The Book of Many Textures

All of these spinners around are reminding me of a few year back when I took apart an old VCR player for parts. In it I found two large bearings that I found quite pleasing to hold. I cupped one in my hand as in the first picture and spun the shiny upper ring, which continued to spin for some time. In fact I took one into Uni an told people to hold and spin it. I particularly enjoyed tipping my hand to change the axis of rotation to feel the rotational inertia resisting me.

Recently my Grandma gave me a spinner (she had a pile, Granda has one, my siblings and available cousins have one) so I thought I’d give my views, and compare to the pre-spinner that I enjoyed then lost and have now found again to share with you.

This is not going to be favourable about spinners, I do not consider them an aid to concentration. Using a spinner requires too much focus and often two hands which makes it unhelpful when trying to observe or do something else. I think that this focus in the marketing and defense is doing them a disservice. I think that the spinners are much better suited to the opposite, to drawing you out of a situation, thinking on one subject deeply, avoiding stressors. That is a useful function, but it’‘s not an aid to general concentration.

I’ll be along at this for the first hour or so tomorrow in case there is anyone  interested in the BoMT there.

 I also may be advising on knitting/crochet/yarniness if the knitting/yarncraft group gets going. (Very Much on the understanding that I am only there until an autistic knitter volunteers)

If anyone would like to support these guys with currency they take donations here: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/tripleas

Hello, I’m still here by the way!

Just to let you know that this is an “Autism $peaks” free place, not a fan.

I’d also like to say to anyone struggling with the current (last month or two?) increase in use use of autistic as an insult or generally derogatory term that autism is not defined by those posts. This too will pass, and given the Internet, will pass quickly.

Hello all,

Just letting you know I’ll be out of town until early January so wont be able to take custom orders during this time.

I’ll bring a few premade BoMTs with me so they will still be available. If I run out of them I’ll be in touch to let you know what the delay is likely to be, but that is quite unlikely : )

So, I’ve had a few ideas about options for the Book of Many Textures (BoMT).

The main two I’m considering are:

Contrasting stitch detail on cover: Adds some visual and texture contrast to the cover. Could include colour options to make it feel more personal. Most likely to be a horizontal machine stitch pattern along the top and bottom edges.

Cover Marble Maze: As the cover is already double layered the current design can easily be adapted to include a ‘marble’ maze in the front or back, would likely use an object smaller than a marble. Will require testing as cover may be a bit stiff, more or a doughnut than a complex maze. (yes, bandwagon jumping.)

These would both be as additions to a standard BoMT, so a plain one would still be available.

Would you be interested, hypothetically? Would you expect someone to be willing to pay more for one/either of these additions?

Alastair, Triple As.

I'm looking for suggest for autism-related charities for the Book of Many Textures to support. I'm thinking either a charity per season (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer) or changing after a goal amount is reached (this could take multiple years).

Requirements: 1) Must have austists on the board/in leadership positions.

2) Local or Small charities preferred.

3) Must operate on the "front lines": Directly helping autists and not purely awareness or training for allists (not-autistic) focussed.

4) It does not have to declare itself an autism-chairity, provided it’s doing something that supports autists. (This will have more flexibility in autistc involvement in leadership).

So please send me some suggestions.  If one that doesn't quite meet the requirements, but has a good case for it I'll run it passed some autistic friends and may add it to my list.

Anon and ask both open, or add opinions to the post, or message/post on the fb page post, or email... or walk up to me in the street, but please only if I know you : p

tl:dr Name some Small/Local Practical Autism-Lead autism charities. Please!

Hello all,

I’m having a “change is stressful” sale. Postage will be refunded to UK residents who order before Sunday 31st of July 2016.

Okay, I had only experienced this charity through a semi-disconnected branch, the one stop shop in Aberdeen, who were honestly great.

This branch has since been scapegoat’ed and effectively closed. They are pushing an incredibly harmful “accreditation” system locally which boils down to “pay us for this and then raise money for us”. They have actively ignored feedback I KNOW they got from autists on terminology.

They are furthering harmful stereotypes and making it harder for other charities and organisations in the area to do anything.

I retract every positive thing I have said on their behalf.

The NAS is selfish and harmful to autists.

From now on my donations from the BoMT will go to the Triple A’s in Aberdeen. An autism peer support group in Aberdeen. One of the reasons I particularly want to support this charity is that everyone on their board is autistic. (Also a friend works for them and a few friends are members).

(http://triplea.uk.com/)

I still wish the One Stop Shop in Aberdeen all the best, however the staff members I had built a relationship with have left and the organisation appears to be changing somewhat.