4 minute read
HAPPILY DIFFERENT
A morning at the hairdressers was anything but relaxing for Caroline Keep (above). As a child she was super sensitive to having her hair brushed or plaited. “For me it was like having a root canal treatment,” she recalls.
Many years later, an assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) suggested she would benefit from being assessed for autism
“I was always smart, stubborn and a bit problematic,” says Caroline. “I didn’t enjoy parties. I was popular, but not that interested in other people. I would spend hours on my own making things.”
After working in engineering, she spent a decade as an airline steward, gained a degree in geophysics and became a teacher. But by then she was struggling with extreme highs and lows.
“I would push myself to achieve, become overwhelmed then crash and burn out. At one stage I didn’t speak for four months. I felt as if my Life Game settings had been set to Very Hard and that other people were cruising along on Easy.”
In 2018 Caroline won the Times National Teacher of the Year award and cofounded Liverpool MakeFest, a festival to promote science, technology, engineering, art and maths (Steam) to young people.
Three years later, aged 41, she was diagnosed with autism.
Today Caroline is studying for a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence in Education. Her key worker helps navigate studies, she keeps a Hidden Disability Sunflower lanyard to avoid stressful situations and her home is equipped with mood changing lightbulbs.
A most valuable source of help is being a member of Merseyside Autistic Adults group. Caroline describes the support from her peers as feeling like ‘coming home’.
“I’ve spent a lifetime doing things that I don’t want to do in order to fit in,” she reflects. “Now I focus on self care. I used to live life as a perfectly broken neurotypical person, now I live as a perfectly good autistic person.”
How is going to the hair salon? “It’s fine. I’ve explained to my hairdresser that I’m autistic –now she lets me brush my own hair.”
Autism Attention Card
If you are autistic, it may help blue light services for you to carry an Autism Alert card in case of a crisis. The National Autistic Society has a link to download the credit card sized card, but your local authority or blue light services may have their own scheme. For Liverpool and Cheshire visit cheshireautism.org.uk
Blue Badge Scheme
An autism diagnosis may mean that you are eligible for a Blue Badge, which helps people with disabilities or health issues park closer to their destination.
I’ve spent a lifetime doing things I don’t want to do in order to fit in.
FIND OUT MORE:
Find out more about autism spectrum condition on the NHS website: nhs.uk/conditions/autism
For more information on autism services visit: merseycare.nhs.uk and watch our short animation
The World Art Factory
Working towards a better understanding for autistic people in the general community theworldartfactory.com
Email: contact@theworldfactory.com
Telephone: 07904 958056
Autism Spectrum Collective
A drop in every last Friday of the month, 1.30pm to 4pm at the Quaker Meeting House in School Lane, Liverpool (behind Primark). Further information and other events:
Email: austisticspectrumcollective@gmail.com
Telephone: 07887 369550
Merseyside Autistic Adults
Email: merseysideautisticadults@gmail.com
Eventbrite: Merseyside-autistic-adults. eventbrite.com
Facebook: merseysideautisticadults
X: MerseyAutistic
Instagram: merseysideautisticadults
This might be appropriate if your sensitivities are such that you cannot walk as part of a journey without considerable psychological distress.
Be Autism Aware
Websites
National Autistic Society autism.org.uk
Autistica autistica.org.uk
Beyond Autism beyondautism.org.uk
Reach Men’s Centre
Neurodiverse social groups
6-7 The Palatine, Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle L20 4SN
Telephone: 07504 565764
Swan Women’s Centre
Linacre Road, Litherland, Liverpool L21 6NR Various social and peer support groups. swanwomenscentre.org
AUTISM ATTENTION CARD
If you are autistic, it may help blue light services for you to carry an Autism Alert card in case of a crisis. The National Autistic Society has a link to download the credit card sized card, but your local authority or blue light services may have their own scheme. For Liverpool and Cheshire visit cheshireautism.org.uk
BLUE BADGE SCHEME
An autism diagnosis may mean that you are eligible for a Blue Badge, which helps people with disabilities or health issues park closer to their destination.
This might be appropriate if your sensitivities are such that you cannot walk as part of a journey without considerable psychological distress.
