Hi,
I was just wondering if there were any other people like me here who are not especially high functioning and who have Learning Difficulties or Specific Learning Difficulties?
There seem to be sites for people with LD / SpLD and separete sites for people on the spectrum - but I haven't really found anything specifically for people with both!
So, I was thinking that maybe I would start my own thread.
I thought that perhaps initially anyone who wants to be part of this thread could start by saying a bit about themselves?
So here goes:
I am 27 and I live in UK.
I work part time in the arts. (Can't quite manage full-time at the moment for health reasons)
I have diagnosis of AS and also various SpLDs and mild retardation / learning difficulty issues
I also have some physical health problems, although I won't bore you with those.
I like music and reading and computers and the countryside and I am also interested in disability equality campaigning.
So that is a very short introduction to me!
I look forward to meeting others on this thread.
P.S. Please don't be mean. Thanks
just to chat - I wonder if the learning disabilities eventually could resolve. My feeling is they will - if they haven't done already done so.
Aspergers is considered a 'developmental disorder' - I believe the brain matures differently - eventually working out in the favour of the person with the difference. Just my thoughts based on personal experiences within my family. Everyones different. Your post was nice.
I am glad you are well enough to work at least part- time. Chronic fatigue is a devasting illness, it can make life a real struggle.
please excuse grammar errors - I do read through to check, but I miss the errors.
What kind of music do you like Aliengirl and what kind of work do you do in the arts?
What kind of work do you do?
Aliengirl - I also work with people with disablities. I work with people who have advanced dementia and who are physically very frail.
My job entails offering people full cares for all activities of daily living (quite physical work) and much of my work involves caring for the dying. I am a nurse.
I find my work very rewarding - I love my job.
Kind regards. 
It is really confusing alien girl, my son AS was diagnosed with specific learning disablities - but he was so much smarter in lots of ways in comparison to his classmates, although very weak in social skills, he is a deep person. His IQ was up and down - but balanced out as average, genius in spatial skills, but very weak coding skills, ( putting a story into sequence). He needs support to organise his life and cope, he has a govt. paid mentor who works with him and supports him to live independently.
it doesn't pay to be too quick to take on labels. You are able to use language very effectively - you come across to me as being very bright, when you say you are low functioning I am curious know - in what way are you lower functioning or *** ( that word has bad connatations in my mind).
We have a new kitten, he is very frightened, he wants to hide all the time. He is hiding inside my jersey and cuddled into me at the moment. He is barely eating or drinking, I hope he settles into his new home soon. He brings out my mothering instincts
Hi Aliengirl,
I know what you mean about it having bad connotations - unfortunately terms like 'retardation' and 'learning difficulties' are often hijacked by people who want to use them in a derogatory way, which makes things difficult for those of us who have to live with such diagnoses and who want to just make our way in life.
Yes - I know what you mean, not nice. We need to improve our education system, include humanities more. Are you gifted in the arts Aliengirl?
Good luck with your plans for more independent living. My son has been helped a lot by social services - but only once he got a diagnosis - prior to that things were really hard.
Your cat sounds very sweet.
Our cat is very sweet - I will try to get a photo. He has been a little braver today. Still cuddled into us - but not under our jerseys - progress!!! Last night he cried a bit - slept under my neck - and hid. Our kitten is a burmilla - lilac tipped - silver coat.
Thank you for talking with me - I appreciate it.
I was just wondering what other health problems people had that tend to be common with the Autistic Spectrum, and whether people feel this is more pronounced in people who are not very high functioning?
There are the obvious things like dyslexia, dyspraxia etc., but I was thinking more physical issues.
For example, I have an intestinal disorder, ME (although it seems to be at bay at the moment), eczema, slow healing, sluggish liver, dysmenorroheoa ( or however you spell it!) and also random involuntary internal muscle spasms (although fortunately this doesn't happen too often!)
Anyone else?
I feel awkward responding since my son has the diagnosis, not me.
Anyway - chronic fatigue in the past - but like you I have to be very careful not to overdo things now. I still couldn't cope with working full time. I have asthma, wheat and milk intolerances, social anxiety problems, bouts of low mood. I have had dermatitis but this healed once I gave up gluten, extreme sensitivity to some meds.
My older son & I are generally ridiculously healthy.
Good to hear you say this woman from mars - but I must admit I am puzzled.
no - I was puzzled, that's all. I knew that wfm had a serious degenerative health condition that gives ongoing pain, causes depression and makes it so she is unable to work. To hear someone with this condition describe themselves as generally ridiculously healthy puzzled me - that's all - not a big deal. I also said it was good to hear wfm described her physical health as being ridiculously healthy.
urticaria
- it is a whelt - allergy related.
That's interesting. Thanks. I've never been allergic to anything. Well, never tested for anything so...
Before realising I had allergies - I would be driven mad by whelts / urticaria, drove me barmy - or should I say barmier, if there is such a word.
Anyway - once I eliminated wheat and milk products from my diet, my skin slowly calmed down.
I went to an allergist - skin tests proved nothing - he suggested counselling and antidepressants (I wasn't depressed). It was really only by elimating certain foods from my diet and then reintroducing them to test for an allergy type of response - that I was able to determine foods that upset me.
Other symptoms of food intolerance include - stomach bloating, sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy ears - fatigue - stuffy nose, one hot red ear - mood swings - all sorts of weird symptoms.
IT's nice to see you posting again Aliengirl
rushing - work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm late.
I have learning issues, cognitive thinking issues and I have AS.
What is your IQ alien girl?
Doesn't everyone do an IQ test when they are diagnosed as being MR and are getting tested for autism?
I feel I don't know enough to comment but a few thoughts. People are different, at different times of their lives. People change as they grow and develop coping skills. I guess some people are lower functioning in some activities of daily living - but in other things they have superior skills and abilities. Definitions are hard when applying them to complex human beings.