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Normal

Normal is a state of equilibrium. I know this because of how much my life has changed just in the past two years - and how much it is set to change in the next five. I have a place to study at university in September, finishing my job in August, from university I plan to go into teaching - but who knows what state of 'normal' I will be in then. Since going into lockdown, there hasn't been a new 'normal' for me to stick to. Of course every week day has pretty much been the same, I have been surrounded by the same people and the same things - there is some consistency in my everyday experiences. But there is a questioning sensation in the back of my mind which is asking what this sort of 'normal' is, will it stay this way forever? What will happen once we go back to mingling with other people?
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AUTISTIC TEEN SETS UP 3D PRINTING PRESS FOR PPE

An 18 year old autistic man has set up a 3D printing press to make PPE for healthcare workers. ... Having struggled to find work due to his inexperience, Jack was determined to find a way to help out during the crisis. The teenager taught himself to use the machinery through videos and articles online. "It only really becomes difficult when you have to start troubleshoot faulty printers or why something has gone wrong", he says.
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Parenting challenges in autistic households

It's Autism Awareness Month and for the 2.8 million people in the UK affected by autism, including children, adults and their families, the lockdown is incredibly tough. Along with uncertainty, upheaval and confusing messages, this vulnerable group of children are more likely to suffer long-term mental health problems as a result. Social distancing is a concept we are all coming to terms with, but for autistic children these new rules can often be especially challenging.