A post written by Dates-n-Mates Aberdeen Director - Sarah Paterson
My experience living with Autism
I tend to hyper-focus on things that are important to me such as making sure that I have a clear routine every day and have structure in my life because it helps me cope with my anxiety a lot better. I like to plan out my week in advance and if my plans change, especially at the last minute, I can sometimes become distressed but at the same time there are now moments where I can accept change and I always keep an open mind and understand why changes happen for a reason and have since learned how to adapt things better.
What is the difference between Autism and a Learning Disability?
Not only I am autistic, I also have a mild learning disability. It is important to know that having autism and a learning disability can occur together and people tend to get confused with the fact that Autism is NOT a learning disability and they are completely different from one another even with some similarities to each other.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the way we communicate and interact and a learning disability is a neurodevelopmental condition which can affect a person’s ability to process everyday tasks.
Important things to know about Autism
People experience Autism differently! We sense the world around us differently, we socialise differently, we manage stress and difficult challenges differently. People should never assume or underestimate our abilities, we should be listened to and treated with respect. We also deserve to be recognised and celebrated for our achievements.
My advice to other Autistic People
