The Autism Iceberg(s)

There's nothing new about the iceberg concept (especially on YouTube 😂) but when it comes to the world of autistic people, there's more than one...
#EngageAutism #AutismAcceptance #ActuallyAutistic

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[Sarahizahhsum]

I am autistic and so is my boyfriend. We have both been through horrific abuse. It makes us crazy as fuck. We still love each other and with the power of nutritgenomics we will both heal. I refuse to accept such treatment and I refuse to allow others to abuse my sweet loving boyfriend. I have videos on my channel of what we are doing. I hope they help someone. Love you all so much. ❤

[thestevenarmy]

Autistic peep here! This vid is very informative on certain topics that are not documented enough! :3
(Sorry if i comment on the wrong vid)

[freerideziege]

Good to see you back.
Actually it is a great moment. I start a very nice, new job in 3 days after 8 month of being unemployed. Its the first job i told my boss in advance that I am autistic. I am 40 and I only know that I am autistic since 2 years. I am so nervous to not make the same mistakes I did before when it comes to masking and trying to be the employe they want me to be, just to break down once again and lose my job after a short period of time.
Thank you for encouraging me to be an advocate for myself. Your video makes me alot more confident to do it right this time, or at least much better then I did before.

[autiejedi]

It does take a village, and all voices are needed!
Love to all who are autistic, who love and support autistics and who make the effort to accommodate and respect autistics.
Love and many thanks also to you Quinn! 💜

[rushiaskinnerwallace]

I know you’re saying that it’s other advocacy going on that’s educating people like the NT’s such as your boss, the attorney and the dentist who are increasingly engaging in more informed and inclusive ways with the ND’s. But I think it’s important to realize that videos like yours, and similar ones of other autistic people, are an essential part of that “other” advocacy. These videos provide important nuances, first person perspectives, additional solutions, and more. So, I think YOU’RE a reason it’s getting better. This is where people who are first hearing about autism can come, can be pointed to, to deepen their understanding. I’m thankful for that. It IS advocacy for all autistic people.

[andreahalverson]

Nice to see you again, Quinn. This was such a hope-filled video; my grandson may, indeed, live in a world that will finally be kind and understanding of differences between autistic and neuro typical people.

[linden]

Nice to see you back. I agree entirely - all advocacy, honesty, vulnerability and trust moves us forwards. I've had some very good experiences lately too with self-advocacy. It's almost hard to compute the reality of a good, supportive experience as it's not what I tend to expect, but more and more I see it as possible.

[otakus]

One of the few places I feel understood

[kandm]

Your explanations have been HUGELY beneficial to this NT lady who was desperately searching for information and explanations of living with autism for myself so I can help my very distressed ND (newly aware) lovely husband. Thankyou, you are a pretty wonderful advocate

[DivergentMoon]

This brought me to tears to hear you being cared for like that. Recently understanding I'm autistic at 77, I was wondering if I should let it all hang out. I recently saw a friend for the first time in months and blurted out that the newest thing in my life was discovering I'm autistic. I've been wondering ever since if I should have done that. This video encourages me to be open about it. What I didn't expect was her saying that makes sense to her. She's an intellectual, so assume it's not just stereotypes; but because of my delayed response, couldn't ask her to clarify.

I think my best friend, after months of sharing with her, may be accepting that I'm autistic. Of course, I'm picking up on nuance. She wouldn't cast doubt out loud, except for the "we all feel that way at times."

[unapologeticallyautisanal]

Great video Quinn...Good to see you back.

[istarigreenman]

It's good to see you back Quinn, and I hope all is going well in your life. :-)

[SpencerHunley]

Really, really needed this, especially now. Bravo, Quinn; well done!

[alanguest]

Brilliant video Quinn, everyone somehow or in some way, can make a difference.

[PeteLittle]

so very well timed video. I've been off work for the last few weeks with a bad case of autistic burnout. I always used to hate trying to explain why I couldn't do what was being asked of me. However this time, I approached my manager and he straight away made all the correct noises and offered support that really helped without me asking. it was so liberating. My needs being met before I had to make a fuss over it. So this video could not be better timed. I was actually in tears of recognition at parts. Once again you've kicked the ball out of the park.

Oh.. and my name's spelled Pete Little but it's pronounced Throat-Wobbler Mangrove ;) (for those that know their more obscure Monty Python sketches ;) )

[cosmolosys]

This reminds me of last year, when a police officer asked me how they should communicate because of my autism. I told them to be as honest direct and conrete as possible. That works the best and most efficient for me.

[anthonypena]

i was dissappointed that we didnt see the same picture of an iceberg every 5 seconds but good vid nonetheless

[mrsm]

Great to see you back Quinn 😊 Brilliant video, as always, thank you!

[HypocrisyLaidBare]

Welcome back Quinn, another insightful video well narrated and balanced.

I too believe that advocacy is not about brow beating neurotypical people but by getting them onside by showing them there is a wealth of benefit not only for the autistic person but also for themselves and their affairs and business around them. That their lives can be easier as a result of making our lives easier and understood.

Unfortunately, many places claim to be inclusive and open to autistic needs yet fail catastrophically because of lack of "real" understanding and following non-autistic explanations and descriptions of autistic people and needs.

I am referring to personal experiences with a local authority (Council / Town hall), regarding my son and ex partner who now lives in another town. That Council claimed they "knew" autism, failing to see that they cannot "know" autism, only "know" of it. I tried to explain that each autistic person is a different case, a different set of needs and a handout from a seminar is not "knowing" autism. It is "fact dissemination", statistical data.

We may be statistical data points but beyond that we have needs and requirements that are not "disseminated" in those seminars.

Sitting in a classroom looking at an overhead projector, half awake with boredom and longing for the end of the day, does not a good grounding in autism make.

I was left feeling unheard, misunderstood and failed by the council referred to. Their involvement was critical and restrictive of and towards me. Their simple failures to grasp my needs was monumental in my view. Even now, they are ignorant of my needs, the process to correct those errors is equally flawed and still does not grasp my individual needs and is doomed to failure, simply because people are blissfully unaware of their own ignorance.

I hope that one day my son will know a world where it is common place to understand autistic people better than it was for the likes of you and I Quinn.

Here's hoping!

[thewise]

Thank you mate. For all your help. I’ve just discovered this channel and it deserves more recognition. As a 44 year old man who has been referred for diagnosis, and is at present finding it very difficult to process this world, your videos are helping me finally understand how my brain works. I wish I could show them to everyone.