#developmental disabilities

it hurts that i have to put more time and energy into socializing than others.

it hurts when i need to move so bad, usually cause im overwhelmed by either my surroundings or emotions, that i thrash and hurt myself.

it hurts that i cant be in places that are too loud or too bright, which on bad days can be as simple as a small, quiet noise or dim lights.

it hurts that i struggle to tell when im hungry, thirsty, tired, etc. so i can’t properly take care of myself. it doesn’t help my insomnia and i get very nauseas and get UTIs.

He immediately jumps to the idea his son was a mistake and created (ie born) “wrong”,

He never tries to met him at his communication level or give him accommodations to help said communication

He keeps him restrained “for his own safety and so he’ll leave less of a mess”

His lessons are more about punishing unwanted/“bad” behavior that understanding and growth

He gets mad when he doesn’t grasp new things/concepts fast (even though he doesn’t actually explain ANYTHING)

He gives him up as a “lost cause” when his methods don’t work

He outright denies his personhood when he thinks he “isn’t intelligent”

He tries to murder him when he can’t take it anymore

He hides his existence from society and family members out of shame

He freaks out at the idea of him having a relationship and producing “more like [him]”

Special shout out to the disabled people who:

are dying because of their disabilities

are living their best life despite and with their disabilities

hate their disabilities

don't want anything to change besides other people being ableist

are visibly disabled

disabilities are invisible

are are chronically ill

were born this way and never knew anything else

became disabled suddenly

became gradually disabled

have neurological disabilities

have developmental disabilities

have more than one disability

have no official diagnosis

have experienced ableism

need mobility aids

need medication

need caretakers

need medical devices

whose disability is considered "gross" or "unsightly"

whose life expectancy is shorter because of their disability

whose quality of life isn't high

To all the disabled people reading this, if you are proud to be disabled or not, i am proud of you. Being disabled isn't always fun and you deserve to hear it, even if just from a stranger on the internet

Because for me that is the case.

I loved my family, and I still do, I dont want to hurt them.

But I remember growing up I would bite people, especially my mom. I would bite her arms even when relaxed because I need needed the sensory stimulation.

Then it was myself, I would bite my fingers, my toes, and my family when having a meltdown.

I would thrash and hit and kick myself and people around me for no reason. Mainly when I was a toddler. I had lots of energy and didn’t know how to get it out.

I still have lots of ‘aggressive’ behaviors, mainly towards myself, and only people around me when I’m upset.

It’s usually hitting myself with my fists, throwing myself against walls and other people, biting myself, and this is when I’m not dysregulated. Just when I am understimulated.

Having aggressive behaviors is something autistic people, especially with level 2 and 3 autism, deal with on a regular basis.

It shouldn’t be something shamed, or taboo, or thought of as ‘a bad stereotype’.

I want people to understand that to a lot of higher support needs people, we DO look autistic. We do stim publicly. We do grunt, laugh, make noises/vocal stim loudly. We do carry AAC devices. We do look autistic. People can point us out. People can know just from looking at us for a few seconds. That’s the issue I have.

Many of us look developmentally disabled. We look different. It’s frustrating to see time and time again that autism doesn’t have a look when I get singled out in public just for simply existing. It’s just exhausting.