College and Autism Update and Musings about Having a Dual Disability

Went to university today for another meeting for autistic students and their buddies. This time, it was meant to get started the process of the buddy system. I had to fill out a checklist of things I might have problems with, so Andrea (who is my buddy) can see what I need help with. I also gave her my contact info and Gerda’s and Marion’s info, so she can get in touch with either of them. We then made an appointment for next week Wednesday at 4:00 PM. Andrea will come to my place, cause we need to do Blackboard and I can’t access a computer at university cause lack of a screenreader. Man, university is really where blindness and autism get to interact and it’s hard to tell which issue is from which disability. Like, I had trouble at freshman intro cause I didn’t know the way around, but the main situation in which Andrea needed to support me, was when I freaked out. This does prove that one cannot see one’s disabilities separately, and this is a major reason why I’ve always hated the idea of a “primary” disability. In most places, blindness is my “primary” disability, because it’s the one most easily conceptualized, even when autism is the reason I need most support. I’ve seen blindness taken apart, before my autism diagnosis, and this was a problem, but Andrea is now helping me with some things the other buddies don’t need to help someone with, cause they don’t face this problem cause they’re sighted. I’m not either blind cause that is what everyone will see or autistic cause that is why I’m in the buddy system. I’m both and I have many more qualities, each of which may influence my college education for the better or for the worse.