It’s that time of year when the Bluebells start to appear. We have a Bluebell Wood close by but today we headed a bit further. An hours walk over streams, fields and gentle hills. To a wood that we always talked about venturing to when we first moved here but never got round to it. Two decades later, much water under the bridge and finally we made it.

Beautiful walk but walking across farmers fields today bothered Hawklad. Just didn’t feel right for him, started to unnerve him. That’s the thing, somedays he can freely walk these paths, somedays not so. It’s not programmable, not predictable.

I was scrolling through an autism support website and a thread talked about employment. Just how difficult it is still to find employers willing and able to make the environmental adjustments and put in place the support individuals need to secure regular employment. Then for those in employment just how difficult it is to hold down regular employment. Many employment settings are just not autism friendly. On top of that, many talked about the unpredictability of work. Some days work is possible, other days it just isn’t viable. One young person described it as ‘some days I can walk into the office and work, other days I simply can’t get through my front door’.

Yet there seems to be an assumption at Government level, take away benefits and people will suddenly find regular employment to more than replace the lost benefits. Life isn’t that predictable sometimes.

Today we abandoned the farm tracks and walked along the quiet roads. That worked for Hawklad.

36 thoughts on “Made it”

  4. Is no-one in government affected by autism? Have they no voice? Britain and the USA seem determined to become inhumane. Your countryside looks beautifully springlike. Here we have had snow four mornings in a row!

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  7. I love bluebells! Looks wonderful where you live… I’m glad the peaceful roads worked for Hawklad but I can understand your concerns going forward. I pray something good and flexible will work out for him in this respect.

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  8. I’m the same, that once my spidey 🕷️ sense is activated, I’m not walking across a field or through a wood or indeed any place that I just feel isn’t safe. If it isn’t right for for me, it isn’t right. I could be wrong, but I could very much be right all along and that would be the end of it. There’s not a lot can be done, as I just ain’t walking, my the legs say “Nope!” 🙅 “Not today matey!” 🚫 “You’ve more chance of knitting fog!” 🧶

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    1. At work I was asked to go to a place and it gave me foreboding. I said I didn’t feel right, but because someone asked to try, I forced myself. It was at the expense of not sleeping properly that night, crying on the way to work the next day and me setting up a private meeting with someone who needed to know and could do something about it. I heard myself say “If you ask me to go there again I will refuse”. Thankfully they sorted it and never have to go there again. I’m totally fine now. No head drama. All is well. That my friend is how employment of people who are a little spicey, with spider senses intact can be managed properly.

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      1. My spidey sense has kept me alive so far me thinks, and although I’m not old per se, I’m no spring chicken either. I have years of near misses under my belt.
        Hitchhiking over France, during a lift, I had stated to fall asleep and my spidey sense felt the cab stopping. Well I was out of the cab with my bag so damn fast and running across fields in the middle of nowhere before you could say “Jack Robinson!” Don’t worry, I just don’t put my thumb out these days, especially with the low cost of the Megabus.

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  12. If only one could work in that beautiful field! I do not understand what is wrong these politicians. I do not understand why they are being so cruel. Have you seen the posts about … I can’t remember which politicians … Liz something? Not Truss…Liz Kendall? I think that’s wrong. She’s Labor and people are constantly making fun of how angry she looks, because she does!

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  13. I love this time of the year when the Spring flowers start to bloom. Such a beautiful part of the year.

    Employment is so hard for our neurodiverse kids. Is remote work an option for Hawklad? I’m hoping changes to the work environment such as remote work options can make it easier for him (and you).

    Sending you both lots of hugs today!

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