{"id":1396,"date":"2026-04-02T21:54:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/?p=1396"},"modified":"2026-04-02T22:01:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:01:32","slug":"autism-awareness-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/en\/2026\/04\/02\/autism-awareness-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism Awareness Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is Autism Awareness Day. We shine gold (because Au is gold, in terms of chemical elements), not blue. Why? A few years ago it was explained really well here (PL):\u00a0
https:\/\/thisisinternet.pl\/2021\/03\/dlaczego-w-kwietniu-nie-zaswiece-sie-na-niebiesko-i-ty-tez-nie-powinienes\/<\/a> \u2014 no need to repeat it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also on the spectrum. I was diagnosed in early adulthood\u2014before the \u201cautism trend,\u201d before \u201cfemale autism\u201d became a thing\u2014because my traits fall more into what\u2019s typically described as the \u201cmale\u201d presentation. I\u2019ve managed most of it, with significant support from my partner. I have quiet, darkness, and warmth \ud83d\ude42 So\u2014optimal conditions.<\/p>\n

The biggest challenges I still face are mainly related to proprioception issues and dyspraxia (or sensory processing differences), including sensory hypersensitivity. I\u2019m not listing interpersonal difficulties because\u2026 I rarely see other people \ud83d\ude42 I\u2019ve basically moved my whole life online, except for celebrations with fellow Slavic pagans (though that still means 2\u20133 days of muscle soreness and a dozen bruises), and technical conferences (but those come with such a heavy cognitive load of \u201cacting normal\u201d\u2014i.e., constantly self-monitoring so I don\u2019t look silly or say something inappropriate\u2014for 2\u20133 days that I usually end up with something like a cold and need a week to recover).<\/p>\n

I still sometimes get lost\u2014even in larger stores\u2014but I go there so rarely that I don\u2019t remember the last time it happened. There\u2019s a Dino one floor below, that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m glad school is behind me, because recently I attended a workshop for students\u2026 and the bells and hallway noise are still there during breaks! Good thing there was no school radio system\u2014that was the worst invention ever, I used to have to change wings during breaks because of it ;p<\/p>\n

And speaking of things I still struggle with\u2026 being forced off a broken train in Pracze instead of at the main station in Wroc\u0142aw. Figuring out transport from there\u2026 terrifying. In general, whenever I travel by public transport, I have everything mapped out: where I\u2019m going, which stations, what I transfer to (e.g., which city bus), etc. I\u2019m extremely poor at improvising on the spot and I panic. So I usually prepare multiple alternatives. As long as I don\u2019t forget my notes :p (I keep them printed and on my phone).<\/p>\n

If I could say something today about actually improving the situation of autistic people\u2014if someone wants to help\u2014here\u2019s a list:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Clearly mark your event space (from the building entrance all the way to the destination)<\/li>\n
  2. Provide a quiet, warm, dim place where overstimulated senses can calm down<\/li>\n
  3. Don\u2019t ask for a phone call if something can be handled in a few lines of text. It\u2019s stressful and can ruin several hours\u2014or the whole day. (Though sometimes it\u2019s necessary\u2014I call too.)<\/li>\n
  4. In large spaces, create a \u201csafe point\u201d: \u201cLost? Wait here for your companion.\u201d This helps not only autistic people but also children, elderly individuals, and people with dementia. A few arrows on the floor are enough.<\/li>\n
  5. If you see someone wearing hearing protection outside of a construction or industrial setting\u2014leave them alone. They\u2019re fighting to function.<\/li>\n
  6. Ignore stimming and self-directed behaviors. However, if there is aggression toward you, respond by setting clear boundaries: \u201cno,\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t agree,\u201d \u201cplease don\u2019t do that.\u201d In extreme cases, use direct force to restrain the aggressor. A diagnosis must not be used to justify violence toward others. Calling the police or emergency services is valid. This applies to parents too.<\/li>\n
  7. Use simple instructions and require one thing at a time. Don\u2019t interrupt an ongoing activity unless it\u2019s truly critical. Otherwise, you may disrupt several hours of functioning. Executive function difficulties can be real, but that doesn\u2019t mean zero expectations. Over-assisting prevents skill development and can actually create disability.<\/li>\n
  8. If you have such people in your team, prepare \u201cemergency procedures\u201d\u2014plans A, B, C, D. And don\u2019t say \u201cwe need to talk\u201d unless you immediately specify the topic. Otherwise, instead of productivity, you\u2019ll get someone mentally simulating worst-case scenarios\u2014and none of them are positive \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n
  9. Don\u2019t force eye contact and don\u2019t infer intentions from tone of voice or facial expressions. People on the spectrum often struggle with nonverbal communication\u2014both producing and interpreting it. Some skills can be learned in adulthood, but only when the person is not exhausted or overstimulated. If something is wrong\u2014say it directly, preferably one-on-one. Use a clear structure: unacceptable behavior \u2192 why \u2192 expected behavior. Example:
    \u201cI noticed you use profanity around children. It\u2019s important to me that my children don\u2019t hear language considered vulgar. Please use appropriate language in their presence.\u201d<\/li>\n
  10. Allow them to bring their own food to events. Food selectivity can be so strong that nothing on your table is edible for them. You can also ask what they eat and simply include it in the menu. For children and teenagers\u2014encourage trying new foods, they may discover something acceptable.<\/li>\n
  11. Accept sunglasses and turned-off cameras during conversations. This helps conserve energy otherwise spent on maintaining eye contact and facial control, and prevents misinterpretation as disengagement.<\/li>\n
  12. Allow flexible clothing that supports thermal and sensory comfort. A company T-shirt can be worn over a sweater or turtleneck. It works.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Alright, that\u2019s enough\u2014it\u2019s getting long.<\/p>\n

    And one more thing for public institutions: please go back to the \u201cCOVID model,\u201d where so many things could be handled by mail or online\u2014and where maintaining distance between people was possible.<\/p>\n

    PS: Facebook is blue all year round anyway :p
    PS2:     https:\/\/www.cyberpsychoinstytut.pl\/konsultacje\/<\/a> \u2014 you can get \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0441\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0430\u0446\u0438\u0438 (consultations) on adapting your company digitally to the needs of people on the spectrum \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Today is Autism Awareness Day. We shine gold (because Au is gold, in terms of chemical elements), not blue. Why? A few years ago it<\/p>\n

    Lecim dalejAutism Awareness Day<\/span> <\/i><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[579],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bez-kategorii-en","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1396"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1400,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1396\/revisions\/1400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/piatkosia.k4be.pl\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}