A bit.
It's like I try to reversethe individuality in anything,
and that includes autism.
I try to kind of putit all in a big block.
This big information, if you're autistic,you're this character, you behave this
way, you look this way, and you know,it's just like there is no difference,
although it's a lot of nonsense.
(22:14):
'cause everybody's different fromeach other in general anyway.
No matter what you are or whatyou do or how you describe
yourself, we're all individuals.
I like these simple kind of diagramsor even if it does seem a bit silly,
but as supposed to be silly andfun, I'd imagine, I'm guessing,
to demonstrate the differences ineverybody just to prove the point.
(22:38):
'cause there's so many stereotypes outthere or different things is good to break
them down even such a silly but fun way.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (22:46):
I feel as though teacher has just told us
off for messing about with this.
Okay, so let's take the post and let'sjust say it's a good way of using a
metaphor to describe to the generalpublic that however, we as individuals
might look extremely different.
(23:08):
We are still autistic.
And however you might look atJules on a good day and say
what the hell's wrong with him?
He seems to be getting awayperfectly well in his life.
He doesn't look autistic.
He doesn't fit my model of what autism is.
You know, cakes come in lotsof different shapes and sizes,
(23:31):
and so it's about variety.
So, yeah.
Okay.
Good metaphor.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (23:36):
I've been autistic all along as a blogger,
sharing my experience of late diagnosedautism and A DHD with memes, cats, and
sunset sprinkled in qualified autismpeer support worker, and what the shared
is about belonging and fitting in, andit's a quote from an upcoming book of
(23:58):
being attended all along by Carol Lee.
And what to say is, if you'renot living close to an authentic
version of you, people don'treally like, they like your mask.
That's fitting and additionsto that is, I want to belong.
Not in
Robbie (24:17):
It's something I really relate to.
It's something that taught mebest part of 50 years to realize.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (24:24):
Belonging is a big deal, certainly for me, and
I've always looked for things where Ifeel that I belong rather than feeling
that I'm looking better in becauseyou feel like you're trying to fit
in society in general in some way.
So you put on these different masksand different ways of behaving.
(24:46):
In front of certain people so they can getby in life or you can get by a scenario
or situation, whatever that might be.
If you get a sense of belonging,you relax, you show your true self.
And I've had that through some family.
I don't wanna say all family 'causethat's not truthful, not fair to say.
(25:08):
So some friends, you know, can relax andbe, feel that I'm being my true self.
Being part of autistic radio and being mytrue self kind of revealing and talking
about kind of stuff that I'm doing now,and this is my true self right now.
The only difference between my true totaltrue self and this I would say mass,
(25:33):
but this, you know, presentation of me,is that speaking a bit slower because.
I'm online and I wanna make sure thatpeople with different accents and the
people that are listening in themselvescan understand what I'm saying.
And that's just a conscious thing.
I do.
I generally speak a lot fasterthan this, a lot more slang.
(25:55):
So I'm actually saying quite strangelythat this is bringing out my authentic
self whilst also saying that I'veput on some kind of presentation,
which basically is a mask, althoughI'm not masking up, I'm just.
Slowing down the way I speak justin terms of communication reasons,
whether that's overthinking it or not.
(26:15):
What I'll add to that is I do feelthat I belong and I'm not just looking,
and that's the main point of opposite.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: I like that distinction. (26:24):
undefined
You draw Harry explainingbelonging, because I still find
belonging a confusing concept.
I think it's.
Only wanting to be where I feel I belong.
And that might be either restrictive or anaddiction to a certain extent maybe, but
(26:45):
like how comfort zones can be addictiveto, but I have no answers to that really.
It's just the kindt self youwant to be when you feel you.
(27:06):
In specific places and context.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (27:10):
The next poster moving on to is by the artistic
teacher, a public figure, autistic, andproud sharing insight and understanding
to help the artistic community.
And they shared the following quote,autism is a neurological difference.
(27:31):
Human is.
There is nothing broken.
I see here.
Experience the world in an artistic way.
Well, autistic peopleshare some similarities.
We are also very different.
We are all unique andthat is a beautiful thing.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (27:54):
I.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: It's more like people are being told (27:58):
undefined
they're broken or made to feel brokenby the society that they live in.
That's my understandingwhat they're saying.
Broken, although maybe not,
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (28:12):
and I suppose it depends when you are told that,
whether you accept that or not, whetheryou have the strength to reject it.
Just
of the sense of.
You these things?
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (28:30):
Well, just going back to when I was diagnosed
or even before that, I did feel broken.
I did feel there wassomething wrong with me.
I needed an answer to find out whatthe problem was with me, with my
being, and there was a lot wrong.
There was a lot wrong with me.
(28:51):
There was anxiety, stress session.
Then getting a diagnosis of what wascalled at the time, Asperger syndrome.
That sounded like something I wasbroken and I needed to get medicine,
but there was no such thing as medicine.
It was incurable, as itwas said at the time.
It's a lifelong condition,a lifelong disability.
(29:12):
You've got it.
You've had it, you've gotta deal withit, but we can help remedy with it.
Help you live, help you get by.
Bye.
These things can help you along,like, you know, support groups or
you know, just different things.
Medicine, , you know, for the stress andanxiety, which I still take to this day.
(29:34):
My outlook is a lot differentnow than it was then.
I don't feel broken anymore,but that took a journey.
As I've said before, I went through theextreme of thinking that I had a gift.
A misunderstood gift superpower,as many do describe autism within
themselves, depending who they are.
But now I just feel it's just the waythat I'm, and it's just a different
(29:55):
outlook and it's just the way societytolerates or doesn't tolerate how I am.
So I don't feel as badabout it as I used to.
So I think that's part of the pointthat the autistic teacher's making in.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (30:11):
Yeah, can empathize with this feeling that you
may feel like you've landed on the wrongplanet, which is kinda what I felt.
I never felt broken necessarily.
I just felt like I wason the wrong planet.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (30:24):
Yeah.
There's actually a book about WrongPlanet from the early days of the
Neurodiversity Paradigm illustratesthis is a couple conversations.
In autism, and both of them arepart of the behaviorist profession.
(30:48):
One of them described a situationwhere they themselves are neurotypical,
but they have an adolescent daughterwho is now seeking an autism.
And the conversation I had with themwere the pros and cons of getting that
label, but was their hands because.
(31:08):
Their daughter themselves haddecided for themselves that was
appropriate for them and that wasgoing to be a benefit to them.
And the other conversation was witha, an a b, a practitioner and a very
well educated person with all kindsof letters after their name, but
they themselves were also autistic.
(31:29):
And they themselves were in arelationship with an autistic
person and they had a 2-year-old.
They were deciding that they did notwant, at this point in time, their
2-year-old to be diagnosed becausethey saw the interference and supports
(31:50):
from the system in their countrywould be inappropriate for them.
And that was very telling to me thatwhat has traditionally been a diagnosis.
Can be a stamp on somebody of negativity.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (32:09):
The next post is from the Neurodivergent
Experience Public Figure.
The Neurodiverse Experience is a weeklypodcast dedicated to exploring the
vast world of autism, A DHD and more.
It's hosted by the artistic photographer,George James and Simon Scott.
(32:29):
Being neurodivergent is oftenshrouded in misconceptions.
Serotypes unlimited knowledge.
While our experiences may overlap,no two stories are the same.
Hosted by the artistic photographer,Jordan James, Simon Scott, the
Neurodivergent experience is theweekly podcast dedicated to explore
neovascular autism, A DHD, and more.
(32:52):
Through this podcast, we aim to challengethose misconceptions and dive deep into
the diverse experiences of those inthe spectrum by sharing our personal
stories and exploring topics like healthinterventions, sensory processing,
education, employment, and much more.
Each episode will feature insightfulconversations about living in the
(33:14):
spectrum with guest experts, advocates,and allies who are passionate about
creating an inclusive and accepting world.
Whether you know, divergent yourself,a friend, a family member, or simply
curious about this extraordinaryway of experie in the world.
This podcast is your guide to unravelingthe neurodivergent experience.
(33:36):
You can listen to the latestepisode on Spotify, apple, and
Everywhere Via they're Link, linkG most people's thoughts on this.
Have you got people here that havelistened to or regular listeners
to this particular podcast?
I know that we've shared them a fewtimes and discussed them a few times.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: No, I haven't listened to it. (33:55):
undefined
I don't listen to a lot ofneurodivergent or artistic podcasts.
Maybe an element of there.
Do people feel that, you know,at times that you can pretty
much be too much in that zone?
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (34:12):
Well, I understand what you're saying.
Yeah.
'cause I don't listen to many podcastseither because of that reason.
It can be maybe a bit notbecause it isn't interesting.
A lot of this stuff is sometimes thebite sizes of that kind of stuff is
more, you know, is more suitable for me.
A lot of it I just like, I likereading more about it than listening.
(34:35):
That's more my forte is reading'cause I can kind of read it over and
over rather than looking to listento someone talking over and over.
It just depends how it'spresented and what it's about
and enthusiasm that I've got.
But from the stuff that we'veshared already from Jordan James
particularly, is always quite intenseand very good stuff that's shared.
(34:58):
So I believe it must be a great podcast,but very intense, much like our can be.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (35:04):
Yeah, I think much like Ray, if you've spent time
taking part in a podcast, researchinga podcast and editing a podcast,
you want some time off from it.
My general feeling is that a lot of thepodcasts that I have tried to listen
to in the past haven't been edited.
(35:25):
They've had people talking over eachother and just the format of them have
been too difficult for me to take on.
I've been sent some podcasts that peoplehave wanted us to broadcast, and I
don't quite know how to approach thepeople and say it doesn't fit really.
I would have to do an awful lotof work on them to make them
(35:45):
so that I would listen to them.
Hopefully these guys have gottheir act together because
they seem very professional.
And we should always encourage, and Ialways encourage people to seek out other
different bits of information so, youknow, I'm sure the content is lovely.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: I'm recalling now. (36:03):
undefined
I did listen to one of the podcastsin the early days of my involvement
here, and it was quite passionateas Harry has reflected upon.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (36:16):
Thanks to everyone who's took part tonight,
and thanks to the people who share theseposts that we discuss in our podcast.
This is Harry's Facebook for Sunday,the 27th of April, 2025, and as part of
the Spectrum Voices conversation, whichhappens live 5:55 PM to 7:30 PM Sunday.
(36:40):
And we're always here every Sundayfor some exceptions during the year.
So thank you once again.
Enjoy tonight, and I'llnow hand over to Jules.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (36:50):
Thank you, Harry.
This is the part where we go straightinto what we're doing here at Autistic
Radio and remind people why we're here.
Every Sunday we have a 4, 4, 4 wherethere's a drop in, which isn't a live
recording, but sometimes we put our voicesout there to put out into a podcast.
(37:11):
This part of the show is aliveand it goes out on Facebook and
LinkedIn, and also on YouTube.
If you have something to share with us.
Then don't hold back.
I know there's a bit of controversyaround the project that we have, which
(37:38):
is to have conversations with thebehaviorist community, and I understand.
I understand completely thecontroversy, and I would agree
with even the most vocal.
Of the autistic advocates out there,that behaviorism and a BA as it has been
(38:03):
used in the past and as it continuesto be used in the largest part of the
world, is an unacceptable infringementon the human rights of autistic people.
However, we have been searchingout and finding the people who.
(38:23):
In the behaviorist community,in the PBS community here in New
United Kingdom, who are moving awayfrom that and moving much closer
towards the neurodiversity paradigm.
And even if it turns out that theyare a small group, even if it turns
out that they are the pioneers inchange, I believe it's worthwhile.
(38:50):
Doing everything we can toengage and encourage that change.
So while other people will decide tocontinue to protest for good reason,
this project is about creatingan allyship with the best that
(39:12):
professional community has to offer.
There is space for you to protest.
I am looking for autistic peoplewho have a good understanding
of the model of behaviorism thathas been used for many decades,
(39:33):
those who have been treated badly.
I'm looking for those people who canexplain that and make that knowledge
available through autistic radio.
So if you have something.
To share.
Share, I will do my best to make surethat you get a voice and it's edited
(39:59):
to make it clear and it's absolutelythe words that you want out there.
So contact Jules news@autisticradio.com.
Autistic radio is about us.
It's for us, and it's from us.
(40:20):
Autistic Radio is about you.
It's for you, and it can be from you.
We have every single Sunday dropin four, four 4:00 PM every Sunday.
That's not live.
That's us getting together,us talking community.
(40:46):
Every Sunday, Harry leads a fivefive 5:00 PM a discussion around
the Facebook page that he creates.
Involve yourself by suggestingwhat we should talk about next.
Share it with Harry and.
(41:07):
The bigger picture, advocate, use us.
Speak to the world, your project,your idea, your enthusiasm.
We have a whole range of differentprograms that will fit what you want.
As far as listening goes, there'ssome challenging stuff out there.
(41:32):
Because amongst the identity, theentertainment, and the community,
we also make serious programs withautism professionals challenging
their ideas and bringing whatyou say in other spaces to them.
(41:53):
A lot of those are difficult listens,but it's a holistic gathering.
It comes all together.
Autistic radio is very varied.
We need a favor to encourage us.
We need you to share us.
(42:15):
When you share us.
You give autistic people power.
When you share us, you makeus impossible to ignore.
When you repost on LinkedIn and Facebookand anywhere else, you are advocating
for everybody in the autistic community.
(42:39):
So pick the things that you arehappy with and get them out there.
So thank you from all of us.
We speak our words, we listen,we speak our words, we listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
We speak our words.
We listen.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: good evening everyone. (00:18):
undefined
This is Harris Facebook forSunday, the 27th of April, 2025.
This is where we share the mostrecent posts from the autistic radio
Facebook page, and have conversationsbased on the topics that are shared.
And the first post is from Pandas online.
(00:40):
Is an author promoting acceptanceof neurodivergence and support.
And they're also involved in theirown neuro bearers project, which
promotes understanding of autism,especially through young children.
And what they shared is regardingthe feedback that they get and
(01:01):
they say, what is the feedbackthat stays with us the most?
They say it's from parents who say neurobearers gave them space to finally talk
with their child about what it reallymeans to be autistic, that it helped
them to see their child more clearlyand help their child feel more seen.
Neuro bearers isn't justabout teaching information.
(01:25):
It's about starting conversations,recognizing strengths and gently
supporting young people to make senseof their own brains without judgment.
And that's what makes it so powerful.
So some of the comments made was, itopened a conversation with my daughter
about what it means to be autistic, andanother one says it focused on strengths
(01:48):
while still being honest about challenges.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (01:52):
I like the phrase start in conversations
here as part of feedback.
I'm very curious as to what peoplethink or how, I can't even say
this how conversations are started,how to start conversations.
I'm curious also about thatphrase make sense of their
own brains without judgment.
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com: That reminds me of something. (02:15):
undefined
My son had said to me thisweek, he was quite annoyed.
His teacher had said to himthat she understood his brain.
'cause he was like, how can she understandmy brain if I can't understand my brain?
And I wonder if there'ssomething about that there.
And what you were saying, Raymond,
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (02:32):
no, it's like admitting you don't know your own
brain as the start of a conversation.
That's where I think the fluidityis because nothing's fixed there,
nothing's structured, and it's, that'swhat is resisted by the powers at be.
And yeah, I think that'swhere the transformation is.
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com (02:52):
Well, I'm getting from that small bit information
we've got there about the Pandas onlinething is, it sounds like a course
that, but they're saying that in thecourse they're not just gonna be like.
Throwing information at people, butin the course it's more about like
, having those conversations and likedrawing out a strengths-based approach.
Makes sense.
. Jules-AutisticRadio.com (03:14):
It feels to me that the attention behind
it, it's this course, isn't it?
So there's gonna be worksheetsand there's gonna be online.
It feels to me though, behind.
Educate parents about autismso that they are in a position
to have the conversations thatneed to be had with their kids.
(03:37):
And I think we've started to feeland trust that there's a degree that
neuro bears are gonna do it with anactual experience of autism angle from
us where so many other organizationsare really skimming the surface.
And they often use outdatedinformation that ends up being harmful.
(04:01):
So if they manage , to start thoseconversations between parents and
kids about whether the kid is neurodivergent and the parent isn't, or
whether they're both neurodivergentit's got to be a good thing.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (04:17):
That's making me think about how do we feel about the
idea that autism runs in the family.
You define the difference therebetween, you know, the child and
the parent being both autisticand then the child and the parent.
Maybe not sharing that becauseif you wanna create conversations
and understanding, you know,it may be around the fact that
(04:42):
there's shared genetics.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (04:45):
Yeah.
I think the problem with geneticsis that shared genetics is really
a bit of a misunderstandingabout the way genetics work.
Just because you get two setsof genetics from two parents
you create unique individuals.
Just because those genes, the onesthat hold or influence neurodiversity
(05:09):
and end up with neurodivergent kids,that doesn't mean they get expressed.
So yes, you can have somebody who wouldnever be considered to be artistic.
Two parents that would never be consideredto be autistic, but an autistic child.
And that has happened many times.
(05:29):
So just because there's so many exampleswhere the parent looks at themselves
after a diagnosis of their kids andstarts to recognize something in
themselves or their uncle or their family.
We have to really think that inthe majority of the cases, perhaps.
We are really talking about thekids being different to the parent.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: The next post is from the Autism (05:52):
undefined
dad, who's a public figure.
Rob Gorsky autism parenting support,empowering, inspiring autism parents
since oh nine, Northeast OhioResources Support and Milk Talk,
host of the Autism Dad podcast.
(06:13):
Love Kelly.
C-N-N-A-B-C-B-B-C.
What it's shared is the following.
You don't need to justify yourchoices to people who weren't
there for the hard parts.
The journey is yours and yourdoing better than you think.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com: I come across this (06:31):
undefined
running.
I think from my memory, it's one ofthe better ones out there, and it might
illustrate what I was trying to reachtowards earlier because I believe the
parents are not people who considerthemselves to be neurodivergent and they
(06:56):
talk openly , to autism mums, basicallyto people who are often criticized.
It's moving into that situationwhere there's so much difference
between the parents and the kids.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (07:10):
Yeah.
It always seems to be difficultconversation in many parts when it's
parents, mother, father, who are not,or do not consider themselves to be
autistic or new divergent, and thecriticism that many of these parents
have when they talk about how they'vebeen parenting and how they're trying
(07:33):
to get to understand the autistic childand what, you know, the methods of what
they've been doing and how to deal withcertain situations, behaviors, et cetera.
And autistic people are saying,what you have done is wrong.
You are harming the child.
And I've seen a lot of the, andthat must hurt a lot of people and.
(07:56):
It can be done in many ways, it's abit more approachable and a bit more
understanding and not criticizing,but just basically explaining how
certain things have come across.
Because as we all know, everyautistic person's different.
So every autistic child, of course,is going to be different in the
way they behave and some, youknow, may a lot more than others.
(08:19):
And when someone sees a child acting thatcertain way anyway, you know, out public.
Criticism to the parent is theparent may be being too soft.
This demand from certain people insociety that should be more harsher
and let that, you know, teach thatchild to behave better even though
it's more complicated than that.
(08:41):
So these conversations can beput, you know, in a better way.
And, it could be quite toughconversations, but I kind understand,
the positions these parents are in.
Don't get me wrong, but a lot of parents,you know, that are like the other side of
the scale who enjoy the power, et cetera.
I know that sounds harsh,but it does happen.
So that's why you get so many people, boththe people that are autistic, that are
(09:07):
resistant to the sort of parent methodif the parent isn't autistic themselves.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (09:13):
So it's the parents who don't need to
justify their choices as parents.
Yeah.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (09:20):
Well, that's what it seems to be saying.
You don't need to justifyyourself to everyone.
You do the best that you can andnot, and people aren't always there
in your journey, so they won'thave a complete understanding.
And it's just basically a comfort,you know, support the people who may
be very hard on themselves becausethey feel that they may be doing a
(09:41):
lot wrong because of criticism fromothers, or even just self criticism.
It's just something that people needto read or need to hear, be better
support, that they're doing theirbest under their circumstances and
mean know life itself is hard anyway.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (09:57):
Yeah.
So it seems to be like a particularthing about parent and that can be
applied as a general thing to everyone.
Yeah.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (10:04):
Well, yes.
It's kind of general thingabout everything in a way.
You know, there's no such thing as normal.
There's this sort of kindof normality sort of.
Kinda yardstick you kindause as a measurement to what
you're doing right or wrong.
The next post is from the AutismCommunity and Action, but a nonprofit
(10:25):
organization and a known as attacker.
The mission is Teer provideseducation, support, and hope
to families living with autism.
And what the Post is about the theaterbased social skills interventions,
which they say shows improvements insocial communication and cognition
(10:45):
and youth autism, and that's partof their 25 days of autism facts.
So building social connectionsand friendships in autism.
Emerging research on the efficiency oftheater-based social skill interventions.
Tb SSIS shows improvements insocial communication and social
(11:07):
cognition in youth autism.
They provide a comfortable, interactive,and stigma free environment for
individuals to practice socialinteractions in New York without the
pressure of traditional learning setting.
And.
Friendship, friend,connection, joy and self worth.
(11:28):
The social challenges can makethem harder for kids with autism.
Parents can also play a keyrole in supporting en fostering
meaningful connections.
Practical strategies like playdates, shared interests and
structured activities can help.
And the provided links onlearn how to support your child
in the appropriate resource.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (11:50):
Well, I'm tempted to say that life is a performance
anyway, so to get ae bit more honestabout role playing and identities is
at an early age is can be fruitful.
I think it was one of the things I enjoyedat primary school when I used to get
signed off from going away to the swimminglessons and was left back with the others
(12:12):
like myself, who were then given a.
Play act and amateur dramatic sessionwith our support teacher where we
would act out stories, which is great.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (12:27):
I've just written in the text and I'm only
being partly humorous, but this is agreat help for creating appropriate
masks as a survival technique,which some people will feel Wow.
That's a horrible thing to suggest thatautistic people should cultivate masks.
(12:48):
But there is something in that,that sometimes we do have to
have an appropriate mask to fitcertain circumstances, particularly
circumstances where we're at risk.
So if you are doing it knowinglyin a theater situation, if you
(13:10):
are creating a performance.
Actually, you are not ending up inthat negative masking situation where
you lose your identity because you areexamining it in that hands-off way.
You are cultivating a powerful skilland that might actually enable you
(13:33):
to unmask more the knowledge aboutwhat is a performance or what isn't.
A performance could be.
Really helpful for autistic peopleand I would like to sign up for this.
I would like the60-year-old version of this.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (13:51):
I was gonna say, maybe we could ask Robbie
about improv nights, but he doesmore sort of like open mic, you know?
But I know people used to do improvnights with poetry and stuff and Yeah.
But these are one man orone person performances.
There was this kind of likeengagement thing in the space.
(14:12):
I'm trying to remember where thatwas even offered when I was a child.
It was a bit like, you know, a lotof things like singing in the choir.
There were these like shadow areas thatyou'd never quite had full access to
or you were maybe afraid to go therebecause of how other people thought.
Yeah.
(14:32):
Playing rugby at my schooland stuff like that, you know,
nobody played rugby at my school.
Cricket.
No way.
You know, so when somebody taught me howto do something like that, it's exotic.
So, and that to me is whatneurodivergent difference is all
about, is this exoticism that shouldbe like almost perfectly natural.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (14:56):
Yeah, I agree.
And.
Kids having the opportunityto try something new.
So many of our actors and ourcomedians and our entertainers
are actually autistic.
A unusually high percentageI would put forward.
So giving kids an opportunityto test it and and try it
out seems like a great idea.
I want to go to the text because Ihave, you know, prompted somebody
(15:20):
to point out something that isalso true that masks can get stuck.
And social skills are fluid.
So what I said have has to betaken in a rounder context.
This I find in insightful, somebody'swritten that by 14 years old, you are
(15:41):
having to choose roles without evenknowing why you are choosing role.
Robbie (15:48):
When I'm at the open performance, that's when I mask.
The permission to be myself.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: That's an amazing phrase. (15:56):
undefined
Permission to be myself.
I'm not gonna go positiveor negative about it.
I'm very open about it.
I find it a fascinating thought.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (16:06):
I think that permission to be yourself, if you are an
adolescent, experimenting with what thatself might be through theater is something
that could be life changing for you.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (16:21):
Yeah, you could end up like at a very young age, being
open to discovery and very fluid, whichmeans that later in life you incredible
adaptation and you know, openness.
And that's why I think that postabout being 14 and having to choose
roles is like these demands aremade upon you, you know, and at you
(16:43):
possibly don't even know how to.
With that,
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (16:46):
the performance thing, an interesting one.
I used to enjoy in school.
Particular, I enjoyed some classes ondrama and the only thing it put me off
was can remember the report card thatactually says I was absolutely terrible.
(17:07):
I wasn't good at working in a team.
I was all about myself andthat put me off in school.
You know, I'm not saying that I would'vewaited for become an actor or anything,
but I may have been more involved.
But what I've done since and isperform reading out and stuff that I've
(17:27):
written like poetry for instance, andI've done reading stories, but poetry
is the worst thing that I've done.
And I did that when I wasin a local writer group.
And I went round to local librariesat the time and it was kinda weird.
It was like this sort of nails,everybody was taking their turn.
It was like, you know, they were prettydecently, attended and everybody was kinda
(17:52):
taking their turn to go up and kinda readout stuff and just sitting and waiting on
it and hoping that I'd pick up first soI could sit and relax for the rest of it.
See actually been up there and doingit, it's just like it was automatic
thinking before it, and maybe overthinkingof what might happen, like a bad
thing might happen, you know, it'llslow my words or that'll fall over.
(18:14):
When I was up there and just red,through the poetry and then after
it, whether people liked it or beingpolite, there was always applause.
It was such a great feeling.
And you wanted to do it again because itwas a great experience and it was also
great to see other people who, that you'reaware may have had confident issues.
(18:37):
Not just people with autism, butanyone who went through these groups
and they went up and they read outa story or they read out poetry
and sometimes even done a song.
Although that was rare,but they did do it.
So performance is such a great outletfor so many artistic people, and you
(18:57):
can see why people are ed to do it,especially actors when they're actually
performing a character and generally acharacter who's someone else obviously.
So it just opens up this greatkind of thought and conversation
and the conversation as well,because you're generally playing.
(19:19):
Certain characters to mask yourselfwhen you have conversations to
the situations that come up andwhat you're preparing as well.
So it's really interesting theconversation that we could take from this.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (19:33):
I'm recalling them social parties that my family used
to have where there often was a kind ofacting out that went on after a while.
You know, everyone had a song.
I've mentioned this before, peoplewould go into characters, you.
Just mocking each other,say, or, you know.
Yeah.
And there was that kindaexpression back then.
(19:56):
I don't think it's gone away.
It is just mutated into something else.
But because like technology and beingonline, there was and it makes me
think of these parties as being asituation where I think a lot of people
in my family were maybe using copingstrategies to, you know, compensate
for kinda hard lives, you know?
(20:17):
Yeah, just reflecting on that there.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (20:20):
The next post is from Embrace Autism
and Neuro Mental Health Service,a Science web study and diagnostic
center, research Based Informationand Empowerments, bio Autistics or
Autistics Embrace Your Advantagesand what they say is this, autism is.
(20:42):
It can come in many differentflavors, slices, sizes,
shapes, types, or ingredients.
But at the end of theday, it's still ache.
Someone's autism might look differentfrom the outside or result in different
types of behaviors, but at theend of the day, it's still autism.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (21:01):
Isn't that difference then what is being shared
Nicola-AutisticRadio.com (21:04):
are like ics, like sandwiches.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (21:07):
If we're gonna split into sandwiches and cake,
can we be the sandwiches please?
Because you know, cake is just sugary,fatty, all show a no substance.
Can't we be the sandwiches please?
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (21:24):
It's the point being made here that cake is shared,
whereas Nicholas offering of sandwichesis more a sort of a personal issue.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (21:33):
I suppose sandwiches would be a better description.
I suppose there's a behalf here anyway.
That is interesting.
And the way things appear to be goingpolitically, particularly the United
States, although it's happening elsewhere,been said before, it's like it's.
(21:54):
A bit.
It's like I try to reversethe individuality in anything,
and that includes autism.
I try to kind of putit all in a big block.
This big information, if you're autistic,you're this character, you behave this
way, you look this way, and you know,it's just like there is no difference,
although it's a lot of nonsense.
(22:14):
'cause everybody's different fromeach other in general anyway.
No matter what you are or whatyou do or how you describe
yourself, we're all individuals.
I like these simple kind of diagramsor even if it does seem a bit silly,
but as supposed to be silly andfun, I'd imagine, I'm guessing,
to demonstrate the differences ineverybody just to prove the point.
(22:38):
'cause there's so many stereotypes outthere or different things is good to break
them down even such a silly but fun way.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (22:46):
I feel as though teacher has just told us
off for messing about with this.
Okay, so let's take the post and let'sjust say it's a good way of using a
metaphor to describe to the generalpublic that however, we as individuals
might look extremely different.
(23:08):
We are still autistic.
And however you might look atJules on a good day and say
what the hell's wrong with him?
He seems to be getting awayperfectly well in his life.
He doesn't look autistic.
He doesn't fit my model of what autism is.
You know, cakes come in lotsof different shapes and sizes,
(23:31):
and so it's about variety.
So, yeah.
Okay.
Good metaphor.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (23:36):
I've been autistic all along as a blogger,
sharing my experience of late diagnosedautism and A DHD with memes, cats, and
sunset sprinkled in qualified autismpeer support worker, and what the shared
is about belonging and fitting in, andit's a quote from an upcoming book of
(23:58):
being attended all along by Carol Lee.
And what to say is, if you'renot living close to an authentic
version of you, people don'treally like, they like your mask.
That's fitting and additionsto that is, I want to belong.
Not in
Robbie (24:17):
It's something I really relate to.
It's something that taught mebest part of 50 years to realize.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (24:24):
Belonging is a big deal, certainly for me, and
I've always looked for things where Ifeel that I belong rather than feeling
that I'm looking better in becauseyou feel like you're trying to fit
in society in general in some way.
So you put on these different masksand different ways of behaving.
(24:46):
In front of certain people so they can getby in life or you can get by a scenario
or situation, whatever that might be.
If you get a sense of belonging,you relax, you show your true self.
And I've had that through some family.
I don't wanna say all family 'causethat's not truthful, not fair to say.
(25:08):
So some friends, you know, can relax andbe, feel that I'm being my true self.
Being part of autistic radio and being mytrue self kind of revealing and talking
about kind of stuff that I'm doing now,and this is my true self right now.
The only difference between my true totaltrue self and this I would say mass,
(25:33):
but this, you know, presentation of me,is that speaking a bit slower because.
I'm online and I wanna make sure thatpeople with different accents and the
people that are listening in themselvescan understand what I'm saying.
And that's just a conscious thing.
I do.
I generally speak a lot fasterthan this, a lot more slang.
(25:55):
So I'm actually saying quite strangelythat this is bringing out my authentic
self whilst also saying that I'veput on some kind of presentation,
which basically is a mask, althoughI'm not masking up, I'm just.
Slowing down the way I speak justin terms of communication reasons,
whether that's overthinking it or not.
(26:15):
What I'll add to that is I do feelthat I belong and I'm not just looking,
and that's the main point of opposite.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: I like that distinction. (26:24):
undefined
You draw Harry explainingbelonging, because I still find
belonging a confusing concept.
I think it's.
Only wanting to be where I feel I belong.
And that might be either restrictive or anaddiction to a certain extent maybe, but
(26:45):
like how comfort zones can be addictiveto, but I have no answers to that really.
It's just the kindt self youwant to be when you feel you.
(27:06):
In specific places and context.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (27:10):
The next poster moving on to is by the artistic
teacher, a public figure, autistic, andproud sharing insight and understanding
to help the artistic community.
And they shared the following quote,autism is a neurological difference.
(27:31):
Human is.
There is nothing broken.
I see here.
Experience the world in an artistic way.
Well, autistic peopleshare some similarities.
We are also very different.
We are all unique andthat is a beautiful thing.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (27:54):
I.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org: It's more like people are being told (27:58):
undefined
they're broken or made to feel brokenby the society that they live in.
That's my understandingwhat they're saying.
Broken, although maybe not,
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (28:12):
and I suppose it depends when you are told that,
whether you accept that or not, whetheryou have the strength to reject it.
Just
of the sense of.
You these things?
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (28:30):
Well, just going back to when I was diagnosed
or even before that, I did feel broken.
I did feel there wassomething wrong with me.
I needed an answer to find out whatthe problem was with me, with my
being, and there was a lot wrong.
There was a lot wrong with me.
(28:51):
There was anxiety, stress session.
Then getting a diagnosis of what wascalled at the time, Asperger syndrome.
That sounded like something I wasbroken and I needed to get medicine,
but there was no such thing as medicine.
It was incurable, as itwas said at the time.
It's a lifelong condition,a lifelong disability.
(29:12):
You've got it.
You've had it, you've gotta deal withit, but we can help remedy with it.
Help you live, help you get by.
Bye.
These things can help you along,like, you know, support groups or
you know, just different things.
Medicine, , you know, for the stress andanxiety, which I still take to this day.
(29:34):
My outlook is a lot differentnow than it was then.
I don't feel broken anymore,but that took a journey.
As I've said before, I went through theextreme of thinking that I had a gift.
A misunderstood gift superpower,as many do describe autism within
themselves, depending who they are.
But now I just feel it's just the waythat I'm, and it's just a different
(29:55):
outlook and it's just the way societytolerates or doesn't tolerate how I am.
So I don't feel as badabout it as I used to.
So I think that's part of the pointthat the autistic teacher's making in.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com (30:11):
Yeah, can empathize with this feeling that you
may feel like you've landed on the wrongplanet, which is kinda what I felt.
I never felt broken necessarily.
I just felt like I wason the wrong planet.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (30:24):
Yeah.
There's actually a book about WrongPlanet from the early days of the
Neurodiversity Paradigm illustratesthis is a couple conversations.
In autism, and both of them arepart of the behaviorist profession.
(30:48):
One of them described a situationwhere they themselves are neurotypical,
but they have an adolescent daughterwho is now seeking an autism.
And the conversation I had with themwere the pros and cons of getting that
label, but was their hands because.
(31:08):
Their daughter themselves haddecided for themselves that was
appropriate for them and that wasgoing to be a benefit to them.
And the other conversation was witha, an a b, a practitioner and a very
well educated person with all kindsof letters after their name, but
they themselves were also autistic.
(31:29):
And they themselves were in arelationship with an autistic
person and they had a 2-year-old.
They were deciding that they did notwant, at this point in time, their
2-year-old to be diagnosed becausethey saw the interference and supports
(31:50):
from the system in their countrywould be inappropriate for them.
And that was very telling to me thatwhat has traditionally been a diagnosis.
Can be a stamp on somebody of negativity.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (32:09):
The next post is from the Neurodivergent
Experience Public Figure.
The Neurodiverse Experience is a weeklypodcast dedicated to exploring the
vast world of autism, A DHD and more.
It's hosted by the artistic photographer,George James and Simon Scott.
(32:29):
Being neurodivergent is oftenshrouded in misconceptions.
Serotypes unlimited knowledge.
While our experiences may overlap,no two stories are the same.
Hosted by the artistic photographer,Jordan James, Simon Scott, the
Neurodivergent experience is theweekly podcast dedicated to explore
neovascular autism, A DHD, and more.
(32:52):
Through this podcast, we aim to challengethose misconceptions and dive deep into
the diverse experiences of those inthe spectrum by sharing our personal
stories and exploring topics like healthinterventions, sensory processing,
education, employment, and much more.
Each episode will feature insightfulconversations about living in the
(33:14):
spectrum with guest experts, advocates,and allies who are passionate about
creating an inclusive and accepting world.
Whether you know, divergent yourself,a friend, a family member, or simply
curious about this extraordinaryway of experie in the world.
This podcast is your guide to unravelingthe neurodivergent experience.
(33:36):
You can listen to the latestepisode on Spotify, apple, and
Everywhere Via they're Link, linkG most people's thoughts on this.
Have you got people here that havelistened to or regular listeners
to this particular podcast?
I know that we've shared them a fewtimes and discussed them a few times.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: No, I haven't listened to it. (33:55):
undefined
I don't listen to a lot ofneurodivergent or artistic podcasts.
Maybe an element of there.
Do people feel that, you know,at times that you can pretty
much be too much in that zone?
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (34:12):
Well, I understand what you're saying.
Yeah.
'cause I don't listen to many podcastseither because of that reason.
It can be maybe a bit notbecause it isn't interesting.
A lot of this stuff is sometimes thebite sizes of that kind of stuff is
more, you know, is more suitable for me.
A lot of it I just like, I likereading more about it than listening.
(34:35):
That's more my forte is reading'cause I can kind of read it over and
over rather than looking to listento someone talking over and over.
It just depends how it'spresented and what it's about
and enthusiasm that I've got.
But from the stuff that we'veshared already from Jordan James
particularly, is always quite intenseand very good stuff that's shared.
(34:58):
So I believe it must be a great podcast,but very intense, much like our can be.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (35:04):
Yeah, I think much like Ray, if you've spent time
taking part in a podcast, researchinga podcast and editing a podcast,
you want some time off from it.
My general feeling is that a lot of thepodcasts that I have tried to listen
to in the past haven't been edited.
(35:25):
They've had people talking over eachother and just the format of them have
been too difficult for me to take on.
I've been sent some podcasts that peoplehave wanted us to broadcast, and I
don't quite know how to approach thepeople and say it doesn't fit really.
I would have to do an awful lotof work on them to make them
(35:45):
so that I would listen to them.
Hopefully these guys have gottheir act together because
they seem very professional.
And we should always encourage, and Ialways encourage people to seek out other
different bits of information so, youknow, I'm sure the content is lovely.
Raymond-AutisticRadio.com: I'm recalling now. (36:03):
undefined
I did listen to one of the podcastsin the early days of my involvement
here, and it was quite passionateas Harry has reflected upon.
Harry-Autistic-Association.org (36:16):
Thanks to everyone who's took part tonight,
and thanks to the people who share theseposts that we discuss in our podcast.
This is Harry's Facebook for Sunday,the 27th of April, 2025, and as part of
the Spectrum Voices conversation, whichhappens live 5:55 PM to 7:30 PM Sunday.
(36:40):
And we're always here every Sundayfor some exceptions during the year.
So thank you once again.
Enjoy tonight, and I'llnow hand over to Jules.
Jules-AutisticRadio.com (36:50):
Thank you, Harry.
This is the part where we go straightinto what we're doing here at Autistic
Radio and remind people why we're here.
Every Sunday we have a 4, 4, 4 wherethere's a drop in, which isn't a live
recording, but sometimes we put our voicesout there to put out into a podcast.
(37:11):
This part of the show is aliveand it goes out on Facebook and
LinkedIn, and also on YouTube.
If you have something to share with us.
Then don't hold back.
I know there's a bit of controversyaround the project that we have, which
(37:38):
is to have conversations with thebehaviorist community, and I understand.
I understand completely thecontroversy, and I would agree
with even the most vocal.
Of the autistic advocates out there,that behaviorism and a BA as it has been
(38:03):
used in the past and as it continuesto be used in the largest part of the
world, is an unacceptable infringementon the human rights of autistic people.
However, we have been searchingout and finding the people who.
(38:23):
In the behaviorist community,in the PBS community here in New
United Kingdom, who are moving awayfrom that and moving much closer
towards the neurodiversity paradigm.
And even if it turns out that theyare a small group, even if it turns
out that they are the pioneers inchange, I believe it's worthwhile.
(38:50):
Doing everything we can toengage and encourage that change.
So while other people will decide tocontinue to protest for good reason,
this project is about creatingan allyship with the best that
(39:12):
professional community has to offer.
There is space for you to protest.
I am looking for autistic peoplewho have a good understanding
of the model of behaviorism thathas been used for many decades,
(39:33):
those who have been treated badly.
I'm looking for those people who canexplain that and make that knowledge
available through autistic radio.
So if you have something.
To share.
Share, I will do my best to make surethat you get a voice and it's edited
(39:59):
to make it clear and it's absolutelythe words that you want out there.
So contact Jules news@autisticradio.com.
Autistic radio is about us.
It's for us, and it's from us.
(40:20):
Autistic Radio is about you.
It's for you, and it can be from you.
We have every single Sunday dropin four, four 4:00 PM every Sunday.
That's not live.
That's us getting together,us talking community.
(40:46):
Every Sunday, Harry leads a fivefive 5:00 PM a discussion around
the Facebook page that he creates.
Involve yourself by suggestingwhat we should talk about next.
Share it with Harry and.
(41:07):
The bigger picture, advocate, use us.
Speak to the world, your project,your idea, your enthusiasm.
We have a whole range of differentprograms that will fit what you want.
As far as listening goes, there'ssome challenging stuff out there.
(41:32):
Because amongst the identity, theentertainment, and the community,
we also make serious programs withautism professionals challenging
their ideas and bringing whatyou say in other spaces to them.
(41:53):
A lot of those are difficult listens,but it's a holistic gathering.
It comes all together.
Autistic radio is very varied.
We need a favor to encourage us.
We need you to share us.
(42:15):
When you share us.
You give autistic people power.
When you share us, you makeus impossible to ignore.
When you repost on LinkedIn and Facebookand anywhere else, you are advocating
for everybody in the autistic community.
(42:39):
So pick the things that you arehappy with and get them out there.
So thank you from all of us.
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