For the longest time, connecting with others socially was a huge barrier for me.

Since my teenage years, interaction and socialization have pressed upon me greatly.

I accepted it to a degree. I enjoyed a good conversation with someone.

Eventually, the thought comes to get out of what some have coined “program love or friendships.”

While that is good for homing in on skills and observing one’s interaction. It just isn’t the same as a “real” friend.

Don’t get me wrong, places of a clinical or program like nature can be a good place to meet someone compatible with your needs, but in my humble opinion, it doesn’t suffice for what friends in the real world are.

In areas like where I call home, many barriers exist as they do with many.

The inability to transport yourself, lack of adequate transportation, along with certain clinical requirements can also hinder this a bit.

Nowadays modern technology has provided better ways for individuals to connect other than the ways that I grew up such as landlines for example.

While social media has advanced this effort. It can be a useful tool if the proper safeguards are taught.

I did further my education twice after high school. Once with a post-secondary diploma from my state’s vocational rehabilitation center in Office Technology and later with an associate degree along with a certificate in Web Technology from the local Community College.

Both opportunities have provided me with some of the best knowledge and confidence I could receive.

It also gave me many opportunities for friendships and connection to other circles outside what I was already in.

As social media evolved, I connected to them online. All of them have been involved with me for varying degrees of intensity during my great life.

As we all have learned and grown, we make amends for the way we were and discover new things in each other’s lives too.

As with everything, and very much with technology and connectivity, there are pros and cons with its use.

Having the knowledge and brain power including keeping up with the way the world is and operates, I flourish quite well in the online community.

Not everyone can do this, but with work, things can happen to the best of one’s ability.

The key word for both sides of the advocacy table is to Educate and Protect Yourselves.

There is literature and tools out there in ways that individuals can understand and know right from wrong. As with everything, there are dangers, and the “smarts” must be reinforced as with any process where vulnerability may arise or be able to be achieved.

Just as much as individuals may not want to act with others, this may not work for everyone.

But let me close with this. As is with many, if they want it, they will seek it on their own and it may result in something very unwanted or dangerous.

Online connectivity and social media have been hot topics in the autistic community nowadays.

The world is a precarious place. Be wise and diligent about this arena and educate yourself and as one wishes to explore, discuss, and reinforce.

Learn the settings and keep up on the updates.

Again, it may not work for everyone, but some, including me, can be very useful too if used correctly.

This is my story and I felt it needed to be shared from the perspective of the individual because sometimes it needs to be seen from a different perspective.