July 2016

Attack of the Vultures – My Journey With Asperger’s

July 15, 2016 Spectrum Women

Hello. My name is Jaime, and I am a 36-year-old American woman who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) a little over a year ago. That day, April 22, 2015, was the most important day of my life. It was the day that I was finally able to stop pretending to be someone I wasn’t and shine my light out into the world as my authentic self. Before that beautiful day, life had been a horrible struggle. I grew up in the 1980s, when the only children who were seen as ‘mentally disabled’ were the ones who attended special […]

A Stark Reminder: Autistic in the Air by Dena Gassner MSW

July 6, 2016 Spectrum Women

A few weeks ago, I had a presentation in another state here in the U.S. Those who hear me speak about accommodations know that I always say, “We shouldn’t seek to outgrow our need for accommodations but instead, to grow into them.” I firmly believe that there is a huge bias in that individuals with more obvious conditions (using a cane, wheelchair, etc.) are empowered to maximize their accommodations, however, individuals with invisible differences are set on an early path to seeking the outward appearance of ‘normal’ which means not asking for or getting accommodations. This becomes extremely problematic when […]

Book Releases

The Wonderful World of Work. A Workbook for Asperteens.

July 6, 2016 Spectrum Women

The Wonderful World of Work. A Workbook for Asperteens by Jeanette Purkis JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS Footprint Books www.footprint.com.au RRP AU$38.95 print Contents: Introduction. 1. Why Should You Go to Work? 2. What Kind of Work Do You Want to Do? 3. Your Own Unique Skills and Attributes – The Best Thing that You Have! 4. School, University, Skills and Work. 5. Getting the Most Out of Employment Services. 6. Working – What’s Involved? And How Do You Get a Job? 7. Get that Job! (Includes CVs, Interviews and Referees). 8. Volunteering – The Giving Keeps on Giving – to You! […]

Education

From the inside, looking out.

July 1, 2016 Spectrum Women

ASD is for life: just like having grey eyes, or short fingers. We can choose to change these things of course, if we want to; mask them with coloured contacts or long fingernails. But underneath they remain the same, our secret. Our global community accepts that eyes and fingers come in a variety of colours and lengths. We accept that some people are great at Maths and logic; others excel in creative pursuits of art and music. So, why can’t we accept difference in the way people process the world around them? Why must only one way be “acceptable” and […]