: Re: Infantilizing Autism - it's not looking good for adults with AS

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Helen. This will be a long post (longer than what I typically

write), so might consider getting a bucket of popcorn before reading.

I've been unemployed since the middle of August this year. I feel as if things

are starting to cave in on me a little bit, so I have chosen to put the writing

letters to autism orgs aside until things get better for me. I was to have

written an article for this one online autiam newsletter but haven't gotten

around to it yet. My job search is priority number one. I am fully aware what

the statistics are for people who are unemployed and with with various forms of

autism.

However, this job search is entirely unlike any other I have taken to date. I

have been through " What Color Is Your Parachute? " 2012 edition - which suggested

I should be a grant writer, business planner, etc. (after doing my research).

Other people have suggested that I become a paralegal, etc. since my

transferable skills could work well in a paralegal position.

I went through Temple Grandin and Kate Duffy's book " Developing Talents: Careers

for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism " and Rudy

Simone's book,, " Asperger's On The Job " to give me insight.

On Thursday last week, I went to see a vocational specialist through the Office

of Vocational Rehabilition in the State of Georgia. I spoke with the specialist

for four hours, as spent the entire time coming up with a profile of me to give

to my VR counselor.

I told him, " I can't wait to read what you tell my VR counselor. " He was like,

" You already know some of what I will be telling your counselor. " I was like

" huh? " and then reflected upon my conversation with him. He challenged me to

think what I wanted to do that I would have so much passion for that I could be

excited each morning just wanting to do whatever.

But also something that could make me a lot of money. I thought about what I am

doing now with the CAC, Inc. as its treasurer. Because the CAC, Inc. is a new

501©3 (non-profit status, in which all donations made to an organization like

the CAC are fully tax deductible), I devised a new chart of accounts and much

more.

One of the things he told me was about brushing up on my accounting skills, then

market my associate's degree (even though I have bachelor's and master's

degrees) I received in accounting a long way back to become a bookkeeper for a

company. In Grandin and Duffy's book, accounting is listed as one of the best

jobs for an Aspie to have because it is " well suited for people who are good

with numbers and facts " - which describes me.

I've done my best with the networking stuff and making new contacts, although

not always the easiest for me. I've also had to set aside a few other things I

have wanted to do as well during this time. Once my employment situation is

resolved, I can get those few other things done.

Supposedly, autism will cost American taxpayers $23 billion ($23,000,000,000) in

I forgot how many years to come, as children with autism become young adults and

enter into their adults years. With the lack of resources for adults with

various forms of autism (including HFA/PDD-NOS), this could have dire problems

on the economy in the USA (but everyone's saying that about the economy in

different ways).

Yes, they don't need to vanish when reaching majority. VR and organizations like

The Autism Society (Autism Socity of America), Autism Speaks, and other state

and national orgs here in the States can't be the only ones to help others with

various forms of autism. This is something that will require a " grassroots

strategy " in local cities and municipalities all around the world everywhere.

And that's happening, but there will need to be much more of it as an increasing

number of people are diagnosed with AS and other forms of autism.

Recently, President Obama here signed into law the renewal of the Combating

Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA). The act provides three more years of

education, research funding, and training. That's all nice, but it doesn't

address the local needs for those with various forms of autism. That's where

addressing the issue locally comes into play, with things I'm trying to

accomplish here.

The situation with local support services here was rather interesting, from the

standpoint of how people thought the TEAM Center closed (when it was open the

entire time, just that Clinical Services closed) due to several people deciding

to use a Facebook page to misinform people all kinds of things that didn't make

sense. I'm sad to say that I bought into the hype initially. The FB page has

since been closed.

Since then, the CAC Inc. became its own 501©3. I am now the treasurer of the

CAC. It's an unpaid position (which people have told me, " We hope to pay you

someday for everything you're doing, but can't at this current time due to lack

of funding " ). It will take time for the CAC build-up of finances to the point

where Clinical Services/Outpatient Services can be established. Will be a lot

of fundraising.

I have given myself until June 30, 2012, to help get things up and going for the

CAC, then I may consider resigning. The CAC seriously needs to look at funding

a bookkepper/accountant type of position, eventually, as the CAC becomes bigger.

As for Greater Chattanooga Aspies (my org), another GCA meeting and GCA Advisory

Board meeting are coming up next week. The GCA meeting topic in October is of

all things, employment. Being the executive director of the GCA has its

advantages - one of which this year is to plan the topics. Employment couldn't

have come at a better time for me, personally. I know that others at the

meeting will benefit from listening to the topic.

You wrote about my being one of the " bright lights " in the Aspires community,

Helen. Thanks for the comment, as it is appreciated greatly. I haven't been on

a radio show since those two times, due to the lack in number of talk radio

shows in the Chattanooga area. When my employment situation is resolved, I can

get back to more writing and things involved with what I call here in

Chattanooga - " The Adult AS/HFA/PDD-NOS Movement " .

Lastly, the CAC decided to adopt an adult track for its 2013 annual autism

conference. This made me excited, because I know the one track will morph

itself eventually into a conference on adult autism (which is one of my goals).

It will be a conference on adults and adults only with various forms of autism.

At the very least, I see it as a regionally-based conference with CEU credits

available to those who need them. I dare to dream, so why not have it be a

national conference or something even bigger?

Thanks for letting me voice my opinions.

>

> Hi ,

> has added this article to the ASPIRES website.

>

> You had also mentioned that you intended to write letters to autism

organizations in regards to the imbalance in the representation of autistic

adults versus children, in autism awareness and fundraising advertising. How is

that going?

>

> I equate this imbalance in both the advertising and services provided for

those with adult autism, with the " cancer industry, " which draws in big dollars

for research, and their fundraing ads that portray child cancer survivors.

However, though this does not get much media attention, adult cancer survivors,

though " cured, " often have a changed quality of life, and discover

rehabilitation and support services for daily living are very limited.

>

> Similar to cancer, we do need more research to find out why autism is so

severe in some. However, the needs of autistic adults, who require diagnostic or

vocational rehabilitation services have to be met, too. Autistic children become

autistic adults. They don't just vanish when they reach the age of majority.

>

> We hope that things are going well in your own support community. I recall

that funding was being reduced or cut from local support services for children

and adults. Are you able to give us an update on that yet?

>

> , you are one of the " bright lights " in " our " community, I still talk

about your radio show with , you represented us all so well.

> - Helen