The Audacious Aspie Goes Looking for Help! (after venturing into the lair of the purple beast)
On this post, we will sail the web (usually its surf, but with the waters as dangerous what with all the trolls, sharks and pirates, it’s better if we just travel around in battleship) and discover some of supports that are out there for those of us on the spectrum. We will sail the 7 billion seas (the internet is a big place) discovering the island of el-employment help, the mysterious lagoon of socializing, and the haunted, desolate island of Romancia. So stowe your gear, man your stations and hold on tight, because were we are going, few have ever returned (to the same spot as before. I keep telling you guys, it's a big place!)
First, let us start at the island of Ontorio, which is known for a government that has been in power for far longer than is should, crippling power bills, and a place that insist it is the best anywhere in the world, but bans travelling outside its boarders for fear of bursting that bubble. And also has Autism Ontario.
Autism Ontario has a list of resources for those on the spectrum: social groups, like Young Adult Social Group (YASG). YASG meets bi weekly, and the age limit is for people between 18 to 35, young adults only. Then, like a proper ad, they list their activities as follows “activities may include but not limited to game nights, movie nights, bowling, dinner outings or just chatting and hanging out” (paragraph one). Side effects may include drowsiness, happiness, laughter, and socializing, talk to your doctor before taking YASG.
There will be peer facilitators (“A person or thing that makes an action or process easy or easier”, source), in other words, a human computer, except he/she will not crash, get virusus, or freeze if the slitest thing goes wrong. The image of perfection, But members will still have to independently function in public areas. For more information on it, visit the Autism Ontario site.
Autism Canada has a number of resources as will, one of which is a PDF folder talking about “collaborative language” (paragraph one), discussing how language is a big part of the discussion around autism, including what language to use and how to talk to the myriad of groups that concern themselves with this topic. Don’t want to turn it into a shouting match, or question period on Parliament Hill. Instead, we should have a shared language, where all parties beliefs and feelings are respected, meaning no “fuddle duddle”, angry Toms or avoiding questions like the plaque.
This must be what it's like for them to fight over votes. Much like these seagulls duelling over a scrap of food, NO MERCY.
They also have a facebook forum specifically for adults with autism, where one can go to ask and get advice, share their favorite autistic content, and learn (optional, learning is always optional. Just ask anyone in history ever). How does such a paradise remain so despite all the trolls and haters? There is no one-hundred percent protection from them, but a group of adults who are on the spectrum monitor the site, making sure it is a safe, judgement free zone for everyone on or off the spectrum.
Autism Canada also has a Scientific Symposium and conference called “Changing The Course of Autism” (Paragraph 4), of which they record and put the videos on Vimeo and Youtube. What’s in the videos? Is it action? Adventure? Horror? No (will, maybe horror, especially with recent events in America) but is instead filled with, in their own words “lectures related to clinical and basic science, epidemiology, educational therapies, advocating for autism and much more”(Paragraph 4).
Or, like school itself, they could be boring, very boring. But at least it does not cost you thousands of dollars to sit and watch them. So, there's that.
There is also the Vero and Louis Foundation, whose goal is to build homes for autistic adults who are 21 years of age plus. One that provides a stimulating living environment and “well suited to the special needs of adult clients with autism spectrum disorder” (The Foundation page, paragraph one) Why is the service only for those who are aged 21 and over? Because the amount of resources open to those who outgrow childhood disappear to almost nothing, leaving a wide, gaping hole where only a bridge exists to help people get a cross.
There is an app that is made specifically to help parents with autistic kids and their families. It’s called Aut2Help, allowing said families access to information and resources, and is marketed on their site as “THE FIRST APP OF ITS KIND” (The project page, all caps from source). Is it? Don’t know. Maybe, maybe not between the chance of one of many autistic computer wizards combining their powers and philanthropic desire to do some public good, to the topic of autism so obscure and completely under the radar except for those involved, that it might just be the first of it’s kind, perhaps still the only.
Roll the dice, it's an either/or situation. Just don't roll a one, whatever you do, don't roll a one. Unless you have high AC (armour class).
Nice to know though that there is now a kind of how-to guide out there on what tools you need to raise kids, from what I understand parents have been half joking, half secretly praying to their gods for one for centuries. Now it's here! (kinda...too late for most but beggars can't choosers). Its purpose, so they say, is to help reduce the huge amounts of stress on the parents with autistic kids once the diagnosis came in. the app does this by empowering the parents with the information they need.
What if you are a woman and want to find a resource that targets specifically you? Will ladies, I give you AWN (Autism Women's Network). Their mission? To “provide effective supports to autistic women and girls of all ages through a sense of community, advocacy and resources.” (About page). From what I have read, it is part of a committee called The Committee on Autism & Ethnicity, whose job it is to highlight the effects of race and culture on with autism.
Know what really scares racists? What really puts the fear of God in them? Telling them that not only are there different skin colours or beliefs, but also brains who are wired differently or, as they would understand it, “different types of brains? AGGGHHHHH!!” And worse, that some white folk also contain those “types of brains, AGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!”
Awn is part of many also partnered with other organizations as will, like DIVERgent: when disability and feminism collide (an AWN initiative who “seeks to explore the the impact of sexism and ableism in disabled and non-disabled communities” , About page). The group even go as far to say that it welcomes everyone who wishes to be an ally be he man, woman, both, neither or even if they are transgendered! Don't see that every day, and to quote Austin powers: “Groovy, baby, yeah!” (headline).
Will, it's been fun. And less traumatising than the last post!! Groovy...okay okay, I won't over do it (whispers Groovy, baby, yeah). But that is all for this post, but more stuff will come! New stuff always comes (evil laughter). Till next time, this has been The Audacious Aspie.
Sources used:
http://www.autismontario.com/client/aso/ao.nsf/Durham/Young+Adult+Social+Group
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/facilitator
http://autismcanada.org/resources/
http://fondationverolouis.com/en/la-fondation
https://www.aut2help.com/project