What does it feel like to ‘stim’ in public?
Written on 14th Aug 2014 by Sylvia Lowery
Jade and Alex chatting in the garden.
Jade Shaw in an actor who turned up to the film shoot yesterday knowing the film was about ‘stimming’, she had never heard of it before and didn’t realise she was going to have to ‘stim’ in a public place. We recieved a lovely e-mail from Jade this morning. Jade has given her permission for us to share this with you.
Many individuals with autism find it impossible to not ‘stim’. Carly Fleischmann in her book Carly’s Voice describes how she has felt controlled by the movements her body makes.
Dear Alex and Sylvia
I just thought I would write to you personally because I just want to thank you for letting me be a part of Alex’s amazing story. What Alex does to share about his autism and stimming is such a great way for people to learn, accept and make people have an understanding. I certainly didn’t know what stimming was until I interviewed Alex and really grasped the idea of what it is. I also found it very physically demanding and you need to have so much energy but I had such a great laugh and I think Alex did too.
It struck me the most when we were out on the streets to see peoples reactions of what they thought of me stimming. I was so shocked to see the positives and the negatives to it. I found myself in a very vulnerable position and I was really thinking about Alex and how he would be feeling?!, I did find myself in place on one of the stimming session of me really going for it and I completely Zoned out and it felt so surreal.
I fully support everything that fixers do and everything that Alex and Your family do to spread awareness. I am going to write on my Facebook tonight a little blog about my experience because I think it is valid that people know about this very special aspect of autism.
Thank you again for letting me be a part of it and allowing us all into your lovely home.
Many thanks
Jade
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