Preparing for #OCDCON 2023!

In exactly 14 days, I will arrive in San Francisco for the 2023 annual International OCD Foundation conference. There, I will help lead two groups (an art session for elementary kiddos and a queer-young adult session) as well as co-present with some of the world's leading experts on autism and OCD / anxiety. I am the only autistic voice on this panel.

My siblings and oldest nephew will be joining me at the conference this year. My brother and I arrive early so we can decompress before the wild whirlwind of the conference picks up!

As excited as I am (very excited) I know that traveling disrupts my routine--and as an autistic person, I love my routines. There are so many unknowns: how will I meet my sensory needs away from home? Will my panels go well? What if the overstimulation is too much, and I have a shutdown? What times will I be able to eat?

I can help diminish some of the unknowns. For example, I can bring one of my yoga balls (deflated) in my suitcase, and blow it up in the hotel room. While I won't be bringing my weighted blankets to the hotel, I can pack a small blanket from home--just to add a little bit of consistency. I can set alarms on my phone reminding me to eat.

I'm grateful that I have all these tools to use--and a spectacular community of friends, my brother, sister and oldest nephew. I love airplanes and airlines---it's one of my special interests---so I'm not worried about the actual traveling part--in fact, I think I'm looking forward to the airports and planes MORE than the conference!

If you're attending this year's conference, please come say hi!