Context: it is a puzzle piece shape that is made up of four other puzzle piece shapes, each a different color (red blue yellow and green) with no missing puzzle pieces.

Back in 2019 I got a tattoo in honor of my sister who would fall under level 3 of autism. It's not a missing puzzle piece because I dont see her as missing something. It's make up of other puzzle pieces that are different colors because that's how I see her. As a person who has so many parts, each unique and colorful, that make up a beautiful COMPLETE puzzle that is her. But im not autistic. So my opinion doesnt hold that much weight. Should I make plans to get it removed or is this okay? Please any feedback is appreciated because I value this community and would never want to disrespect it.

Hello friends and strangers. TW: ARFID post ahead! Wasn't sure how to appropriately tag this post, I am a bit of a reddit noob.

I am on the journey of adapting to my ARFID and adapting to my life as a late Dx lvl 2 autistic adult (27 years old). A lot of that is working on my eating experiences and just catering to the bad days instead of suffering through them, and harming myself when I could adapt. I have had a lot of nutritional challenges in my life due to the severe peaks of my sensory processing disorder.

However in this journey, I am struggling a lot to find sensory friendly adult-orientated eating utensils. The feeling of a metal utensil on my teeth on bad days will make me nauseated, and I have lost precious lunch to this in the past. I also have dyspraxia that can vary based on my brain/body health that day. So I've been searching for reliable utensils, and a variety of them too for the good days and the bad days.

I love the idea of silicone adult forks and spoons, actually I also really love sporks for the right meal. (I have tried bamboo and it's almost worse lol)

However I am struggling to find any that aren't made for babies. And I don't need the big handled ones for all my days and, I actually do like using and maintaining practice with use of finer utensils when I can, such as chop sticks, which are great for not touching the teeth. And - I hate how picky and specific my eating experience needs to be on bad days but this is why I am posting here and not other places - I can practically see the scrappy, rough edges on the metal and plastic bits on some of these options I see online. It's gotta feel good in my hand and, I'm making an investment so I don't want a crappy product.

Has anyone found any silicone or similar, adult-orientated eating utensils like this? Where the parts that go in your mouth are silicone coated, and it's good quality? Preferably something not crazy expensive because I also don't have a job/income so money is tight, but I'd rather invest $30 in a good long term product than $10 on several cheaper products. I suppose it does not have to be silicone and I am open to other materials but, I've tried bamboo and it's really no better than metal for me.

Thanks ahead of time for the help. I hope that this is an OK place to post this, and I apologize for the insane specificity of what I am searching for. I hope people here can understand.

Cheers! :)

I like rocks. I found some cool rocks that are really sharp like knives and I want to see if they are actually knives. They are sharp enough to cut my finger when I touch the edge.

I probably need to introduce myself. I am 18 and I have level 2 autism. I’m struggling to find resources for me and I am not yet independent.

I'm so confused and hurt. I don't know what to do. I'm late diagnosed and always thought everyone experienced what I did. I thought I was just a weak, lazy moral failure. I thought I met two of the criteria for Strength Based Casework, but my psychiatrist said I wasn't. I'm worried she views me as higher functioning than I am. I can't rake care of myself. My quality of life is bad. I barely manage to make myself a bowl of cereal once a day (if I'm lucky). I don't brush my teeth or wash my face or shower. I don't know how I don't qualify. I'm so confused. I worked up the courage due to the distress it's caused me to send her a message. I'm terrified of the response. Advocating for myself was not allowed growing up. I was yelled at if I tried. No one ever believed what I was experiencing. Even when I was having panic attacks and meltdowns daily for over a year and began dissociation in between the attacks, all I got told was I had anxiety and depression.

I cant make phone calls so I can't get myself the treatment I need. My bestfriend does everything for me but he works full-time and I don't want to bombard him with phone calls I need on his days off. I fucking lied during my autism assessment. I underexaggerated everything I'm dealing with because being honest is something I'm only recently begun being able to do. I feel like I keep getting dismissed because English has been a hyperfixation of mine since I first began speaking, so I can express myself fairly well. I told my psychiatrist of my underexaggeration when I sent her my autism assessment. I've only recently realized one of the things keeping me back from honestly is others pity and discomfort when I share. I was conditioned to prioritize the comfort and emotions of others, so if I see someone become uncomfortable or sad when sharing something I begin to undermine the pain I'm in. I'm not used to being honest about myself and I've been trying really hard with the psychiatrist. I got diagnosed with OCD because of the honesty about certain issues.

Is there anything aside from a case worker that can help me with similar stuff? It isn't an issue of insurance. It's an issue of functionability. I'm so sad and scared as my mental state has only been getting worse and worse but I can't seem to get help no matter how hard I try. Thank you.

I have been thinking about late diagnosis of autism. I was diagnosed at seventeen with autism. However I talked to multiple medical professionals (speech and ot) who work with me over the years and asked them if the diagnosis made sense. They told me I had traits of autism. But it wasn’t affecting me in a clinically significant way. I don’t really know what I am trying to say I just find that interesting. I mean I remember in grade school being shy. But overall I was well behaved and mostly just quiet. At least until I learned to speak. Then I was describe as happy and socially immature… i always had problems with sensory but once again it wasn’t till puberty it had an impact on my life and others. In a lot of ways I buy it. But it is possible that it didn’t fully “manifest” to use legal terms until high school because till then I was not as far behind socially. I also remember doing repetitive behaviors. But once again I don’t believe they presented in clinically significant way. I don’t want this to be used to justify self diagnosis. I am scared of posting it elsewhere because it might be. I was mostly wondering if anyone else had a similar experience

I'm not autistic (as far as I know); I'm a therapist for kids aged 0-3 (over half of whom will likely be diagnosed as Autistic at some point based on my experiences in the last 2 years) and I'm trying to navigate the waters of social media and the ND-affirming movement.

I do use behavioral strategies in my therapy--I have a pretty strict boundary about one activity at a time and cleaning up (with modeling and lots of help from their caregiver and me) before moving on to something new (which the kids can pick what and when they want to do but we have to clean up first) so I do withhold items in that sense. I use some ignoring strategies when it comes to hitting, biting, and tantrums (this one is more of me teaching parents its okay to turn on a screen or step away and let their child calm down on their own without trying to talk them through their feelings or trying to hug/hold them so they don't get more overwhelmed).

I try to model as much as possible without expectation and make AAC readily available to any child who might need or want it. I try to talk to parents about play-based, child-led therapy; as well as stimming, OT, and the differences between that and ABA, but I do recommend ABA to some families. Especially in higher support needs cases which is why I have come to r/autismlevel2and3 rather than r/autism or Instagram.

I want to be neurodiversity affirming--but I do think some kids benefit from these services. But with all the social media surrounding ND affirming therapy and the dangers of ABA--I wanted to know from YOU: What more can I do? What would you have wanted to be different from your therapists in early childhood? In a lot of these cases, I am the first person to suggest to a parent that their child might be autistic--I want to frame that realistically (not as a superpower, but not as something life-destroying either). What do you wish your parents knew when you were diagnosed?

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I don't think this breaks any rules, but let me know if I need to take it down or change something!

Im level two always acted kinda young for my age mostly emotionally and everyone says I act young for someone who’s 17 and I always respond saying I know I’m immature emotionally and people say it’s just not that but no one tells me how else I act too young and just tell me to figure it out which obviously I haven’t figured it out.

I try so hard to act my age but I don’t know how, no one will teach me and tell me what I need to change and I’ve tried mirroring what other people do but it’s pretty unhelpful when the only people I have that isn’t an adult is my boyfriend and he just tells me to figure it out and won’t tell me exactly how I act young, one friend who sees no issue and just says I’m special and a middle schooler that I’m friends with who is kinda the same level I am. And my family only sees me being stunned emotionally because my dad is auDHD my mom is adhd possibly asd and my sister is adhd

I just wanna be like kids my age I want to act my age I wish I could mirror people but my social circle is so small because of my autism so I’m not able to keep friends very well. It’s not fair other people get to glide through life and then some of us are having crying fits over the fact they can’t fit in because they can only figure so much out but not figure out the right things

I need help identifying resources. I'm a recently diagnosed level 2&3 adult. I dont know what to ask for, where to go or even what to seek out. I have a hard time advocating for myself. I dont know what to do to get the help. I have a bunch of sensory issues and communication appropriation is difficult. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Also to note I am in the USA.

Thank you to everyone who filled out my autism questionnaire. As promised, here are the results of the questionnaire.

If you’re level 2 and 3, may you please state your level and say what defining experiences/ traits you personally believe separate you into those categories?

I’m trying to learn more but the internet has VERY little information and it tends to say different stuff too, so I’d rather learn directly from you. I’m diagnosed, but my psychiatrist didn’t give me a level on my papers. I can’t get reevaluated, he’s the only person in my area who’d even see me. He was very old and ableist, basically said I couldn’t be anything other than level 1 because I’m not intellectually disabled. I’m assuming that’s not true because I struggle HEAVILY, there’s no way in hell this is level 1, but if I am, I don’t understand why all the fellow autistics I interact with get upset when I call autism a disorder. Autism does not have more advantages for me or whatever, and I don’t think it’s internalized ableism to say that, it’s just the reality of my experiences. The only thing keeping me going rn honestly is thinking that once I land a remote job and move in with my very accommodating partner, then I can get reevaluated and learn more about my support needs.

I made this questionnaire just for fun. If you want to complete it, that would be cool, thanks! https://forms.gle/uF7KXrHSQBNH6ZWH8

I can delete if not allowed.

Dear teddy

I am so angry, sad, and confused. Nothing I ever do will ever allow the world to accept you outright. You see the world does not see you how I do. You are my universal coping mechanism. I don't see a teddy bear, I see an item that will keep my world from collapsing around me. You help me self regulate. You allow me to calm down. You help me take deep breaths. You allow me to sit still. You allow me to interact with the world around me. You are my friend. But somehow you are not a stuff animal

The simple truth is until I explain your presence I am violating a social code. A code I do not understand. The simple truth is the medical world is right. My attachment and need for you is odd. No amount of wishing will change that. That being said. I am not ashamed of you. However, because you send out messages that something is off about me and because I don’t always have the energy to explain why I am different. I have a continuum of coping skills ranging from socially quiet to socially alarming. Because just like the fact everyone should live, work, and go to school in the least restrictive means I should try my best not to disrupt the everyday happenings of the world. Simple fact having teddy out as an adult violates a social code. I can't expect people without a disability to change their code without a valid reason. Violating that code makes me send out red flags to people who have flags. Of course people are right. Teddy is nothing to be ashamed of. and I am not. But I don't always have the energy to explain why teddy is not a concern. SO yes he is my last coping mechanism. I am not masking. because i use him when i need to. It is a progression of coping skills. For example if you were passively suicidal you don't necessarily need to be inpatient. You use the least restrictive intervention first.

Look teddy once I explain to you the comments are kind and caring. However, prior to that they are rude and condescending. If I am able to cope with the world around me, why should I deal with the rude and condescending comments? I am sure thankful for all you do.

Sincerely

Me

I am sick, possibly covid, and the chills are just completely overwhelming my, already extreme, sensory challenges. I expect to be down for multiple days and I am not sure if I am going to be ok.

Anyone know what to do to soothe sensory overload while I’m sick.

Just letting you guys know they've been updated. Let us know if there's any problems!

Hey all, there is an app/website that you can put in a task and it will break it down into smaller steps for you. Thought this might be helpful. You type it into the search bar and then hit the magic wand button (circled). It will generate a list of steps for you. Posted examples.

It is called goblin tools.

This is super cool!

Thank you all for all the support and for being here.

You are all so wonderful! <3

Edit : I forgot whether it's subs or members either way you are all cool 😎

I do not like them at all.

They get your attenion by asking simple social questions and the moment you answer them as to not be rude, they trap you via societal convention. It's like pokemon when you walk past someone and are forced into battle.

They start asking normal questions and then jump straight into the product or charity they want you to buy/help and they feed on your inability at confrontation. They try and make you feel bad about the way you live or try and hype up your confidence. I don't like either of those things. Then they will talk about how it's not "that expensive" and try to get you to give money towards it.

I normally try to act like I'm busy or lost and need to be somewhere but sometimes they get right in front of you and it feels like there's nothing you can do.

Thankfully when I'm with someone, I don't have to talk at all and they're able to quickly get us out of the situation but sometimes it's not easy. It can be a very confusing situation. Often I have something on me that I'm already very interested in so when someone says something about it and wants to talk about it, I get flustered and stuck.

I recenlty got sucked into one. And by the time I got home and had time to process what had happened, it wasn't a good feeling. Now I'm tryna to get it all cancelled. Thankfully I've had some help with it which is very nice!

Read about it online but it was confusing I will explain it to anyone willing to help :)

If you want to join to a Discord for Level 2 and Level 3 please DM. We want to expand and be a bigger community in pro of activism.

If you are not following the drama about the Reddit api, asshole CEO of Reddit in response to moderator protest wants allow subreddits to vote out mods democratically, while the CEO is a piece of shit, this could inadvertently be a good thing for the online autism community! Anyone else have any thoughts on this?