Autism Women's Network

As Director of Networking (a fancy way of saying Forum Moderator), I present to you the Autism Women's Network, which has officially opened it’s website and Forum, as well as a twitter feed, Facebook group and BlogtalkRadio show (all available on the website).

Lately, we welcomed Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Liane Holliday Willey, and Ari Ne'eman to the Advisory board, and completed shows with Temple Grandin.

The mission of the Autism Women's Network is to provide effective supports to autistic females of all ages through a sense of community, advocacy and resources.

And some words in the "About" section, from the Executive Director, Sharon daVanport:

Greetings and welcome to the Autism Women’s Network. AWN is dedicated to building a community of autistic females, their families, friends, and supporters who have a place where they can share their experiences amongst a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment. Our website will always be viewable by non members; however, we ask that you take a moment to complete a simple registration in order to have full access to the site which includes: actively participating in the forum, and posting comments on articles. We invite you to take a look around and join us today.

Now, we're newly started, so not everything is completely sorted out. However, we welcome all people, autistic, non-autistic, male, female and the genderdiverse, to AWN, to support one another and provide a community dedicated to autistic women issues, as well as to just have fun.

I hope that the AWN will be a friendly place for everyone here.



(Disclosure: Corina Becker serves on the board of the Autism Women's Network)

Advocating

I'm looking into some information for my friend Robin on a situation that's happening with her little sister.

Her little sister is 6 years old and in grade 1, in a regular classroom in Catholic school. She was diagnosed as ("severe") Autism Disorder when she was a toddler, and in the past year, she was able to attend school regularly with an IEP and an EA (Educational Assistant, aka, a one-on-one aid). She got along well with that EA.

Sometime last year, the school was asking for more documentation of her diagnosis, even though the documentation that was provided the previous year was enough for her IEP. The school was needing the further documentation for her IEP, her EA and a special assistitive technology laptop.

The family got documentation from their family doctor and held meetings with the school, which resolved that particular issue.

However, this year, her sister no longer has the EA that she got along with so well, and has a new EA who doesn't seem to be actually helping the sister. She and the EA do not get along, and it has gotten to the point that she does not want to go to school.
The school, now, wants her to go to a different school, because they do not want to provide her with further help to find a different EA.

As it is, Robin's sister was working up to attending school full-time, but now her education plan as been completely disrupted. From what I can see, if the school gets its way, either Robin's sister remains with her dysfunctional EA and descends into meltdown and behavioural problems, or else is forced to start again in a different school, which, as you know, can be traumatic.


Now, the question is, is the school allowed to do this, and what can the family do?

Does anyone with knowledge of Canadian education laws know anything that we can do about this?

Please support Zakh

I want to stress this issue more. Zakh is an 11 year old autistic boy who is being charged with a felony for pushing and kicking two teachers who were attempting to restrain him as he was trying to calm down from a meltdown. The two teachers in question was, at the most, only bruised and did not need medical attention. Yet this boy is being threatened with being placed in a mental hospital that is not equipped to support autistic people, and even has caused Zakh to regress.

There is more information at http://zakhs.blogspot.com/

Please, spread the word about this to the media, and if you even have a few dollars to spare, please donate, as his grandmother is in need to funds for legal fees.

Bit delayed in posting this, but things have been a bit rough in the recovering from holidays period. Anyways, I received this email on FaceBook, and I decided that it's important to bring this issue to light.

I'm not going to say much, except that if you don't know about the case with Zakhqurey Price and what we're talking about here, please do a quick search to get caught up on the details.

From Ari Ne'eman of ASAN

Hello,

In the past, we've written to you about advocacy issues relating to the rights of adults and youth on the autism spectrum. Our voices have made a difference on all manner of policy concerns and have sent a clear message that those who seek to deprive Autistic people of any age of their rights will have our community to answer to. Now we'd like to ask you to help us take action to help protect an 11-year old Autistic boy in Arkansas named Zakhqurey Price, currently being charged with felony assault after fighting back when two staff members restrained him in response to behavioral challenges. The school has ignored repeated efforts from Zakh's grandmother over the course of the last five months to obtain needed IEP supports to improve his educational options and manage his behavioral difficulties.

According to the suspension notice, the restraint was in response to Zakh destroying school property - something beyond the scope of what would be allowed under recently introduced federal civil rights legislation around restraint and seclusion in schools. Disability advocates, including ASAN, are fighting to pass this crucial legislation that would broaden the protections available to students like Zakh as well as those with other disabilities and with no disability at all. We have asked for your help in passing this important legislation, and together we can succeed in bringing proposed civil rights protections into law - but not in time to help Zakh. That is why we need you to take action now. Find out how below:

School Principal:
Pam Siebenmorgan (One of the charging parties in Zakh's felony hearing - polite but firm calls and e-mails encouraging her to drop the charges would be helpful)
Phone: 479-646-0834
E-mail: psiebenm@fortsmithschools.org

School Superintendent:
Dr. Benny Gooden (The Superintendent runs the entire school district - polite but firm calls and e-mails communicating how this situation is damaging Fort Smith Public Schools' reputation would be helpful as well)
E-mail: bgooden@fortsmithschools.org
School Board Office: 1-479-785-2501 Ext. 1201

We recommend that you both e-mail and call if you can. If necessary, e-mail is the preferable option. If you would like your e-mails to be passed along to Zakh's grandmother, please bcc: info@autisticadvocacy.org. Please stress the importance of Fort Smith Public Schools taking the following steps:

-Drop the charges against Zakhqurey Price

-Work with his grandmother to put in place an IEP that will fulfill Zakh's right for a Free and Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment

-Improve training for school personnel to prevent future such incidents and to ensure that students on the autism spectrum as well as with other disabilities are included, supported and educated in Fort Smith Public Schools.

If Zakh is declared incompetent as part of the hearing scheduled for January 12th, state law requires that he be placed into a mental hospital for at least 30 days. Carole's grandmother fears that, due to the negative repercussions of being taken out of the community and being forced into an institutional setting, Zakh may lose skills in such an environment and not be returned to her indefinitely. That is why we need you to act now. Please distribute and repost this action alert. Thank you for your time and your advocacy, and as always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

Regards,
Ari Ne'eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
http://www.autisticadvocacy.org
info@autisticadvocacy.org
(202) 596-1056

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I know that I should be saying Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays, and get away with saying Happy New Year.

However, this is my holiday which I'd like to share the celebration. If you are celebrating a holiday, feel free to comment with your greeting. I know that Hanukkah is over, but better late than never?


Updates are going to be delayed right now, as the holidays are causing massive dysfunction in my ability to do things in general. I expect to be holed up in my room playing Kingdom Hearts, or trying not to fall on my ass skating, for quite a while.

Til then, have a good one!!


**Characters are from my comics the Lord of the Shepherd and Amhelaki Misadventures. Also, this image is available on DeviantArt

Youngest Autistic Nominee on National Council on Disability

Not too long ago I posted the Press Release from the White House announcing that Ari Ne'eman of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network has been nominated by President Obama to the National Council on Disability.

As a part of the NCD, Ari will be representing the neurodiversity perspective in advising the President, Congress and executive branch agencies

"to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society." (National Council on Disability website, main page)

If you haven't gathered from all the ruckus that's being made across the Internet, this is a big deal, for two reasons:

The first is that he is the first openly autistic appointee, breaking the unsaid barriers keeping autistic people from being a part of the decision process regarding, well, everything about our lives. This marks a major step in the inclusion of autistic people as a part of society, not just in terms of social inclusion, but also on the political and governmental level, and recognizes us as citizens of the countries we live in, with the rights, freedoms and responsibilities that being a citizen includes.

The second is that Ari is also the youngest appointee in the history of the United States, as being 22 years old, Ari is younger than the previous holder, Mike Lopez at the age of 24. However, while his critics are citing that his age makes him ineligible for his nomination, I would argue that age is not an indication of ability in this case.

Just looking at the UMBC, Newsweek Magazine and New York Magazine articles, Ari Ne'eman has been working in the cross-disability civil rights field for quite some time, and while he's not actively involved and outspoken about every issue (or at least, the media hasn't picked up on it), Ari still spearheads and pushes forward on many campaigns. In the very brief mini-bio that the White House produced:

"Ari Ne’eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, where he initiates and directs efforts to increase the representation of autistic individuals in public policy discussions. He is a leading advocate in the neurodiversity movement, frequently briefing policymakers and speaking publicly on disability and autism policy issues. Mr. Ne’eman also serves as Vice Chair of the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force, where he represents autistic adults in reviewing the state’s autism services. He also previously served on the New Jersey’s Special Education Review Commission, where he authored a minority report on the topic of aversives, restraint and seclusion. Mr. Ne’eman previously served as the Policy Workgroup Leader for the Youth Advisory Council to the National Council on Disability. He is a board member of TASH and the Autism National Committee. In 2008, he received the HSC Foundation “Advocates in Disability” Award. Mr. Ne’eman is currently an undergraduate at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County where he studies political science and expects to graduate in May 2010. In 2000, Mr. Ne’eman was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder."
(Press Release, Office of the Press Secretary, 16 December 2009)

I'm going to forgive the White House for the slight slip with the "neurodiversity movement", since we're not an organized movement, per say, but we are a thought movement. We agree, more or less, with the same flow of thought that we seek to advocate in our daily actions and lives. However, I have to point it out that we are not an organization, because somewhere out there, some one is thinking that this is a part of some grand evil plot towards world domination, or something. Right, because we renounce autism as a tragedy to be avoided and cured, and want all autistic people to have equal civil rights and access to accommodations and supports, is part of a conspiracy...

Anyways, ending tangent there and moving right along.

The point is, we have a very experienced young man (younger than me, too) being nominated into a position that allows him (as well as other disability rights advocates) the ability to give advice and input directly to the President, Congress and other executive branches, a young man who is dedicated to promoting the human rights of all autistic people across the spectrum and works continually for this cause.

Yet, because he doesn't see autism and disabilities as an automatically negative element, but instead as a person's difference that can result in unique challenges and difficulties in a setting that is ill-suited to accommodate and support individuals, there are groups out there who would rather Ari not be a member of the NCD. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement; they are venomously against Ari and the neurodiversity movement of thought.

But of course, for returning readers of this blog, this really should not be a surprise. And of course, these people are exercising their right of free speech and protestation to encourage people to write to their Senators, stating that they are against Ari.


Now, this is up to each of you, but I would people who support Ari, even marginally, to contact their Senators and give them a balanced view on this, in that there are members of the autistic and cross-disability community who support Ari. Being that I'm Canadian, I don't really have a Senator to contact, but Nicocoer has provided me with some excellent resources to get in touch with Congress here , the various U.S. Senators here, and even President Obama at the White House.

And since the form on the White House site allows for people outside of the US to submit messages, here is mine:

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to let you know how much I am very pleased and delighted in your nomination of Ari Ne'eman to the National Council on Disability.

As an autistic self-advocate myself, I have always admired Ari for his dedication to promote the causes of the Cross-disability community and the best interests of all autistic people in the United States.

It heartens me to see the United States take such a progressive step towards including and accepting autistic people as citizens involved with the nations, and I hope that the rest of the world takes notice and learns.

On behalf of myself and other like-minded autistic individuals, I would like to thank you for including our voice in issues that concern us.

Yours truly,
Corina

.

B-Calm Sounds Review

If any of you wander over to my profile page here, you will see that I identify myself as being ADHD as well as on the Spectrum. So, I have problems with concentration and paying attention, alternatively randomly wandering off and hyper-focusing, and problems with some sensory issues. I may not be as sensitive as others on the spectrum, but I have my days where the smallest thing can distract me beyond reason and I get nothing done (batteries and spoons). Of course, this doesn't help my anxiety issues.

So I was really interested in B-Calm Sound when they were on the AWA Radio Show not too long ago. Okay, I'll admit it; I was skeptical. I've been in and out of anxiety therapy for a couple of years and for the most part, I've picked up a couple of breathing exercises, relaxation guides and alternating medications. I've also tried those nifty relaxation music tapes; I tended to turn them off since they were being the sensory aggravation. So you can understand I was initially skeptical about their AudioSedation tracks.

However, I was willing to give them a try. I browsed the site, looked over the sample clips, and asked about the "running shower" track that I heard about on the AWA show. I was interested in this particular track because I know from experience that I concentrate better while sitting in the bathroom with the shower going. However, it's not released yet, but lucky me, I get to review an advance copy. Woot!

So here goes:

My Review on B-Calm Sounds Running Shower as an Autistic and ADHD Adult

Since I'm taking courses, I decided to try the track out when working on my course work. So for a few days I listened while not taking my medication, and while I was taking my medication. Now, this is probably because of the difference between shower heads. I'm used to a stronger water flow, from both the shower and the faucet.
I'll also notice that during my initial testing period, I was going through a major mental block, so my concentration and attention, not to mention "functionality" was severely impaired, even on medication.

Description

The track is of a gentle, continuously running shower. When I put it on and started listing to it, I began to feel relaxed and more at ease. Actually, to be honest, when playing it at night, I started to feel sleepy.
I'll also note that the track acts as a filter more than a wall of sound. While the volume setting affects this, in general, I was able to listen to my parents, hear the dryer go off downstairs, and hear the doorbell while listening to the track. A slight side effect of it at this filter-type volume is that I would often think that it was raining outside.
Of course, that's if a person wants to use it that way. It's also very pleasant as a complete sound block.

Anxiety

So during my initial testing, which I gave feedback to B-Calm, I found that my anxiety was noticeably decreased, both with and without my medications. Now, it didn't completely eliminate the anxiety, but it did help me to relax, take a deep breath and keep things under control.

Concentration

I found that, other than relaxing me, the track did not do much for my concentration during my initial testing period. This may have been because of what I noted above, that I was going through a mental block. Also, as I continued to test out the track outside of the mental block, because of the type of work that I was doing while listening to it.

What I discovered was that as a concentration aid, the track had very little effects (both on and off medications) when I was doing work, such as writing assignments, articles, doing research and exercises. For that, it was useful for reducing and managing anxiety, but I saw no noticeable difference in my concentration.

However, I saw results when I started listening to the track when doing course readings and going through my lecture notes. It wasn't as strong as when I sit in the bathroom, listening to the tap in the bath running, but I could read and understand the materials easier. I saw a definite improvement to my concentration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would say that the track is very promising, as an anxiety reduction aid and selectively to help concentration, even by way of reducing stress. I think that there can be some improvements, such as a stronger "water flow" that would produce greater results, at least in myself, but as is, the track does act as a filter for stressing sounds and reducing anxiety. Personally, I am very pleased at the results that I have had with the track.



A note of caution for my readers, I would not recommend using this instead of medications or other treatments for anxiety. This is just a tool to help, not completely remove, and this is my opinion as an individual.