So many fandoms, so little time.

I just got an official autism diagnosis! It's nice to have proof that my decade of self-diagnosis was accurate.

I've been using an app on my phone for AAC for the last couple of months. Which has been better than not being able to communicate at all, but still really frustrating because it means I can't also use my phone for other things (like playing music that helps with sensory regulation) when I need to say something. But today, I'm supposed to get an iPad that will be my dedicated AAC, so I'll be able to talk and use my phone at the same time!

I just had my first appointment with someone willing to test for autism! And they are cool with me using AAC during appointments (though I didn't this time and slightly regret it). So in a couple of months (I have a lot of weekly appointments) I'll finally either have an official diagnosis, or an explanation for what I've been dealing with that isn't autism but looks like it.

Desert weather is weird. It is currently 21°F (roughly -6°C). The high for today is 59°F (15°C). How do you dress for the weather when you need a parka in the morning and a T-shirt by mid-afternoon?

Normally, when I experience a verbal shutdown, it only lasts a few hours. I've barely been able to speak in a month and a half. At what point do I start describing myself as just semiverbal? Because I don't want to force myself into a community that I don't actually belong in.