Catherine Burford
Bio
I'm just your everyday Autistic Artist.
Stories (28/0)
You Shouldn't Be Me
Gwen woke up with yet another bruise on her leg. Knowing her mom would freak out again, she quickly threw on some jeans. After fumbling around in search of a bra and sweater, she remembered her glasses and stumbled downstairs for some breakfast.
By Catherine Burford2 months ago in Horror
You're Invited to Ethel's Birthday Party
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. This candle only burned in the middle of the summer every ten years, and it served as an invitation for wanderers to make themselves at home. Unless you want to lose some body parts, you must respect Ethel’s rules and only enter her cabin with her permission.
By Catherine Burford7 months ago in Fiction
Dear Neurotypicals, PLEASE stop trying to cure Autism.
There are so many diseases that we could have cured by now, and yet society is determined to cure something that's not even a disease. Autism is a neurotype that one is born with. It's a part of that person's life, and the only way it can be removed from that person's life is for that life to end. Sadly, several families with autistic children are given incorrect information on how to raise their kids, leading to a demand for an unnecessary cure. Although a cure is normally something to look forward to, it's the exact opposite of what autistic people actually need in order to survive this ableist world. My name is Catherine, and I shall explain why autistic people like myself don't need a cure.
By Catherine Burford10 months ago in Humans
An autistic woman finally watches Rain Man
As an autistic advocate who's always pushing for better representations of autistic people, I've been asked for my opinion on several films about autism. Based on the few that I have seen, I can already tell you that Come Play is one of the better films on the subject and that Music can be found at the bottom of the barrel. The one film that I'm often asked my opinion on is Rain Man. Originally, I had refused to watch it for a couple of reasons. For one, I predicted that I'd be miserable submitting myself to the outdated depiction of autism. Another reason why I initially avoided watching it was that plenty of neurotypicals have asked me if I was anything like the titular character. There is absolutely no reason why I should waste two hours of my time with this movie, but just like with my painful experience of sitting through Music, I feel like it's my job as an advocate to explain what does and doesn't work with Rain Man. In this little review, I shall go over what I already know about the film prior to viewing it, what I expected from it, and what I actually got from it. Without further ado, let's dive right in.
By Catherine Burford12 months ago in Humans
The Little Big Sister
Tessie may have been two years older than her sister Blake, but she was often treated as the baby of the family due to her autism. Her parents continued to give her toys into her high school years, her grandparents communicated in baby talk around her, and her aunt would often avoid talking to her. Even her own cousins were advised to treat her differently. The only person in the family who treated her as if she were her own age was Blake.
By Catherine Burfordabout a year ago in Families
My History with the A Word
*Trigger Warning: Brief mention of suicide. Nine or Ten I was either nine or ten years old when I first heard the A word. The exact moment escapes me, but I know I was in the third grade. There was a boy (we’ll call him Ron) that I had met the previous school year, and it was clear right off the bat that he was different. He was obsessed with computers, he’d always point out when a light in the room was flickering, and he said “Good job! Yay!” whenever he completed a math problem. He was an odd kid, but everyone seemed to like him.
By Catherine Burfordabout a year ago in Confessions
"I Don't Like Mondays"
America has a history of school shootings dating all the way back to 1764 in which the schoolmaster of a settlers' log schoolhouse and ten students were killed during Pontiac's Rebellion. The ones that most likely come to mind are those with the highest body counts, which include the ones committed at Virginia Tech (the highest one to date with thirty-three deaths), Columbine High School, and Sandy Hook Elementary School. As shocking as those were, many people might be unfamiliar with the first-ever school shooting committed by a female. She may not have had the highest body count, but she managed to carry it all out without having to step foot onto the property. Brenda Ann Spencer told those around her that she wanted to do something big to get on TV, and she got her wish.
By Catherine Burford2 years ago in Criminal
Packing Up My Gear (And Moving On)
"Clean up your desk and I'll escort you out." Most people hate their jobs and spend most of their work hours wishing they were somewhere else. No matter how much we hate our jobs, we need them in order to make a living, and we'd rather quit than be fired. I was relieved when I finally got to quit after five years as a cashier, and I was more than eager to start a full-time job in an office. Even though I knew that being a telemarketer wasn't going to be fun or glamourous, I was determined to make a living in such a boring environment. Unfortunately, I only lasted three months before my supervisor asked me to stop what I was doing and follow her to the manager's office. As soon as I heard the manager say "termination", I asked him to repeat what he said in disbelief. He slid the form across the table for me to sign, and I implored him to let me keep the job that I needed. He stated that it wasn't his decision to terminate my employment and that the higher-ups made the decision based on "performance". I purposely took my sweet time signing the document.
By Catherine Burford2 years ago in Motivation
