I was horrified to see this was in a local charity shop window! I’ve spoken to the management of the shopping mall and it’s been taken down. Seriously tho! Why????
#ADHD
#autistic
#Disabled
#ADHD
While the media ignore the real problems around getting your ADHD diagnosed diagnosed we carry on the fight for our children. Especially the failed females!
My
#ADHD
Child got a negative behaviour point today because her
#ADHD
Mother put her swimming kit in her bag instead of PE kit. 😞 Do I just let it go or battle to get it removed ? Sigh! It never ends
My daughter is trying to go back to school AGAIN. She missed most of last year due to mh and unmet needs. She’s adhd autistic. She just sent me this, she had to sign it or she couldn’t go in the class!!!
#SEND
#actuallyadhd
@ADHDFoundation
@PCamhs
#Autistic
Can’t think of anything more patronising than being an autistic parent of autistic children and “support” services thinking what u need is a parenting course to help you understand your child’s autism!!!! Please! Make it stop!
#ActuallyAutistic
#autistictwitter
#autisticParent
This morning she was shaking getting ready for school.
In school she spent most of the day in a class on her own
This evening she had a breakdown
Unfortunately she’s
#Autistic
so
#CAMHS
Refused her.
School felt what would help is threatening the parent with fines
It’s official! I’m now diagnosed
#Autistic
🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
I have so many emotions right now but the overwhelming feeling I have is happiness!
Alongside my
#ADHD
diagnosis I have a greater understanding of myself and the confidence to grow and reach my full potential!
Had assistance in filling in my PIP renewal forms yesterday. I mentioned how being
#Menopausal
is having a huge impact on my adhd/autism. I was told the assessors won’t take that into account so it’s not worth putting it on the form! 😡😡 🧵
When you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child who doesn’t fit the school system (EBSA) you think that there will be people who understand and will help you find your child an education they can thrive in.
🧵
This!!!. Argh!!! I can’t help but finish the off their sentence for them. It feels like time stands still. There’s also no guarantee I’ll remember what they said when they finish as my brain will be trying to hold onto my reply. Which I’ll also most likely forget!
#ADHD
Her mother ( me) is autistic/adhd. Her sisters have adhd yet they think because she has friends she doesn’t have it. Fml! Of course she has friends. She’s hilarious like her mother
This sort of thing is why I get so angry at “autism” “charities” who raise huge amounts of cash to find a “cure” rather than do anything that actually improves the lives of autistic humans. Then there’s the fact women face so many barriers to diagnosis because the 🧵
Imagine if, instead of bombarding parents with attendance letters , they send well wishes cards to the child and parent. It would help the child feel they were genuinely cared about and it would build trust between the school and parent.
10/10
The health crisis (mental and physical health) isnt a quick fix. It requires people to start seeing things differently.
The attendance crisis isn't a quick fix. It requires people to start doing things differently.
End.
Criteria is based on white boys! We go thru life with every diagnosis except the right one. Taking all sorts of medication that of course doesn’t help. Hormonal changes have a huge impact on our lives but because we’re
#Neurodivergent
women, there not enough medical research. 🧵
Update on my
#ADHD
assessment. Today was the 1st of 3 appts. The woman was lovely and had quirky glasses on which made me feel comfortable… I suspect she’s one of us… it felt like this was the first time I’ve ever felt heard by a medical person. 🧵
I have a huge problem with the term EBSA. Emotionally based school avoidance. I feel it puts the onus on the child. It’s doesn’t address the cause of a child not being able to attend school. Roughly 85% of the parents I support have
#neurodivergent
children.
🧵
There’s a lot of talk about the surge in people wanting diagnosis of
#ADHD
#Autism
. There isn’t much talk of the damage thats done to those who have had to go thru life believing they are faulty! More people knowing themselves earlier means less trauma and missed opportunities
Things that are a little different at Xmas with my ND children. My middle daughter will open 1 or 2 presents a day. My youngest will be cooking ( her special interest). We won’t be visiting family, it’ll be a day just for us.
#Neurodivergent
#ActuallyAutistic
#ADHD
Being present and engaged in what was being said!
Something most people do every day.
It was wonderful!
Can you imagine never having experienced that before?
Oooft!
I’m so protective for this reason. I always see things from the child’s perspective and want to move mountains for them. I also of course love to be around my fellow neurokin.
#ActuallyAutistic
#adhdtwitter
#Neurodivergent
My tattoo. The infinity symbol for
#neurodiversity
. It represents my new understanding of myself and compassion for the former me. The phoenix feather represents me rising from the ashes with my new found confidence. When I’m having a wobble it reminds me how far I’ve come.
Over the moon to receive this in the post today. I was nominated to go because of the voluntary work I do in my community. Supporting neurodivergent families and being a voice for parents. Never underestimate an
#autistic
#ADHD
woman with a bee in her bonnet.
#excited
Day 4 of
#ADHD
medication.
I’ve had headaches for a few days but today it’s mostly gone so far.
I just experienced something that I’ve never had before. 🧵
@ItsEmilyKaty
The therepist not understanding autism/adhd.
Fear appearing too negative/moody
RSD…. Hard to unmask and be the real you
Forgetting what we discussed/planned to work on
Cbt techniques having too many steps so my ADHD shuts off from it
Struggling to sit for the whole session
Imagine, if, right at the beginning, the parent/child were believed, understood and supported. Shown compassion and empathy. If instead of threatening letters, they were sent well wishes cards and invited for a cuppa and chat. 🧵
@ianthom94585013
@theboringbroski
Yes!! What exactly would be cured? My brilliant mind, my attention for detail, my personality? being autistic is a different way of being human. It’s not an illness and therefore doesn’t need a cure. The world needs those who think and experience the world differently
They suggest parent courses, usually run by neurotypicals with outdated ideas of what
#Autism
/ADHD actually is.
School continues to pressure and threaten parents with fines 🧵
Something I find really hard to get passed as a proudly
#Autistic
parent is going to appts with your daughter and being spoken to like I’m the child.
#ableism
I’m kicking myself for not calling it out but I didn’t want to distress my daughter any more than she already was.
Have you heard of CPTSD? I think so many
#unpaidcarers
#Parents
are experiencing this! That huge surge of emotion and panic when the school rings, your child is refused help, going thru school meetings, attending appts.
Top down approaches will never work! The solution must be taking an empathetic approach, the parent and child central to every decision. Services need to build relationships with each other to build trust and understanding of their limitations. Any other way is just lip service
Every day in school is important and low attendance is a huge detriment to a child’s education….. except when an LA doesn’t want to meet a child’s needs. Then it’s perfectly ok for them to miss months/years of education
#ALN
#EnoughIsEnough
#EducationForAll
If schools were genuinely inclusive so
#Neurodivergent
children weren’t routinely discriminated against and made to feel like a burden. Not only would the family be able to actually enjoy the time when the children are young but also it would also prevent huge pressures on 🧵
Something many parents ask me is why their
#ADHD
children lie. I explain to them that it’s a protective response. Often this is because they can’t understand themselves why they did something 🧵
@wurzelmoonraker
Exactly. A diagnosis isn’t just for school. It’s your whole life! Especially as a woman. The hormonal changes. Being a mother. Working. Having a fulfilled life! I’m late diagnosed and know the damage it can cause
A miracle happens,
#camhs
agree to see your child. However it’s in a room that looks like a school office and the child can’t speak to them. The child is blamed for refusing to engage. They also blame the parent for being stressed. 🧵
You get referred to
#Camhs
who refuse your child because they think poor mh is just part of not being Neurotypical
Schools assume that because camhs refused them, it means the mh is ok and the parent is just making excuses for poor attendance 🧵
This year’s Carol Service at Westminster Abbey was all about
#ShapingUs
and thanking those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years.
Listening to what they are saying and not just waiting for them to finish their sentences so I can speak before I forget what I wanted to say.
No feeling overwhelmed from everyone speaking
No feeling that I needed to leave the room
No pottering about while they speak 🧵
@LucyDigest
The thing is she loves school. She has a teacher who gets her. Allows for her quirks and makes her feel she belongs. However. She barely sleeps so gets burnt out. She really struggles with her emotional regulation too. High school in sept will be a diff ballgame for her
Spoke to the ALENCO and HOY this morning. HOY said it was intended to rev up the kids for their final year of school!! I’ve told her its discriminatory and they’ve caused us undue stress. She’s getting back to me
My 10yo has just gone to sleep. She decided at 8pm she was going to be a fashion designer of clothes for bigger kids so they don’t feel upset when their size isn’t available. She’s picked a brand name, drawn some designs and decided who will be in her team.
#hyperfocus
#ADHD
Day 7 of
#ADHD
medication
Managed 3 meetings back to back this morning, 1 unplanned without getting overwhelmed.
Letter came about changing my daughter’s DLA to PIP now that she’s 16. Called them straight away instead of panicking and putting it off
Mowed the lawn
🧵
@BelindaLondon
She’s been trying so hard to not get bad behaviour points. I had to get her first ever one removed last week. Now this. She’s said she doesn’t see the point in trying anymore
You have endless meetings that achieve nothing apart from causing trauma and stress on the parent. This makes it harder and harder to be the calm, loving, safe person your child needs. The child sees what a parent is going through which reinforces their knowledge that school 🧵
@DarkMalicex
@ADHDFoundation
@PCamhs
I’m autistic adhd too. As her mother I totally understand her struggles I think that adds to my anger. The school didn’t ring me back either
Made sure I didn’t forget my anxiety meds today. Dreaded team around the family meeting! I want to hide under my duvet. The cruel thing is that it’ll totally put me in burn out but I still need to be what my children need. It shouldn’t be this hard!
#send
#discrimination
My 11 yo has thought up ANOTHER money making scheme. She’s been out collecting conkers today to sell to people as it’s spider mating season! Spiders don’t like conkers apparently 🤷🏼♀️
#ADHD
#entrepreneurlife
I had THE most amazing phone all tonight! It looks like, after 18 months of no education, my child is finally going to get the support and setting she needs!!!!! I can’t believe it!!!
#ActuallyAutistic
#ALN
#parentCarer
Had my final appt today to confirm my
#ADHD
diagnosis. Feels cruel that I have to now wait until at least January to access meds due to the national shortage. Feels like there’s no end to the hurdles we face. I’m sick of struggling!
Well that was an emotional watch. Well done
#insideourautisticminds
its made me realise. The last person I think I’d be able to completely unmask around is my mother….
#actuallyautstic
Parents fight for CAMHS to see their child while also facing loosing their jobs as their child deteriates. They loose income so on top of seeing their child suffer, they can no longer afford nice things like days out, good food and a warm home 🧵
@DudeAdhd
Yeah I had to get one removed last week. Her teacher decided she shouldn’t need her headphones and ended up drawing all over herself. She got a point for disrupting the class. I’m worn out tonight. I’m sure my fight will come back tomorrow. Xx
Raging listening to a woman on
@LBC
talking about
#Autism
like it’s a disease! People talking like this set the autistic community back years in changing perceptions of what it is to be
#Autistic
also dismissing those who self diagnose fml!!!
This legend is 16 today! My loopy Lydia! My Autistic adviser! My Queen of put downs! My future Author! My World! She’s taught me that doing things your own way is always the best way!
#Daughter
#Love
#Disabled
children are routinely failed by education.
#Parents
have to leave work to support them
#unpaidcarers
can’t afford to give their
#children
the opportunities others take for granted
#children
leave school with poor qualifications and trauma
🧵
A few mths ago I applied for a job with a well known mental health charity. They didn’t grant any accommodations, the whole process was awful and discriminatory.
I recently applied for another and the whole process was accommodating and ND friendly. 🧵
Tulips. My favourite! From my oldest! We’ve come so far! When our babies struggle we are often the ones who they take it out on! It’s so hard when they won’t let you comfort them. It will get easier I promise!
#parentcarer
#ADHD
#mentalhealth
#Parents
A BIG part of being a neurodivergent family is switching the toilet light off and flushing toilets. My kids never remember to do both! Actually my hubby never remembers the light either!
#ADHD
#Autistic
What a day! I’ve met so many amazing passionate people trying to make a change. I would have never had the confidence to do this before discovering my neurodiversity and finally understanding myself!
#ActuallyAutistic
#adhdwoman
#latediagnosed
Is not safe. They also blame themselves which eats into their self esteem and feeds anxiety. They shut off from the world even more. The parent and child are stuck in this cycle while everyone around turns their backs and blame either the parent/child or other service 🧵