Do you carry an Autism Alert card with you?

Post Reply New Topic

I have an Autism Alert card and carry it with me whenever I am away from home and particularly when I have to travel by plane.

My last business trip I forgot to bring it with me, which caused me to experience some stress.
- Fortunately I had taken Valium before leaving the house and along with my ear plugs, I managed to hold it together - in the airport and on the plane!

I have heard that in some countries, if you identify yourself to airline check-in staff as a person with Autism, they can arrange for a special escort for you through to the departure gate?

How about you?

Do you carry an Autism Alert card?

I have an Autism Alert Card which has helped me, along with my Advance Directive, when I've been put in hospital. Last time I got sectioned and was made to stay in hospital on a Section 2, they didn't coerce me into going to a single group activity on the ward because they saw the card that said I'm autistic, and my Advance Directive specifically said that I am not able to participate in group activities.

In fact I will be flying on a plane this December and I will be requesting extra support, I already have the letter and my social worker is going to provide medical evidence of my autism and schizophrenia.

Also, there is a record on the Police National Computer about me having autism, as I have been sectioned by the police several times for severe mental illness exacerbations. It lists the things that would aggravate me, for example shouting at me. I am not sure how much it helped last time I was put on a Section 136 by the police as I ended up getting handcuffed and manhandled...which made me shout and resist even more....

I am not officially diagnosed so no, not sure if I would if I were either.

No, but I would love one. I've been harassed and bullied by police. It would be very nice to be able to explain my autism without having to talk, because everyone thinks I'm on drugs if I have a public meltdown.

How do you get one?

I never knew such a card existed. I know when I deal with the police anymore, the first thing I say is say I have Asperger's (before recently Dx'ed, I would say I have Autism though I haven't dealt with any police since an incident last year that I don't care to get into right now).

No. I dont know why I would.

No but now I'm reaching an age where I'm expected to start doing more stuff independently it would probably be a good idea, just in case I run into difficulties when I'm on my own and have nobody to explain on my behalf.

I have Aspergers I don't carry an autism card but I am considering it due to the fact I have had run ins with the police for walking while looking suspicious. I have Aspergers but I would not want an escort to guide me around because I am a grown ass man I deal with problems as they arise. I am so glad I had parents who did not baby me making into so full grown man-child that needs help doing new or stressfull things. I would have it to keep from getting a police asswhooping not get special treatment.

No I don't carry one and I don't even need one.

I've been meaning to put together a 'This is Asperger's, I've been diagnosed with it' card to show people like police and such if it somehow is necessary.

At the moment all I have is a 'this person gets half price tickets 'cause of disability' pass, which at the very least shows that there's some sort of non-physical disability.

I've got one and I take it everywhere. I usually have a carer with me, but even then they sometimes encourage me to talk to someone behind the desk or something in a shop. I speak quite clearly but have real problems understanding speech of other people so if I am struggling and start to rock or hum, my carer reminds me to get the card out. Thankfully I don't have to use it often unlike my Tourettes alert card which I literally hang around my neck because I get so much negative response to it!

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

I am very outspoken because I just say whatever I feel and damn the consequences. That began a long time ago when I found out that being quiet and invisible didn't make people like me, agreeing with everything and doing whatever somebody asked didn't make them like me, and since I didn't much like them anyway, I decided to hell with it. I'll say what I want. It's actually easier that way because I don't have to stop and think.

So, I'm perfectly capable of telling somebody I have Aspergers, but why is it their business? If I'm in line in a store and somebody behind me is too close to me, I have every right to tell him to move back, if I can't step forward. He doesn't have to know that I have Aspergers to stop being rude. If I say "You need to step back a little please" and he says "Why?" I don't have to say "Because I have Aspergers and it's bothering me". It's completely sufficient to say "Because you are too close, it's bothering me, and it's rude".

I don't freak out in pressure situations anymore. If I'm pulled over I know what to do. License and insurance. Sign the ticket. No sudden moves. I roll down the window and say something like "Hey officer!" He greets me, we talk about the offense. I ask if he will please give me a warning if I promise not to do it again. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He doesn't need to know that I was speeding because I have to go to the bathroom and I can only do that particular function in my own bathroom because I have Aspergers. It doesn't change the fact that I was 15 miles over the speed limit. If I was in labor, that would be a different story.

I know there are degrees of social impairment with Aspergers. There are also degrees of sensory issues and routine issues. Mine manifests itself more with routine and some sensory. It used to greatly hinder me socially. I didn't know I had any reason to be like I was other than just being "wierd and shy" so I kept forcing myself to do things differently until they became second nature to me. I had a desire to do that because I didn't like being left out. I have no desire whatsoever to change my routing and sensory issues. I accomodate them just fine. I can deal, albeit uncomfortably, when I'm in situations where I can't accomodate them, so I do and I know that I'll be back to my home, with my stuff before long, so I can bear it.

I imagine that people who do have more pronounced issues that are harder to deal with would need the card. Especially when put in very uncomfortable situations and unable to explain why it has to be stopped right then.

The only time I can imagine myself needing one is when I get extremely angry or overwhelmed or frustrated and cant handle it anymore and have a meltdown, which consists of yelling, throwing things, breaking things, and just screaming in frustration. Although sometimes I get so mad when something is unfair (not your garden variety unfair, but seriously unfair) and I tell somebody off bad enough to cause their ears to melt. "I have Aspergers and I have just had a meltdown. You caused it, a**hole" would be what I want my card to say. Although I'd really hate for my type of meltdown to give other Aspies a bad name, cause it really would.

Frances

No, and I don't have an autism alert card.

It's been suggested that I carry one but no, I don't. My meltdowns are pretty quiet these days and I've gotten better at preventing them, or at least lessening the impact.
_________________
http://defeatingthedoginthedaytime.blogspot.com/

the trials and tribulations of a girl pretending to be normal