Amy Sequenzia is an autistic self-advocate and poet. She types using Facilitated Communication (FC). She talked with us about what FC allows her to do, and what she would like people to know about it. What does Facilitated Communication (FC) mean to you? Why does it work for you? FC is how I can make my voice heard. I can say what I think, how I feel and I can be active in conversations, instead of being a passive observer. It works for me because nothing else did. My body can be very uncooperative and my mind can go from very active and unfocused to focused and calm — and back — in a very short time. It helps to have someone close to me for support, encouragement and to help me focus again. Physical support is important when I get spastic and when my arms get too heavy for…
Month: November 2012
Michael Scott Monje Jr www.mmonjejr.com Growing up, I might not have had an autism diagnosis, but that does not mean that my parents were oblivious to the differences between my behavior and typical behavior. Sure, when I was very young, they made their mistakes. For instance, my mother thought that the fact that I would sit for hours, focused on my own thoughts, made me an “easy” child. In some ways it did, because that meant that she could leave me unattended and run downstairs to change the laundry without worrying that I’d wander off. To a nineteen year old with a toddler, I’m sure that that had to seem like a blessing at times. Similarly, when I was two or three and I started to get obsessed with organizing and arranging things, that made my parents’ lives easier. After all, a child that can be kept busy sorting a…
Were you affected by Hurricane Sandy? How are you doing? If you were not affected personally, do you know someone who was? If they are autistic, have you checked in on them? Do you know of additional ways for non-locals to help out besides donating to the Red Cross? Update 11/3: The sites Sailing Autistic Seas and Love That Max have put together lists of resources for our communities, please share widely (some are family-focused, others are all-ages, if you know of anything they’ve missed, please let them or us know. -SR) Sailing Autistic Seas: Hurricane Sandy Resources Love That Max: Disaster Relief for Families of Kids With Special Needs Here are three on-the-ground reports from autistics and autism families. If you know of other stories or want to add your own, please do so in the comments. Carol Greenburg @AspieAdvocate tweeted her traumatizing but necessary trip into Manhattan from…
And you really need to go to the Autistics Speaking Day website to see all the amazing posts that have already been put up, as and also following the @AutisticsSpeak Twitter stream. TPGA Contributor & Self-Advocate Lydia Wayman, representing. For those who would like history as to why this day matters so, please read ASDay co-founder Corina Becker’s TPGA Post The Beginnings of Autistics Speaking Day. Contribute contribute contribute! Spread the word! Boost the signal! Be as loud as your or your hands can be!