#Seeking Autism Expertise for Volunteer App Project

34 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

nova juniper
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Hello! I'm developing a mobile app designed to provide practical support for parents of children with ASD. I'm looking for a volunteer with expertise in autism to help ensure the app's content is accurate, helpful, and sensitive.

Areas for Contribution:

  • Content review for de-escalation strategies
  • Guidance on impulse control and social boundaries
  • Input on creating effective social stories
  • Review of general information related to ASD

This is a volunteer position. If you're passionate about supporting families and have relevant knowledge, please get in touch!

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To ensure the app is truly valuable and evidence-based, I'm seeking a volunteer with strong expertise in autism. Your contribution would be invaluable in shaping the app's content and features.

Potential Areas of Contribution:

  • Crisis De-escalation: Reviewing and refining step-by-step guidance for parents during meltdowns and overstimulation.
  • Impulse Control & Social Boundaries: Providing insights on effective strategies, social scripts, and teaching methods.
  • Social Stories: Advising on the creation of customizable and helpful social stories within the app.
  • General ASD1 Information: Ensuring the app's information is accurate, up-to-date, and presented in a parent-friendly way.
  • Sensitivity & Inclusivity: Helping to ensure the app's language and approach are respectful, supportive, and inclusive.
nova juniper
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I managed to get a beta version of the site up despite not being a developer, so if any of you are interested, you can visit it here: https://go.neuroparent.app/

surreal kiln
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My expertise:

  • Lives with autism.
  • professional diagnosis
  • Opinions about autistic community
  • took dsw with a focus on best practice and respectful approach
nova juniper
surreal kiln
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sure! is there a link?

nova juniper
surreal kiln
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okay! im busy rn but i''ll join asap

nova juniper
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It’s all good! It’s night here so I won’t be busy at it again til tomorrow

tender marten
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hi hello! are you still looking for support? I do be having the tism struggles and do not currently have regular employment, might be more free than emmy? ❤️

nova juniper
tender marten
nova juniper
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Bump! Still looking for people who specialize in Autism, Psychology, ADHD, or any neurodiverse support to help guide me with my app's messaging.

fierce apex
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Can I point out the sensitivity failure of calling it ‘high functioning autism’? 🙈

nova juniper
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I can see your point, however I meant no offense. ASD1 is not a super common definition yet as the "old term" aspergers has been removed from the definitions. I will remove any mention of high functioning and make sure it does not appear anywhere on my site or materials. Having a ASD1 kid myself, I can see how this would be offensive.

surreal kiln
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ive been assigned funtioning labels before and i disagree with them as a classification method because theyre quite subjective,

for instance, if i told you about an adult female who cant tie her shoes, has to use headphones in public and has like a hundred stim toys. easily melts down and ||self injures|| when overstimulated, what would you classify her as?

and then youre told of a woman who went to college at nineteen, succeeded in academics, loves talking to people and has her own small business, how would you assign her?

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and what if i told you both of those women were me?

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symptoms are a mixed bag, and how autism presents at different ages and life stages vary wildly. For instance, Einstein, a suspected autistic person, didnt speak until age four (iirc), and mozart used to hide under tables as a child due to hypersensitive hearing.

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one term i think is minimally offensive in its useage is "high needs"/"low needs", because it classifies based on the amount of atypical needs . obviously like every label you can point out issues with it and i implore other auties to speak on exactly what they believe is wrong with the terms because i love a good conversation

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but yeah imo if you have to absolutely speak on the amount of help someone needs to function in a day-to-day setting, id go with a needs level

fickle harbor
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would it cover masking?

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autism masking in girls is quite common and hard to detect

nova juniper
# fickle harbor would it cover masking?

Would what cover masking? The app? The app is for anyone, but especially designed for neurodivergent people who need help with crisis situations. It's a great tool to help focus on desiccation techniques and making connection to find triggers.

fickle harbor
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thats what i was told when i was diagnosed with autism

nova juniper
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I'm sorry I don't understand your question. Masking is something that Neurodivergent people do to fit in with society. The app is for anyone, but especially designed for neurodivergent people who need help with crisis situations. It's a great tool to help focus on de-escalation techniques and making connection to find triggers. I hope that helps.

If anyone is interested in helping volunteer to go through the app and find any inconsistencies in wording or advice, please let me know and I can DM you a link to the discord.

fickle harbor
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im asking if like the app will explain masking? or like help people to unmask?

nova juniper
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It currently does not have a section like that. Right now it's more for desecalation situations for crisis situations. If you were to look for something like that in an app, what kinds of things do you wish you could find?

fickle harbor
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like how to unmask, how to look at autism in a more positive light (bc sometimes ppl can speak negatively of things they are diagnosed with)
and explain masking in depth

surreal kiln
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i mask very often, i can talk more on it if you need

fickle harbor
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i mean i know i mask its js like.. not often talked about, i feel?

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i just hope the app stops negative stigmas related to autism

knotty moth
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Do you still need people? I'm just finishing up an undergrad in psychology with as much focus on mental illnesses as possible. Also lived experience with a learning disability (not the same as ASD but under the same category of neurodevelopmental disorders). I can try to provide as much info/feedback as possible

nova juniper