“Gasp, you smoke weed?!” “Gasp, you vape?!” “Gasp, you drink alcohol?!” Like I want y’all to understand that besides me being an autistic medium support needs and semiverbal person, I’m a pretty “normal” (quotations because what Is normal?) 20 year old. Yes, I struggle with mental health issues, and communication, and whatever. Yes I’m a medium to low masking individual. That all doesn’t fucking matter. I’m 20. I’ve smoked, I’ve vaped, I’ve had alcohol, all several times.
My parents, who care for me but are NOT my caregivers, I have something I like to call “support need care” this means that they handle what I can’t and I handle what I can and it’s a beautiful smoothie of just enough independence for me. They do not control what I do with my life. Independence in my own choices about what i put into my own body is really important to me. It’s a privilege. It’s a privilege I have.
People are SOOO surprised when they realize that yes, higher support needs people can indeed do substances. It’s like they can’t even fathom the idea of it. I am 20. I deserve to experience life like other people if I want too, if I’m able to consent to it and understand it. If it’s in a safe environment and with people who won’t put me in danger. That means exploring different things.
Stop being surprised when your local disabled person does indeed do this or that. You really don’t know them.
