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I’ve just watched a video talking about the similarities between autism and ADHD, which was very interesting. There are similarities.

What was more interesting though, was that I noticed early on the speaker had a ball which he periodically bounced, held, fidgeted with. To many people this might seen strange, a disruption. Ask how was it helpful for him. Well the fidgeting, if it is anything like me, may have helped him focus, using excess energy, like it does me. At the end he bounced the ball, off the wall and the floor. He also did not always focus on the camera.

Am I saying this was bad, negative behaviour? No. Far from it. It is how we autistic people can be, it is behaviour that can help us. I need to fidget with something when talking, focusing on work. And it has to be the right thing for the task. Looking away to focus on what we are saying also helps. Telling us to look at people to show we are interested does not help either. My shutting my eyes does not mean lack of focus. Rather it means I am blocking out distractions, seeing inside my head, the multiple solutions, how to describe them, however I do, succinctly or round the houses, as I am processing it. When I was told to keep my eyes open at all times when at meetings, or talking, the focus went from thinking about possible issues/solutions, to just concentrating on the correct behaviour and less ideas. I was considered not to be adequately contributing as a result.

Our ways of thinking focussing is just different, telling us to fit in with the normal ways does not work and can be exhausting. Understand us, our ways and we can really contribute.

#autismawareness #mentalhealth #hr #asd #aspergers #asperger #autismacceptance #autistic #energy #flexibility