I'm an autistic person whom is housed and have a job. There's no way I did this out of knowing how to do it. It really happened by chance for me. I have people who are willing to make sure I don't fall through the cracks, but if no one had my back. I'd be homeless or dead. I live in the United States, neurotypicals barely make it now. There's no hope here for people like me.

Let's not forget, some families ( like mine) discard us because of lack of understanding and empathy. Or if one was raised in a narcissistic family like mine and we make easy scapegoats.

I love how Orion goes from "I can't imagine who could possibly want to watch this" in one post to "I'm addressing the bloody U.N." in another.

I tried 3 times to attend university, could not handle the social demand. I got sick every week, to a point where rather I focus on my health or die trying to graduate. I didn't know I was autistic at that time and it was hard to come to terms with that, I felt broken, weak, a total failure. Today I understand that it was all about demand.

I'm facing homelessness right now and have been fighting with the department of housing since June this year. It's very likely I will have nowhere to live come December through no fault of my own. I realise the current rental crisis is tough for everyone but the thought of having nowhere to live (again) as an autistic woman with other disabilities is terrifying. But no one cares. Thank you for continually showing up and speaking the truth on how screwed up the system is. Unfortunately I feel that only those of us who are neurodivergent are either listening/watching and we are the only ones whocare

You know... I've been to Jail. The judge thought I was unapologetic because I was stonefaced during proceedings and he became emotional and aggressive with me because of it... And when I was in there, their idea of helping me with the sensory issues I had while I was in there due to the fact that they NEVER TURN THE BLINKING FLORESCENT LIGHTS OFF was putting me on antipsychotic medication that made my liver enzymes elevated, made me gain sixty lbs in four months and made my joints ache so bad that I shuffled like an old person when I walked. When I got out and saw a REAL doctor, they were HORRIFIED by what I was on, and said flat out "you don't need this medication".

Train freaking professionals! And don't disregard moms! We KNOW when something is different! Autistic bean is my third kid. She's wonderful, but different. One doctor I went to with the bean asked her whether she feels empathy. She obviously said yes. "Well, it can't be autism then." 🤦🏻‍♀️ As a baby, with OBVIOUS sensory processing difficulties, screaming at the top of her lungs for hours and hours..."Oh, don't be hysteric. Babies cry. It'll get better with time and patience." 😫 Toddler tantrums? Never had them! What she had were full blown meltdowns, and we COULD NOT ever figure out what triggered them. It was nothing like a neurotypical tantrum. "She'll grow out of it. Just be consequential." Or even the first assessment, at four years of age. "Well, there are certainly a few autistic traits she has, but it's not severe enough for a diagnosis. She'll grow out of it." At 17 she tried severely harming herself. In the clinic that was supposedly a mental health crisis center, the doctor said "Well, who decides what's normal and what isn't. I don't diagnose people with autism, it breeds prejudice." Meanwhile the kid and the whole family got increasingly desperate every day. We were at the end of our wits... but then we found a daycare clinic that was supposed to help her get back into school. They had a specialist there. She watched the bean for half a week, then asked me whether she could officially assess her because she suspected she might actually be an autistic bean. She did. Diagnosis confirmed by a second doctor. Proper help acquired. Autistic bean is freaking THRIVING! The whole family is. We love her, she loves us, and now we have the tools to actually help her. WHY DOES IT TAKE 18 YEARS AND THE STUBBORNNESS OF A BULL TO GET HELP??! 😫

As someone autistic it's really hard for me to be as articulate as you are mate. Thanks alot

This is brilliant! Thank you Orion, from a 68yr old self- diagnosed autistic in Canada. Why self-diagnosed? Can't afford the nearly $3000 for official diagnosis from our national heath care that I pay taxes for....and at my age, why bother. Please continue your videos and podcasts you, are very much appreciated!

The support for late-diagnosed people would also be such an eye-opener; it would be like puzzle pieces finally coming together. 'Oh that's why they do that', 'oh that's why they react like that'. I grief for the years I did not receive any guidance, mainly on employment. Work has been true hell for me. I've had 15 jobs, all administrative background jobs despite having a master's in linguistics (which is perfectly fine for me, I love admin work!) I don't understand the world who wakes up and 'JUST' goes to work every day. It's such a complex topic if you ask me; from the commute to the actual being there, with different humans, different tasks, the roles people have, the ego's, the very big ego's, the office policies, gossip, expectations ... I also love to work hard, it's like game to me, but I now get that people don't like that. It's exhausting, it's overwhelming, work nearly killed me a few times. You quit and walk away wounded, with no hope and no money. It's simply awful 😿

In the US I was told that the people giving assessments CAN NOT TEST just for asd/adhd because they would be too busy to care for more extreme cases. .... so we're not getting diagnosed because so many of us were overlooked and ignored. So you're going to keep overlooking and ignoring us. We're not invisible we're expendable.

I was reading the comments before I watched this. I’m 72 and I’m on the spectrum and only recently diagnosed. Self diagnosed but there are siblings and children with autism. I suspect my mom was too. I was definitely abused and isolated in junior high through high school and didn’t talk about it. I got through, married, and had 2 kids. I divorced twice. Now days I wonder if by getting married at 18 with having direct attention to nesting saved my life. What wrong path could I have taken by my fawning? My masking was exhausting but I could do a desk job like crazy, I can meet with the public when I have a structure to follow but I’m totally unable to mingle, chat or network. My grandson and his wife are here from Miami and I went to breakfast at his other grandma’s. There were about 15 family members there. I feel so confused in gatherings and I talk to loud and get over animated. I feel polite tolerance. I’m so exhausted that I declined the invite with the same people to watch the Bills game yesterday. I felt bad again when my daughter asked again and I said I don’t like football. My daughter countered that it was to see my grandson and his wife while they’re in town. I did yard work and feel awful guilt, I felt shamed again for being me.

Orion, what we really need is ASD school teachers. We need ASD doctors & psychologists. Maybe then we will find understanding. Channels like yours are utterly wonderful. It breaks my heart that things don't seem to change, because you are still hitting the same walls (lack of understanding) in school with your son today that we had to face with my son back in 2003. I am pretty sure, it's a group of neurotypical professionals that came up with that whacky DSM-5 in the first place. To them we are like ants under a magnifying glass, how will they ever get us when they are outside looking in? Plus, they really don't look very carefully before they decide we are too much bother. So they ended up making conclusions about us that are not helpful. I look forward to the day when we can turn to educated ASD professionals leading the way to understanding our ASD place on this planet. The key to our health is educating each other, like your channel. You may not be able to get them to understand us, but the more we understand ourselves the better we can handle ourselves in this world. hUgz from an old gal in Ohio, Lee

I am 29 and was diagnosed 2 years ago with both autism and ADHD. I live in The Netherlands and I am glad I am. Reading some of these comments makes me sad. Just want to throw out here, in The Netherlands, we are taken care of. I got psycho educational therapy after my diagnoses. This morning I seeked help again because I am suffering autistic burnout. I was able to choose from both a personal personal specialized guide and/or psycho education. Keep up the great work Orion. I love your videos and will receive your book any day now!

I'm not embarrassed to say that a shorter life is alright to me. I welcome it because I'm ready to enjoy paradise wherever it is 🙎🏾

25:00 thats so spot on and profound. My therapist agrees, autism is about the only condition where it is incumbent on the sufferer to adapt themselves to the world. I would absolutely become an autistic employment lawyer, and never bore of absolutely rinsing the NT opposition

I started grad school because I was burned out from ESL teaching. I was always broke, didn't have much help at all, and I crashed after two years (and the pandemic started). Wasted all that money. No degree. Still making crap wages. Still trying to cope with burnout. Still unable to get a formal diagnosis. Not surprised suicide is so prevalent among the ASD crowd. I've been suicidal all my life, but never knew I was autistic, though it's laughably obvious looking back.

I am a 39 year old autistic female presenting person and I was diagnosed only 3 years ago, after my 8 year old daughter was diagnosed at age 2. I suspected it for years but was dismissed for many of the same reasons as you were. I’m thankful that she will grow up and be able to get the supports that I never had, but I mourn for my younger self too. I continue to be invalidated by people in my life and it really sucks 😢

On the healthcare issue that’s what I’m currently dealing with. I refuse to go to any kind of doctor unless I legitimately think it’s something life threatening. And this is horrible because I have chronic diseases that are supposed to be monitored. But I can’t even count on one hand the times I sought help and actually got it…through my entire life experiences. So I’ve learned how to treat myself now. I even know how to do stitches now. And that’s sad.

A problem I've seen as an autistic parent with an autistic son is a lack of support for the parents. All the funding goes to kids, which is important, but what I've learned is, if I'm struggling as his mom, he struggles. We are so closely linked. You can't care for one and not the other. It's not enough.

As a 43 year old late-diagnosed autistic mother of five autistic children, may I say that you, Orion, are truly doing god's work with this kind of content. You have PERFECTLY delineated my experience, and what I am facing in trying to advocate for my children. Thank you.

i'm still in my early 20s and i've already been homeless 2 times since i was 17, for multiple years in total. it took me 5 years to find a safe place to live and now that i'm alone here i have no consistent help, as someone who never had help to even get a license let alone be able to afford a car, i survive on a meager welfare sum monthly. i'm alone almost every day all day except if i'm lucky and get a house visit check from a case worker. i survived extreme child abuse, was rescued by CPS, and now sit here feeling like i'll never have anything to show for it because seems like nothing and no one in power exists that is compassionate and able to meet me halfway. i am extremely aware of how little i'm worth to society, including my own family. and my crime is my autism. i cannot win.

Great video . I think for a few autistic people, especially , those who have an early diagnosis, they may have a better outcome , especially if they have a good support network including the environment. However , the world is more competitive and demanding , which is likely to work against autistic people, despite increasing awareness. Most autistic people might have other neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD. Late diagnosed , neurodiverse people , might have developed secondary comorbid mental health problems. Highly educated, highly intelligent autistic people , are likely to be diagnosed late . Highly educated and highly intelligent people who are autistic does not mean a better outcome , especially if the diagnosis occurs as an adult . Support is biased towards children and their parents .

When ur bullied ,it don’t make is easier for us ,than u get mocked n called a lier . When I hear things like that n I’ve been through hell and back, but I will fight till the day I die.

This video should be watched by every decision maker at every level of government, local and national, should watch this - AND TAKE NOTE!

I would like to see police and health professionals to have some sort of training on how to deal with those who are nerodivergent.

I hope you get some people to understand this, I feel burned by life as a 57 year old autist that also only know what his difference is for a few years. I got disability retirement at 51, I feel lucky for that, at least I don't need to face work days anymore, but I guess it came too late. I am writing a photo book to make difference accepted, the gains will go to my Country's Autism support. Thank you for your work.

When they bypass you every time for promotion because there's always someone even if less experienced and less professional but always more "socially interactive", "communicative". Or because they've asked several points of reference before promotion and of course there are at least one or two who said "We don't know what's with her but we don't recommend..."

Seriously Orion, we need you as a representative of autistic people in Australia! I cannot express how much I agree with every single thing you said in the video.

Just finished watching the video and it only solidified what I've already seen. I'm going to try and become an experience expert and make it my goal to speak at every police station in the country, as well as big companies and as many schools as I can. The more people understand us, the better we as people can help each other

Thank you for every single word of this. This is my life experience. All of it. I’ll sum up the failure of the health system here in the States with this: at 28, after I had dropped out of grad school due to severe mental health struggles (meltdowns I’m pretty sure), the first psychiatrist outside of the university told me right before I walked out the door at the end of the appointment “You’re not normal for your age.” 39 now and on my way to diagnosis. Now I know it’s not all my fault. And you Orion have helped me immensely. Thank you.

Society has a material interest in addressing this because if you do not pay for it through social services, you will end up paying in the form of psychaitric crisis intervention, or prisons (Its said that autistic people are overrepresented in prison populations)

My autistic child was recently admitted to hospital. Those people were very kind and trying to help but they just had no idea how to handle a child like mine. They were trying to go ‘by the book’. And it made the experience one of the most traumatic we have ever had to date. At one point I honestly thought to myself - if I wasn’t here to advocate for him, what would happen to this child? Things need to change. Just going a little slower, considering what needed to happen, turning the lights down, quieter machines, listening to him when he said he needed pain relief - they didn’t believe him when he said he was hurting. I had to try make all this happen myself. It all would have made a big difference. Oh well. You keep talking about this Orion. It really matters. I mean it matters for everyone, but it especially matters for the people who can’t speak up for themselves because they are not able, or are not believed when they do speak up 😢

yes my friend...I've had SOOO much frustration with being isolated by my family and doctors.

Hi Orion (you've got the same name as the ship that brought me to Australia). As a very late diagnosed Autistic and Autism mum and migrant, I have a few specifics: Dyspraxia, difficulties in sport, in our sport driven culture is a big one for us and more common amongst Autistics. Not enough research is done to help Autistics who struggle with Phys Ed and fitness. It is genetic, we are not just couch potatoes. My older daughter (self diagnosed Autistic ADHD) just got her ancestry genetic test back which gave her ethnic make-up. It also says, based on her genes, she is more likely to be introverted, a picky eater and her muscles tire more easily after exercise, all of which is true and is part of Autism. So where is the Integration support at schools for kids who struggle with sport? The issue is lost in the noise about an obesity epidemic and difficulty with sport is seen to have a moral cause. As an Autistic I excel in maths and tutor students (I don't teach in a regular school because of my issues with hierarchy and the social and sensory environment, especially chit chat and power politics). I have never called a kid who struggles in maths a couch potato or made them feel responsible for their issues - when will there be a similar level of understanding for kids who struggle with sport? My younger (diagnosed Autistic) daughter couldn't walk until she was two and a half, but was constantly bullied in sport at school and I was always complaining to the school, but sporting culture and Phys Ed is so competitive that the bullying always returned. I sent my kids to several specialised fitness programs after hours but these weren't subsidised and were closed down when they failed to make a profit. As a migrant Autistic/Autism mum, I get in involved in research advisory groups looking into the needs of Autistic children in immigrant families. Migrant children are often diagnosed later and end up with more social/learning issues. This is partly because so much research centres on white boys. Information about Autism isn't targeted towards ethnic communities (it's not just a matter of google-translating a brochure) and there is a lack of peer support for migrant Autistics and Autism parents, including educating and supporting extended families, since extended families play a bigger role in the life of Autistic kids from CALD backgrounds. Because many newer migrants come from poorer countries which have directly or indirectly been impoverished by European colonialism, old fashioned attitudes towards disability and Autism still hold sway with many migrants. Stigma plays a part in delayed diagnosis, isolation of families and hiding Autistic or disabled family members. More will come out of the Disability Royal Commission. In 2019, Father Dominic Valanmanal from Kerala state in India planned to visit Australia to conduct a residential retreat for Autism parents from India in Philip Island Victoria. But this priest blamed Autism on parents' "sins". An Indian Autism dad successfully petitioned the catholic church to cancel the priest's visit. My point is: why does the Australian government allow people into the country who practise hate speech towards Autistics? Why didn't they step up and deny Father Valanmanal a visa? The Department of Home Affairs refuses visas to Nazis and others who practise racist hate speech. When will they offer Autistics a similar level of protection? Nothing is being done to make it easier for older immigrants to get a diagnosis. Autism is assessed through looking at social differences, but migrants are made to feel "othered", that our differences are because we are non-Anglo - if we are stressed we are made to feel like hysterical foreigners eg Mediterraneans. If we are shy we must be repressed by traditional families eg Muslims. If we have trouble communication people assume we can't speak the language or have cultural difference etc. These assumptions are prevalent and seem to explain away differences, so make it harder for an adult migrant to gain a diagnosis. No research has been done on this and I have complained directly to Autism researchers when i have volunteered as a research subject. One researcher has promised to contact me later this year with a view to starting Australia's first ever research project specifically into the needs of CALD Autistic adults. It sounds great, but the lack of CALD Autism research to date is nothing to celebrate. Hundreds of submissions were made to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to count ethnic identity and LGBTIQ+ people in the 2026 national census, but there were only 2 submissions made to count Autistics, one of which came from me. We have to stand up and be counted and start somewhere.

Yes, I am 60 plus woman with the diagnosis: BPD, depression, anxiety and schizofrenia. The professionals have missed that I am aspergers, I have all the traits of aspergers. It's frustrating

I watched yesterday a documentary of a Dutch teenager who had been bullyied at school for years. He couldn't take it any more and he ended his own life (age 16). I am an old aspie and I have been bullyied actually all my life more and less (mostly more). When the NT's never accept you and keep bullying and also trying to crash on me with a car which has already succeeded once with a leg broken on 2 places, then you can say that it is a miracle that I am still alive. Orion, I want to thank you for great content!!

26:57-27:01 i can relate, because 8 months ago, I had this group project for my entrepreneurship module, and I got too scared to ask to be in a group, because 99.9% of the class (except me) were all popular and extroverted. And so, this one particular Monday morning, I was *gonna* ask the lecturer if he could put me in a group, but then I realised that he was all the way at the top of the classroom, and suddenly felt embarrassed that everyone would know that I'm too socially awkward to asked to be in a group, so I just sat frozen in my chair, and looked down to the ground in shame 😭

This doesn't just resonate. This screams out. You need to be hired to help with these strategies. Thank you for all the info you broadcast and the book you wrote!!!

Hello, I am Neurotitypical and i really appreciate your channel raisin awarness it is the best way to buid the world all of us deserve.

ASD Life expectancy based on research - 58 yrs. Uk NHSs mental health support - available for children and Teens; limited for adult males; none for adult females. UK NHS Covid treatment for ASD - DNR UK housing and social housing (not group housing) - ASD does not qualify as disability. ASD most common cause of death of adults - suicide. ASD research shows increasing numbers of late diagnosis females dying - cause - suicide. ASD life expectancy - 58 yrs.

I am a retired RN with decades of experience that included pediatrics. When my son suspected his son had autism and asked for my opinion I had nothing for him. I knew nothing of it and had, to my knowledge anyway, ever encountered a child or adult with autism. They struggled to get a diagnoses for their 3 year old non verbal son. They had no access in their state of TN to an affordable diagnoses, so they moved in with us in CA where there was a new program at the local uni. They applied, were accepted free of charge for an assessment for their son. He got his diagnosis and we got in home treatment for him. The difference that made in the outcome of my grandson also affected the great outcomes of his two autistic younger brothers. I learned so much about autism by being immersed in it and loving three little neuro-atypical boys. You hit the nail on the head when you say the healthcare community world wide have a deficit when it comes to autism understanding.

Doctors a long time ago 30-50 years knew nothing about autistic kids. Now the adults trying to find a diagnosis is unbelievable hard. Why is it so damn hard, I mean it's 2023, but it still feels like it's the early 60's.

Thanks Orion. It does make me sad that it’s taken so long for me to be diagnosed (58-59). If I look back w little fragments of memories esp frustrating interpersonal and work situations I’m like “oh my gosh” - ASD - no wonder I’ve been so demeaned and struggled so much to be understood as well as understand others ….

I was diagnosed with Asperger's 30 years ago as a child. Those records are long gone now. However, I cannot seek diagnosis as an adult to access support services that I need. I have an autoimmune liver disease that requires transplant and I can be denied transplant with an autism diagnosis. The system is so messed up!

I’m 31 I self diagnosed myself a couple days ago. I’m so relieved to find you all beautiful people ❤

thank you for raising awareness about autism there are still so many people that don't understand autism or disability

39:40 "As an Autistic person, there's nothing quiet about 500 keyboards." 😆😱

The public education system should understand that people learn differently. There are auditory, visual, and kinetic learners. Autistic people have a hyper focus on narrow interests. That is a trait of a genius. It is necessary to teach to reach the auditory, visual, and kinetic student. Acceptable social skills to resolve issues should be taught to all students.

Years ago, a young autistic man was shot, resulting in a lifetime of a paraplegic life, arrested and charged. His crime - being autistic on his own property and (of course) " acting strange" and not properly following the shouted instructions from the police. Turn out he was never a threat not threatening the police. His responses were perfectly normal for an autistic person but not the norm for nondivergent persons. Needless to say, there were legal action taken on his behalf. But the damage was already done. Education and awareness on the part of the "normal" people is lacking. It hasn't changed very much. The professionals and police are given more instruction in awareness. They seem to sleep through much of it. Bandaides do not fix the problem.

I'm 35 and returned to school last year. I'm self diagnoses ASD at the moment and I've explained it to my doctor and expressed my concerns that I can't afford assessment right now but I think it might be helpful. What I got was "there are things we can do if you find transitioning from school to work difficult." Great, but what if I burnout this year trying to finish school?

As an adult with autism in America this podcast keeps me alive really appreciate your help keep continuing no matter what

You said thank you at the end of this video, but it is the artistic community that should be thanking you for your super cool channel. Keep up the good work. I’m awake diagnosed autistic adult & it sure was nice to hear I’m not alone because the hospital system is absolute crap. Eventually I’ll get an ADHD diagnosis formally just for the fun of it because there’s no way I don’t have that too.

I'm unemployed, live with an elderly disabled parent, have no friends, have an alcohol addiction, SH, have had daily thoughts of death for years, and already attempted to unaIive once... but I was barely diagnosed last year 2 days before my 36th birthday. My country's support towards ND people is non-existent and understanding on the part of its people is poor at best so yeah, I have already lost any hope for a future.

I'm fascinated by the statement that autistic people have a shorter life expectancy. Before anyone takes that the wrong way, I AM autistic and I see this as both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in the way that hopefully my suffering will come to an end sooner and a curse because I haven't done all the things I want to do in this life. I also may never get the opportunity to do so anyway. I strongly do feel that the stress of trying to maintain employment will be the death of me.

I would say one of the most difficult challenges/sources of anxiety for me as a child was gym class. I believe outside the relatively more structured, safe, and predictable environment of the classroom, it can be difficult and/or distressing for an (especially, undiagnosed) autistic child. I believe all children (especially those not yet diagnosed as autistic) should be assessed for their relative comfort and ease and overall enjoyment in regular gym class and be given the opportunity to participate in equally physical activities but those which are more geared to those with, for example, the social challenges and struggles of being autistic. Interestingly, my most positive and memorable activity in gym class was when we did square dancing. It was one of the few times boys and girls mixed, and I feel also there was a certain degree of structure and "rhythm" (and messing up the various moves!) that made it more comfortable, more enjoyable, and more safe for me as a not-yet-diagnosed autistic boy than the more typical competitive sports where one can feel more judged and also possibly more subject to ridicule.

CANT PUT YOUR AUTISM IN A BACKPACK,...... So funny and true

You are helping so many with your openness and sharing your story.

We have a boatload legacy institutions that were designed to literally beat deviancy out of people, then the same people who run those institutions wonder "why [insert outgroup] does badly with cops/medical system/judicial system/prison/etc". Well... duh. Those systems were always designed to make life a living hell for whatever the outgroup of the day is. It was never about crime, the truly successful career criminals are ruling you and me, not getting randomly shot for walking strangely.

I just watched the Four Corners episode of the failure of the NDIS to protect the most vunrable. Its so heartbreaking.

Im in discussion with RDP in Canada about an art project to solve an issue of direct prejudice being recommended as a response to autistic self regulatory behaviour as part of the curriculum. I deeply appreciate this talk.

I'd like a specific city to go to that is exclusively populated with people on the spectrum. That would solve a host of problems I've encountered.

So so much to agree with, to think about. And real talk. Our lives experiences of this are exhausting and then we're expected to advocate, educate, and pass as typical enough in our daily lives. And dead on about expecting the answers in the "engagement " without already listening to what we've been saying. Huge probs for what you've said about uni. It's outmoded, it's impersonal, and often unhelpful. If we succeed it's despite of everything, not because ... anyway, preaching to the converted but so grateful for your voice, acceptance and appreciation.

Hey, I am first - this is a first. 😂 Great video so far. I am 16 and only just been diagnosed with asd.

Tailoring the approach would include making the latest autism research/findings part of continuing education. A lot of continuing education in the US is hosted and presented by the fields that they focus in. Optometrists have optometry conventions, but more and more are including occupational therapy, and to a limited extent, vision therapy and a other various specialist areas. You've got me all kinds of worked up. I had no idea 3 days ago about whats been wrong with me for my whole life, and to learn that i can learn more about autism from TikTok and KZfaq than medical personnel already know, just serves to continue weakening type of authority i can assign to them.

47:07-47:21 I'm starting to look at all those appointments I had with this one learning support centre after I finished primary school in vain. I personally feel like the support I got was too consuming for me in primary school, and that it should've stopped at secondary school, but it didn't. And also, I didn't even consent to going to those appointments, and all that happened there was yoga, "interventions" in terms of how to act "normally". And even that one time 4 years ago, when I had this "review" of all the learning support I got, I told the lady that I didn't like having the learning support assistants around, because they kept telling me what to do, and that subsequently there was severe pathological demand avoidance building up inside of me; but my dad was there like "but, there just trying to help you". WHEN HE WAS THE ONE TO CONSPIRE WITH MY OLD SECONDARY SCHOOL TO FORCE ME TO HAVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! 😡

This is so important! Society is ki💥lling us! Teachers, doctors, nurses - You Must Shut Up And Listen! You must change, because you are ki💥lling us. I live in Sweden, and school + healthcare for our tribe sucks. It's so brutal I now have severe ptsd.

Thank you for touching on uni, from the noise of keyboards in the library (also frantic writing sounds in exam rooms) to the lectures being based on a single learning style. I struggle with audio based learning, and that was the norm at the uni I went to. Ended up flunking out of first year bachelor of science, despite having an scholarship, because it got to the point I couldn’t handle the noise and learning style and stopped leaving my dorm room. 2 decades later, I’d love to go back for engineering, but I think the same hurdles would remain. More time in a noisy exam room, or even in a lecture hall won’t help. In Canada.

Great video! It's hard to be a self advocate but also important to addressing these issues. But you got to takecare of yourself first. I have been struggling with this balance. I'm on the Diversity Advisory Committee at my work and I have focused on Autism and neurodiversity. As a late diagnosed Autistic adult it's important to me. But at the same time it's hard and really draining. Right now I'm leading a team reviewing our hiring process to try to make it better for neurodivergent people. Good work and I have been given awards for my work. But it's so draining too and I often want to just focus on my job and have more time to rest...

I know how true is. Because I went through it myself. I am 55 years and I got diagnosed almost 2 years ago.

Undiagnosed and you're absolutely right the book was thrown at me when I was younger and I'm 99% sure that I'm autistic.

Ive been diagnosed about two months ago. It felt great, straight away. I made sense. Then i tell people. I get, poor you, no your not. Dont put a lable on it, a pause then change of subject, that sort of thing. Now they have an excuse to ignore me. Its strangely possitive over all. Organisations could ask the autistic community. If you want to know how to look after an autistic person? Ask a person that already knows about autism. Neurotypical people dont seem to think that way. Even if they're told the answer!???

Why don’t governments include autistic people and their families in developing the strategy? They know what they need and their families know what they need.

I ended up finishing a law degree and loved commercial law. The small attention to detail that we have has been a strength. Although face to face negotiations can be a bit rough at times.

Man, the US doesn't think about us at all.

I think a big challenge is that you can't identify an autistic person by their appearance, and this makes acceptance in a mostly natural way hard to achieve. Being singled out is a big of part of the problem. Thinking out loud here, but often times I find that if I spend time with people one on one for a bit and get to know each other, I sidestep a lot of the crappy misjudgements that could go wrong. This in mind, I had a community support idea that may or may not work. The general idea I had was to have people volunteer for something and have the event set up to be a 50/50 split of autistics and non-autistics, somewhere along the lines requiring one on one collaboration or pair work in a group. I'm sure that if segregated afterward, the non-autistics could together identify commonalities in their autistic peers, and so could the autistics about their non-autistic peers. A group activity isn't going to trick any of us into thinking there's more of us than there actually are (feel good lies about demographics would confuse people more), but it would create a handful of potential community allies. Interesting that Microsoft has a total separate hiring process for autistics. Instead of a one day interview, it takes place over a week. Less pressure to perform in one short burst (a common stumbling block for me), and less harsh judgement. Similar concept to the one on one bonding I mentioned. Because it's a diverse spectrum, going by textbook understanding doesn't seem totally ideal. Autism Speaks claims "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person". Yeah, I'd agree. There's an underlying unconscious thing about the spectrum though that allows us autistics to click with each other in a way not as common with non-autistics. Post diagnosis, I look back on my friendships and realize some of these other oddballs like me were on the spectrum too (they too got late diagnosis). I don't struggle to communicate with them. We generally just get each other's odd manerisms.

After years of occasionally but persistently being kicked out of pubs or bars made sense. Im so friendly and have never been in a fight. I would always leave with no resistance but very upset as i walked down the street confused especially with a loud and agro dude allowed to stay and i didn't. Slight stimming? No eye contact when asking for a drink? My awkward gait i have when i walk?????

The thing that would really help is if the system could treat all people as *people*. Regardless of their disability, race, social class, etc. We all have the same basic needs for safety, security, accessibility, and dignity. Autistics are no different! Just treat everyone as a person with needs!

Every point you have made is 1000% true in my experience also. This was quite distressing to watch but I was determined to hear it all. As for the drugs, weed made me comfortable in my body and improved my fit in the society. My most successful period of my life was done stoned but that made me a criminal and forced me to clean up my act. With abstinence I have lost everything. My career, my home, my family, my physical and mental health all gone. The Family Law Court process destroyed me and I agreed to give away everything just to get out of the process and now I’m really suffering for doing that. I don’t know why someone didn’t spot what was going on and pull it up. I nearly took my own life because of how bad I was deliberately made to feel by my ex wife’s female narcissistic barrister who has moved up the ladder since and is also known to have badgered fellow practitioners to tears, (total bitch). I was traumatised which was also used to prove what a bad person I am as I couldn’t communicate and demonstrate my true caring nature. I love what you are doing, thank you for dedicating your energy and expertise to this important conversation

i have often wondered , is it just my fault ? am i lazy ? when every institution you interact with fights you your whole life its easy to be convinced you are the problem

Thank you for bringing this to our attention! What an exciting development as an aussie

I was once in a "Taskforce" for inclusivety at my then current workplace. It was known that i am diagnosed as autist. But sadly i lacked that one course about inclisivety another person on the "Taskforce" had. So i got lectured about how i can only talk from my own perspective and that i have no idea about autism in general. Sometimes i wish, that neurotypical person could see the irony in his statement. All in all, i got booted cause the person lecturing me was my direct superior. "He disturbs the peace and inclusivety at the workplace. Also he is not able to adapt to the new course of management". It is frustrating. Also i am unemployed since then, feeling like i am in a vegetative state since i don't even get to the part with a first interview. Only jobs available near, "supported" by the state are as Programmers or in IT. Also you need the experience to do those jobs. Both things i do not have and due to my financial status am not able to get (besides that, it is not a strength of me and i already have a very diverse CV.) So yeah Orion, good video, even when you're in Australia and i am in Switzerland, i can relate a lot to the topics.

Thank you for making this video. I hope that change for the good starts to happen for us all, everywhere. We deserve to have a higher quality of life. We have so much we can contribute if given support. We have value because we exist, and it is time that value is reflected in the collective. ❤

Fantastic video, I'm going back to school and this will help me. Thank you for your work, self-advocacy is hard. 😅

You didn't mention clergy. In the US, clergy are often remarkably ignorant of autistic needs and communication styles. We are Catholic, and my son is an excellent church organist. Despite his willingness to work (even for free), he has been refused even fill-in positions for when the main organist can't make it. The staff give no valid excuse for their exclusiveness. Autistic people in the community have literally been kicked out of masses. I've spoken to priests about the need for training, and NOTHING has been done.

Orion for parliament ! How great if they used you as a consultant before they made decisions for and about us . "NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US" Diagnised at 58 in Australia, no assistance , no offer of any help in anyway just here is your diagnosis bye.......is there any assistance for "asd1"or am I not autistic enough? We are on our own. Thanks Orion we need YOU

The real problem is knowing you are autistic doesn't really fix anything. It simply gives you a reason why things are the way they are for you. The reality is I'm unsure society is willing to do thing to accommodate autistics

23:56-24:09 we have a similar policy in Ireland called "D.A.R.E." (disability access route to education), and like you said, they don't disclose why you're offerd the supports. I think I had it worse than anyone, because when I had those meetings with my guidance counselor in my last year of secondary school, she didn't bother telling me that all the colleges I applied to had to be registered with the D.A.R.E. program. And so, I was forced to give up my first college place acception, because there were "no special needs supports" (even though I didn't consent, or really need them, because i'm only mildly autistic, and i've been craving to live more independently since I started secondary school, because I feel like i've been extremely infantilised since being diagnosed autistic at 3 years old). And although I *did* apply for this other college, I had to take 2 buses for 2 hours just to get there, so my dad forced me to give up my place there, too. And keep in mind that when I was applying to a third college, I had to constantly call up the national college application board, and when that hadn't worked, I was depressed, and crying in my room. And although I *did* get accepted into the third college, they deliberately a round offer, because I put them second, because I put the second college first as per my mom's request. And even when I *did* ask for help from the support services from the third college, specifically with the social aspect of things, because for a marketing assignment, I had to carry out this focus group, and considering the fact that my dad never lets me out of the house to hang out with people my own age, that wasn't gonna happen. So anyway, they were super sloppy with their services; they had this humongous turnover rate with their staff, so I was practically in limbo. I mean, the lecturer was understanding, and only had me interview my sister for the focus group, but the point of this whole tangent is that, what was the point of me sacrificing the anti-learning support college, when the current college I attend has farcical learning support? 🙄😂

Love this submission! As a 32 year old woman seeking autistic dignosis there are so many things i could add. Having gone to my psychatrist and stating i think i am autistic because of reasons. And then being told that i have ADHD. Well might i point out how big the overlap between those two things are . I could go on ........ for ever

People need to do good research in order to pursue professional diagnosis especially if they struggle with trauma too. Not all docs are interested in individuals and their overall wellness …….

Thank you for opening up your figurative heart educating me with understanding. Keep up the great work.

I don’t want to live in a group home , I hate living at home but I refuse to leave my cat and dog with my old dad who is abusive to me and my narcissistic mother left a year ago .. I feel like I’m living in hell but I guess I’m just lucky I have a roof over my head even though being here drives me nuts… I can’t function right now . I don’t frigen care about footy results , my dad keeps telling me to stop doing things I can’t help like when I get scared of everything or every noise … I keep screaming and crying into my pillow because I don’t know what else to do . Sleeping pills have stoped working . I’m hate people . Ndis are a bit shit as well . I just want to sleep or go away .. I dont know what to do??? I keep thinking I’m going to die soon . It would not bother me but I have to look after my cat and dog

This is a good topic Orion. Specially now because the number of Autistic people is like to go up in the years to come. Thank you for talk about.

It took me 10 years to get my BS. I had to re-work every lecture and every chapter so i could understand it and spit it back when asked. I do understand. Sheesh!

We need to start meetings or something at this point. VIVA LA AUTISTIC REVOLUCION !!!!!! ✊ 🧠 💪 👑

I got my diagnosis yesterday 😂❤❤❤ I'm autistic officially confirmed. Knew all these years though but I'm glad it's on paper now ⭐

Not related to the topic at hand, but an interesting thing I learned while using this video as background stimulation while I did housework: my ADHD wants body-doubling, but my Autism does demand avoidance. So some days, I can't work _without_ another person, and other days I can't work _with_ another person. And sometimes, those happen at the same time

I did not get diagnosed intill i had ny son and everyone told me he needed to be tested. I had no idea i was autistic growing uo because i got tested for every learning disability under the sun with no results because back than they did not see autism as a spectrum nor recognize the difference between boys and girls. Me being a girl in the earky 90s i slipped threw the cracks ended up abusing alcohol and drugs to help with masking who i truly was but if i dident go threw that i wouldent have my son now and 3 years clean and sober.

this kind of stuff is why i have very few neurotypical friends. almost all my friends are nuerodivergent because we're the only ones who bother to try to understand each other. nt's just find you uncanny and want to sweep you under the rug. they care more about maintaining a status quo that's comfortable for them and no one else.

I found with a few minor accommodations my teen did way better in school. Quiet space to take exams and teacher to provide class room notes that she read aloud in class.