Just needed to be heard for a little while

elsien

I find autism absolutely fascinating. It's just such a different perspective on the world and needs a different mind set from people around the person with ASD. I like to find books written by people on the spectrum, to try to get a glimpse into what's going in their world and what it looks like to them.

Waves_and_Smiles

I knew absolutely nothing about autism when I met this boy when I was 14. It was a home for children with challenging behaviours which unfortunately for me mostly meant aggressive behaviours, I was placed in there because I self-harmed. So me and my little friend were the ones who didn't fit in (he was 11) and we became best friends. I never saw him as autistic because as I said I didn't know what that was, I just liked him, understood his need for sorting things as I had OCD at the time and felt wanted when he sat on my lap and ran to me. I cried my eyes out when he was fostered, tears of joy and sadness.

jobbingmusician

Off topic penguin story. (Re)told to me by the mother of the staff member last week. (I'll delete this later today, but if any regular posters miss it, just PM me. I don't think it should stay on here permanently JIC it breaches any confidentiality guidelines).

Two incidents involving working in a home for people with learning disabilities.

1. Staff and residents went to London Zoo for the day. When they returned to the bus, staff noticed that one of the residents had wet trousers, and assumed it was an 'accident'. When they changed his trousers they noticed that his rucksack was also wet. Guess what they found inside when they opened it? They had to ring the zoo and tell them that one of their penguins was missing....

2. Residents were taken on a night out to a night club. The group included a chap in a wheelchair, and (this was some time ago) the staff had incredible difficult in locating a night club which would cater for a wheelchair user. Eventually one club agreed. The group turned up, but the bouncer refused to allow access until the chap behind, who they had never met before, said 'don't be silly, they're with me!'

The chap turned out to be Ringo Starr.......(nice story, isn't it! I never realised what a nice man he obviously is.)

lostinrates

I think I'll be typing penguin every post. Including to myself.

I just checked to see if there is a penguin smiley on the board so I could penguin routinely easily, but no.

Waves_and_Smiles

Aw, what adorable stories, JM! Soi glad that I saw then, thank you for sharing. Btw, the penguins nominated you to make the final draft of the guidelines for me to put in the first post. I'll be over here innocently feeding penguin bars to Sir Pugliet...

You are so right LIR! We need a penguin smiley!

Pyxis

Re. penguining....Maybe it would be a question of making sure that we always asking new members if they mind being asked such and such, and to make sure we say 'please don't feel you have to answer if you are feeling uncomfortable", in the same way that we tended to ask WaS and each other that. So maybe we should just be extra careful with new posters until they know us, and we know them a bit better.
However, I know that I can sometimes get rather enthusiastic about things at times, maybe even a bit hyper, so the odd 'penguin' thrown at me , on occasion, might come in useful!
The only other reservation I have, but I'm sure it can be overcome, is that the person being penguined (!) might feel a little upset, especially if they thought they were being careful. It's very subjective!

However, maybe we should see the penguin more as a signal to the penguinee (!) to ask the new poster if they mind being asked such and such or to remind the penguinee to tell the new poster that they don't have to answer, etc. That wouldn't hurt at all!
There's a whole new vocabulary emerging here!

Waves_and_Smiles

Good points Pyxis! There is nothing wrong a reminder within a post to say "Please don't feel that you have to answer/do this"

(Hey Pyxis, we need a penguin photo)

Pyxis

A penguin waving and smiling! Give me a high five!

Waves_and_Smiles

I love him! In fact I am saving him to my computer. I knew you would find one!

Solarjunkie

Well, folks, it occurs to me that all this talk of penguins and penguinees could have the opposite to the intended effect. That is, making this thread sound cliquey, only accessible to those in the know. As most people seem to think it is a good idea, could we at least agree to have a penguin explanation reposted every few pages? Not everyone will read from the beginning.
The amazing openness on here has to be helping a lot of people, things are explained, asked, discussed, in language most people can understand. Too many abbreviations, or too many penguins, risks that.
The little waving penguin did make me smile!