RE: https://autistics.life/@aptronym/117548215523367725
splitting attention - i don’t know why it works but it does work for some things
i first noticed this when i didn’t drive anymore (because vehicle stolen). i used to drive and drive and drive and drive - that was always how i used to go homelessness. and i could listen to anything, no matter how boring - i could literally pay attention and get a lot out of MFing Das Kapital - as long as i was driving.
i mentioned this to someone, how i could listen intently while driving but not in my room at home. they said it was due to split attention, and that when i am at home, i hyperfocus on maintaining focus, which becomes a distraction of its own. they were right, 100% nailed it.
but i still don’t drive.
biskit helps with specific tasks tasks but it’s not the same for reading.
biskit is my neurodivergent “service kitty”
when i’m trying to do anything without being distracted, biskit presents her head for pets. then i must split my attention between the task and the biskit petting. biskit does not allow me to stop petting her. if i need to use my petting hand even for just a quick sec, she commences headbutting.
therefore i cannot become distracted, not even by own hyperfocus on maintaining focus
but biskit does not qualify as a service animal because i did not pay $40,000 for her to be trained by a professionalized neoliberal nonprofit organization. she just does this on her own and doesn’t even know she’s helping me.
