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WrongPlanet NEW ZEALAND members - Please join us:
posted at 09:25 pm on 03-12-2009
WrongPlanet NEW ZEALAND members - Please join us:
We invite you to take part with the FIRST ANNUAL “WALK 4 AUTISM AWARENESS in NZ”. The Fun Run/Walk will be at Hagley Park, Christchurch (South Island) May 3rd, 2009 starting at 9.30am. For an event of such magnitude to succeed, the participation of the entire community is needed, so we truly would appreciate your support.
If you would like to be involved further, forming a team to walk in the event, please email me for a registration form nzalyson@yahoo.co.nz. You can also help us by forwarding this post (copy and paste into an email) and email to as many contacts in NZ as you can, as to make a real difference its important we all come together on this, you do not need to be on the autism spectrum just want to know, raise awareness or know someone....
As this is a community event we are giving back to ALL Schools in NZ (incl. pre-schools) 50% of the registration fee as long as they include their School on the registration form at the time they register.
We would fully appreciate your support on the day, if you wish to discuss any think else or for further involvement can please email me here, above email or ask questions in this thread (below)
Fun run/walk website Autism NZ details:
http://www.autismnz.org.nz/branch.php?id=12#Fun
Cheers Alyson Bradley
AsPlanet.info http://www.asplanet.info/
On behalf of Run / Walk 4 Autism Awareness
Autism NZ Canterbury Branch Sub-Committee of
Autism New Zealand Inc - CC21220 – is a registered
charitable entity in terms of the Charities Act 2005
Of course anyone wanted to support or help fund this event world wide welcome to contact me.
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Interview with Donna Williams enjoy
posted at 09:24 pm on 03-12-2009
Interview with Donna Williams enjoy - I personnally always find her very insightful:
http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2009/03/11/delving-into-the-everyday-heaven-of-donna-williams/
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"Believe in your self, we are who we are - as it can feel like an endless task trying to be someone else!" Aspergers Parallel Planet web site - http://asplanet.info/index.php
(Comments)
Interview:Elesia Ashkenazy is Asperger’s autistic, as well as profoundly deaf.
posted at 09:23 pm on 03-12-2009
Hi everyone, I thought you may enjoy this recent interview, she also interviewed me, link below. - ASD on line interview March 2009
A. Here's my bio: Elesia Ashkenazy is Asperger’s autistic, as well as profoundly deaf. She is fluent in American Sign Language and is also a cochlear implant recipient. Elesia is the mother of an autistic son and has several extended family members who are on the autism spectrum.
Elesia is doing her part to promote a better understanding of the needs of autistics in the here and now.
Currently, Elesia is co-directing Portland Autistic Self Advocacy Network (PDX ASAN) in Portland, Oregon. She is also a community board member of Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research and Education (AASPIRE). Elesia has a B.A. degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences and is also a licensed Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA).
Elesia's special interests are autism, classical ballet, metaphysics, public speaking, and writing.
B. Here is my blog to inlcude:
http://aspitude.blogspot.com/
C. 10 Questions Answered by Elesia:
1. How did you first come to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorders?
I've been in touch with autism for quite some time. As a teenager, I worked as a nanny for one-year old twin boys who are on the autism spectrum. They happened to be diagnosed about a year after I began taking care of them. I was very close to both boys and felt I understood them well.
In college, I began having a lot of struggles. I spent much more time on homework than the average person and was often stressed out about not understanding the complex and convoluted information in my classes (my major was Speech & Hearing Sciences). Tests were a nightmare, as I never felt I had a enough time to process the questions so that I could produce intelligent answers. I finally went in to see the school psychologist in hopes of being approved for extended testing time. I ended up not only receiving extended testing time, but also receiving a referral to a psychologist who specializes in diagnosing Asperger’s.
I never followed through with the referral, as I was happy to just have extended testing time. Besides, the word "Asperger’s" is weird. Years later, after my youngest son (of two) was diagnosed as being on the spectrum, I went in and received my diagnosis as well.
2. Have you been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder? If yes, how and where?
I was diagnosed in Portland, Oregon by a neuropsychologist. It took about two months between testing and appointments.
3. Do you feel that people with Asperger’s Syndrome are unfairly treated?
All people are unfairly treated at times. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are often even more likely to be mistreated. Have I been unfairly treated? Yes. So far, I think it's due to my direct personality. It rubs some people the wrong way. On the other hand, I've been mistreated several times in direct relation to my deafness. Some people have a hard time with what is strikingly different. Sadly, I've faced the most discrimination from the very people who are supposed to be either working with me or helping me--instructors, co-workers, and employers.
4. Do you think that Asperger’s Syndrome should be classified as a mental disorder, learning disability, or what?
Autism Spectrum Disorders are neurologically based.
5. What services are available for people with Asperger’s where you live?
There are on line, as well as in-person, support groups. Two examples are the Portland Asperger's Network and the Portland Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
There is the Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation, though they are unfortunately no longer accepting new clients.
For infants and school-aged children there are educational service district's offering services in each county. The quality of services varies from county to county.
As for diagnosis, there are a few competent therapists who are well-versed in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders. Also, two of the leading hospitals here in Oregon have diagnostic teams and centers set up for ASD diagnosis, however, the wait lists are long.
There are plenty of naturopathic doctors here for parents who prefer that route.
There is an Autism Society of Oregon. It is strongly cure-focused.
There are two schools that solely cater to young children on the spectrum.
There is a public lending center, within a hospital, that stocks autism-related publications and media.
Plus there are a few summer camps and programs for children on the spectrum.
Services for autistic adults, however, are greatly lacking.
6. What support and help are you currently receiving?
I am receiving services from Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation for specialized job training in my field.
7. What do you find most positive about people with Asperger’s Syndrome?
Our ability to think outside of the box!
8. What do you see as the negative effects of Asperger’s Syndrome?
There should be no negative effects when a person on the spectrum is having all of his or her needs met (appropriate and meaningful education, accommodations, integration and acceptance, opportunity, and legal protection). Co-morbid conditions to Asperger’s are a separate entity.
9. Do you feel you can discuss Asperger’s with friends and family?
To an extent. My closest relatives and friends are able to understand me better now that they know. I have had some close candid discussions with the nearest and dearest. Fortunately, I have not experienced any disbelief or anything like that, as some of my idiosyncrasies are quite pronounced. I feel that disclosing my Asperger’s has only put things into perspective. I have not, however, told more distant family members.
I am currently editing a memoir. I would rather my *leftover* family members and friends find out through reading my memoir. There would be less to explain, as the more distant relatives and friends of mine are acquainted with my outside "mask" and not my real self.
10. Are any of your family members or friends also on the Autistic Spectrum?
I strongly suspect that one of my parents is on the spectrum. I am being vague out of respect for privacy. My youngest son, of two, is autistic. I also have a cousin in France who is autistic.
My nephew, from my husband's side is Asperger’s autistic. Most of the family strongly suspects one of my husband's brothers is Asperger’s autistic, plus an uncle who has passed.
Additional comment:
Alyson, I am really weird about my answers being changed around or accidentally misspelled. I just thought I would let you know in advance so that when this is posted, you don't have to worry about receiving an email from me asking for corrections to be made. Smiles, and best wishes. Thank you for the interview.
My reply:
Reason I also put this comment in, as a reminder those of us on the autism spectrum often we have a need to get things right, so any injustice we will fight for. With me I am also a perfectionist, which is not easy as one of my neurological differences is dyslexia, so every time I find a mistake I have made, it’s like an urgent need to correct, so running my own web site / forum sometimes can make life difficult. Others sometimes perceive us as fussy, pushy but I feel a good attribute to want to do a good job and / or simply to want to get things right!
Autism Interviews Alyson Bradley by Elesia Ashkenazy
http://aspitude.blogspot.com/search/label/alyson%20bradley
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"Believe in your self, we are who we are - as it can feel like an endless task trying to be someone else!" Aspergers Parallel Planet web site - http://asplanet.info/index.php
(Comments)
Where you can find me...
posted at 08:39 pm on 11-12-2007
Here of course or at ASPERGERS PARALLEL PLANET - NZ Based (World Wide Web) http://asplanet.info/index.php where I'm trying to unite the world and educate the planet.
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The Future looks bright:
From when you are born society dictates how you act and think to a degree. So having Aspergers and not knowing when growing up, to me was always like I had some dark shadow over my shoulder, close behind effecting my every move, and no clue why.
Now I know I have Aspergers, it feels like a part of my life was stolen from me.
My mother was also taken from me, not being able to be a real mother. She
was so misunderstood, miss diagnosed so many times, she always felt like she never belonged and consequent of this, she was never happy in this world.
My mother died last August 2006 and this is a paragraph from the service reading that I wrote just after she died, not knowing she had Aspergers then:
"I feel a dark sadness and at the same time joy & peacefulness. To me my mother seem to have sadness around her, like a lost child – she so often seem
to be isolated in her own world, who knows maybe it was a better place. Let’s hope now she can find true inner peace on her new journey, and comfort as her ashes rise into the light, like a trapped angel who is set free".
My mother was never diagnosed with Aspergers unlike me, she never knew
and now never will. But after she died I started questioning things, which lead me to discover so much more. If I can help just a few people, to feel and be their true selves, then that’s all that matters. That’s what my web site is all about and to help raise awareness and understanding for everyone.
I was lost as a child and have now found my true self, the real me.
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