Moving-out Mayhem
Welcome back! This week I will be talking about a topic, a milestone of life you could say, with an Aspie (and maybe a little bit of a country) twist: Moving out for the first time. A frightening, opportunity-laden experience that, in my opinion, will be as close to a baptism of fire-like experience as most of us will get. It will help shape us into the responsible adult we can all be. And believe me when I say emphasis on the word, responsible, as I am already starting to find that part out for myself. I will be writing about my experience with this milestone, some of the ups and downs, as well as what you can expect, as an Aspie/Autistic, if you yourself are thinking of or are going to move out. Kind of like a tell-all scenario, except only about the whole moving out scenario.
So kind of like a tell-all-concerning-only-moving-out scenario. It still counts.
First of all, you’re going to need to start packing for the extended trip, making sure you pack enough food, clothing, and the correct equipment (toiletries, cooking equipment, etc.) I say correct equipment, because trust me when I say that if you don't bring the right kind of stuff, like a comb, shampoo, cooking pot or, in my case, razor, you’re not going to have a fun time. It won’t be world ending, though it may start to feel like it. When I started packing, with the assistance of my parents, and it came down to getting toiletries, I understood that some stuff would need to be bought and packed for the trip. That they should not be brought from home, in case I lose them at my temporary place of stay (and also so that I did not have to keep lugging them around). I thought that my razor was one of those items, I was right. Though the replacement razor that I bought wasn't (at all) much better.
See, the razor that I decided to buy, after speaking with my parents, was an electric razor. An electric, cheap (for an electric razor here in Canada, $50 counts as cheap), beard trimming, razor. What's so wrong about that? Well concerning that I would really only be using it a couple of times a week, and that if I lost it, it would not be that much of a loss (though I would certainly miss the next $50 I’d have to spend on a replacement), not much. The sticking point, dear reader, is the whole beard part. I don’t have a beard to shave off, only stubble. And, as I’m sure you’re well aware and have already put two and two together, a beard trimmer is not a good way to shave off stubble. Or even to look moderately good looking at best.
For those of you who saw the movie Bernard and the Genie, I looked like Bob Geldof but with the hair combed back.
You can imagine how impressive I must have looked walking out the door, going on public transit, and walking around the university looking like I had forgotten what proper hygiene is. A very pretty picture. That's why I stressed the correct part when buying your equipment, otherwise the transition will not go as smoothly as you hoped it would. Right up there with making sure you brought enough food to last you some time, and having enough money to make sure you can buy groceries when you need to. Think of it like camping, but preparing for a prolonged stay, you bring along way more than just some toothpaste and a toothbrush, and (most likely but not always) you’re in the city. The best way to experience camping
Well, that does it for this week. Next week I will continue to regale you with my… interesting experiences (I’ll just chalk up the whole razor bit to a bad facial hair day). The main topic being navigating a new routine, while navigating a new transit route...twice. In two different weeks. One week after the other. If that’s not enough to cause you to hyperventilate, I don’t know what will. Until then, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Breaking Down Barriers: A Story of Courage, Determination and Success
Pictured left to right: Dylan Salviati, TRU Co-op student, Starr Carson, Partner, KPMG and Jennifer Mei, Accessibility Career and Experiential Learning Coordinator.
Written by Jennifer Mei, Accessibility Experiential Learning Coordinator, in collaboration with Dylan Salviati October 1, 2019
Thompson Rivers University co-op student, Dylan Salviati, recently accepted a full-time position as a junior accountant with prestigious accounting firm, KPMG. For Dylan, getting to this point in his life was not an easy ride. When Dylan was young, he was diagnosed with autism and told by the assessor that he would never read or attend post-secondary education. Disappointed by this news, Dylan believed that a future that included a university degree was impossible. While still in elementary school, Dylan participated in a research program that involved the use of singing to help children with autism learn how to read. Through this program, Dylan learned to read and went on to attend high school. In high school, Dylan approached his academics with a positive attitude and discovered he was excellent with numbers. Through his openness and willingness to help others, Dylan gained the respect and friendship of his peers. As you already know, Dylan went on to attend post-secondary and is now a successful co-op student with a promising future as an accountant. But, that’s not the whole story.
As a co-op student at KPMG, Dylan had an important decision to make: whether or not he should disclose to the employer that he has a disability. While he believes that attitudes about disability have come a long way, he was still worried about discrimination. Dylan says, “Invisible disabilities are the most difficult to talk about because a first impression from an employer might be that I look normal but once they have a chance to interact with me they realize there's something different.” He also explains that, “Everyone is different and while there are similarities, each person’s experience with autism is unique.”
Dylan wanted to be able to speak openly about his disability because he believes that describing how he works best is an important aspect of working with employers who might not understand how a person’s disability impacts them. Dylan’s disclosure was received by the employer as an opportunity to learn and understand how to best accommodate his work style. Throughout his work-term, Dylan was able to demonstrate his strengths through commitment, hard work, and his belief that for him to be successful he must be open and genuine.
Dylan’s courage opened up opportunities for learning and created a safer space for conversations about how disability touches people’s lives. He hopes that sharing his experiences will bring awareness to the impacts of stigma and discrimination and empower other people with disabilities to pursue their own versions of success. For Dylan, he is profoundly grateful for the people who supported him along the way and attributes much of his success to those who believed in him.
“It’s people that change the lives of other people.” – Dylan Salviati
Picture Imperfectly Perfect
Welcome back! This week, We’ll be looking at an article that, while it does not specifically deal with issues concerning the Autistic/Aspie community, does show an inventive way of how we can solve one of our major problems: how society at large sees us. I’ve talked a bit about this in the past, but the reason I’m bringing it up a bit again is because I like how the people in this article went about trying to solve it, albeit for a not-so-very different reason. Please welcome our next guest: CNN.
We always roll out the red carpet for our extinguished guests who come on our grass roots blog. I hope I spelled extinguished right, and not in the same way that is used to describe a fire being put out. Never ends well to spray your honoured guests with an extinguisher.
Now, big news articles like CNN rarely go on the spot light on this blog (Because mostly because they rarely feature topics about our community), but this time I thought would be different simply because what’s been reported here we can easily recreate ourselves. Have you heard about the photo art series “Eyes as Big as Plates”by photographers Ritta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth? It contains photos of elderly people from multiple nations (Japan, Norway, and others) dressed to look like the gods, goddesses, or spirits from their respective regions in natural environments. Essentially, they go about meeting seniors, asking if they would like to have their photos taken, and then letting them wear whatever style that would make them look more like vegetation than man (look at the pictures and you’ll see what I mean).
The meaning of this is, like all art, subjective. To me, the pictures are meant to empower senior men and women, showing them to society in a new light through images of them dressed up as powerful gods, goddesses and spirits of nature. Not to mention also showing the beauty and power of nature, while also that we may be closer to the natural world than we think we are. It’s on the first thought though, that caught my attention. If it could work for the elderly, why not for the Autistic/Aspie community? Why can’t we take pictures of ourselves or others in the same light, as powerful gods or goddesses, or even our favorite heroes like Superman or anime character/superhero?
Or be your own superhero! Dress up as a hero of your own making: Your own costume, tools, powers, all that stuff. Even your own back story! Like being bitten by a radioactive mosquito!
Through that medium, by showing ourselves in a different, empowering light than is normally associated with us, we could change how society sees and perceives us. Rather than as violent, angry, awkward social outcasts who are only good at math or computers, we could present ourselves as strong individuals whose natural abilities are that, like the mythical gods themselves, varied in strengths and weaknesses, with no two being exactly the same (unless a domineering empire takes over your country and starts to absorb your culture, than break international copyright laws by making an entirely “new” god with the same looks, same powers and same backstory, but a different name. Think of Rome and any other ancient culture).
So why not. Why not take a picture of yourself that way and post all over social media. In fact get a bunch of friends/family/both and do it! Make a day of it! Combine two of the best things in the world: Having fun and changing societies views for the better. That does it for this week’s post. Next week will once again be a completely different topic, and maybe later than usual as right now I am preparing for a major change, plus start working on another side project that might tie in to this one. Until then, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Source Used:
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/seniors-natural-wonders-artsy/index.html
Oh the Places we’ll go to Find Work. (Or: The Places we Won’t go For Lack of Money)
Welcome back! This week, I will be talking about my own thoughts on the topic of poisonous workplace environment towards Autistics/Aspies, which I’m sure everyone wants to hear (which is the whole point of writing any blog ever. Everyone knows that). So without further ado, I’ll get to the talking bits.
Come one, come all! Here my opinion on this particular topic today! I promise you won’t get sick of my voice at all!
I’ll admit, I have been relatively lucky when it came to working environments and employers in general. Either I stuck around long enough to eventually win them over, left before the working environment turned sour, or just had really good bosses and coworkers in general (one job my boss was a great guy, but one of my coworkers was...yeah). So I can’t say I know what it’s like to be in a poisonous environment, at least not all throughout my tenure (I have been in a couple of poisonous classroom environments, but that's another topic). That said, the reason that I did not have to many negative work experiences is probably because, as the article says and what I hear and read from other fellow Autistics/Aspies, employment opportunities for us are both few and far between.
It’s pretty much to the point of nearly every Autistic/Aspie experiencing a year or more of unemployment before they get a job, and even than the quality of the work itself and it’s environment may not always be up to snuff. And true, I am writing from the experience of a young university student, where employment, full time or otherwise, are now famously seemingly non-existent to us, I have noticed a pattern between them. When it comes to the employment troubles of typical NT youth, while there are some complaints of work being few and far between, they usually mean good, non-entry level jobs where you don't need either a degree or a certain amount of experience to get in, once their degree is done.
Oh sure, everyone says that getting a post secondary is a rich experience, but what they don’t tell you is that it makes you poor, have a poor diet and aroused at the same time. Okay the other two can happen before and after college but not the first! Okay the first to.
And as for the time of being unemployed, they usually measure such periods in, well, weeks. Months at worst. When it comes to Autistic/Aspie youth though, such unemployment periods, mine included, can be measured in years, one, two or more. And those that do find work will...yeah. And true, places like Mcdonalds or Harveys are always looking for people, but you try getting someone who is A) introverted by nature. B) after facing years of being bullied for something that they cannot help, gaining a feeling of dislike for the human race in general. C) Most likely has some mental health issues (probably thanks to B) or is neurodiverse in more ways than one (ADHD, high anxiety, etc) which will hamper them to a large degree in working in a culture were speed is key and pressure is always present.
In other words, what little jobs that are out there, would not necessarily be ones that we could, or should, do. And in most cases, may actually come out of it in a worse condition than we went in. So what can be done? This is something that will take more than the Autistic/Aspie community to handle, as it affects more than just us. What we can do, for our part, is show potential employers that we can be more than just coding captains, banking barons or menial work masters. We could be doctors, police officers, politicians, and more (If you are a coding captain, you could make an internet showing videos of Autistics/Aspies performing work, more than the stereotypical ones. Just an idea).
You know, just a tiny little suggestion that, if it doesn't work out, I don’t need to be credited for it. But if it does work out and is a big success (especially if it is a big success), than I definitely need to be credited for it.
As for the other part, it’ll take all of society to help change that, to make more well paying, none-menial type jobs available for those in the workforce. Unless automation takes all the jobs away, then it’ll be a whole different ball game (bloody machines, slowly taking our jobs away. I blame the terminator movies for giving the idea to companies like Apple and Amazon).
Well, that does it for this week's post. Next week will be (as I said many times in the previous couple of posts) will be an entirely new topic for us to explore (tired of hearing it yet? No? What about now?). Until next time, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Source to use:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dark-side-autism-workplace-marcelle-ciampi/
Star Wars movie with an Autistic/Aspie Reference (Hey, Coming up with Titles is Hard)
Welcome back! Last week we left off with how much more potential harm than good hiring initiatives towards Autistics/Aspies are doing. You know, cheerful stuff. This week we will...continue looking at that topic still (you can never have too much of a good thing), finding out some of the ways the message, though positive on the cover, has some, well, unfortunate messaging behind it (though again, that is not necessarily always the intention with every initiative). Anyways, enough talk, time to walk (to the next paragraph).
If you look to your right, you will see the wonderful white space with the scroll icon at the very end. If you look to your let you will see a lovely picture of the author himself and some relevant info (please no screen caps while the tour is in progress).
What’s one of the jobs Autistics/Aspies are usually pigeon holed into? Why, tech or data entry ones of course (not to say that that’s necessarily a bad thing if you are skilled in that way, fair play to yeah if you are). Often the companies hiring Autistic/Aspie'ss are being sold the message that we are all coding savants. Which is wrong obviously, ‘cause if we were all coding savants there would be a lot less misunderstandings about us out there on the internet, and a lot more references about obscure things that we happen to like at the time. Less lies about a cure, and more articles on how certain anime shows, or graphic novels, are the bomb.
Then of course, there is the mistreatment: vocational agents disclosing employees disability/diagnosis with hiring manager without the expressed permission of the employee. Telling said hiring manager what negative, stereotypical behaviours the employee will be exhibited once hired. Then, according to the article, forced to make eye-contact, “criticized for their natural way of being” (The Dark Side of Autism in the Workplace, Paragraph 14), and made to work with either a job coach or undergo ABA training, just to name a few. Fun times for no one.
See this wonderful picture of a father and his child having fun together? This is all the fun that you will not be having if something like the above happens to you.
The workplace trainings, the article says, are barking up the wrong tree: they are trying to understand Autism/Asperger's (In a way where they don’t just ask us about it. Talk about fighting a battle with both hands tied behind your back and on your knees). What they should be doing instead is trying to improve conditions by providing quality leadership, improved communication practices and “universal diversity and inclusion training” (The Dark Side of Autism in the Workplace, Paragraph 15).
Well, that does it for this week! Next week will be my personal thoughts on the topic before moving on to a different topic altogether (I actually have one already picked out this time! Go me!). Hopefully this has not left you feeling to distrustful and/or full of dislike towards all hiring campaigns geared towards Autistics/Aspies, as not all are this bad (and we should definitely demand for, and make good use of, those that are actually worth while). In the meantime, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Source:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dark-side-autism-workplace-marcelle-ciampi
Star Wars, The Autistic’s/Aspie’s strike Back!
Welcome back! This week we will continue our look at a certain part of the issue of unemployment in the Autistic/Asperger community, mainly the poor workplace environment. Last week we left off, I was reviewing a section of an article going on about how we are a marginalized minority in the workforce living in a broken culture. Now let's continue off from last week with some good old-fashioned what-ifs on a social-justice scale. You know, fun stuff!
Who says political games can’t be fun? They’re fun for everyone under the sun! And by political games, don’t mean the ones where one person fights, lies and cheats their way to the top of political power. That's just fun in general.
Here's a surprise for you guys: did you know that it’s easier for people who are Autistic/Aspie to communicate with other people who are also Autistic/Aspie? No? Will apparently science is, or at least the people who performed a study on just such a topic, showing (duh) that its not our Autism/Asperger's that's the issue but rather our culture, lack of workplace Autistic/Aspie role models, managers and leaders. In other words, this is a classic case of “we told you so”, except now they are now finally listening to us rather than talking at us.. Like man-splaining, but for NT’s: NT-splaining (copyrighted by me). Here's a link to the findings of the study.
Need a clearer case of what I mean? Well imagine that the roles were reversed: most of the people in the workplace are not NT, but in fact are Autistic/Aspie. All the managers, board members and CEOs, right down to most of the average Joe worker’s are Autistic/Aspie. And you, my friend, are one of the view, or perhaps the only one, who is NT and hired to work for the company. You become, in effect, the token NT of the company, and become the one that they will constantly point to and say “see? We are an equal-opportunity employer, the NT community love us now that we have hired one of their own!”. All the while, of course, we try, subtly or otherwise, every day to change you and make you into one of us. From NT to Autistic/Aspie. Sound like a dark, sci-fi themed scenario? Yep.
Maybe not as dark as 1984 or a clock-work orange dark, but dark enough. Dusk-like dark perhaps, with the sun still shining through but still a lot of darkness around the edges.
The article gives this kind of scenario, or mentality, an interesting name: “Autism in the Workplace” (Paragraph 12, The Dark Side of Autism in the Workplace. See? I’m not the only one coming up with crazy names for certain events and scenarios. I just like to think that I do it better). Supporting Autistic/Aspie stereotypes, highlighting people with disabilities as somehow less than and in need of help, education and low-end work. All the while ignoring the vast majority of us who have some university/college degrees and have had some low-end jobs as well. As Kermit the Frog once said: It’s not easy being green.
Will, that does it for this week. Next week will be my last review of this subject, after which a list of my own personal thoughts on it will follow, because I think we can all agree when I say that the sound of my voice is beautiful. Then moving on to something completely different (Monty Python Reference). Until then, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Source used:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dark-side-autism-workplace-marcelle-ciampi/
Looking for an inclusive employer? Ask these 9 Questions During your Interview
Job Searchers! If you’re looking for some creative questions to ask post interview and you want to know if the employer is a good fit for you, take a look at this article by Anne Shaw published on themuse. These tips are a great way to find out whether an employer is open to accessibility without disclosing any disability related information.
To access this article, click here: Daily Muse Inc.
Tips for Employees How to start a mental health conversation with a colleague
Your colleague hasn’t been themselves lately. They seem short tempered, erratic and withdrawn but you are not sure how to approach them about your concerns. If this is a situation you have experienced, check out this article by Camille Howatt and Camille Quenneville on how to start a mental health conversation with a colleague.
As a caring friend and co-worker, it’s ok to wonder how you can help. Creating awareness about mental wellness in the workplace is an important step in reducing stigma. And starting the conversation may just provide an opportunity for your colleague to get the support they need. To access this article, click here: The Globe and Mail
The StarWars Story That is Not Quite as Exciting as The Others
Welcome back! This week, we will be taking yet another look at the employment issue facing the Autistic/Asperger community. Now some of you may already think that all the factors have already been covered: Hiring practices more suited to NT’s with face-to-face interview being preferred. Our simple lack of understanding social cues unfairly taken to mean that we are a cold, cruel people and the wider societies poor understanding of us, just to name a few. And while all of those may be true, there is a more work-related reason, like the hiring practices, as to why the unemployment problem is so pervasive in our community. You may already know what I am talking about, or you may not. As all the clickbaits like to tell us, some of it may surprise you!
Clickbaits, the annoying, abrasive person of the internets’ fish hook. The worm is the stylized, dramatic wording and font choice. At least unlike the actual fishes and fish hooks, you won’t die if you get caught on one (though you may come close to it through boredom).
So what am I talking about exactly? Well, according to an article on LinkedIn, we have a hard time fitting into our workplaces, to the point where we are forced to leave in order to retain our own sanity. That is, try to avert depression, severe anxiety or even PTSD, all or mostly because of feeling lonely in the workplace. Not to mention the feeling of, if you’re on social assistance, unemployed or both, like you are not a productive member of society. In short: not exactly feeling your best most days.
The result of this, the article says, is leading to plenty of Autistics/Aspies either being underemployed or self employed, if they can find work at all.
And with 24% of the workplace place population (unclear of whether it is the worlds or a specific nations) declaring that they have one or more disability/different numerology, that’s a lot of loneliness to go around. At least psychologist’s we’ll never go out of business, no matter how many emotional-tracking-apps there will be (expect an explosion of them). Now, the article says, it’s not like things aren't getting better. We’ve all seen and/or heard from the media’s stories of apparently “thousands” (not sure where the article gets that number, as at best I hear of hundreds finding employment, while actually seeing only tens in the workforce, but anyways) getting support for employment excavation (get it? Excavation? As in archeologists excavate, or find, artifacts? Because...it’s...never mind).
That joke probably had as much of a chance as being both understood and found humorous as this plane apparently had of landing safely.
But what’s the info behind all the big numbers? Well, according to the article, the thousands of Autistics/Aspies are all young, and the jobs are usually low paying, menial entry level positions. And as for the older generation? Those who have already gone through years of low-pay, poor treatment and the rest? Well, there is little support for them when it comes to employment excavation, or wandering for work, or exploring for employment (however you want to phrase it). Not that, according to the article, the employment initiative are that good anyways, despite some being well meaning.
And despite their efforts, we remain marginalized, misunderstood, and compartmentalized (a fancy way of saying shoved in an all-defining box). Either being mistreated or told to become better, non Autistics/Aspie people. The author said it best with “We aren't broken people. But we live in a broken culture” (The Dark Side of Autism in the Workplace, LinkedIn, paragraph 10). Well, that does it for this week! Next week we will continue to look at the subject from this, in my view, interesting angle. Along with some thoughts of mine in the end. But until then, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Source to use:
Chaotic Confusion Part 3
Welcome back! This week, we continue, once again, our look at why we get stressed when confused, continuing on from last week were we looked at how the article ties stress from confusion, and melt downs, together. Basically saying that the stress from confusion comes from living in a world that not only doesn’t understand us, but also expects us to act like we are the same as the wider population, than punishes us whenever we eventually break form the act in nervous break downs (it may seem like an anxity teen thing, the whole world not understanding us and the rest, but to talk to anyone who is Autistic/Aspie, and you will realize that the problem transcends age and affects literally all of us).
When we do act out, it’s not so much with big sighs, or eye rolls, or “OMGS!!!!!!”, but more like people who are actually dealing with an issue that we face everyday.
But wait! it gets even more complicated than that! As bad as living in a world that does not understand us and the rest is, the second part of the problem, expected to act like everyone else, proves to be a unique stressor all its own. Think about it: has any one of us in the Autism/Asperger community naturally knew how to act like an NT? I sure didn’t, and in most cases still don’t, or at least only in passing. We have to learn the various social cues, verbal cues and the rest when interacting with the rest of society. All the while being misunderstood by them and being expected not to show cracks in our facade.
That, the article claims, is like “learning through fear and intimidation which is not learning at all” (THE ASPERGIAN, Paragraph 15, Why Being Confused Is Absolutely Panic-Inducing For Most Autistics). And from there we move on to the articles second point: how society goes about teaching. Our school systems, or at least the ones in Canada as they are the only ones I am familiar with, do tend to teach in one way and one way only: by reading, memorizing and regurgitating information onto tests and exams. Metaphorically regurgitating. Actually regurgitating the answers would bu just unsanitary. All other forms of learning are poo-poo’ed, and any student who tries them, so the article says, is punished (not always severely, but passive aggressively, only the second-worst kind of aggressiveness).
Oh sure, those kids may look like they are having fun, they are really bending under the unyielding one-way doctrine of schools everywhere! See how unreasonably close they are to the paper?
But that’s not how human beings work (not the first time an institution, run by fellow human beings mind you, seemingly forget how the human soul/brain/consciousness works). We all, both NT and diverse, learn in different ways, from hands-on, to visuals, and than some. Some would say that it’s hard to see what’s happening on the street from all the way up in the ivory tower, but I would like to assume that they are rather working in a kind of two or three story ivory office building instead, fixed to their computers for hours on end with minimal human contact. After hours of sitting there with only the screen, some music and the ever-increasing boredom growing on you to keep you company, you’d feel more machine than man yourself. I know that feeling, as I work in a office job myself.
Well, that does it for this week! Next week we will move on to a different topic altogether using my high processing power to search the web for related topics. Shoot, I mean type in commands on my computer, to search the web for related topics (nailed it that time). But until than, this continues to be, the Artificial Intelligence. I mean The Audacious Aspie.
Source Used:
Chaotic Confusion Part 2
Welcome back! This week we will continue our look at why Autistics/Aspies often feel chaotic when confused (chaotic as in there normal routine is disrupted, not chaotic as in they suddenly become anarchist’s or agents of chaos like the Joker). Last week I talked about why I thought we felt some/a lot of stress when confused (depends on the severity of the confusion), while I stated before hand that I would be reviewing the site THE ASPERGIAN and their article on the subject. How’s that for confusion? But anyways, lets get back to subject from the source in the hot seat shall we?
I Tried To Find A Picture Of A Seat Either Literally On Fire, Or In An Interrogation-Like Scene, But Than I Found This And Thought: Why Not? Let The Subject Try To Stand On A Chair Like This For Hours On End. Just As Uncomfortable As Actually Sitting On A Fire-Chair.
So why, according to THE ASPERGIAN, do we feel insecurity when confused? First, it wants to talk about meltdowns. There is a belief, so it says, among most of those who are not Autistic/Aspie that meltdowns are part and parcel of, well, being Autistic/Aspie. The author of the article for ASPERGIAN disagrees, and frankly so do I. Rather, as the ASPERGIAN author notes, it’s not that simple. For those of you who are Autistic/Aspie, you most likely already know what a meltdown is, and that it has nothing to do with a nuclear power plant. But for the un-initiated, it’s basically what happens when our senses are overwhelmed (lots of flashing lights coupled with loud music/noises and lots of movement, for example), followed on the heels by an overwhelming emotional response (varies from person to person, from what I do, which is to completely shut down or to refuse to speak or acknowledge the environment around us, to acting out).
But, the article notes, that while it is not inevitable in and of itself, it is basically inevitable for us Autistics/Aspies living in an NT world. The whole Apple in a Mac world kind of scenario (or is it Mac in an Apple world? I can never remember). If you’re not aware of this phrase, or don’t know what it means, it’s basically an Apple (or Mac) living in the Macs world, having to play by their rules: act the way they act, speak the way they speak, and so on with out seeming like a fish out of water. Talk to any Autistic/Aspie, or if your one yourself, than you know the kind of skills it takes to pull that off.
It’s Like Practicing To Run In The Olympics, Except You Do It Everyday For No Real Gain Or Recognition For It Either.
Now, the article says, this does not happen once, or twice, but repeatedly through out our lives day by day. With all that strain coming down on Autistic’s/Aspie’s, or indeed anyone, it’s no surprise that they eventually break down. In our case, it takes the form of a melt down. But the problem isn’t in the fact that we have melt downs, its rather how the outside world, the NT world, reacts. Rather than attempting to calm us down, or find out what, or who, is it that has set us off, they rebuke us instead for acting out. For not being able to keep up the charade of being an NT when we are not. The perp in the mean time is let off the hook.
Well, this does it for this weeks post! Next week we will continue our look at the article, possibly finding out why we Autistics/Aspies feel anxious when confused. But until than you’ll just have to make do with feeling confused for now (don’t worry, it’ll pass. It’s not like the world keeps coming up with conundrums like: Why did a world leader say that? Did a celebrity really just do that? Is that really a smart thing to go to war over?) but until than, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Source:
Chaotic Confusion!
Welcome back! This week we will be looking at a topic that, while it may seem relevant to everyone, really does not hit home unless you are, let’s say, different-abled. When Autistic’s get together the topic tends to follow ‘you know how sometimes when…’ or ‘you know how most times…’ When they are talking about is how confusion creates stress, and how both go hand in hand with chaos. Then it becomes a vicious circle.
SORT OF LIKE THIS, BUT NOT AS DRAMATIC, OR VIOLENT, OR COOL-LOOKING. ALTHOUGH, THIS IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WHAT CHAOS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN OUR MINDS.
Why is it that when it comes to feeling confused, people who are different-abled tend to also feel stressed or overwhelmed? An article from THE ASPERGIAN (their all-caps, not mine. I just type’em) claims that it may have the answer (some where, it goes on a bit about meltdowns). I have my own theory as to why we feel stressed/anxious when confused: our routine is disrupted. Not everyone who is Autistic/Aspie is the same or will react in the same way to the same situation. So say for example when Jean’s routine is disrupted, causing confusion, he may feel some stress about the situation, but not enough to paralyze him for long, or to cause him to react excessively. Rather he keeps a semi-cool head, and tries to figure out how to solve the problem.
Samantha, on the other hand, does not react well to her routine being disrupted and confusion occurs. She either freezes, has a meltdown or leaves the situation. Then tries to calm down before she can deal with it again. In both of these situations, chaos has followed confusion, as confusion has disrupted their sense of normalcy. As you can see, it’s not a simple “oh God, gotta deal with this now” thing for Autistics/Aspies, but (from my experience) get’s better with experience. Which is just a nice way of saying it’ll get easier as you get older.
Now, I don’t mean that the stress of facing chaos gets any less, but rather you learn to deal with it better. If we can go back to the previous examples of Jean and Samantha, we can assume that Jean is some years older than Samantha as he acts like someone who has gone through this many a time before, he knows how to handle it. In geeky terms: the monster is still just as powerful as it was before, but as you progress through the game your stats will increase exponentially, picked up enough magical items and learned some new skills to deal with it, whenever it shows its ugly demonic hide again.
(SIGH), SPRING AND SUMMER. THE TIME WHEN THE LAND IS FULL OF LIFE, THE OUTDOORS ARE GREAT, AND THE YOUNG BEGIN THE NEW RITUAL OF ALWAYS HUNTING FOR WORK.
Well that does it for this weeks post. You may be wondering why I am posting less frequently these days, and I have an excuse ready in hand: work. Lots of work. If you are reading this in Canada, you may know already that it is the summer time, and therefore the time for young people, like me, to find some part time work or two or three or four. Make money for the next post-secondary semester, or to get that car you’ve been pining for, or just because you’re a masochist and hate the idea of rest. Until than, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Source:
https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/22/panic-and-confusion/
A Few Things to Say
Welcome back! I have an announcement to make and a couple of things to say. First, the announcement. As some of you are probably already aware, I have been trying to walk the tight rope for a few years of writing posts, not coming down firmly on either the pro-Autism awareness side or Autism acceptance side. Rather I was going to wait on getting a large enough readership first before I publicly went one way or another, so that in the event I did lose some, or a lot, of readership, I would still maintain most of my readership and therefore above water, so to speak.
But it’s my blog and I see no reason why I must continue to try to walk that tight rope, rather I am now stating what side I am for. I, am pro-Autism Acceptance. Awareness can only get us so far, that now is the time for us, the Autistic/ Asperger community to change our slogan (or whatever you wish to call it): we do not need awareness anymore. Now we need acceptance.
Now with the announcement out of the way, I have a few other things that I will need to say as well. Last month I made a mistake in not doing proper research (a major sin on my part, concerning how in university they drill it into your heads to research, research, research. May the gods and goddesses of post-secondary education have mercy on me) and supporting, unknowingly, an organization that is known for being, well, less than supportive of people in the community, even though they claim to support us.
For that I apologize once again, I well do my due diligence in the future. But yet despite my repeated apologies, I am still seen as anti-spectrum. This is far from the truth. Myself being on the spectrum, I know exactly what it’s like. I have readers who are parents of kids on the spectrum, teachers of kids on the spectrum, and people on the spectrum themselves. I don’t speak of my personal experiences because its not what this blog is about. Ask me privately and I may tell you. May being the operative word, as I’m a very private person . On this blog I give opinions of others in order to generate discussions. Sometimes I support these ideas, other times I do not. From now on I will try to say whether I do or do not support the ideas. But either way, we can all learn something from reading them, even if only to further our own private opinions.
Well that does it for this weeks post. Next week, as always, will be a different topic altogether. What topic will that be? You will just have to see, or read in this case. Until than, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Some Personal Thoughts
Welcome back! This week I will be talking about my thoughts on the whole Autism/Aspergers spectrum/not a spectrum topic. I know I know, my last message said that I would not be looking into the topic again for a while, but what I meant was that I would not be looking more into the article, or other information on this issue, for a while. Not stop talking about it. See the kind of verbal gymnastics I did there to try and weasel out of trouble? Impressive right? But enough weaseling, or mental gymnasticking (thats a word right?) let's get back to talking about my opinion.
Here is the majestic weasel, an animal known for being used to describe someone who is trying wriggle out of blame for something they may/may not have done.
On the question of the term, some of you say that the term neurodiversity is better sounding, more encompassing and accurate term than spectrum is, and perhaps you are right. Although admittedly, I did not think of the term “spectrum” in the same sense as the colour spectrum, in my view the article makes some good points (from what I have read of it). It does sort of make you think of a sliding Autism/Asperger scale doesn't it? That you are either this much Autistic/Aspie or this much. Either you are a little Autistic/Aspie or a lot, but in my opinion you are either Autistic/Aspie, or you’re not. There is not such thing as “a little Autistic/Aspie” (think of it like this: someone is either a moron or they are not, no one is “a little moronic”. Though in comparison of that person’s moronic actions to another, you’d probably think otherwise).
We, the Autistic/Asperger community, however, must be the ones to decide on a new term if we are to replace the old one. It will have to be one that hits all the marks we deem important, like inclusivity (including all the people whom we want to part of our community, whether it is just those with Autism/Asperger’s or people who are wired differently in general), encourage others acceptance of us and the diversity that resides within our community. I was just spitballing there, but you get the idea. We will need to put a lot of thought into what our new term would be, if we do decide to change it (doesn't that phrase sound disgusting to you? Although it could be worse, it could be “I’m just spitting hot nuegies here).
The phrase “spitballing” or “hot nuegie” is almost as gross as seeing this fly up close, and not wanting to eat it. Except it’s not up close, it’s the size of a small dog, and it is in fact your dinner.
You have probably realized from some of my former posts that I am advocating for some rather serious changes to some of the names already assigned to us, and doubtless I’m not the only one doing it to. But I think that now is the time we start to seriously consider whether we want to keep the same labels already assigned to us, considering that we, the Autistic/Asperger community, probably were not even asked on how we felt about the terms assigned to us (do you understand what I’m trying to say? I hope so, because while I know what I am trying to say, I’m not always sure how to word it right. Sigh, the curse of being a literally misunderstood artist, it is a cross I must bare).
That’s it for this week. Next week we will for sure for sure move on to a new topic (and no, it won’t be my thoughts on my thoughts. That’s for another date). But until next time, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Sources used:
https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
A Term, A Term, My Old Car For A Term Part 3
Welcome back! This week, we continue our look at the article from the ASPERGAIN (again, there call-caps, not mine) and how the whole spectrum definition might be skewed. Last we left off, I talked a bit about the names of some of the colours of the Autism/Asperger rainbow (Pragmatic, Social Awareness and the rest), along with a possible replacement name for it: instead of spectrum, perhaps we could call them a trait, or an ability, or a skill (The more positive sounding, the better in cases like these). But, enough stalling for now, let's get back to the main event!
Don’t you hate it when people stall? It’s like “common man! I wanna get to the next part already!” I had a buddy of mine right? He stalled for so long right? He stalled for so long, we missed most of the when we finally got in the theater. Another buddy of mine right? We was trying to get to an event right? And he...
So, to harken back to last weeks post abit, if you check all or most of the boxes listed on the article, you are on the...Autistic/Aspie trait list (almost said spectrum). According to the article. But if you check off only one or two of the boxes, than the article says that it’s not Autism/Aspergers you have, but something else entirely. E.g.: you struggle with communication alone? You have communication disorder. Problems with only movement/control? Dyspraxia/developmental coordination disorder, or you could shorten it to DCD (an amalgam that sounds like CDC, but switch the letters around). Sensory processing issues? Sensory processing disorder. And you get the rest.
Hence the problem with the phrase “we’re all a little autistic” (other than the obvious ones. Oh you are, are you? So tell me, what are YOUR obsessions? Bare in mind that obsessions are not something that we simply enjoy, but something that we enjoy intensely and will attempt to learn EVERYTHING about it. Literally, everything). If you just hate fluorescent lights, or feel awkward in some/all social situations, you are not a little Autistic/Aspie, you just hate fluorescent lights or feel awkward in some/all social situations (that said, you should still probably see your GP, incase you need some form of assistance).
Or another name for GP (General Practitioner, hope I spelled that right), is family doctor. But what if you don’t have a family? What if you are a family of one? Are they then known as a PD, personal doctor? This is an important question folks.
The article put it in another, I think interesting, way: it’s the equivalent of saying “you are dressed ‘a little rainbowy’ when you are wearing only red’” (Aspergian, It’s a spectrum doesn't mean what you think). And, for those of you who may not know this, and at the risk of already repeating what was already said in the last post about the article (the article on it’s own repeats itself in some areas), not every person who is Autistic/Aspie has the exact same traits, and the exact same strengths. While one person may be able to handle themselves very well in social situations, hitting all the right notes and picking up most, if not all, of the social cues. Another person may need a lot of help in the same social situation, a kind of guide or coach. While one may have very few repetitive behaviours, and know what kind are socially acceptable, others may have quite a bit of repetitive behaviours, and/or may not know or understand which ones are okay to do in public. You get the idea.
Well, that does it for this week's post. Next week I will either do one last segment on the article, or move onto another topic to keep things entertaining (and to keep things suspenseful as always, I won’t tell you which one I’ll do! Oh, it’s not that suspenseful? Because in the end you’ll find out anyways and it won’t really affect your world that much? Can you pretend to be in suspense? It’d really help my ratings. Might even get you day or so off work if the boss thinks you are suffering some kind of extreme stress! Or get you simply kicked out from a public space, but that's the risk you take.). But until next time, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
Sources used:
https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
A Term, A Term, My Old Car For A Term
Welcome back! This week we continue to look at the article from THE ASPERGIAN A NEURODIVERGENT COLLECTIVE (their all-caps, not mine. Probably trying to be all dramatic and such) AND THE TOPIC OF...sorry, forgot I left caps-lock on, and the topic of the article: spectrum; does it really mean what we think it means? Last week I was going on about how the author is using the colour spectrum as an example of the Autism/Aspergers spectrum, but it’s also not like the Autism/Aspergers spectrum (and how I was not able to cover that last week but hope to do so this week). So just how exactly is the colour spectrum not like the neurological spectrum? Well let's take a look-see.
You know how a black hole is a hole that sucks in everything, including light (hence the name black hole), this looks like a pic of what a white hole would look like: a hole that spews out everything, including light. Lots and lots of light.
Firstly, according to the author, we talk about the spectrum as if it’s a gradient, rather than an actual spectrum. You can either be a “little autistic/aspie”, “a-lot autistic/aspie”, or somewhere in between (alternatively, the author notes, “a-lot autistic/aspie” is also known as “tragic autistic/aspie”. Something we may have all heard of before). But, like all other stereotypical ways used to define minority groups, this is a rather simplistic way of categorizing a diverse group. It's not like your traits get worse as you move up on the spectrum (or for the nerdy/geeky, it’s not like you levelling up your character but instead of getting more powerful skills/powers, they just get worse).
Apparently, according to the article, the whole spectrum thing is so far off that even the DSM-V is against it. Calling Autism/Aspergerss an “uneven profile of abilities” (THE ASPERGIAN: A NEURODIVERGENT COLLECTIVE). Must be why there is a saying of “if you’ve seen one person with autism, you’ve met on one person with autism” (or so the article says, this is the first time I’ve heard of it). Autism/Aspergers’s, the article claims, is not one condition but a myriad of related neurological conditions, impossibly intertwined that professionals have stopped trying to sort them in neat boxes (weather the article means actual professionals or “professionals” is unclear, but probably the former).
Ever wonder how many boxes they came up with to try and fit us in? My guess is thirty, but chances are I’m not even close.
Instead, the article says, the spectrum is really more like a rainbow of traits, rather than a spectrum of traits. The colours being: Pragmatic language, Social awareness, Monotropic mindset, Information processing, Sensory processing, Repetitive behaviours and Neuro-motor differences (I won’t post the meaning of all the phrases above here, as that would take more time than I want to. If you want to see the meanings, then I suggest you visit the article here. Yes, I am that lazy). How do you know you’re Autistic/Asperger? If you check all, or most of the boxes on the list, than you, dear reader, are on the spectrum. At least as far as the article is concerned, still might want to get tested by a professional rather than a random site online, unless you like webMD.
Ever heard of webMD? I ran a test where I put in some symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, eye blinking), that happens when I get allergies, and I got a list like this: ADHD, Epilepsy, intoxication and more, in that order. I guess allergies didn't even make the top ten.
Well that does it for this week’s post. Next week we will continue to peer through this article, and maybe find out what what we are supposed to call the Autism/Aspergers’s, if not a spectrum (just looked at the article now, and it is a loooooong one, probably won’t cover all of it). But until then, this continues to be, The Audacious Aspie.
P.S. After getting some feedback and doing some research, I now regret writing my posts about CASDA and it’s proposal. I was unaware that they worked with Autism Speaks, and therefore wrote a couple of posts promoting their plan in my error. Next time I will do better.
Source used:
https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
A Search for A Special Spectrum Speech
Welcome back! This week, we will be looking at a topic that, in this particular case, has less to do with light than with people who are Autistic/Aspie: The Spectrum (hey, don’t look at me, the person who made the article used a lot of rainbow images). And it begs the question which, I believe, we should all be asking ourselves and others in the Autistic/Asperger community: What does the term “it’s a spectrum” mean to you? What does it mean to our community at large? What should it mean? And perhaps: Should we keep using the term? Now that I have filled you all existential dread, on with the show!
The best way to keep your audience engaged is by causing them to doubt the very meaning of their existence. Once you accomplish that, you’ll have them hook, line and sinker like a fish caught on a fishing pole, seriously contemplating it’s poor life decisions up to this point.
The start of the article makes a good point, how everyone knows that Autism/Asperger’s is a spectrum (though there might be some contention to this if I remember correctly), and that when mentioning Autism/Asperger’s, the word “spectrum” is never far behind. The article even lists some phrases of what the author means, some of which may seem familiar: “My son is on the severe end of the spectrum” (The Aspergian, “It’s a spectrum” doesn't mean what you think), “we're all a little autistic-it’s a spectrum.” and finally “I’m not autistic but I’m definitely ‘on the spectrum’.”. It’s a roundabout way of saying “I don’t think that word means what you think it means”.
But what, really, is a spectrum? Apparently to the author of the article, it’s not Autism/Asperger’s. An example given is a colour chart, showing all the pretty colour’s of the spectrum (backed on either side by pitch blackness, but no grey or white to be seen. Someone's a shadest). What exactly are we supposed to be looking at? How different the colours are all different from each other, and yet still on the same spectrum (the visible light spectrum as the author has chosen to use). They also blend together in a kind of hazy, relaxing way, but if you can stop staring at it for now and jolt yourself awake, we can continue on with the lesson.
And furthermore, if you could stop gushing over the picture of this sleeping fox, we can move on with the rest of the show. This might help: It survives by tearing other animals, usually small ones, and eating them. Bones, muscle and all. Thought that would do it.
You may notice a couple of things that the article mentions, namely: That one colour is not more than another colour, and example given is that red is not more blue than blue! Now you may notice that that's kind of the point, and it would be a little disconcerting if red really was more blue than blue, but that's not the point that we should be looking at. The point that we should be focusing on is that red, like blue, is a colour. Red is not any less a part of the spectrum than blue is. When talking about colours, we don’t use spectrum-related phrases when describing a colour. For instance, we don’t say “I like colours that are high up on the spectrum list” or “should we go with a low spectrum colour for the kitchen?”. Than again, ten years ago the words and phrases like “legit”, “LOL” and “who wants to see a live action pokemon movie?” never existed until now, so it might become a thing the next decade or so.
Well, that does it for this week's post! Next week we will be finding out why Autism/Asperger’s is not really a spectrum at all (or maybe it is and I just read parts of it wrong. Oh well). But until next time, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Source used:
https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
The Proposed CASDA Solution Part 2
Welcome back! This week we finish up our look at the Canadian national Autism program, as well as some of my own personal thoughts on it, time permitting. Last we left off, we read some of it’s proposal points on how they plan on making life easier for all of Canada’s people on the spectrum (and probably also able to make other people's lives easier as will, spectrum or no). Now this is a relatively new proposal on the table handling an old problem, so there may not be much information on the post this week about it(if your curious and want to learn more about it, you can try looking online though I would have no idea on where to start). But at any rate, let's get’er moving!
The group, and a smart move on their part I should think, revealed the plan ahead of the Canadian federal election in October in the hopes of it becoming a major election issue (or more accurately a solution). Or at the very least an issue that the voters will pressure the parties to comment on both prior, during and after the election (let's hope it gets really popular for that to happen. Already here in Ontario Autistic issues are getting more recognition so far). We, or at least those of us, myself included, who live in Canada, might be on the cusp of an era where neurological concerns and progressive solutions might be looked on more favourably! Exciting times we do live in.
My father told me of an Chinese curse (not sure if it is ancient or not): May you live in interesting times. We only have to look at today’s newspaper to see what they mean, but at least this is a step in the right direction.
And that’s it! That was the last of the article! Bet you thought, from the start of this post, that there would be more to it did you? Will to be honest, so did I until I looked on what was still left unsaid, and by that point I didn't want to change it because. But now there is space for me to exposite all over this post like a digital version of verbal diarrhea (if you’re going to try to unpack all that I’ve said after words, wear thick plastic gloves). From what I have read, and some of you have told me, is that this plan seems like a solid, bold, progressive idea to solve a-decade-and-more issue of providing actual support and available resources to people who both think and act differently than the majority of the population.
Instead of what used to happen, which was to either lock us all up in an institution out-of-sight-out-of-mind like, ostracize us by calling, or hinting at, what we have as a disease meant to be cured (as well as coming up with all these weird ways that is can be passed on: touch, close proximity, or even by looking at us if I have the last one right). Which begs the question, they did know that it was neurological “disorder”, or whatever you want tot call it, right? It’s not like we were zombies or anything (than again, in most pop-culture references, the only way to stop a zombie was to destroy the brain. Maybe the Z-virus is not just any virus, but a neurological virus at that? Could explain the whole Autism/Asperger’s is a disease spread by vaccines myth: People just watch too many zombie horror movies).
Now, I don’t blame them for wanting to watch all of the zombie movies and other media that they can get their hands on, I love a good zombie horror book myself, but even I don’t treat other groups of people as if they are literal versions of horror monsters. Last time I killed someone with a silver bullet, it was really my hairy uncle George. I’m just glad no one found the body.
Perhaps even this national Autism proposal could one day help dispel all those myths and misconceptions about us, and increase societies acceptance of us as well. Provided, of course, that the people working on the proposal, once it’s actually being acted upon, continue to listen to people who are on the spectrum and not just professionals or “professionals”. While it could be a great leap forward in the betterment of all people Autistic, Aspie, and our NT friends and families, it could also be a large step backward if those running the show ever lose sight of their ultimate goal. First things first, we need to see if the bold idea gets off the ground in the first place.
Well, that does it for this week's post. Next week I’ll have a different topic in mind to write on (that or I’ll just look one up. Last part usually works). But until next time, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Sources used:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/casda-national-autism-program-1.5080391
The CASDA Solution
Welcome back! This week, we continue our look into the national Autism program suggested by the activist group (hope I got that right) CASDA and the senator (I know I got this right) Mr. Munson! Together, their team is...well, I can’t think of a clever name for their team, but if they had a team name I bet it would sound awesome...probably). But anyway, last week we introduced the blueprint, the team members and a little bit of what is in the plan itself. This week we will dig deeper into what the plan details, as well as what else pops up in our...investigation (of the CBC article, not the inner workings of CASDA or such. Sorry to spoil the epic moment you all probably had there).
No dramatic sleuthing for me. Better left to the journalists, or P.I’s, or detectives, or hired killers. You never thought hired killers did much detective work did you? But did you ever try to track a target that's on the road every day? It’s hard...allegedly...so I’m told.
First of, let's dive into the exciting world of policy discussion! (cue cheers, lots and lots of cheers, and some whistling). What else does the policy blueprint suggest this federal/provincial/territorial alliance change to make the lives of people on the spectrum easier and better? Changes (or should I say because it’s stipulated in the actual blueprint itself, immediate changes?) to the federal tax code! I envy the lucky bugger who has that job, he’ll have the most fun. Why the tax code? To give greater benefits to not only those with ASD/Asperger’s, but also their families as well! Now the question remains just how much money will we receive.
And while the federal government is busy with all that, the provincial governments have their own work cut out for them. They have the task of “creating nationwide standards for care and access to services.” (CBC, Group calls for national autism program, paragraph 8). Whenever you or I think that our work load is getting to heavy, remember this: at least your not responsible for basically telling all of your nation's service providers whatever standard they now have to reach, while making sure that the standard is both feasible for the services providers and gives at least a reasonable amount of support to people with ASD while at the same time deciding what would entail as a reasonable amount of support. That felt hard just typing it.
I feel sorry for the people who have to work on this part of the project alone. Their time spent in college and/or university must seem like a vacation compared to this.
And that's not the only ambitious goal that the proposal has in mind. Another one is to help those on the spectrum find housing and employment, giving us the chance to become independent members within our communities. Which when you think about it, is an oxymoron. If you’re a member of a community, you’re not really independent are you? How was the plan designed? Why, with input from members of the ASD community and family members of course! Now you may wonder how that can be any other way, but if it was common practice for activist groups to include members of the community they are supposedly rooting for in on the planning stage, let alone activist groups for the Asperger/Autism community, CASDA would have no reason to proclaim it like it is some kind of achievement.
Well, that does it for this week. Next week we will be continuing on with this topic again were we wrap it all up! And I might get a chance rant some more on what I think about things! Another chance to show you guys the beautiful sound of my own voice. One time, I was in a mall right? And I went into this store right? And there was all this anime that I wanted, so I went up to the cashier and...you all seem to be looking at your phones and watches. Probably have somewhere urgent to go somewhere, so I’ll tell the story the next time we meet. I know I know, those were groans of sadness of a good story ending for now. But it will have to wait until next, when this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Source used:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/casda-national-autism-program-1.5080391
A National Proposed Solution to an International Problem
Hello! This week, we will be looking at what is a revolutionary new idea (at least for Canada) to help improve people with ASD/Aspergers syndrome: a national Autism program. What, exactly, is such a program? Well let's just ask our next guest. They’re a company who, in a list of media companies in alphabetical order would quickly follow ABC and the BBC. They’re a company that is not only funded by a national government, but are allowed to mock them in broad daylight without any repercussions (thus far). They’re Canada’s own, the CBC! (cue hollywood cheers and screams of excite-wait! Don’t leave! I promise it won’t be this noisy or crowded for long!).
It’s really only loud and crowded for the intro! The rest of the event will be really quite and sparse! I just want it to look good for the cameras, make it look like I have thousands of adoring fans.
And who should be the first brave soul/scape goat-if-it-all-falls-apart to lead the charge on such a daring idea? The federal government (i.e Ottawa)! And who is the poster man (he’s kind of old to be called a boy these days) to be the face of this bold plan? Why, who else other than sheriff Sen. Jim Munson of course! (doesn't the name Jim Munson sound particularly Canadian wild wild west to you? Not only polite, but also a man with some authority as will). But he’s not alone, the activist organization CASDA, or Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (and an extra A in there and you get CASADA, which would sound a lot like their country of origin) is teaming up with him in this endeavor for improved Autism care.
Now, they have released a blueprint (even though it may not actually be blue. How many blueprints these days are really blue you think?), detailing that all provinces, territories and, of course, the federal government to work together to create and maintain services for both children and adults on the spectrum (Don’t die of shock now anyone, but a major Autistic/Asperger organization, at least in Canada, actually remembered about the existence of adults being on the spectrum! ((little girl shriek of glee)). Either way, like I said before, this a bold plan indeed, if only because getting the federal and provincial/territorial governments to work together on something without political in-fighting soon breaking the alliance is, will...problematic at best. This can either go really well, or really poorly.
Sort of like trying to when the lottery innit? Except when you lose at the lottery, you really only $2.00 or so on the ticket, plus all your hopes and dreams of becoming rich (until the next time when you repeat the process). When you lose in the government, you stand to lose a lot more.
That being said, it’s promising news that a Senator and an activist organization are joining forces for just such a cause. Perhaps the political world might be able to pull it off after all. How long exactly has CASDA, and the senator, been calling for support for people on the spectrum? Why, over a decade of course (the senator once participating in a senate inquiry years back calling for a national autism inquiry. He was advocating for a national Autism support program before it was cool...politically). Inside the blueprint, the the chair women of CASDA says, one will find an “overarching vision and promise to the community we represent” (CBC news, Group calls for national autism program, Paragraph 6) like a lifetime guarantee to full and equal access to resources both whenever and wherever you need’em. Now that, is a plan that I can get behind.
So, especially if you live in Canada, you may want to get out your sacrificial daggers, find that virgin and light that fire, ‘cause we might need all the dark magic that we can get.
That does it for this week. Next week we will be continuing our look at this Canadian National autism program, and pray/hope/make a blood sacrifice in the hopes that if it comes to fruition, and is found to work like a dream come true, the next government coming in won’t scrape the whole deal all because it was the last party that implemented it. Here in Canada, it probably happens more than we would like to admit. But until then, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/casda-national-autism-program-1.5080391