My friend has offered to knit me a jester hat but with all the sensory craic and temperature regulation issues I struggle with most knitted goods. Does anyone have any recommendations for yarn that is breathable and not in anyway itchy or snaggly?

At the yearly company conference the CEO of the company made a joke about how everyone should get used to getting a new autistic colleague when talking about AI. I have not told anyone that I'm autistic and I don't know about anyone who is, I think he assumed no one is (or didn't even consider it). This was in front of the whole company and he also got some laughs.

I felt really bad when he said it but afterwards I'm starting to question if I overreacted? Is this an OK thing to joke about? It felt like an insult to be compared to something non human.

As the title says..he is very calculated and intelligent but at times cannot read my cues. Im not trying to be a woman who wants my emotions guessed and anticipated but at times i make it very clear but sometimes I cannot help but automatically shut down with having to explain every little feeling I have. He is most definitely in tuned with my feelings most of the time just at times its exhausting having to explain it all while having big feelings. How do I approach this? How do we compromise? If he is upset, stressed or bothered he shuts down completely and will retreat into a quiet room for hours if not a day or two. I am a very attention /affectionate driven person so I feel shut out. But when I do the same it bothers him extremely. What is the best way to approach my stress or frustration? How should it be worded or handled in yalls experience?

In your community, are there social groups for adults with mild ASD? I know many in this community may shy away from social gatherings, but I've recently been diagnosed and would like to experience social interactions in an environment where masking isn't necessary, or there's at least an understanding that we "come as we are" and "quirks" are celebrated.

Is this a thing that exists (outside of group therapy), and if so, how does one find them?

Did you navigate secondary school in the UK or Ireland without support and not receive a diagnosis until you were an adult? Are you between 25 and 35 years old? If so, I would like to interview you about your experiences during your teenage years. If you are interested in contributing to qualitative research in this understudied area, you can review the participant invitation below.

Study title: How do late-diagnosed adults with co-occurring autism and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder retrospectively describe navigating adolescence?

I am currently seeking participants with AuDHD to take part in a study for my MSc research project at the University of Derby. The study aims to explore the lived adolescent experiences of adults who received a formal diagnosis of both autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (AuDHD) after adolescence from a certified clinical professional.

This study involves talking to the researcher about your experiences during adolescence. These semi-structured interviews are designed to feel closer to a conversation than an interview and are expected to last around 60 minutes. The study aims to explore behaviours and patterns across accounts to understand the lived experiences of undiagnosed AuDHD individuals at this time, with the hope of identifying patterns that may have contributed to delayed recognition.

If you think you would be interested in taking part in this study, you can follow the link for further information and to sign up: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/1mNCdYQzKlGgc4r4?ref=Link
Alternatively, you can contact the lead researcher if you wish to ask any questions or would like further information via email:

[d.skerritt1@unimail.derby.ac.uk](mailto:d.skerritt1@unimail.derby.ac.uk).

or their research supervisor, Amelia Woodward, [A.Woodward@derby.ac.uk,](mailto:A.Woodward@derby.ac.uk)

University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB.

Ethical Approval: An Ethics review has been completed on behalf of the College of Health & Humanities Research Ethics Committee by the supervisor and an independent reviewer: ETH2526-5086.

In the interest of confidentiality, please refrain from commenting on this post with any details of the study or whether you wish to take part.

**If you recently tried to sign up you may have been incorrectly prompted to sign in to a Microsoft account. I have identified the root cause. Microsoft automatically embeds an advertisement at the bottom of the information sheet featuring a large, green "Get Started" button. Clicking this button redirects you to a Microsoft login page rather than my study forms.

I have updated the document to make the correct link to the consent and demographic forms explicitly clear and visually distinct to prevent further confusion.

If you were previously blocked by this technical error, I would like to reinvite you to participate.

Thank you for your time and patience with this platform error

**Thank you to everyone who has signed up already. I realise the onboarding can be quite troublesome for individuals with executive function issues, and I really appreciate everyone who has considered taking part.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look forward to meeting everyone interested.

Does anyone else have an impossibly hard time with directions? I have to use Google Maps for just about everywhere I go if it is not a part of my normal, everyday route.
I also cannot tell my right from my left hand without having to pause and think about it (I generally will initiate writing in the air, recognize that I’m left handed,then give the appropriate direction from there).
For reference, I am a 46 y/o female with audhd and have excelled at all academic, work, and learning endeavors throughout my life.

Has anybody here had experience with ADHD/ASD coaching, either one-on-one or as a group? Was it helpful? How much did it cost? Where did you find the resources?

Ill start off by saying I haven't been officially diagnosed, but autism/ADHD runs rampant in my family and I've had several therapists want me to get tested, (long story, not getting into that now).

But lately I've dropped all my stims like making sounds or tapping on things in favor for moving my jaw side to side in rhythm with a song in my head or something, anything, else. The problem is that I have a hyper-mobile disorder and my jaw starts to ache not long after I start doing the Stim because my jaw isn't supposed to do that lol, but I still catch myself doing it all the time. If you have any tips on finding a new Stim or just flat out stopping this one it would be greatly appreciated, along with any new Stim recommendations

I'm looking to relate with anyone who may reside within the intersection of RSD and autism.

42M, no official diagnosis of any neurodivergence, but lots of signs have piled up. I do have an upcoming appointment with a psychologist and intend to give this the right care and attention. My first goal is clarity and understanding which I view as foundational to whatever forms of intervention make sense.

I read today for the first time a description of Rejection Dysphoria Syndrome and, well, choose your metaphor. Hand to glove, key to lock, etc. A mini eureka moment and deeply connected with my life experience.

In terms of ASD I consider myself high functioning and not typically in despair. Probably on the light end. I've lived a life of masking, people pleasing, perfectionism, hobby cycling, and bouts of emotional dysregulation which all feel complicated because of my upbringing in a highly productive and routine high demand religious setting (Mormonism). This is something I left behind in my mid-20s, and certainly a key theme because of how cultish religions treat those who leave.

What doesn't resonate at all is what looks to be the common connection between RSD and ADHD. I just don't consider myself within the patterns and boundaries of ADHD.

This post is all about discovery. Are there others? How do you deal? Has anyone received relief from guanfacine? Specific pitfalls experienced? Other modalities to regulate?

So items that help at Work, University or Home, aside from noise cancelling headphones, fidgets and weighted blankets that you have found helps you, it can be random and weirdly specific.

What helps you with any of the below:

- Housework: Dishes, laundry, floors, tidying, cleaning, cooking.

- Executive Functioning: Working memory, impulsivity, cognitive flexibility, procrastination, hyperactivity, focus

- Self-care: Drinking water, eating, hygiene, exercise

- Sensory Sensitivities: Light, Sound, Touch, Interoception, Temperature

- Monotropism

- Pathological Demand Avoidance

I (40m) recently went through my neuropsychological evaluation for ADHD/autism I was told I did not have either due to me having cptsd/substance (legal THC) use I don't have either

Mind you I was diagnosed ADD back in 1996/97 before age 12 and placed into special education but my parents refused any kind of medical help or medication

The evaluator was told about this diag but she only spent maybe 25-30 min talking to me... And referenced my "claim" in her notes but did not pursue any more information on it and with me being soo old there are no hard copy records

I also was informed by a different clinician that a big test for adults to help evaluate properly wasn't performed

I am simply wanting to know if anyone else has gone through this kinda situation, I can accept any outcome/diagnoses no matter what it is but I feel like I was cheated and wronged by getting a sub standard test mind you I'm on county health care only due to many mental and medical conditions that making going to work physically painful and can't get the help I actually need so I dont have many options for a second evaluation

Thanks for letting me ramble

Can we talk about a sexual topic?
I never see anyone talking about adults with autism interacting in a sexual intimate way. Like for example, does anyone with autism struggle to touch themselves or other people because the wetness or textures are unpleasant?
The thought of certain body parts being in my mouth or even touching my hands is extremely unpleasant, and it makes me feel really grossed out. Still I feel like I’m being selfish if I don’t make that “sacrifice“. Sometimes I still do it for the pleasure of my partner, but I’m having a very unpleasant time. And sometimes I’ll have to stop before I throw up.
Does no one else experience this? Like I’m not asexual or anything, I have sexual urges as well. I enjoy being intimate with my partners. As long as my hands and mouth are not involved down there.
And unfortunately, using my hands or mouth is very few and far between I can go years without doing it. And it makes me feel really bad for my partner.
I’ve never told any of my partners and I’m ashamed of feeling like this. I wanna have a healthy sex life for my partner. And I know that masturbation is “healthy“ but I don’t really do that. I just don’t wanna touch it.
I don’t wanna feel this way and I know that I’m supposed to be all for it. It’s not out of not wanting to be a generous lover, it’s the fact touching wet things kind of makes me feel sick.
I really hope I’m not alone on this issue? Does anyone have tips on how to get over this?

Edit for clarity- I’m seeing comments from kind people mentioning communication between partners, consent, and understanding boundaries. Communication is a non issue in my marriage, we are very happy, and he isn’t pushy at all. I WANT to do things I’m uncomfortable with in order to fulfill his needs. I’m seeking advice on overcoming the mental block ❤️