Smile BIG

They say it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.  This simple idea can be related to the following concept. 

It takes more of your energy to hate and work toward “combatting” something that is a central part of what makes me, me, than is does to accept me as I am.  Helping people is easier than working to get rid of us.  What we Autistics really need is access to services and supports not more work done to try and eradicate us or make us just like you, under the guise of “research”.  We are part of the human fabric and always have been, therefore always will be.  Why fear and hate us when all you need to do is help and encourage us to be the best we can be, we should be given the supports to do so.  We have just as much right as anyone else to be the best we can be.  Too much focus has been on Autistic children, “the epidemic”, and “the upcoming onslaught of Autistic adults”…ummm what about we Autistics adults who are already here and struggling, we deserve to have better lives too.  I am an out Autistic adult, well beyond 22 years of age, past “the transition age” as the would-be allies keep trying to address, but what about those of us after 22?  Do Autistic adults just vanish after they turn 22 years of age because we are no longer in schools and therefore not in the statistics?  Of course we do not disappear, we are still here, we are just as human as you are, we live on and struggle more so than you ever will due to a lack of access to much needed supports, services, etc.  Supports and services for all Autistics are essential for us to be contributing members of society and to be fully integrated.  All Autistics verbal or nonverbal deserve a chance to thrive. 

Why spend more time frowning, in the case of the Combatting Autism Act fighting us and our Autism, instead use your energy and resources to embrace our differences and work with us on our terms to help us to reach our full potentials.  Revise the CAA to incorporate the voices and needs of Autistic people, the very people it should be helping, otherwise get rid of it.

Do something positive and smile, help us.  The bigger the smile the more happy people it will reach and isn't that what helping others does, for you and for me!  :) 

Promising time for the ABLE Act!

This just might be THE year for the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act!   If you have followed this blog for some time you have read my pleas for you to contact your Senators and Congressmen about it, I have even handed out fliers about it at demonstrations I organize each year.  I thank you for your continued support, this is an important piece of legislation for all disabled people!

Congress Eyeing Tax-Free Disability Savings Accounts

February 21, 2014, By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop

 

With significant public backing and support in Congress, advocates say federal lawmakers are poised to consider a major change to the money-saving abilities of those with disabilities.

Just one hurdle remains before Congress is expected to take up the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act.

The bill — which has lingered since at least 2009 — would establish special accounts to allow people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 without risking their eligibility for benefits like Social Security. What’s more, under the plan, individuals could retain Medicaid no matter how much is deposited.

But before Congress can move forward, lawmakers are waiting for the Congressional Budget Office to weigh in with an estimate of what the bill would cost the government if it’s implemented. Once that figure is released — which could happen any day now — Congress is expected to act swiftly with advocates hoping for a floor vote in early spring.

“The ABLE Act is a must-pass piece of legislation for this Congress,” said U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who is a member of the House leadership and a co-sponsor of the bill, in a statement to Disability Scoop.

Modeled after the popular 529 college savings plans, the ABLE Act would allow individuals with disabilities to open a special account at any financial institution to pay for education, health care, transportation, housing and other expenses. Interest earned on savings within the accounts would be tax-free.

The bill is backed by nearly every national disability advocacy group and has 63 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and 332 in the U.S. House of Representatives representing both political parties. An online petition (http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-house-of-representatives-pass-the-able-act) favoring the act has generated more than 230,000 signatures.

“The fact that only six bills in all of Congress have this many co-sponsors is a sign of the overwhelming support for this effort to make a major difference in the lives of these families,” the measure’s chief sponsor, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said in December.

Advocates say it’s about more than just money for those with disabilities and their families. At present, individuals often cannot have more than $2,000 at any given time without forfeiting government benefits. As a result, many people with disabilities decline to seek out paid employment simply because they don’t want to risk losing access to Medicaid and other programs.

“It’s really about self-determination,” said Sara Weir, vice president of the National Down Syndrome Society.

If the ABLE Act passes, Weir said, “individuals can go out and get a job and pay for their own expenses and not be so dependent on the federal government for everything.”

 

Of Love and Fear

In the following post I have used red to symbolize all things positive and red is associated with love.  The color black is commonly associated with fear and hate, as it will be now, this is not simple text, but a statement of the loathing and distain I feel for Autism Speaks and all of their horrible rhetoric at the expense of me and all the members of my community.

For the Love Not Fear Flash Blog 

Of Love and Fear

 

To be wrapped in a warm embrace, the kind that envelops you with strength of purpose pressing all of your worries and fear away.

 

To be made to cower when something horrible appears out of the mist like a wraith, paralyzed with fear, chilled with sweat shivering in a darkened corner.

 

To let the sun warm your face, eyes closed as you stand in the front yard and listen to the birds.  This warmth moves down to your core and hugs you from within.

 

To fall through the ice of a frozen lake, the chilling water freezing you down to the core, terror running through your mind as you try to get out, you cry out, but no one hears, the loneliness deepens fear.

 

Knowing that you are truly not alone, no matter how hard things seem and overwhelming, that you do not have to run and hide, that even via the written word sent across the net a virtual hug can be shared between two souls and the light of hope and love can warm you from within.  This is what Autistic Community means, to never be alone again when one needs another, with the click of a mouse you are there.

 

Love is what we need not fear, no matter how hard you push your hate and fear laced propaganda out against us, the harder we will push back with love.  Acceptance is LOVE.  Love beats fear every time, remember that.

Final thoughts for 2013.

On this the last day of 2013 thoughts usually turn to tasks not accomplished and new memories made.  Instead of bringing those to mind I wish to instead bring to your thoughts and therefore minds to the fact that more Autistics, children and adults, were murdered at the hands of their caregivers and parents this year.  A number of Autistic bloggers and allies have listed them already, I have mentioned a few over the course of the year, I shan’t do that now, if you wish to learn the victims’ names and personally memorialize them in your own way, you need only do a web search and they will appear.  I hope that by bringing this topic to the foreground that you will make a pledge to work even harder in 2014 toward the goal of Autism Acceptance so that atrocities such as these and numerous others perpetrated on the Autistic Community do not continue in the next year, that 2013 is the last year that innocent Autistics will die at the hands of those who were meant to protect them. 

 

 

My hope is that those of you who are still searching for how to “fix” or “cure” your Autistic selves or your Autistic loved ones will turn away from finding “fixes” and “cures” for Autistic differences and instead embrace them as a natural part of the human fabric, in time we as a society and as a world will truly welcome Autistics.  We do not need to search from without for change, what is needed is a search within ourselves, this will lead to a place of Acceptance that we can share with those around us, no Autistic will then be set apart living out their lives in institutions, afraid to be their true Autistic selves for fear of reprisals, etc., etc.  To make a future world where the rocking or hand-flapping of an Autistic adult won’t seem out of place or odd, but rather common place, where Autistic adults will not be seen as crazy or as a nuisance but as a contributing part of society, whether we be verbal or nonverbal, but to instead be given a chance to express ourselves in any way that works for us and not be made to conform to any outward standard.  We are not burdens, we are not “broken” or “damaged”, for good or ill we are just what we are meant to be and our community is growing bigger every day and that is exciting!  To know that I am not alone, but instead part of a greater community is a terrific feeling!

 

 

We as a society need to work together in order for there to be Acceptance of Autistics of all ages, not just one group or one person can make this come about; instead we must work together toward this common goal.  This is an important and great goal. 

Make 2014 the year that you in your own part of the world, your country, your neighborhood, or even within your family or group of friends make the Acceptance of Autistics a top priority and a pledge to not support groups, people, etc. who do not support Autistics.  The phrase “If you have met one Autistic, you have met one Autistic” comes to mind, we are all unique and all have something to offer to the world from a brilliant discovery to a smile, we just need to be given the chance to do it.
 

Make 2014 the year for Acceptance!

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2014 

from the Autism Acceptance Digest.

 

Justice For Issy Stapleton!

 

Justice for Issy Stapleton!  She is part of the Autistic Community, my community, and is just as important as any other person.  Many of us blogged and tweeted about her plight as I did when this attempted murder occurred.  We Autistics are not expendable, nor are we burdens on society, etc. as Autism Speaks would like everyone to believe, we are human and unique just like everyone else and deserve a chance to live.  The fact that her mother is being brought to justice is great, I can only hope that this becomes the norm.  Killing an Autistic child or Autistic adult is not a "mercy-killing" it is just plain murder.  Murder is murder, no amount of sugar-coating or spin in the media can change that!  Murderers need to be arrested and brought to trial for their crimes.  Justice for Issy Stapleton!

*********************

Hearing set for mom charged with attempted murder of Autistic daughter

December 19, 2013, NBC25 Newsroom

BEULAH (AP) -- A state psychologist says a northern Michigan mother charged with attempted murder in the carbon monoxide poisoning of her Autistic 14-year-old daughter (Issy Stapleton) is competent to stand trial.

Kelli Stapleton's defense requested the review by the state forensic center. Defense lawyer Heidi Hodek tells the Traverse City Record-Eagle she didn't find the result surprising, based on her conversations with Stapleton.

A judge is to review the findings Thursday afternoon in Benzie County District Court in Beulah.

Stapleton and her daughter, Isabelle, were found unconscious Sept. 3 in the family's van in Blaine Township in what authorities described as an attempted murder-suicide.

The family lives in Elberta, west of Traverse City. Kelli Stapleton had chronicled in an online blog the challenges her family faced caring for Isabelle who has severe Autism.

 

 

Autistic Me - My post for the This is Autism Flash Blog.

Instead of focusing on the bad parts of being Autistic, the struggles, etc., I will instead illustrate ways in which being Autistic is good.  I will not discuss the bad parts just now, I will leave that to the Evil Empire (a.k.a. Autism Speaks) they help them to raise funds, wouldn't want to deprive them of any chance to exploit us, and is that not what it is really about?!, it is certainly not about actually listening to or helping Autistics.  Am not saying my life is always a "walk in the park", although I am generally a happy and smiling soul, I do have my days of down in the dumps, despairing of change and the future. 

Being an adult and still getting so excited about Christmas that the WHOLE month of December is exciting too, whenever I see Christmas decorations my face breaks into a smile and I get bouncy and start to flap.  Having to fight myself throughout the year to not hum or sing Christmas carols until Advent starts.  Sometimes the fight is fought many times; verbalized warnings are even given to self.  Everyone who knows me or who is yet to meet me knows that Christmas is my favorite time of year.

Did I mention Snoopy!!?  He is my favorite Peanuts character!  :)

Getting bouncy, smiling, and flapping when the first flakes of snow begin to fall.  Telling everyone I know that it is snowing!!  Entranced while watching snow fall, standing at the window for ages just watching it drift down to the ground.  Taking walks in the snow and looking straight upwards and watching the flakes twirl down.  Driving in the car and watching as the snow surrounds the car, needless to say my driving in snow is never good, I tend to get entranced with the flakes. 

Getting excited and counting down the days until my birthday every year. 

Plopping down in the aisle of a bookstore or library, pulling books off the shelves and delving right in, soaking up knowledge while rocking quickly back and forth, blissfully quiet.

Ponce De Leon searched for the Fountain of Youth, we Autistics have the best of both worlds, one minute we can be serious and the next we can be joyously lost in a favorite pastime, such as blowing bubbles.  The simplest things can entertain us, this is not to say that we are simple or simple-minded, many of us are more than capable of intense and deep thought, whether we be verbal or nonverbal. 

 

 

Just give us the chance to be ourselves. 

 

This IS Autism.  :)

A Call to Ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Take 2!

On Tuesday November 5th the U.S. Senate will hold a hearing to revive the vote for ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it is a very important treaty, there is still time to ask your Senators to support ratification.  To date, 138 countries have already ratified the convention, according to the U.N.

Please support Disability Rights. I encourage you to telephone your Senators and ask them to VOTE FOR RATIFICATION, even if your Senator's office is closed, you can still leave them a voicemail!  

 

The disabled deserve equal rights world-wide!  Make your voice be heard!

 

 Here is a link to the U.S. Senate listings: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

 

To learn more about the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities please click on the following link:http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml