The #ActuallyAutistic Culture and Identity Project S8

Name, and/or twitter handle: samantha & tinyjaskier

Pronouns: she/her

Parent/non-parent: non parent

Age when you selfdx/were diagnosed autistic: official diagnosis 2019, aged 23

1.Did you feel you were different from others as a child? Yes, I felt different than other children.

2.Are your parents supportive of you as an autistic individual? They are, they’re still learning but they are mostly supportive.

3.How did you determine your ethical system? I try my best to do what is right & good for the world. I try to spread info on what is happening in the world, and I just want to be good / helpful.

4.In which way does your private self differ from your outward facing front? I think my private self is a bit more “strange.” A bit more relaxed too at times.

5.Do you enjoy finding mistakes/errors in the production of films and television...continuity etc.? Not particularly, but sometimes I’ll see one and get annoyed, especially with plot holes.

6.What are the top 3 traits you look for in a friend? Kindness, loyalty, acceptance.

7.What are the top 3 traits you perceive as negative but are willing to overlook in a friend? Slightly ignorant(?), messy water (does that count?), and I’m not sure about a third really

8.What are the top traits you look for in a partner/traits your partner possesses? Acceptance, kindness, understanding, funny.

9.What would you do with your life if you had unlimited funds? Travel, pay off my close family’s and close friends’ bills, buy lots of (secondhand if possible) photography equipment, buy an electric car.

10.What does freedom mean to you. What does it entail? It means being able to do mostly what you like without being in danger or judged for it or misunderstood.

11.What does success mean to you? Success means doing something I love and getting better and better at it and being valued for it.

12.Are you more stable/happier/productive within the structure of a relationship...partner/good friend/long-term roommate? I’m not really sure, maybe(?) but also those things bring anxiety and worries too.

13.Do you find it stressful to be around other parents at school functions? I haven’t really done this for a long time, so I can’t really comment.

14.How often do you pretend to not see people you know if you don’t want to talk? Quite often I would say, but it doesn’t happen too much.

15.In which areas do you identify the most with other autistic people? The lack of eye contact, noise sensitivity, loving certain things / having a special interest, being the odd one out.

16.What are the most stressful aspects of parenting an autistic child as an autistic caregiver? Not applicable to me.

17.What are the top 5 things you want your children to know about the world and why? N/A

18.Does living off the grid appeal to you and why/why not? It does in some ways. I would like some peace from the world, to live somewhere just in the countryside. But I would miss the internet and my online friends too much if I did that.

19.What is your favorite style of architecture and why? I’m not really sure, but I love old buildings and really pretty / interesting ones.