tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34436129631870329842024-02-08T04:08:44.139-08:00Positive Neurodiversity CollectionThis is intended as a safe space for neuroatypical and other disabled people who need some encouragement and a shelter from the negativity that society sends us. Please be aware that comments are moderated to maintain this safe space. If you would like to know more about the purpose of this blog, please see <a href="http://abnormaldiversity.blogspot.ca/2016/08/positive-neurodiversity-compendium.html">the explanation on my other blog</a>.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-58362508636934175342017-03-02T11:30:00.002-08:002017-03-02T11:31:47.585-08:00What is Autism?I just found <a href="http://neurocosmopolitanism.com/what-is-autism/">this description</a> of autism. It's intended to describe autism in a factually accurate and non-pathologizing manner.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
Autism is a genetically-based human neurological variant. The complex set of interrelated characteristics that distinguish autistic neurology from non-autistic neurology is not yet fully understood, but current evidence indicates that the central distinction is that autistic brains are characterized by particularly high levels of synaptic connectivity and responsiveness. This tends to make the autistic individual’s subjective experience more intense and chaotic than that of non-autistic individuals: on both the sensorimotor and cognitive levels, the autistic mind tends to register more information, and the impact of each bit of information tends to be both stronger and less predictable.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
Autism is a developmental phenomenon, meaning that it begins <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in utero</i> and has a pervasive influence on development, on multiple levels, throughout the lifespan. Autism produces distinctive, atypical ways of thinking, moving, interaction, and sensory and cognitive processing. One analogy that has often been made is that autistic individuals have a different neurological “operating system” than non-autistic individuals.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
According to current estimates, somewhere between one percent and two percent of the world’s population is autistic. While the number of individuals diagnosed as autistic has increased continually over the past few decades, evidence suggests that this increase in diagnosis is the result of increased public and professional awareness, rather than an actual increase in the prevalence of autism.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
Despite underlying neurological commonalities, autistic individuals are vastly different from one another. Some autistic individuals exhibit exceptional cognitive talents. However, in the context of a society designed around the sensory, cognitive, developmental, and social needs of non-autistic individuals, autistic individuals are almost always disabled to some degree – sometimes quite obviously, and sometimes more subtly.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
The realm of social interaction is one context in which autistic individuals tend to consistently be disabled. An autistic child’s sensory experience of the world is more intense and chaotic than that of a non-autistic child, and the ongoing task of navigating and integrating that experience thus occupies more of the autistic child’s attention and energy. This means the autistic child has less attention and energy available to focus on the subtleties of social interaction. Difficulty meeting the social expectations of non-autistics often results in social rejection, which further compounds social difficulties and impedes social development. For this reason, autism has been frequently misconstrued as being essentially a set of “social and communication deficits,” by those who are unaware that the social challenges faced by autistic individuals are just by-products of the intense and chaotic nature of autistic sensory and cognitive experience.</div>
<div style="background-color: #cccc99; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px;">
Autism is still widely regarded as a “disorder,” but this view has been challenged in recent years by proponents of the neurodiversity model, which holds that autism and other neurocognitive variants are simply part of the natural spectrum of human biodiversity, like variations in ethnicity or sexual orientation (which have also been pathologized in the past). Ultimately, to describe autism as a disorder represents a value judgment rather than a scientific fact.</div>
</blockquote>
Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-68050163942903055992017-01-13T14:51:00.001-08:002017-03-02T11:32:18.927-08:00Sweet Autism ThingsI just found this Tumblr page called <a href="http://sweet-autism-things.tumblr.com/">Sweet Autism Things</a>, which seems to have pretty much the same purpose as this blog does.<br />
<br />
It features shout-outs to various types of autistic people, comments from readers saying what they like about their autisticness, and generally a lot of encouragement and positivity.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-9157418569224007002016-11-02T12:02:00.000-07:002016-11-02T12:02:01.177-07:00Aspie Strengths and Superpowers I just came across <a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/?m=1">this</a> post on Musings of an Aspie, about strengths of Aspergers Syndrome. She has two lists - strengths (or "how Asperger's has made me awesome") and superpowers (or "how Asperger's has made me who I am").<br />
<br />
She describes her Asperger's strengths as the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>She's nonjudgmental</li>
<li>She has a strong attachment to the truth</li>
<li>She's curious </li>
<li>She's loyal</li>
<li>She's sincere</li>
<li>She has well-defined values </li>
<li>She's an unconventional problem solver </li>
<li>She's an optimist </li>
</ul>
<div>
And for her superpowers, she says:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>She's perceptive </li>
<li>She has a high IQ</li>
<li>She's calm in a crisis</li>
<li>She's dependable and disciplined </li>
<li>She's determined </li>
</ul>
<div>
So, now it's my turn. I'm not sure what the distinction between strengths and superpowers, so I'll just divide them the way that makes sense to me.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My superpowers (core things about me):</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>I'm <i>caring and empathetic</i>. I don't always know how someone else feels, but I care very deeply. I don't try to do right because my parents want me to or because God will punish me - I do it because I care about making the world better for the people around me.</li>
<li>I'm <i>passionate about my beliefs</i>. I don't let people use judgment or pressure to convince me to do something I believe is wrong.</li>
<li>I'm <i>rational and logical</i> - or at least I consistently try to be. I'm no android. I have feelings, and I act on them. But I challenge my beliefs and look for evidence. I check if the facts back up what I think, and when a piece of evidence makes me uncomfortable, I think about it rather than just dismissing it.</li>
<li>I'm <i>creative</i>. I can imagine strange ways of being and thinking. I like to write stories and always have tons of ideas. I also think up novel research hypotheses and ways of studying them, and novel ways to solve various problems I face.</li>
</ul>
<div>
My strengths (things I'm good at that aren't super essential to my identity):</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>I have a high IQ</li>
<li>I'm curious, with a high need for cognition</li>
<li>I'm good with animals </li>
<li>I'm good with languages </li>
<li>I can figure out how to use technology to meet my needs </li>
<li>I'm a good sister and daughter </li>
<li>I instinctively use good 'parenting' strategies with my dog</li>
<li>I'm a good writer </li>
<li>I have a good memory for details </li>
</ul>
</div>
Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-37713993467782975392016-10-28T10:56:00.002-07:002016-10-28T10:59:38.416-07:00Slice of Life conversations <div class="tr_bq">
The <a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/?m=1">Thinking Person's Guide to Autism</a> has a series of slice of life conversations with autistic people. <a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2012/04/hend-and-hamza-and-autism-acceptance.html?m=1">Hend and Hamza</a>, 7 and 5 year old siblings, had this to say (interviewed by their mother):</div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What is your name?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Hend.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Do you have a website?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Yep, Little Miss Sunshine (</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sunshineproject" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #7d181e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.facebook.com/sunshineproject</a><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">)</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">I love Condors because they are cute.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Do you have any autistic superpowers? What are they?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Yes I do. My superpowers are noticing someone with autism, understanding how they feel. My super eyesight. My hurt power: I can't feel a thing. And many more.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are some situations that make you happy, or satisfied?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Nice food and cake and when I turn 7 I'll be satisfied and happy.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are some situations that make you sad, or anxious?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Sometimes when Andi, a kid from school that I like, is absent and she chooses me every time and then no one plays with me and I spend the time sitting on the step with no one to play with, everyone keeps playing with their stuff.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are your preferred ways to be social?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Playing and eating together.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What traits do you prize in a friend, or companion?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Andi always plays with me. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: Andi is her friend at school, she gets on well with the other kids as far as I've been told but I don't think she has any friends she plays with regularly besides Andi</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">.]</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Are there parts of your life you wish were easier?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">I wish I got all the stuff I wanted. Eating everything I want playing with all the stuff I want. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: Don't we all!.</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">]</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What's the next big goal you have for yourself?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Winning each game. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: Not sure what games we're winning here, but there you go</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">.]</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What does bliss feel like to you?</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">It feels like laying on a cozy bed and playing with a friend and loving Allah more than anything else in the world -- which I do. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: She's always has a strong attachment to and understanding of our Muslim beliefs and values</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">.]</span></blockquote>
And now for her little brother Hamza:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What is your name?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Hamza</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Do you have a website?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Yeah I'm drawing a road.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">I play with a digger.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Do you have any autistic superpowers? What are they?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Yeah! My superpower is about the one I saw, a digger. A digger near the supermarket.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are some situations that make you happy, or satisfied?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Diggers...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are some situations that make you sad, or anxious?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Monsters, some stickers make me sad because I don't really want them.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What are your preferred ways to be social?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">I like to play with the girls. I want to play with each other. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: He's always following little girls at the park, boys make him nervous</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">.]</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What traits do you prize in a friend, or companion?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">To play with each other. [</span><i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Emma: Hamza is very interested in other kids but he doesn't know how to connect with them and they usually don't try to connect with him. I'm a bit concerned about bullying at the moment.</i><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">]</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Are there parts of your life you wish were easier?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Yeah.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What's the next big goal you have for yourself?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Play with diggers...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">What does bliss feel like to you?</b><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.8400001525879px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px;">Diggers make me happy.</span></blockquote>
Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-81511817031481009452016-10-16T17:30:00.000-07:002016-10-16T17:31:52.215-07:00Autism and CatsThere's something about autistic people and cats. Maybe it's that we're similar in some ways - cats get overloaded easily, hate change and don't strongly crave interaction, just like many autistic people. I don't know, but I do know that autistic people seem to be more likely to have cats and to have a very strong bond with cats.<br />
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And on that note, here are some videos of autistic people with cats.<br />
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This little girl and her Maine Coon therapy cat are inseparable - the cat even goes swimming with her!</div>
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This Bengal follows around a playful stimmy little boy, especially when he goes outside in their backyard.<br />
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This man, diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at 49 years old, has created an extensive network of catwalks in his home for his cats to enjoy.<br />
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And this boy regularly gets woken up by his very affectionate cat.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-32146405944752219822016-10-14T11:13:00.000-07:002016-10-14T11:13:05.864-07:00Special Books For Special KidsI just found this website, <a href="http://www.specialbooksbyspecialkids.org/videos">Special Books for Special Kids</a>. Although they originally planned on doing books, the project evolved into doing videos featuring neuroatypical children, such as children with brain injuries, lissencephaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum and so forth. The big focus seems to be on making the kids feel great about themselves.<br />
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My two favorite videos:<br />
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Marilee is an AAC user with physical disabilities and an infectious smile.<br />
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Kevin has Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum and his dream job is to be a massage therapist at the Ritz-Carlton. Upon hearing about this, the Ritz-Carlton offered him a day-long internship and advice on how to get into the career for real when he's older.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-80127760499194717342016-10-09T14:02:00.000-07:002016-10-09T14:02:04.006-07:00Positives of ADHDI just came across this list of <a href="http://www.addcoach4u.com/positivesofadd.html#positives">positive traits of ADHD</a>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ability to find alternate paths to overcome obstacles</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Able to take on large situations</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Adaptive/collaborative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Adventurous, courageous, lives outside of boundaries</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Always finding alternate routes to any given location.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Always willing to help others</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ambitious – you want to be everything when “you grow up”</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Artistic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Attractive personality – magnetic due to high energy</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Being able to see the big picture</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Being able to see the patterns in the chaos.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Being intuitive towards others’ difficulties</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Broad focus – can see more, notice things more</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can create order from chaos</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can do many projects at once</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can make people feel they are heard</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can see the big picture</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can talk about several things at one time</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Can think on my feet</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Career variety</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Centre of attention</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Comfortable talking in front of groups</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Comfortable with change and chaos</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Compassion for others and for themselves</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Conceptualizes well</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Confidence</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Constantly evolving</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Courageous</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Creates connections easily</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Creative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Creative writing</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Creative – musical, artistic, “dramatic”</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good in a crisis </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at customer relations</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dedicated</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Detail-oriented</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Determined to gain more control</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Eager to make friends</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Eager to try new things</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Empathetic, sensitive</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Energetic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Entrepreneurial</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Excellent organizers using journals and reminders (notes etc.)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Flexible – changes as the situation requires</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Fun guy to be around</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Goal-oriented</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at conceptualizing</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at motivating self and others</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at multitasking</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at problem solving</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at public speaking</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good at understanding others/mind reading – empathetic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good conversationalist</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good delegator and good at organizing others</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good in emergency situations</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good listener</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good looking and aware of it</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good people skills</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good self esteem, energetic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great brain-stormer</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great multitasker</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great self-company</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great sense of humour</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great storyteller</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great with kids (central figure around kids)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hands-on workers</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hard worker</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Has friendly relations with their family</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Has the gift of gab</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Helpful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Helps others who are also in trouble</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">High energy – go, go, go</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Humour, very healthy, quick picking up ideas</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hyper focus !!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hypersensitive – very empathetic and good at non-verbal communications</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Idea generator</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Imaginative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Impulsive (in a good way) not afraid to act</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Initiators</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Intelligent</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Intuitive</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It’s ok to not finish everything</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Learning as much as I can to help children and others with adhd</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Less sleep is good (midnight to 6 am)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Like to talk a lot</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Likes learning new things</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Look at multidimensional sides to a situation</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lots of interests</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Loves to cook and be creative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Magnetic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Master idea generator</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mentoring others/helpful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mentoring people with low self esteem</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Modesty</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Move on fast – never hold a grudge</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Multitasks well</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Never bored and rarely boring</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Never intimidated to try new things</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Non-linear, multi-dimensional/edge of chaos</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Not afraid to speak mind</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Not contained by boundaries.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On stage and ready</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Optimistic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Outgoing</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Passionate</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Persistent</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Philosophical</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Holistic thinking</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Playful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pragmatic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Problem solver</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Profound</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Quick thinking</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Quick witted</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Relates to people easily</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Resistant</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Resourceful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Saves money in the short term by forgetting to file tax returns</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">See and remember details – recount them later</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sees the big picture</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Socially adaptive and flexible.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Spontaneous</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stabilizer during difficult situations</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stable</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Successful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Takes initiative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tenacious</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Theoretical</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Think outside the box </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thinks 2 meters ahead of the world</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thinks big, dreams big</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thorough</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tolerant</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Unconventional</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Unlimited energy</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Unorthodox</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Versatile</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Very creative, able to generate a lot of ideas</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Very hard working to compensate – workaholic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Very intuitive</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Very resourceful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Very successful</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Visionary </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Visual learner</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Willing to explore</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Willing to take risks</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Willingness to help others</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Witty</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Won’t tolerate boredom</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Works well under pressure</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Worldly</span>Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-36621075453124384622016-10-05T12:21:00.000-07:002016-10-05T12:21:00.554-07:00Parents With Cerebral PalsyA documentary about a couple with cerebral palsy having a baby.<br />
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<br />Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-12048158112672057022016-10-01T20:26:00.000-07:002016-10-01T20:26:05.395-07:00Your X Has Williams Syndrome I just came across these cute little videos explaining Williams Syndrome to peers. They have several videos aimed at siblings, classmates and friends of kids with Williams Syndrome. The videos are identical except for the intro bit, so I'll just post the 'sister' video here.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Tky-ujlowQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Tky-ujlowQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-4564426244256712282016-09-29T20:24:00.000-07:002016-09-29T20:24:06.371-07:00Lisa Finds The Paper TrayI just came across <a href="http://institute4learning.com/blog/2013/09/06/guest-post-in-praise-of-neuro-diversity/">this neat story</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5e9d86c8-69ab-d5ab-ee34-9871c1a81695" style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">”So, I have this student, let’s call her Lisa. Lisa is a fifteen year old with Fragile X syndrome. She presents as someone with pretty severe autism: she barely makes eye contact, but is fully verbal. She has a personal relationship with the technical gadgets in a room (“Ask Printer if he knows the answer,” “It’s Projector’s turn to do a problem,”), but she won’t remember the names of students she’s been in class with for months. She has trouble reading a clock or counting change with automaticity, but she is one of my best Algebra students. You read that right: one of my very best Algebra students. She uses a white board (only the one with curved edges, not the square corners, and only with a blue dry-erase marker, never another color, especially not pink) to do all her work because her fine motor skills make it hard to fit side-work onto a single sheet of paper, but she unerringly knows what procedure to use when and applies her knowledge with almost complete accuracy.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">I taught Lisa in the classroom for two years until I decided to quit classroom teaching and focus solely on my private Educational Therapy practice. Now Lisa comes to my home office twice a week for Algebra, while at school she will still be trying to become automatic at reading a clock and counting out change. Now, I knew that it would take Lisa a little while to get comfortable in her new surroundings, so the first time she came to my house, I ask if she wants to meet my husband, since he’d be around now and again.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nah,” she says, “Where’s your printer?” Silly me. She wanted to get straight to what’s important. So I show her my printer.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“He’s an HP, like the downstairs one [at my house]. What kind is he?”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">I read her the name, “HP Photosmart Premium.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Huh,” she says. “Why do you have the pencil sharpener in front of him?”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh,” I say, “That’s because there is no paper tray and that keeps the papers from falling on the floor.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Huh. He probably has a tray.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“No, I’ve looked all over, and there isn’t a tray. Let’s do some math.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">She pauses in the middle of a problem, eyebrows furrowed. “The tray is probably underneath him.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“No. I looked. I looked underneath and all around. There isn’t a tray.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Huh.” Lisa finishes her problem and asks for a break.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ok. Do you want a white board break?”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nah. Let’s look for your tray.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">Realizing it is useless to argue, I let Lisa go search for a tray I know is not there, just so she can let her pre-occupation go.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">And she finds the tray.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">Four years I’ve owned this printer and never found that stupid little tray, and within five seconds she has it pulled out and all set up for me.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">In my (admittedly weak) defense, I tell her that I thought the little indentation under which the tray was hidden was a thumb rest.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">“Huh.”</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">Over the course of the next three sessions, Lisa says, “You thought it was a thumb rest. But really it was a little tray.”</span></span>Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-79148848831904469462016-09-26T16:19:00.000-07:002016-09-26T16:19:58.050-07:00This is HyperlexiaA cute little video showing what it's like to have a hyperlexic and hypernumeric preschooler.<br />
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This just makes me smile.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-81317654177811309062016-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:002016-09-25T17:30:00.240-07:00Dancing BaristaFour days before her birthday, autistic AAC user <a href="http://carlysvoice.com/home/aboutcarly/">Carly Fleischmann</a> posted this video of an autistic barista doing a stimmy dance to help him concentrate while making a drink. She said that her birthday wish was to have this video go viral.<br />
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Well, she got her wish. He got to be so well-known, he and his boss even appeared on the Ellen Show. (Note for auditory sensitivities: Ellen's show has applause.)<br />
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Keep dancing!Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-69475942857846278752016-09-23T06:52:00.000-07:002016-09-23T06:52:02.979-07:00Orion's Really Happy Reel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://hexwit.blogspot.ca/">Orion is a DeafBlind child in a Deaf family</a>. His mother says it's important for children to <a href="http://hexwit.blogspot.ca/2016/06/laugh-everyday.html?m=1">laugh every day</a>. She shared this sweet video compilation of Orion having fun.</div>
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<br />Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-43930410765168241832016-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:002016-09-19T15:17:06.797-07:00What it is to be Me! A Book ReviewI've been collecting disability-related kids books lately. I reviewed a couple that I didn't like so much on <a href="http://abnormaldiversity.blogspot.ca/2016/09/hypocritical-education-about.html">my other blog</a> recently. Here, I'll review a book I've enjoyed a lot more - <i>What it is to be Me! </i>by Angela Wine.<br />
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Written by the mother of an autistic kid, this short, simple book features a boy named Danny explaining how Asperger's Syndrome affects him. The book discusses both common strengths and weaknesses of autism, and the ways that the same trait (eg hypersensitive hearing) can be both a talent and something that causes problems.<br />
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I'd say it's aimed at a young child, probably around 6 years or so, who knows absolutely nothing about autism/Asperger Syndrome. The language is simple and understandable for a fairly young child, and the art style is aimed at the same age range. It's a short book, about 13 pages long. If you're looking for an in-depth educational resource, this isn't it. This is a nice basic introduction to what it's like to be autistic.<br />
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My favorite bit is the very end, where Danny says that Asperger's makes him different, but also cool, and then says he's "proud to be an Asperger kid", because it makes him who he is.<br />
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The very last bit is a note from the author, talking about her son's diagnosis and how his self-esteem issues motivated her to explain his Asperger Syndrome to him. That conversation inspired her to write this book.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-73662510525473582712016-09-18T14:01:00.000-07:002016-09-18T14:01:00.146-07:00Happy World Down Syndrome Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This video was produced by a German Down Syndrome organization for World Down Syndrome day (March 19).</div>
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Just a bunch of people with Down Syndrome and their loved ones dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-40752825254603228152016-09-15T15:59:00.000-07:002016-09-15T15:59:00.464-07:00PrAACtical AAC and Speak for Yourself - AAC Therapy BlogsTwo of the best resources I've found for anyone looking to teach someone who needs AAC are <a href="http://praacticalaac.org/">PrAACtical AAC</a> (written by Robin and Carole) and the <a href="http://www.speakforyourself.org/">Speak for Yourself</a> website (written by Heidi and Renee). They both have lots of evidence-based advice on how to build true communication, and activities that are fun and easy to do to help an AAC user learn their devices.<div>
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What earns them a place on this site is that both sites are solidly committed to listening to AAC users and other disabled people. Heidi from Speak for Yourself has said that she writes reports about clients with the expectation that they could be reading them someday, and speaks about them with the assumption that they are listening. (Scroll to the bottom of <a href="http://www.speakforyourself.org/authenticaac/authentic-aac-fourth-final-week/">this post</a>.)</div>
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Robin from PrAACtical AAC (unfortunately, she's dead now) wrote <a href="http://praacticalaac.org/praactical/30-things-to-do-to-get-ready-for-autism-awareness-month/">30 Things to Do to Get Ready For Autism Awareness Month</a>, filling it with items that go beyond awareness to acceptance, including four items directly about self-advocates and a bunch of teaching techniques that make use of autistic strengths and build genuine communication.</div>
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Speaking of Autism Awareness Month, what did the Speak for Yourself staff do for it? They provided a <a href="http://www.speakforyourself.org/uncategorized/speak-aac-app-will-50-world-autism-awareness-day/">50% discount</a> on the AAC app they developed!</div>
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Carole from PrAACtical AAC discussed an <a href="http://praacticalaac.org/praactical/from-hoh-to-huh-physically-supporting-aac-learners/">alternative to hand-over-hand</a> prompting - hand-under-hand. It's more respectful, gives control to the learner, gives a learner with tactile sensitivity a buffer to touching a new object, and involves more active participation.</div>
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I could list more, but really, I just recommend checking out those two blogs.</div>
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Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-79561487339559231922016-09-14T20:54:00.000-07:002016-09-14T20:54:01.053-07:00Aidan's WheelchairAidan has a rare genetic condition known as PURA Syndrome. His mother blogs at <a href="http://familysynapse.com/">Family Synapse</a>.<br />
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This video documents his journey to getting a power wheelchair, and the joy and freedom it gives him.<br />
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I love his smile, and the way you can see his brain working.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-14612955404644606172016-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:002016-09-13T12:08:05.723-07:00Dear TeachersA message from learning disabled students to their teachers:<br />
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Clear advice, from some kids who know what they need and aren't ashamed to say it.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-16663768059714805452016-09-11T20:20:00.000-07:002016-09-11T20:20:06.018-07:00You Don't Have to TryAlissa Sizemore lost her leg a year before this video. She was a dancer before the accident, and for her first performance since, she chose a song full of meaning for her.<br />
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Be aware that this video is live, and there's a bit of cheering, so if you have auditory sensitivities you may want to turn the volume down until you know how loud it is.<br />
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<br />Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-72145136322319116432016-09-09T07:51:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:20:41.098-07:00Sesame Street and Autism: Siblings I featured the Sesame Street and Autism initiative in my <a href="https://positiveneurodiversity.blogspot.ca/2016/08/sesame-street-and-autism.html?m=1">first entry on this blog</a>. But I've decided to focus some more on other videos in the initiative.<br />
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In this post, I'm focusing on the sibling relationships featured on that initiative.<br />
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<b>Alyssa, Jazlyn and Yesenia</b><br />
These three sisters are featured in several videos. Yesenia is autistic and communicates through a few signs. In this video, her sisters explain how she communicates:<br />
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Alyssa, the eldest, explained autism to her classmates when she was 10. Also note the slogans behind her - I can see "autistic people are really good hard working people", a sign turning 'autism' into an acronym "Always Unique, Totally Interesting, Sometimes Mysterious", and another one saying "if you think I'm puzzling, imagine what the world is like for me".<br />
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This last video is a typical day for their family, narrated by Jazlyn, the middle child. Note the obvious affection for her sister, and the understanding she shows of how her sister feels and expresses emotions - both good and bad.<br />
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<b>Angelina, AJ and Garrett </b><br />
Angelina and her younger autistic twin brothers are featured in one video. AJ is learning to talk, and Garrett is using a tablet with what I'm guessing is Proloquo2Go, from the look of the icons. Garrett can also read at a first grade level, even though he's only four. (It's unclear from the video, but it sounds like AJ might be reading too?) I especially like how much fun they all seem to be having, and how proud Angelina is of her brothers. AJ also made me smile when he echoed Grover telling Angelina she has nice brothers - I know how great it feels to overhear someone complimenting you to a family member!<br />
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<br />Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-70501912298792566812016-09-07T17:00:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:19:45.431-07:00HAPPY Faces of...I came across this website first - <a href="http://www.happyfacesofautism.com/">HAPPY Faces of Autism</a><br />
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The point of the website is simple. They collect photos of happy autistic people. You can submit a happy face, or just enjoy looking at some happy faces. They even have a section for autistic people photographed with pets, and a section for autistic people making silly faces.</div>
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The woman who runs this website, Denise Schauder, has two dyslexic children. She started with a website called <a href="http://www.happyfacesofdyslexia.com/">HAPPY Faces of Dyslexia</a>. In response to requests from viewers, she has expanded the project to other conditions.</div>
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In addition to those two websites, I also found a Facebook page for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyfacesofadhd/photos?ref=page_internal">HAPPY Faces of ADHD</a>.</div>
Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-40467094407293152142016-09-06T18:34:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:18:38.384-07:00Jacob Barnett: Autistic Math ProdigyJacob Barnett, now 18 years old, became famous in his early teens as a math prodigy. He began auditing university classes when he was 8 years old, and formally enrolled at the age of 10.<br />
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At 13 years old, he gave this Ted Talk:</div>
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Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-67035206024589984282016-09-02T16:58:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:23:08.252-07:00AAC Family FridaysDana Nieder, from <a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/">Uncommon Sense</a>, is the mother of an AAC user named Maya, and a fairly well-known blogger in the AAC community. A couple years ago, she decided to do a series of posts called AAC Family Friday, featuring pictures of AAC users and supporters with their devices, because she knew Maya would like seeing those pictures.<br />
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Here's all the relevant posts I could find:<br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2014/09/aacfamily-friday.html">Introduction to AAC Family Friday</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2014/10/aacfamily-friday-week-1.html">October 3, 2014</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2014/10/aacfamily-friday-aac-users.html">October 17, 2014</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2014/10/aacfamily-friday-aac-users.html">October 31, 2014</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday_16.html">December 31, 2014</a><br />
<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/09/returning-in-3-days-aac-family-fridays.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/09/returning-in-3-days-aac-family-fridays.html">Re-introduction to AAC Family Friday</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday.html">October 2, 2015</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-week-2.html">October 9, 2015</a><br />
<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday_16.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday_16.html">October 16, 2015</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday_23.html">October 23, 2015</a><br />
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<a href="http://niederfamily.blogspot.ca/2015/10/aac-family-friday_30.html">October 30, 2015</a>Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-13966681374982390442016-09-01T16:39:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:16:13.880-07:00The Obsessive Joy Of AutismExcerpt from <a href="https://juststimming.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/the-obsessive-joy-of-autism/">Just Stimming</a>:<br />
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One of the things about autism is that a lot of things can make you terribly unhappy while barely affecting others. A lot of things are harder.</div>
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But some things? Some things are <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">so much easier</em>. Sometimes being autistic means that you get to be<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">incredibly happy</em>. And then you get to <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">flap</em>. You get to perseverate. You get to have just about the coolest obsessions. (Mine are: sudoku and <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glee</em>. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I am not ashamed</em>.)</div>
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Now, maybe you do not understand. Because “obsession” and even “perseveration” have specific dictionary and colloquial meanings which everyone uses and understands and which do not even come CLOSE to describing my relationship with whatever I’m obsessing on now. It’s not just that I am sitting in my room and my heart is racing and all I can think about is <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glee</em> and all I want to do is read about it and talk about it and never go to sleep because that would take time away from this and that has been my life for the past few days. It’s not just that I am doing sudokus in my head or that I find ways to talk about either numbers or <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glee</em>in any conversation, including ones about needing to give a student a sensory break so he’ll stop screaming and throwing things.</div>
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(It’s not just the association and pressure of shame, because when ever an autistic person gets autistically excited about something, there will be people there to shame and bully them, and some of us will internalize that shame and lock away our obsessions and believe the bullies and let them take away this unique, untranslatable <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">joy</em> and turn it into something dirty and battered.)</div>
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It’s not any of that. Those are all things neurotypicals can understand and process. This goes beyond that. It’s not anything recognized on the continuum of “normal”.</div>
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It’s that the experience is so <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rich</em>. It’s textured, vibrant, and layered. It exudes joy. It is a hug machine for my brain. It makes my heart pump faster and my mouth twitch back into a smile every few minutes. I feel like I’m sparkling. Every inch of me is totally engaged in and powered up by the obsession. Things are clear.</div>
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It is beautiful. It is perfect.</div>
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I flap a lot when I think about <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glee</em> or when I finish a sudoku puzzle. I make funny little sounds. I spin. I rock. I laugh. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I am happy. </em>Being autistic, to me, means a lot of different things, but one of the best things is that I can be <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">so happy</em>, <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">so enraptured</em> about things no one else understands and so wrapped up in my own joy that, not only does it not matter that no one else shares it, but it can become contagious.</div>
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This is the part about autism I can never explain. This is the part I never want to lose. <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">W</em><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ithout this part autism is not worth having</em>.</div>
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Neurotypical people pity autistics. I pity neurotypicals. I pity anyone who cannot feel the way that flapping your hands <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">just so</em> amplifies everything you feel and thrusts it up into the air. I pity anyone who doesn’t understand how beautiful the multiples of seven are, anyone who doesn’t get chills when a shadow falls <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">just so</em> across a solitaire game spread out on the table. I pity anyone who is so restrained by what is considered acceptable happiness that they will never understand when I say that sometimes being autistic in this world means walking through a crowd of silently miserable people and holding your happiness like a secret or a baby, letting it warm you as your mind runs on the familiar tracks of an obsession and lights your way through the day.</div>
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It takes a million different forms. A boy pacing by himself, flapping and humming and laughing. An “interest” or obsessions that is “age appropriate”—or maybe one that is not. A shake of the fingers in front of the eyes, a monologue, an echolaliated phrase. All of these things autistic people are supposed to be ashamed of and stop doing?<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> They are how we communicate our joy</em>.</div>
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If I could change three things about how the world sees autism, they would be these. That the world would see that we feel joy—sometimes a joy so intense and private and all-encompassing that it eclipses anything the world might feel. That the world would stop punishing us for our joy, stop grabbing flapping hands and eliminating interests that are not “age-appropriate”, stop shaming and gas-lighting us into believing that we are never, and can never be, happy. And that our joy would be valued in and of itself, seen as a necessary and<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">beautiful</em> part of our disability, pursued, and shared.</div>
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This is about the obsessive joy of autism. So I guess, if I’m trying to explain what an obsession (and, by necessity, obsessive joy) <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">means</em> to me as an autistic person, I can bring it back to the tired old image of a little professor cornering an unsuspecting passerby and lecturing them for half an hour. All too often this encounter is viewed through the terrified eyes of the unwillingly captive audience. I’d like to invite you to see through the eyes of the lecturer, who is not so much determined to force their knowledge into you as they are opened to a flood of joy which they cannot contain.</div>
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And why would you want to contain something like that?</div>
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Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3443612963187032984.post-53053404016113906362016-08-30T09:14:00.000-07:002016-09-11T12:14:27.386-07:00Welcome to the Autistic CommunityI just came across ASAN's Welcome to the Autistic Community pamphlets. These pamphlets (one for teenagers and one for adults) are intended to be read by newly-diagnosed autistic individuals, as an introduction to their disability and the autistic community.<br />
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And what a good introduction they are! They are accepting, discussing difficulties in a non-shaming and non-pathologizing manner, and they explain the social model of disability and the good sides of autism. And they do this all in simple language, so even if the reader has receptive language issues or an intellectual disability, they stand a good chance of understanding these pamphlets.<br />
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The pamphlets, along with many other resources, can be found in <a href="http://autisticadvocacy.org/home/resource-library/">ASAN's Resource Library</a>. If you want to go straight to the pamphlets themselves, the adolescent one is <a href="http://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WTTAC-Adolescent-FINAL-2.pdf">here</a> and the adult one is <a href="http://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WTTAC-Adult-FINAL-2.pdf">here</a>.Ettinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12391427859178500937noreply@blogger.com0