I have to give a panel speech about living with Autism. Help

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It's for a mental health panel, I'm really nervous, there's gonna be maybe 200 people there, it's at my campus and I'm not 100% sure what to talk about. I'm kind of scared, and I would like some advice on how to get through this and what to talk about, it's supposed to be 15 minutes long

Look at some of Tony Attwood's videos on You Tube and make some notes from them.

I always start anything by making a list!

In this case, it would be what areas would you like to discuss? I'd go for social interaction/communication differences, sensory processing issues, need for routine and planning, the joys of special interests and autistic strengths. You don't need to say much about each, because there's so much to say and 15 minutes is not long! Maybe tell one or two stories about your own experiences and what has been difficult for you personally.

Another idea is to describe your day and explain the challenges you face at each point of the day.

Am I right in thinking that this is to help other people understand what Autism is like? Are the people watching going to be students or staff? How much do they already know?

You might want to address some of the misconceptions about autism, such as that we don't have empathy, or that we're either severely disabled or have amazing savant skills.

I was going to suggest the "day in the life of" approach that Goth Fairy suggested. The topic of "living with" could be so broad, the list of subtopics so extensive, it might make this project overwhelming.

Examples of things on a "day in the life" approach might be:

a. Have to set 3 different alarm clocks to get up on time.

b. Have to set out pills the night before because too fuzzy mentally to do it in the morning.

c. My breakfast is (always the same thing due to sensory issues).

d. Showering is extremely hard both because of skin sensations and sound. If I have to shower, it takes up to an hour.

and so on. Good luck with your presentation!

All great ideas, depending on the goal of your presentation. In general, what do you want your audience to learn or remember from your presentation?

Why don’t you share some ways that you don’t fit the autistic stereotypes. Like things that you do well that don’t fit what you’d expect an autistic to be good at. Then share some ways that you do fit the stereotype and how that impacts you. Why don’t you also tell a unique story about how autism impacted your life in some way.

So, why doesn’t your daily routine vary much? Is that by choice? Do you an adverterous type? If not, why not? Do you have a ton of friends? If not, how come?

You’re not going to have a developmental disability like autism and not be impacted. Think about how you are impacted and also include how you aren’t impacted. I think these would be interesting things to discuss. What’s it like for you to be autistic. In fact, why don’t you write an essay in here.....

What is like to be Asperger96 as it relates to autism? Why don’t you tell US your unique story. You have something to say: what is it?

Another structure that could work for you is your road to diagnosis. Examples,

- Did well in elementary school except socially
- Developed depression in early teens, middle school especially hard
- What happened that resulted in a referral for evaluation
- Things my family (or school) did for me that really helped
- Things that they should have done differently

Don't use my list - generate your own. I'm just suggesting a general approach you might take.

Maybe focus on the difference between aspies and nts even though I don’t really see the difference myself. I know I’m odd, I know that other people don’t analyse social situations consciously the way I have to do do. I know tha most people recognise faces and names where I have to fake it until I am given a clue on who they are and I fake it because I don’t want to hurt and I don’t want be embarras myself at the same time. It seems that social interactions come naturally to most people or so I’m told. But to me they are hard work, mental work, where I have to logically scrutinise words, expressions, body language. Most people do it intuitively, so I’m told. I wish I knew what that means. It makes me tired, exhausts me, drains my energy, yet I am not antisocial. I love to love and be loved, yet for me it takes a lot more work. I wish I could sometimes see life as nts do, but that would mean I’m not me. Aspergers is not my disorder, it’s what I am