Finding Autism ... (Why I'm NOT Leaving YouTube part TWO)

How did I work out what being autistic meant as a teenager 40 years ago? Why do I make videos about autism now? What do people want from me? I had to answer all these questions and more to work out where to go next after massive life changes.
#EngageAutism #AutismAcceptance #actuallyautistic
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[nikht]

"Why my honesty wasn't recognized let alone earning the trust I was led to expect". Oh my that one was hard to understand when I was young. My dad often said "That big mouth of yours will get you in trouble!!", when all I'd done was ask (what to me was) an honest question along the lines of "why?". I was simply curious!! The pain of being hurt or punished for unintended challenges to authority like that ironically led me to become someone who constantly questions authority and anything else that others accept without question.

[autiejedi]

I was very late diagnosed but relate so much to everything you said. We autistic elders have so much to offer so I'm glad you're staying on here. Thank you Quinn! 💜

[DivergentMoon]

You are my favorite Autism channel. When you put up a video I sit and watch. I concentrate on what you are saying, including going back a few bits if my mind wanders. I listen to you on normal speed, instead of speeding it up like I often do with others. Your content is very valuable.

I appreciate you pushing back against the manipulative advice of Youtube. One of my political channels has begun using clickbait titles and changing them up . I've unsubscribed, despite the excellent quality of their coverage. I don't want to encourage their slide into gaslighting.

Currently, I'm trying to lower my grocery bill and do other cost-cutting practices, including memberships. Some day I look forward to reversing that and returning to giving for such value as you give us. Thanks for being you. I really appreciate learning how you have gotten to where you are.

[BooBooBugalugs]

You are needed. You are making a massive difference to so many lives. You are doing what humans have always done. Sharing what you have learned so it can really help the now and future. Personal experience shapes the future. My granddaughter has a better life because of people like you.

[graemesutton]

I was late diagnosed at 56yo. 3 years ago. I still do not really understand what it means except it caused a lot of misery and difficulty in my life. It probably still is. You are one of the few social media sites that seem to be sensible and practical. Very little: woe is me! I am disabled! Life is so difficult!

[towzone]

Hold the line, Quinn!
There are plenty of YouTube channels to choose from for those not satisfied with your content. Your channel, along with others, has been invaluable to my journey of self identification in my 50's.

You do you.

[humbleweirdo]

Thank the stars there are humble people like you out there. In this dark and foreboding world you're needed more than ever.

[istarigreenman]

Thank you Quinn for your honesty. You have helped this (very) late diagnosed 63 year old in more ways than you will ever know. Keep going friend, you are one of the very few autistic channels that I follow on YouTube for that very reason 😊

[Handle_Is_Not_Necessary]

Thanks again Quinn. If the YouTube algorithm doesn't recommend this to enough people, we'll have to find another way to spread your message to the neurotypical world, especially to those who are open-minded but still lack accurate knowledge. Looking forward to future content.

[fdevlin]

As a fellow autistic oldster, i love your channel. I hope you keep on keepin on.

[SlugcatEmporium]

I very much enjoy your videos and listening to you speak. Sorry to not have any helpful answers for you, but wanted to voice my support anyhow. 😊

[krugerfuchs]

I was told by a paramedic here in ireland that she didn't consider me a human being while her colleague stood by in disbelief

[HKOlaura]

This broke my heart all over again. Both the frustration from being late identified a few years ago at 38, and the gratitude that I have for both my generation and the younger generations that broadened the available understanding of autism by posting their (often very lonely) stories online…those will always exist in uncomfortable companionship in my heart. I’ve frequently raged inside about how many misdiagnoses I had and how it could have been missed. I e had the benefit of learning I was autistic at a time where it isn’t a lonely, under-reported experience. Yes, I endured decades of confusion, but the relief when all the pieces fell into place is the thing that gave me life. Or kept me living.

I appreciate your videos so much, and I’m so grateful for you. I just found your channel a couple weeks ago and you’ve proven an invaluable resource as I struggle to explain myself to a very important person in my life (who actually wants to understand 🥰), so thank you. Thank you from the depths of my soul, I appreciate you

[wendyfollett]

I'm very late to this particular 🥳 party! I'm 65 and only just figured it out. One of my main sources was your channel. I've got another 18 month wait for my official diagnosis but I know. I know that large numbers of my family are also autistic. Please don't stop sharing your unique perspective as you are needed more than you can possibly understand. I laugh out loud at some of the other content creators when they say they were late diagnosed. Then have no idea how bad it really is. I'm glad they don't but listening to you gives me hope and understanding. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!

[MartKart]

I've noticed some of the channels on YouTube that tend to get a millions of views, like those English teacher ones, give out incorrect information, like the person will say all British people do this, or that, and I've often never heard of or don't do what there on about.

[flyygurl]

Perpetual Party Pooper over here 😊 😂I can attest to how validating it is to understand personal experiences and the self through carefully constructed scripts 🍀

[Lostmm]

Thank you for this vid I have shared it on my facebook feed as you say very well what I'd like to be able to say. Hopefully some of the ND "friends" I have will watch it & may learn a little.
I'm not clear where you are going with your channel. I was doing content about my passion for cars etc, & including bits about my AuDHD in the hope some would learn a little. But the channel has not caught on, so I have mostly stopped. Anyway that ramble is to say if you wish to include other AuDHD people in your vids, in some way, I am happy to be a person you can talk to for one, maybe about life's issues etc.
But please keep the info and vids coming, as a person of about your age, but only recently diagnosed I find them very useful.

[tracik]

You are Quinn and you are great. Keep on keepin on.

[micheals]

I think the song "working class hero" by John Lennon describes what it's like being autistic ignoring the working class hero lyrics. It also mentions "till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all" - alexithymia

As soon as you born they make you feel small, by giving you no time instead of it all. Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all.

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school, they hate you if you're cleaver and they despise a fool, till your so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules.

When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years, then they expect you to pick a career, when you cant really function your so full of fear.

[Green_Roc]

Sir, you are probably one of the more relatable human beings I may ever have heard from.
I was born in 1977. I was punished for my behaviors since I was two.
I grew up in an era where books were how I learned information, and I was an adult when I finally heard the term "autism" to identify why my life was so painful and difficult, and I was lured into the ideology to "stop" the things that were perceived as "bad" until I was 30 years old and heard someone speak of autistics as something acceptable, a concept I have not felt for most of my life... acceptance. I want acceptance, not this hate for things I do that are a bother to typical people. My autistic friends like my autistic self more than any typical thing I was trained like a dog to perform.

We I feel, relate so strongly, as proof to myself we were never broken to begin with... society trying to making us more like "them" (the typicals), is what broke me.