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Sensitivity Cards

Here's a electronic record of cards given out in printing for your convenience and accessibility.

Accessibility

How to assist?

Assistance helps the disabled compensate barriers.

Only do what you are asked for.

Do not force assistance onto me.

Comment on what you are doing. Especially if you come too close to me or handle my belongings.

I use a wheelchair

My weelchair is an aid. It helps me move about.

I don't need pity. Please do not assume: Yes, you couldn't imagine, what it's like.

Look for a seat when we're having a longer chat. My neck will thank you.

Only I ask for help. I know what I can do.

You don't like being pushed around? Neither do I nor my wheelchair.

It means I have poor or no vision.

I miss many cues in my surrounding: such as your body language, glimpses or gazes and where you are pointing at.

Don't look at me for attention; just say my name.

Only I ask for help. I know what I can do.

Feel encouraged to describe what I can't see, especially when you post pictures online.

Keep tactile guide strips free of obstacles. Remove tripping hazards if you see them.

I'm deaf or hard of hearing

Don't scream, just speak clearly. Say it again when I didn't hear you.

Reading your lips help me understand. Well-lit and quiet places help with that.

Hands can sign everything a voice can say. Not all of us can speak sign language.

I'm not alone in my head

Our body is shared by many alters. Be excellent to each of us.

Our interests, pronouns and habits my differ. Alters may be children, animals or fictional beings.

We may seem to forget things. This happens when we don't share memories. The alter in front controlling the body can switch. We may not always realize that happening.

Just as with roommates, head-mates may get into fights. Not all of us may like you equally.

What being triggered means?

I lived through horrible things. Triggers bring back the horror and related emotions. That hurts.

Everything may be a trigger, even your hairstyle.

When triggered I may get mad or freeze up.

Don't take it personally. It's not you, it's my memory.

'Trigger' is a serious term. Don't just use it willy-nilly.

My head just won't today.

I have depression and I'm not doing well right now.

My head is mean to myself. That is taxing on me.

Please don't deny my bad feelings. Don't force me to see how great I am.

You can help by being there, listening and distracting me.

Neurodiversity

Sometimes I am non-verbal

I cannot speak right now. This does not mean I am unwell.

Maybe there's simply too much in my head.

Sometimes, I may still be able to talk: via chat, with a pen or using cards.

Caution: Meltdown!

I may seem angry or mad. I don't mean to.

I'm in crisis. I need to vent and calm down. Letting it all out helps with that.

I'm sorry if I am being scary.

I'm getting into Overload.

It is just too much for me right now.

This may be caused by lights, noises, smells or a social conflict.

I have to calm down to feel better. A quiet place helps with that.

This is a Shutdown.

Sometimes my body just won't. Then, something blocks me.

This can just happen. Sometimes it means I'm unwell.

give me time to get out of it
do not touch me
you saying less will likely help me more

I stim, that's great!

You may notice me - drawing, - rocking my body, - chewing, - or fidgeting.

This is stimming. It helps me to relax and listen.

my norm is atypical.

I may take things more literal than usual.

Your irony may go over my head. You might miss mine, too.

My body speaks a different language: Hand flapping can be a sign of joy.

My mind is different. This will make it more difficult to empathize. We can still make it work with everyone being considerate.

I have tics.

This means there are some noises or gestures my body needs to do. Some of them are mean.

I am able to suppress it, but it does cost energy.

Don't mention or provoke my tics.

Ask me before you tell me about other tics. They can be contagious.