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Thanks to my friends at ASAN, AS Parenting is getting some exposure. I wanted to welcome those who happen to click links across “blogdom.” ASAN has been wonderfully inviting.
ASAN, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, is what it sounds like. Autistic people advocating for change. I first heard of the group during the 2008 political campaign. Many parents of autistic kids fired arrows at the president of ASAN, Ari Ne’eman, saying he didn’t know what it’s “really like.”
At the time, I was pretty new to the neurodiversity movement. While I agreed with the sentiment, I had a hard time defending his statements. I refound ASAN when I finally settled back down here in Texas. After having reconfirmed my Asperger’s diagnosis, I can say without a doubt, I know what it is to live in an alien world.
I do believe, no matter how naive it sounds, that we can live in harmony. Whether or not they can live in harmony with us, we need to try to understand them as much as we want them to understand us. More on these thoughts later.
If you would like to be included in writing for ASP, please e-mail me! I would love to include others thoughts and suggestions!
The Importance of Advocacy!
Written in 23-5-2009 by Melody | No Comments
With our move, I have come to realize one big truth about myself. I must advocate for my children and myself. While I still know people that live in the Dallas area, I am required to open myself up to more than those people. So far, I have been quite lucky with those that I’ve met.
School professionals? They have congratulated me on my knowledge, order and preparation. They like the initiative I’m taking to learn about my children’s education. All around, it has been an excellent experience. They are all quite aware that I have Asperger’s and have concluded that both boys do indeed qualify for an IEP under the diagnosis of Autism.
Rehabilitative professionals? They also have noticed my keen knowledge of the boys. Surprisingly, I have learned that most parents don’t get to know the ins and outs of their children like I have. I’m not sure why, but it comes natural for me to learn every aspect and keep up to date. There was no shock this week when my oldest, now 5, was evaluated at below a 3 year old level, and no shock that my youngest, now 4, was evaluated at about a 3 1/2 year old level. We have come to grips with this and do what we can do push them further. And once again, I have let them know that I have Asperger’s.
I have now come to my roadblock when it comes to success with advocacy. I am now trying to become part of a local mom’s group. Armed with my relatively new diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, I am doing what I can to advocate. I make sure to let people know about Autism Spectrum Disorders. I make them aware that my children are delayed for their age. What I seem to keep forgetting is advocating for myself. So today, I ran into my roadblock from opening my proverbial mouth. On the message board for this group, I chose words unwisely. I upset someone unintentionally. But I took that moment to explain myself when I had the opportunity. I invited the person to read more about social deficits with those Asperger’s people.
I usually don’t upset others, but I do know I make rude comments at times. This is not about making excuses though. This is a time for learning as well. Both from my side, on learning that certain comments are better left unsaid, and from the other side, that sometimes people don’t always intend to be mean.