newbie

Post Reply New Topic

Hey everyone, my name on the forum is Dutchy (because i come from the Netherlands, so Dutchy ) My real name is Esther, i'm 29 years old, and married for almost 4 years to the most wonderfull (NT)man in the world I live in a small village in the south of Holland, with our 2 dogs: Dolly and Riser. You can see them in my avatarphoto.

I never get to manage to finish an education/training, and by the 3rd failed training i start to wonder what was wrong with me, since my grades were more than good, but i never actually succeed in the whole education-system. So i decided that it was time to get me tested somehow. That was 8 years ago (i was 21 at the time), and i then got my first diagnosis: NLD (non-verbal learning disorder). A lot of things got very clear then, but there were some things i didn't quite reconized in myself, or others with NLD. So i searched further and had me tested again, final diagnosis: PDD-NOS. YES! this was it! This is who i am! Always tought i was an Aspie though, but oke who cares right? I'm either way autistic, and i am quite pleased with that diagnosis, because it explains A LOT!

Now i learned a whole new perspective to look at things differently. Still haven't got to succeed a training or an education, and it's very hard for me to find a job (i'm searching for a job at the moment, but it's not that easy, even though i have a jobcoach and stuff). Actually, finding a job isn't that hard, but to find a good job, that is good for me, like in: fit's my intelligence but also my practical feasibility, a job i can stay for longer than a couple of months without getting insane or something, well, that's a real challenge, in witch i still don't succeed in either. But not to worry, i'm getting a disability-benefit for almost 4 years now, and still trying to integrate on the labormarket in an adapted kind of way (witch is having a slowly progress, but you know, the crisis is everywhere!). So that takes the pressure off, to be certain of providing an income in some way. I have nothing to be complaining about really. I'm very happy, and have a wonderful life. I'm glad i'm autistic.

Further, i really like to be a speaker and like to function as an experience-expert on autism. I like to give seminars or personal conversations with anyone who has an interest in autism and/or my story. I really feel it's my 'job' in life to speak up for people who have autism, and try to give others more insights in what it really is like, so (hopefully) they learn to understand it more. To get rid of the most common stigmas that are surrounding with autism, and show to others that having autism is not that weird or hard to have, but in fact awesome and quite in handy sometimes, that it is just a beautiful way of being, like anyone else. But most of all, i just really would like to see that people connect more with each other in a way of more respect for each other (s differences), and more understanding, by learning to know the other more and what their world is like.

I'm fascinated by life in general, i've got the feeling that i'm not from this planet (hence this forum), but i'm here to study (hence my occupation: forever student)
Any questions? Bring it on! Love chatting around and stuff!

Hi ya! Welcome!
Especially thank you for that great introduction!

Thanks 1401b

Aaahw thanks TenPencePiece! I do my best to do my thing and make it work