Saturday, December 21, 2019

Farewell, Wunderlist 😭 (I hate change)

This post is not sponsored by Wunderlist or Microsoft To Go... I just really loved Wunderlist and wanted to help my fellow aspies who also love Wunderlist to get through this transition.

One of my favorite (and most useful) apps, Wunderlist, is being retired in May 2020. As an aspie, I've benefitted greatly from organizing my life using this app. It allows you to create lists, and within those lists you can create tasks with a whole bunch of useful info in them.

For instance, you can make subtasks that make breaking down bigger tasks into smaller steps quite simple! You can set due dates and alarms, and attach files. There is also a handy little Notes section in each task.


Not to mention you can invite people to view or edit your list, assign items to specific people, and make comments.

I didn't know until now that it was gonna be retired, until I asked a friend to download the app so they could join a shared list with me. They were informed by the app that it was about to be retired and passed that info on to me. (I hardly ever update my apps so that's probably why I wasn't notified.)

Apparently, Wunderlist is being replaced by a similar app called Microsoft To Do. I freaked out when I found out (I'm an aspie, I don't like change!), but I calmed down when I realized just how similar Microsoft To Do is.

I was still worried that my items I have added to Wunderlist over the last 6-7 years would disappear!!! That would be like wiping my brain's memory because I rely on the app that much. I didn't want to manually add each item from Wunderlist to Microsoft To Do.

Luckily, there's a way to automatically import Wunderlist items into Microsoft to do. And thank gob there is!! I mean, otherwise I'd be copying/pasting 1,428 tasks manually. o__o


Here's a quick tutorial on how to import your Wunderlist lists and tasks.


Also, there's a dark theme! Again, thank gob!!! That's something that Wunderlist was lacking.
Similar to Wunderlist, there is also a desktop version of Microsoft To Do. Get it here.

Wunderlist lovers, I hope this helps with the transition. If you panicked like I did, it's okay. Change is a big freaking deal. At least there is an alternative that is very similar and doesn't require much work to switch over.

Alyssa signing off!

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

A Day in the Life of an Aspie (Part 5) Rest and Relaxation (FINAL PART)

Part 5 of "A Day in the Life" premieres today (Wed, 11/6) at 12:00pm CT.

In this final video of the series, I am resting, writing for my Vael fantasy novels, and I show you my sensory nook and TV/entertainment setup... and then bedtime!


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A Day in the Life of an Aspie (Part 4) Computer Time! Facebook, AAC Phone Calls

Part 4 of "A Day in the Life" premieres today (Tues, 11/5) at 12:00pm CT.

In this video, I am working at the computer, on Facebook, etc. and I show you my custom AAC setup I use for making phone calls.



Part 5 premieres at 12:00pm CT tomorrow (Wed, 11/6).

Monday, November 4, 2019

A Day in the Life of an Aspie (Part 3) Stimming & Doggo

Part 3 of "A Day in the Life" premieres today (Mon, 11/4) at 12:00pm CT.

In this video, I stim and I pet my cute doggo Sammy!


Part 4 premieres tomorrow at 12:00pm CT (Tues, 11/5).

Sunday, November 3, 2019

A Day in the Life of an Aspie (Part 2) Autism and Driving: what happened to my car

Part 2 of "A Day in the Life" premieres today (Sun 11/3) at 11:00am CT.

In this video, I talk about Autism and Driving, and what happened to my car.



Part 3 premieres at 12:00pm CT tomorrow (Mon, 11/4).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

A Day in the Life of an Aspie (Part 1) Morning Routine, Sensory Needs & Executive Dysfunction

New video series! I recorded my activities for one day along with reflections on my life as an aspie. In Part 1, I talk about my Morning Routine, Sensory Needs & Executive Dysfunction.

It premieres at 10:00am today (Saturday, 11/2) so be sure to watch it at or after that time!

There are 5 parts and I will be releasing them daily, so expect Part 2 to be posted tomorrow (Sun, 11/3), premiering at 11:00am CT!



Thursday, October 3, 2019

I Tried Walmart's Online Grocery Pickup with EBT and Here's My Thoughts

A while back, I was super excited that Walmart is now accepting EBT/SNAP/food stamps for their online grocery pickup service. Sensory-wise, the store is difficult for me to shop in, so this option is a lifesaver!
 



I only ever buy food with EBT due to being low-income, so I usually have no choice but to go inside grocery stores to shop since most places typically don't accept EBT for online shopping, delivery, or pickup. Since I tend to shop at Walmart anyway, I was eager to try out their pickup service now that I could use my EBT card for it.
Here's how it works.

1. Choose items and add to cart

Go to Walmart Grocery online, choose your location, and then choose your items to add to your cart. There is a $30 minimum for each order, so definitely use Grocery Pickup when you need more than just a couple cheap items.




What's handy is you can favorite items using the little heart ♡ button, which allows you to easily re-add items you frequently buy in your next purchase. I find this saves me a TON of time (and spoons!🥄), so I use it a lot.



2. Reserve a pickup time

Next is to reserve a pickup time and complete the order.



Note: If you miss your time slot, it's okay! Walmart will hang onto your order for about a week (I think? I recommend getting it the same day or next day if you miss it). Showing up late is okay, but don't show up early or the order will not be ready.

3. Choose EBT as payment method


Next, choose EBT as your payment method at checkout. You don't have to input any information from the card at this point. You will swipe your EBT card when you pick up the groceries. If you ordered any non-food items, you can use a debit or credit card to pay for those at the same time you use your EBT card (similar to how you might when shopping in stores: use the EBT card first, then the credit/debit card). 

4. Check in at the reserved time, when you're ready to pick up.

From the app (though I think you can do it from a PC browser too), click "check in" right before you leave to go to the store. I try to press it a 10-20 minutes before I get there, because this does save some time--they will prepare it so it's ready by the time you arrive. (though there will still be some waiting time; just less waiting time compared to not checking in) You can also check in upon arrival. I haven't compared wait times to an exact number, but I think it's been faster when I check in before arriving.

5. Pick up the order!

Drive to the Walmart location where you scheduled your pickup. Look for the big orange Pickup sign outside, there should be some special parking spaces with orange lines and numbered signs--this is the pickup area.



Drive into a parking space, make sure you're checked in on the app, and wait for someone to arrive. Give them the name on the order (or your name, if that's what you inputted while checking out), and they will bring it out to you. They will even load the items into your car for you! Make sure to pop your trunk or have your doors unlocked and tell them where to put the items.

6. Pay for the order.

The pickup employee will have a card slider if you chose EBT to pay. They may present the card slider either before or after they load your car with the items. As mentioned earlier, 
if you ordered any non-food items, you can use a debit or credit card to pay for those when you are presented with the card slider. Be sure to use the EBT card first, then your credit/debt card.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have used Walmart's Online Grocery Pickup several times since they have started accepting EBT, and I definitely prefer it to shopping in stores when I don't feel like I can handle being in a public building (I get severe sensory overload).

However, there is more planning involved and the wait time can be a downside; especially in hot weather when my car's A/C isn't the best! The wait times seem to vary from 10 - 45 minutes, so make sure you've got some time to spare if you use this method.

Here are some pros and cons:

~Pros~

  • Saves time if you have a large shopping list, are a slow shopper in the store, and/or find it easy to get lost.
  • More Sensory Friendly! No enduring horrible florescent lights or crowd noise, beeping, etc.
  • Generally more accessible: i.e. in the case of physical disabilities where reaching the shelves and picking up heavier items could be problematic.
  • The groceries are loaded up in your vehicle for you! Another bonus if you struggle with this.
  • Ordering the items online can be much easier for some people, since it can be done from the comfort of your own home and is fairly straightforward.

~Cons~
  • The $30 order minimum can be inconvenient.
  • The wait time could be annoying as it can range anywhere from 10-45 minutes.
  • Could waste gas if you need to keep your car on for A/C, heating or music.
  • Almost as much social interaction as being in the store (minus the crowd) as you still need to tell the pickup employee where to put the groceries.

I'm definitely going to continue using Walmart's online grocery pickup since I find it useful considering my disabilities. Give it a try if you think it might help you too!


Use Walmart's online grocery pickup here.

Note: This post was not sponsored by Walmart or anyone else, I just really like surviving and am happy that Walmart is helping me do that.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Walmart Now Accepts EBT for Online Grocery Pickup! (A Victory for Low-Income Disabled People like Meeee)


WALMART IS NOW ACCEPTING EBT/SNAP/FOOD STAMPS FOR ONLINE PICKUP!!! This is a huge victory for low income / disabled people like me who struggle with shopping inside stores, especially Walmart, which easily triggers my sensory overload.

I shop at Walmart because it's affordable and I like their selection. Previously, I could use pickup for my non-food items since I have to use a credit/debit card for those (which helped cut my time in the store by 1/3), but I'd still have to go inside the store to shop for groceries since they didn't accept EBT for pickup orders.

Going inside a Walmart store is problematic for me, and the sensory overload I get from being in the building is so bad that I often cannot function when I get home; I end up sleeping all day, being anxious and depressed, and struggle to take care of myself. I don't like having to choose between being my sanity for a day and grocery shopping.

I've longed for online websites (like Amazon, Target.com, and others) to accept EBT, but they often don't for security reasons. I can accept that for now. However, I thought Walmart should at least accept EBT for pickup orders because the card could be swiped at the store, and I have to go to the store anyway to pick up my items.

I had contacted Walmart's management about this issue and explained why it was so important for them to accept EBT for pickup: namely, so low-income disabled and elderly people could shop more easily. Some of us can't even go into the store for reasons similar to mine, or others like chronic pain, physical limitations, or light-sensitive epilepsy (those florescents are terrible).

Walmart must have gotten enough similar request, because they finally implemented it! Proof here:




This new option means we can get our groceries with less needless suffering, and Walmart gets more customers! It's a win-win situation.

I'm really excited. I have placed my first order and am picking it up today. I'll leave a review about it after my pickup, so if you need to use their service as well, you'll know what to expect.

Use Walmart's online grocery pickup here.

Note: This post was not sponsored by Walmart or anyone else, I just really like surviving and am happy that Walmart is helping me do that.

Friday, July 5, 2019

Is "Sapiosexual" Ableist?

Let's start with a few definitions of "sapiosexual."

"(of a person) finding intelligence sexually attractive or arousing." (Google)
"One who finds the content's of someone else's mind to be their most attractive attribute, above and before their physical characteristics. From the Latin root 'sapien', meaning wise." (Urban Dictionary)

Is the term "sapiosexual" ableist?

If we go by Urban Dictionary's definition (there's no "official" term in the Merriam-Webster), it seems like the answer is NO.
If sapiosexual is ableist in the context of the Urban Dictionary definition, it would imply that people with disabilities do not have a mind, which is utterly ridiculous.

So let's work with Google's definition, since it includes the word "intelligence," which is the main concern here.

"Intelligence" lately has been dubbed an ableist word, mostly due to it being used against people with intellectual disabilities, autistic people, and others, to dehumanize them and deny them rights. Many of these people were called "retarded" and were treated as less than a person.


I do take this seriously and believe that intelligence, cognitive ability, or practical abilities is in no way related to someone's inherent humanity or attractiveness. Everyone deserves human rights, comfortable lives, acceptance, and love regardless of how their brains work or what they are able to or unable to do.

That being said, this article is not about how the word "intelligence" has been used in actually ableist ways. Check out this insightful article by Amy Sequenzia if you want to read more about that issue.

I would like to work with the term "intelligence" based on the way it seems to be used with "sapiosexual."



1. INTELLIGENCE IS DYNAMIC

"Intelligence" in regards to sapiosexuality doesn't imply you have to be a college graduate with a high IQ. Nor does it imply that you must be neurotypical.

There are many types of intelligence that people of all neurotypes (including people with ID) can be stronger or weaker in.


Of the skills in this graphic, I notice autistic people tend to be stronger in the Spatial, Naturalist, Musical, Logical/Mathematical, and Existential categories while NT's tend to be stronger in the others, though of course there are exceptions and variations.

Examples of exceptions:
  • I have autistic friends with a broader vocabularies (linguistic category) than the average NT.
  • My introspective (Intra-personal) skill is quite strong, while another autistic friend of mine struggles with inward self-awareness.
  • I know NT's who are terrible at reading people (Interpersonal) and self-reflective (Intra-personal).
  • There are people with such extreme cognitive differences that they might not fit any of these categories, and that's okay too.

So it really varies.

To assume that "sapiosexual" is ableist is like assuming that all people with disabilities are not intelligent in any of these categories (or any others beyond this graphic) and are therefore excluded from the term. This is obvious nonsense to me.



2. SEXUAL/ROMANTIC ATTRACTION IS NOT A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

Being sexually or romantically attracted to certain traits is different than being purposefully discriminatory on the basis of disability.

For instance, if I'm only attracted to one gender, am I sexist?


If I tend to be attracted to people of my own culture/race, am I racist?

If I'm neurotypical, must I date an autistic person to avoid being ableist?

I certainly like to keep an open mind (I've been attracted to many different types of people), but I've also learned that you are NOT obligated to be sexually or romantically involved with anyone simply for the sake of being inclusive.

Same goes for intelligence. I just don't want to be close to someone who doesn't challenge me or make me think in important ways. I've dated other autistic and disabled people who do just that, and I'd describe them as incredibly intelligent.
(much more exciting for me than a neurotypical [or autistic] who would rather drink beer and watch sports, than have a deep conversation about life or show me all the different plants in nature and their uses.)



3. BE SPECIFIC ABOUT TRAITS YOU LIKE

If you ask different people what "intelligent" means to them, they might give you different answers.


Here are some possible definitions of "intelligent":
  • Good at math
  • Emotionally perceptive
  • Reads a lot of books
  • Kind-hearted
  • Makes friends easily
  • Uses big words in sentences
  • Has vast knowledge about airplanes
  • Picks up on nonverbal cues
  • Knows the exact moment I am in need of chocolate

Notice anything? These are incredibly varied traits!

Perhaps we should be more specific when we use the term "intelligent," or in this context, change the definition to "has cognitive traits I like." That would fit very well with the term "sapiosexuality" (as defined by Urban Dictionary), as being attracted to the mind before the body.

Should we change the definition of "intelligence," create a new word, 
or simply define "intelligence" on a personal level? What do you think?

I like the word "intelligent," so I would like to define it on a personal level.

For instance, I want to date someone who is adept at text conversations: full sentences, punctuation, emojis, depth of conversation, etc. I perceive people with this ability as intelligent, even though I recognize that it is merely a skill in a specific channel of communication.

I've tried dating people who are excellent at in-person conversations, but give one-word answers via texts and it drives me mad. (or, they're terrible at both.) 

I tend to perceive those people as quite boring, because text/messaging is one of my primary forms of communication.
^ Notice I said "boring." So one association I'd have with intelligence is "not boring!" This is why defining these terms on a personal level is important.


I would also like someone with strong interpersonal skills to make up for my struggle with body language, also it helps when I go nonverbal because said person can usually sense if I'm in distress and ask me what I need.

Emotional intelligence is not its own category on the graphic, but I am attracted to people who can reflect on their emotions and express them, and are aware of others. I've seen this in both autistic and neurotypical people. I actually like people who are up front about their emotions, because I can read them better.

Those are some traits I like. What do you like? Feel free to comment below. :)

Perhaps someday, the word "intelligence" may be replaced with something else out of sensitivity to its misuse. My hope is that the concept of intelligence will no longer be a determining factor in granting basic human rights to everyone.

However, the term itself is useful in multiple contexts, and can mean different things to different people. So let's always take context into consideration and ask people how they define the word personally to avoid making strawman arguments or false assumptions.

In terms of sapiosexuality, I will continue to use the term. Personally, I like Urban Dictionary's definition since it seems more relevant to sapiosexuality, and doesn't imply that mind = intelligence. It also helps communicate to other I'm looking to date that I'm not just attracted to a body: I'm attracted to the mind first.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

The Autism Debate (Part 2): Enforcing "Normal" Behavior (Podcast)

Continuing our previous discussion of The Autism Debate, last time we asked whether we should be researching a "cure" for autism.


My answer/personal opinion is NO. I wasn't too clear on this in my last post--I was merely stating two different sides of the issue. It is a neurology and cannot be cured.


However, I can understand where cure-seekers might be coming from. All the suffering that comes with living as an autistic person in this confusing world, for cure-seekers, is often pinned on autism as the cause. They seem to think if the autism goes away, so does the suffering.

What they might not realize is that the suffering is hardly ever caused by the autism itself, but by chaotic environments, social ostracization or bullying, repeated gaslighting, abuse, misunderstandings, co-morbid psych/health conditions, and a severe lack of the tangible support they need.

Now that you know my stance, let's move on to the questions I mentioned in my last post:
1. To what extent should we enforce an idea of "normal" behavior?
2. How do we define "normal?" What does it mean to "live a full life?"
3. If we found a cure, would we be curing autism or just the negative side effects?

Today we are discussing #1.
To what extent should we enforce an idea of "normal" behavior?

Personally, I think we should be able to navigate life well enough that we feel capable and like we can thrive. At the same time, I don't believe we all have to act the same way or have the same needs.

When I see an autistic person do a "problematic" behavior (like having a meltdown or not complying), I ALWAYS ask first, "WHY do they do it?" not "how can we stop it?" And never forget that they are human like you. Different behavior does not mean they are somehow less human.

If you want to change a behavior, it really helps to know why it's there. If the autistic person is having sensory overload, it makes sense to me that they would have a meltdown in response. Imagine that everyone is screaming in your ears, flashing lights in your eyes, making you wear clothes made of cactuses and sandpaper, and on top of that they get angry at you for reacting!


ETHICALLY ADDRESSING BEHAVIORS

If a behavior is the result of the autistic person in distress, it's more effective and humane to allow accommodations (like taking breaks, wearing sunglasses and headphones etc.) and their natural forms of expression (like fidgeting, not forcing eye contact) to prevent worse outcomes like meltdowns, rather than trying to change their behavior only.

Autistic responses are inevitable, but distress can become more manageable if that person learns healthy (and natural!) ways to cope and be allowed to have those accommodations.

If you are worried about the autistic person becoming a target for not acting "socially appropriate," know that it's possible to strike a balance between granting an autistic person basic comfort they deserve, while teaching social and functioning skills they need to get through life.


THE ROLE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Teaching self-acceptance is extremely important here. It's too easy to get frustrated with yourself and give up if you view yourself negatively.

Too many autistic adults (including myself) have grown up feeling like we are broken, and that we do not deserve basic comfort, love and boundaries that all humans have a right to. I wish I would have learned about consent and setting boundaries early on, rather than compliance. I was NOT put through ABA therapy (thank goodness) but somehow still learned to be compliant lest I'd be corrected or ostracized.

I found it increasingly more difficult to retreat back to my inner world to recover since I had been repeatedly dragged out to socialize or learn facts I didn't care about, or because God demanded my attention. At some point, I had become a smiling, submissive girl who did what she was told, a people-pleaser who thought her worthiness depended on meeting the expectations of others. (I credit both being on the spectrum as well as my religious upbringing).

I had to learn how to accept myself. No one could teach me this. Not pathologizing autism would have helped me a lot earlier in life. Negative messages about autism rang in my ears: "it's an epidemic!" "they will never live normal lives" "obsessive, repetitive, no empathy."

My parents were overall accepting of my quirks, and yet it still wasn't enough to offset the negative messages and the felt pressure from everywhere (school, friends, job, etc.) to perform at a level not natural for me.

So in the process of learning to balance self-care/regulating behaviors with social and functional skills, always treat the autistic person as an intelligent, equal human. Take their needs, rights, and well-being seriously. Make sure they know they are valuable and that you recognize they are doing their best.


HARMLESS VS. HARMFUL BEHAVIORS


~Stimming~
Behaviors that are harmless to the autistic person and other people, like stimming, should be left alone. Stimming is repetitive body movements like rocking, hand-flapping, bouncing one's leg, etc. and it often helps autistic people release energy and manage anxiety, and filter out sensory input. If it's harmful or a disruption to themselves or others (like self-harm, or stims that truly distract them from learning in school), it would be reasonable to try replacing it with another, more subtle stim, or stim toys like fidget spinners or other sensory items. Stopping the stim altogether is just going to make that person anxious. 


~Self-Harm~
Keep in mind that stims involving self-harm (like hitting their head, biting themselves, etc.) is often their way of communicating distress. It is NOT attention-seeking, so do take it seriously--I don't see it as much different a neurotypical tearfully telling a friend "I am not okay" when they are emotionally overwhelmed, besides the obvious fact that self-harming stims are... well... harmful to the person in distress.

It's imperative that this type of stimming IS stopped so they don't hurt themselves, but please follow up with them when they've calmed down and ask what was distressing them. It could give you some clues about how to help. They could be dealing with severe mental illness or bullying, or perhaps they are abused at home or have dealt with abuse in the past and are having a PTSD reaction.

(Aside from a few rare occasions, I've never had self-harming behaviors. So I am drawing from my experience with mental illness and insight from Agony Autie on self-harm, so if  you have any questions on the topic I highly recommend watching her YouTube channel.)


TEACHING FUNCTIONING SKILLS

When it comes down to adapting to society, I think it's always good to teach functioning skills. Each person on the spectrum has different needs and abilities though, so targeting realistic goals for that specific person is more productive than trying to use a one-size-fits-all method of teaching these skills.

For example, some autistic people might be able to work, but struggle with the process of attaining a job. I recommend teaching specific steps according to their preferred learning style. And when I say specific I mean specific--personally, I thrive when the steps written down in simplified bullet points followed by elaboration beneath each one. For me, the more in-depth, the better. I want to know all the details to ensure I do the task correctly.

Pictures/visuals can also be immensely helpful, especially for autistics who are visual learners. When I was in middle school, I had my entire morning routine broken down into steps on notecards (one step per card) which helped me get out the door on time. I had a picture followed by text on each card, for example "Get out of bed," "Brush teeth," "Pack lunch," "Put shoes on," etc.

As an adult, have something similar, for specific tasks as well as broad ones. I call them "Routine Cards:"



It's good to encourage an autistic person to work hard and push themselves when they can, certainly. It's also good to be realistic about it.

For instance, I make my own phone calls to handle things like bills I wasn't supposed to be charged, or scheduling doctor appointments, etc., but I need to make them at home on a day off since they are exhausting for me. I also should avoid making calls while I'm driving or cooking or doing other complex tasks since I could get distracted and make mistakes. I pace a lot when I'm on the phone because it helps me focus. 

The important thing is that I am getting things done. What's not as important is how I am doing them, as long as my methods are not too overwhelming to me or others around me.

Saturday, April 6, 2019

"Through Our Eyes" Extended Version on YouTube!

Remember my documentary "Through Our Eyes: Living with Asperger's"?
(With how ridiculously often I promote it? I hope so!)

I released the 50-minute extended version on YouTube, so you can watch it for free! It used to be exclusively available on DVD, but I decided to release it to the public during Autism Acceptance Month, where it will be here on the internet to stay. Feel free to use it (along with any of the videos below) for educational settings or to spread awareness/acceptance this April.



Help spread the word by posting it on social media and sharing it with friends!

If you would still like a DVD copy, you can get them from my shop for only $6.99 now!. https://life-of-an-aspie.blogspot.com/p/shop.html

The YouTube version and the DVD (recently re-released) now has subtitles in English and five other languages.

I also uploaded the exclusive bonus interviews from the DVD to YouTube. These interviews feature parents of individuals on the spectrum and psych professionals experienced with autistic individuals.


Dr. Tim Wahlberg
Difference between Autism and AS
Difficulty Multitasking
Strengths and Weaknesses
Educating people about AS
Social Interaction and Motivation
Functional Skills

Patti Boheme

Restrictive Interests/Repetitive Behaviors
Changes in the DSM-V
Misconceptions about Autism
Teaching Perspective Taking
Advocating for individuals with Autism
A Success Story


Carol McKellar
Katie's Aspergers
Parenting Katie
Katie's School Experience
Katie's Friendships
Katie's Development

Jodi Borger
Bram's Diagnosis
Bram's Social Experience
Bram's School Experience
How Bram Thinks
Bram's Progress
What people should know about AS





I post videos, podcasts, and blog posts on autism and mental health. Check them out here:


Alyssa Huber - The Life of an Aspie on YouTube
Online videos on Asperger's Syndrome/autism, and my experiences


https://life-of-an-aspie.blogspot.com/2019/03/where-empathy-meets-hyperfocus.html

If you like my work, feel free to leave a small contribution here, or a custom contribution on my website. This will help support me so I can continue creating educational content!