Card to hold in wallet that explains my symptoms

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Hello. I am think of writing a few sentences that explain my behavior and reactions to print out and keep in my wallet.
Has anyone else done this? Does it sound like a good/bad idea? It would not say that "I have aspergers/autism" it would be personalized for me. I was thinking that it might be a good idea in situations when i am anxious and would not be able to explain to someone that trying to calm me down by touching me is not a good idea etc.

Might not be a bad idea.

I hope you develop strategies to restrain, at least somewhat, your symptoms.

You don't seem like the type who would get in trouble with the police because of your symptoms. Please don't allow it to get to that point.

The police really aren't that great at looking at cards. They think their job is to restrain behaviors using some sort of force. Their knowledge of autism, especially amongst nonspecialized cops, is really very limited.

I apologize for being so blunt. Don't allow the perception that you are disordered interfere with your functioning. Try the best you can to use the solutions to situations which would benefit you the most.

You might not be able to get someone to look at it in a timely manner. But eventually someone would check your ID and then you could hand them the card. I'd keep it next to your ID.

I carry a similar card for my neurological disease because when I'm having symptoms I look drunk. I'm heavily tattooed and look healthy so people don't always accept that I'm disabled. I needed a cane a few years ago and a security guard asked me why I needed a cane before he'd let me into a museum. I had to stand there and explain my very rare disorder before he'd let me in. Circumstances like that are why a card is good to have.

I'd put something on it like:

I am autistic. Eye contact is difficult for me and it is sometimes difficult for me to talk. Sometimes I move my hands repetitively and pace back and forth. [or whatever] I am not dangerous to myself or others. Please do not touch me, because this is painful to me. Call my [sibling, friend, partner, whatever] at 555-555-5555 if you need help talking to me.

Never hurts to try what SocofAutism suggested. All it takes is the ability to write a few sentences on a card.

My feeling truly is: You're going through some stuff as a teenager. Many teenagers go through similar things. You might have a disorder--but try not to let the disorder rule you. Know that you are a person, rather than a disorder.

It would not be good if you allowed your disorder to rule your life. It's a constant battle, and I respect that it is a battle. I believe you would win more battles if you allow yourself to reveal the whole person, rather than the disorder.

I hate it whenever anyone refers to their aspie/autistic traits as "symptoms".

I don't disagree. I should have put "symptoms" in quotes. You're correct in what you say, Lostonearth.

Like this?

viewtopic.php?t=112787

It's great to laugh at one's self sometimes. Even if one happens to be Aspergian/Autistic.

The downside of having a card esp in your wallet is reaching for it when the popo are around. Maybe hang it on your review mirror while you drive like a handicap decal ???

In my area, you can register for an ASD card.

Emblazoned across the front is:

ATTENTION!

POLICE/EMERGENCY SERVICES

I have an Autism Spectrum Condition

Turn over for more information


On the back it has my name; the details of my emergency contacts; I find social communication difficult; I am likely to be extremely anxious in unfamiliar situations and that my behaviour may be perceived as strange or threatening.


Although I am yet to need to use it, having the card in my wallet is somewhat reassuring when I am in public.

It's not going to work. People will ignore it and think you are crazy or ret*d.

It might work. Never hurts to try.

It will definitely work with cops trained in emergency response.

The UK based National Autism Society do one,

http://www.autism.org.uk/card

They used to do a business card version which I carried. I was never very comfortable with the wording of the text as it used the triad of impairments rather than a person centred approach, but it was better than nothing.

I now carry a card from my employer which confirms I have an Autism Spectrum Condition and a contact number for people to ring should they need further information. It helped me recently during an encounter with Traffic Police in Wales. I had been to my Daughters University Graduation and was running on empty in terms of sensory overload and just wanted to get to bed. Initially they were quite aggressive as I didn't have the energy to do the "yes sir, no sir" BS but they changed their attitude when I produced the card with my driving licence. I left them with a few information leaflets which I always keep in my car to hand out if required.

I am looking at producing a combination of the two types of card in the near future. To the OP, I would say, Yes, they can be really helpful, why not speak with a local autism charity/organisation and see if they can help you put one together?