Oh nooo...difficulties in building relationships. Must be autism lol...

You're just weird. Admit that. At least you can talk.

It's not a spectrum. These people are fakers.

I saw the title, and I just want to say that as a Trans person. People need to stop making the comparison between the two. Not all trans people are autistic and a lot of what is said about trans the 2 is complete BS.

What an autist

I think there is a better system for categorizing ANY adult’s need for support; the system of “activities of daily living (ADL’s)” and “instrumental activities of daily living” (IADL’s) used to assess the frail elderly. ADL’s are things like being able to move about, use the toilet, and feed yourself. Someone who can’t consistently perform these tasks clearly requires 24-hour care from another person to be safe and healthy. “IADL’s” are things like being able to make the phone calls and appointments to get a wheelchair so you can move about safely; go shopping to buy toilet paper and toilet bowl cleaner; or cook spaghetti. Someone who can reliably do ADL’s but not IADL’s can probably live alone, but with frequent intervention to help with “adulting”, so to speak. A third level could be the ability to perform IADL’s in specific, low-stress circumstances for a time (for example, in my sophomore year of college, living in a dorm; or, living alone in an efficiency apartment working a job specifically tailored to one’s strengths), but precarious in that “independent adult” position and prone to lose the ability to do IADL’s or even some ability to do ADL’s in a crisis, such as academic failure, job loss, relationship failure, or being evicted so the building can be “upgraded” and the rent doubled. Voila, level 3, 2, and 1 functioning, respectively; applies to any disabled adult, not just autistic people, too! Level 2 might need intervention 2-3 times a week; level 1 might need it once per week; all this intervention could be done daylight weekdays (possibly on Saturdays if a level 1 is holding down a full-time job), making it much cheaper than level 3 intervention. ☺️👍❤️

I dislike labels of any kind . We all go through life just fine without these labels.

only found this channel yesterday. love to you, so sorry. John. x

There needs to be a video when it's an overload situation where there's no way out, and your partner tries forcing you to communicate, EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!! Accusations, demands, derogutory statements,.... and how this is actually extremely abusive.

Sometimes you don’t have to say anything to say it all

I hyper fixate on things for 12 month or so then SNAP! nothing From learning everything , buying everything to no interest .is great while I'm in the moment but it just ends and I'm lost....

We're powerscaling autism with this one boys

It was brought to my attention by a BIPOC autistic creator that BIPOC autistic people use masking as more of an urgent survival mechanism than white people would need to- police brutality prevention. What are our thoughts?

I have A.S.D like your husband Andy! I love Digital Arts and Drawing Arts. I'm a youtuber I really tried my best for making videos but I tried to be a normal person except my A.S.D and I'm very sorry about your husband..😢

Andy and Steph you are both great advocates for autism and I loved how you tried to break it down. I am a practising art therapist and interested in reducing self harming via the uses of art therapy and I seek any info that demonstrate (hopefully with data) how effective art therapy is a useful intervention. I have issues with medical models (sure they have a place at some level and at some times), and I like the personalised thoughts and feelings from the autism community. Sure this can complicate it for a general perspective however, I like to get to know the person as an individual. I am also thinking of running autism groups for children as a way for them to express their needs and also connect with others to normalise autism for them. I'd love to chat more if you have time and interest. Take care James : D

Can totally relate to this

aw crap i’m unable to do any of these 😭😭😭

Hello. I have aspergers syndrome. It gets better as you get older, autism is like fine wine, better with age👌

Your eyes are beautiful

Stay calm, but don't become condescending and sarcastic.😤

I miss you, Andy! Great to hear your voice today.🙏🏾❤️

I’m struggling with burnout for nearly 3 years now loss speech

I need my special interests and time to indulge in them. If I don't get that time, I feel worn out.

I agree with you on everything but I think it's because autistic people tend to think in black in white which is thinking in extremes.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know I am viewing this 2 years after Andy's passing. I found Andy's channel today during a search on the topic of autism. Even after one video of his I found myself saying, "I love him". What a beautiful soul and a great tribute you have left for him. God bless you and your loved ones. You were so lucky to have one another.

I’m not sure if this comment will be helpful or hurtful. I am ASD L1. To clarify “substantial” support, it coincides with “substantially” limits in the legal definition of a disability until ADA federal law. Therefore, I (and others with ASD L1) am not “legally disabled” and do not have any rights or protections under law. A person with ASD L2 and ASD L3 requires “substantial support” and are “substantially limited” which meets the legal definition of a disability.

What an inspirational video.

What a thought provoking video for an Asperger’s syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder person like myself.

Hi Andy, I have a sister who self diagnosed herself and is of the opinion that our dad and both our grandparents on our dad's side is Autistic, I said to her I will never label anyone, I don't believe it's fair to do so. My grandparents passed away years ago. I try to understand that's her opinion for herself, but to label family members is not right in my opinion. Am I being harsh and insensitive? I believe that she could be Autistic as her son is on the spectrum and is 14 years old, he is in a school and was professionally diagnosed when he was 6, but she only diagnosed herself recently. Would like your advice please and thank you.

Autism Speaks is not bad you are missing the point

They should keep there feral child at home

I am unable to concentrate when there are background noises and my boss said nobody else complains. They dont understand. My job is was petitive, thats how I coped.

I am highly suspicious of any attempts to categorize autistic people in this way. They are always made from the perspective of allistic people observing autistic people, and never about the experience of the autistic person. The only kind of categorization that I can think of that I might be willing to use is something like high masking or low masking, or maybe just masked and unmasked. That's what is really being communicated by these labels: how the autistic person appears to other people. The reality of support needs and functional abilities is much more complicated and situational than any of these labelling systems can account for.

I might be autistic after all.

Do you think those who suffer meltdown should practice dissociation on purpose at key moments?

I had a lot of dissociation as a kid. My brain, senses, verbal center would shut down. I could be standing, sitting or lying, but I would be completely removed from my surroundings, with nothing at all going on in my head. This was a reaction to overstimulation. Later on I learned to leave stressful situations before I needed to "check out." I have never have meltdowns. My parents were always getting into dangerous rages, and I swore to myself that I would never be like that--and I'm not.

Did you already figure out what makes you accumulate tension?

I rarely meltdown I’ve done a mild one this year but most of the time I just ignore what other people say or cry

its called being human.

Sending hugs to you and your family xxx

I am sorry for your loss miss .I also have autism i felt his struggle .stay strong

I know this video is old but imma add in anyway. Eye contact is seen as professional, and I hate that. I can do management/leadership positions without forcing prolonged eye contact. People suck 😤

My son has autism. He loves cats. Cats bond with him as well. His cats allow him to mess with them and it’s amazing the level of patience they give him. 😂

I don’t like these labels actually. I went to Oxford university but can’t work or live alone but I can talk to anyone about anything. Mainly because I have such an epic memory and have learnt how to do this. I can’t work because I burn out all the time and find it all too confusing and complicated, usually ending up with a suicide attempt. On my own I just can’t seem to look after myself, my weight just plummets. So where would I fit?

No well trained pediatric occupational therapist confuses these. Pat Wilbarger developed the concept of the"Window of Tolerance" in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I was using it in 1994, so it isn't a new thing. I also treated abused children. You don't use the same therapy techniques or you will harm your client.

My oldest son on the autistic spectrum refuses to change his clothes and does so when he chooses! He says his clothes are soft and comfortable and washed clothes are itchy! We use Arm & Hammer laundry soap pods with fabric softener and Snuggle dryer sheets. Hmm. Sensory Issues are intense!! Worse when he was a child. Patience and the key is to listen to the person with Autism !! Keep posting. Thank you 👍

Is a panic attack called autism meltdowns now? I don’t know why everything is under the autistic umbrella

How did you figure out what your strengths are? Thanks for the video.

I was under the impression that hyposomnia is more related to an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep when in appropriate situations, and hypersomnia is more of the inability to stay awake in times where it would likely be inappropriate, often coupled with the inability to stir into wakefulness appropriately. Am I misunderstanding something?