Did the Statehouse thing

[Guest guest]

Hello all

As I had posted I went with a group called Mass Families Organizing

for Change or MFOFC. They are 1 of the only 2 family statewide groups

with a base of 3000 people. Their platform is to back a piece of

legislation called 171 fexible family supports for children and

families of special needs children. This is not limited to AS and ASD

but also includes Down's syndrome Rhett's and Bi-Polar disorder as

well as Deaf and Blind(when it results in an additional learning delay)

So in effect any condition that results in a difficulty of function.

That being said the day was a bit fluffy, not a rally but an

introduction of government process, as well as the opportunity to

bring information to our Reps and Senators. The group takes families

and helps groom them to self advocate and then be able to group

advocate for the needs of children and adults with function

difficulities. One of the members seeks to close institions where

people with delays are sequestered, never seeing the community they

live in and are entomed into a " medical instution " where they are

maltreated and all choice is removed from them. There is no

possibility of employment or even relationship development. The group

encourage parents to empower themselves and their community by

bringing about systems change.

That is the back story. The people are genuine and I have learned a

lot. I came into the series thinking they were nuts and I was way to

busy with my own child to help anyone including myself. In the world

there are so many times when we especially we (AS adults, whom weren't

given diagnosis when we were young) of being told no, of being

excluded, of being made to feel less than and inferior. It has taken

a lot for me to even feel like I might have something important to

add. As a teenager i felt noone ever heard me invisible and as A

result I like my invisability because it did something else, it

reduced the # of times I could be put on the spot made fun of and

hurt. I very much snuck in and out of situations, was never

photographed at any school event or yearbook, and proud of it. I

because of my own fear pain and abuse created my own prision it was

for protection and I was happy to live there. As a parent of a young

child my idea has changed. I don't want to imprision him, he seems to

like people. I don't want to pass on a legacy of don't bother or why

try. I want to educate and support him. as well as advocate for

understanding from the people whom come into his life. For an AS

adult it is a bit of a nightmare, and I require recovery time but I

won't and can't stop. I choose my situations cautiously but when

something is of vital importance I go, I make phone calls and I try to

get people to do the thing I have avoided for years (hear and see me)

I am grateful for this place as well. FAM has been part of my

healing, every experience (i am going to be 38)ARGGGGG. since my ex

left us has been a reassesment of where and how misunderstanding of me

by society and society of me resulted in my choice to self imprision.

I don't plan to leave FAM but wanted to say a thank-you, everything is

ongoing but we get our confidence beaten and we discount our gifts,

and they remain silent and dorment and the society that helped it to

occur suffers by our silence. I won't say that it isn't a process.

Like Tom has said Healing takes time, and unfortunately work and false

roads and successful ones. This is a successful one. Thanks everyone

for helping lead me into the light, and especially to TOM for

believing enough in doing a thing right, and being cautious and

protective. Healing requires consideration, usually from someone whom

has experienced inconsideration first hand. mimi