Disability My Arse

Hello again. Whilst I'm pushing through with life being on hold since I've been without a car, things are shaping up. I'll be getting a new car on Thursday with a similar Ford Puma ST line, I've chatting with some people through the Facebook Messenger, gather myself for a change of course with work as later, I've decided to call other Repco stores to fill in some extra shifts. With that idea, I'm wanting to focus on gaining more counter service experience and perhaps grow elsewhere.

And then, I'm wanting to concentrate on getting myself out to more people as the neighbourhood I'm currently in is next to dead. But then, I still have big visions which I want to go ahead with. I'm going on with my art building a collection of paintings to do my own exhibition and having some people help. I'm still wanting to work on cars but it's on hold until the start of next year. That time, I'll look to start flipping cars for extra money.

But there's one barrier that I always have to carry which is living with Autism. For those who are curious, Autism is a rare developmental condition in which children who are diagnosed have delayed language and communication building skills. Next, they insist on things being the same as they can't cope with change, they're over sensitive to anything in life. But these are the disadvantages but there are benefits as well. They can be clever, better switched on, structural and straight forward in their thinking.

As I was growing up and later during my life, I'm having to overcome my obstacles such as not being able to communicate with anyone properly and that prevented me from making friends. I'm having to learn to accept differences as circumstances don't work out and I realise insisting on things to be the same wouldn't be too ideal. Making changes in my life has helped me pull through but I'm not going to stop.

So in a way, I'm a capable and independent but my lifelong problem has always been when a community of people don't understand and let alone anything Autism. And that's why I've had a hard life not fitting in, and when I was doing a second round of Year 12 at high school, I felt terrible as I wasn't getting along with many students and with an integration aide at the time, I told her I wanted to die. After that, I cried.

But after that, she suggested I do presentations about Autism and go around to other schools and places to get people to learn and understand. And it's beneficial but there's one bit of irony that went with it. Every time I open up the presentation with "Hello everyone. My name is Tristan Throup. I have a disability known as Autism" and away I go. The word disability spells what I'm not capable of and it makes me feel put off. It's hard enough being picked out for who I am and this might sound discriminating, it can.

With this post, I'm wanting to let others know that I'm better than anyone thinks and despite my Autism, I can contribute to society and living life not being understood and entirely accepted is too long for me to cop. And especially when I'm an Australian citizen, it's not truly a good look as I'm well aware their approach to people living with disabilities isn't too good. It's hard enough when they get put in the too hard basket but have they been given a choice? No. And neither have I.

But with the positive notes, I've had an integration aide beside me every time I go to school. I've also attended speech therapy sessions which has certainly helped develop my communication skills. And then, there's the matter of finding good people to mingle with. When I've studied Certificate IV in Screen & Media at the Yallourn TAFE, I wasn't too confident with people going through a handful of horrible students but I've started opening up to some people who are nice and respecting. And also, the first thing I've done is revealing to people I have Autism. Think about it as you're coming out as a homosexual. You feel awkward and not part of the usual society but I've done it a few times. That way, people wake up and started realising why I'm rather unusual and not as talkative.

I always can't get over how a lot of ignorance occurs. With all the ignorance I've encountered, I could have been accepted and then be a great person which I am. But when others don't see that, it's hard to break into a community. Doing this blog is a good hobby which opens up my opportunity to get people to understand and it's way more of a privilege than do anything on Snapchat or TikTok. The bit about autistic people insisting on things being the same can be good in a way but the bigger picture in my mind is what's the point using social media to waste time on any kind of rubbish imaginable.

But this is my niche online. I'm passionate about writing and making cool articles which in this case is my blog. I have written a book about Autism years back just to get people to realise more and learn about the condition but for the sake of evidence, this is the book below.

The end result is when people bought copies of my book, they've learnt a lot and especially having children and grandchildren who are diagnosed with Autism, it's been a great tool. And what I've been wanting to achieve is to get people thinking about the disability bit. It's worth mentioning Autism varies from person to person.

I've even met other autistic people in my life with one of my work colleagues who also has Autism mentioned we're intelligent but not stupid.

I like to let more people realise how capable I am to contribute to society and that way, I'll be able to fit in. All I want are opportunities not strategies to be part of the community which I gradually am with art and eventually working on cars. Never forget I have visions and if more people would take me seriously, society could be better. I've been lucky to not go on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS for short) and still get some traction in the new community but it's hard.

But in the end, the big decision to move to Pakenham to start a new life around Melbourne is panning out better than where I was before. All I'm after are doorways to fulfill my vision to live like other people.

See you next time!