AUTISTIC AND NEUROTYPICAL CULTURAL CLASH.

Yesterday, I had an infusion, and I heard someone say that there might have been an incident regarding someone having an MRI. And tomorrow marks 24 years since my mother harangued and harassed me into seeing that stupid doctor who claimed that men and women can never be just friends.

I explained to somebody, yesterday, that one thing staff can be aware of it, for some of us autistic folks, we can have greater attachments to inanimate objects than people, so, there is the possibility that radiographers could allow patients to bring comfort items with them, within reason, of course. I mean, for me, I have seen that some x-ray equipment is Japanese, so if I have to take my watch off, and my spectacles, laying on a Japanese table within touching distance of Japanese equipment can serve as a comfort item. As can Japanese clothing.

For some of us autistics, provided that the comfort items don’t restrict access to body parts, it can be a greater comfort to take a fluffy toy into an exam, rather than having a person.

Without attempting to apply reverse ABA, I would have said to this stupid doctor, had I been a university assessor, “Okay, you have your own style, and for small kids and possibly some teenagers, your manner is fine. But for a young adult (i.e. 16–30), what you consider to be caring can come across as creepy and condescending. For example, unless you are going over a checklist in your mind, saying, “Right, the glands, first,” say, “Okay, I’ll just check the lymph nodes in your neck.” And then add, “I shouldn’t need to check your armpits or abdomen, as well.” If the patient has a comfort item, you can just say, “Could you put that into your other hand for me, please?” Then, don’t say to them in a soft voice, “Just open your mouth so I can have a little look down your throat,” a young adult, when they see you with a tongue depressor and an otoscope only needs, “Can you just open up for me, please?” Okay, some people may need to be told specifically, but you can do it without being condescending, even, “Just open your mouth for me, please,” will suffice. But, above all, remember that someone age 22 is an old hand, but they don’t want, “Open your mouth!”

And above all, also remember, a condescending voice that you may think is trying to be gentle, can be like death metal in a mining elevator to an autistic person.

Some people, like this stupid doctor, reject materialism, and unless he says that he walks everywhere, or catches the train long distance, I would wonder at that. But what people need to remember is, autistic people, well, most of us anyway, aren’t materialistic as in, “Oh, come and look at my new Saab Convertible,” but rather, we have strong attachments to material objects rather than people, because those objects give us spiritual comfort. And there is nothing wrong with this.

One reason why I like winter, or cool environments, better than summer, is that I can sleep with a doona or a thermal blanket. At the hospital, I ask for a room temperature blanket, as one that’s been in the warmer is uncomfortable. And what I’m comfortable with from a female versus a male is different. For example, at the hospital, I’m okay with a female nurse semi-covering me with a blanket, whereas from a male nurse, I’m more, “Okay, hand it to me, please, and I’ll cover myself.” And that’s not homophobic, as I’m not, it’s just what I’m more comfortable with.

It is not wrong to feel attachment to inanimate objects and to prefer to spend time with inanimate objects rather than people.