May, 2014 - Reach for a Difference

REACH FOR A DIFFERENCE: AUTISM SPECTRUM
PARTNERSHIP NETWORK MAY NEWSLETTER
Autism Spectrum Partnering Network: Partnerships in Action!
Roadmaps to Resources
REACHMonthlyCommunityActionMeeting
First Tuesday of the month, 6:00 P.M., 240 Cypress St., Abilene Texas, United Way Building
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reach-for-a-Difference/213909785362941
www.reachforadifference.org [email protected]
Please visit our Website at www.reachforadifference.org to
learn more about us and view our calendar for upcoming
events and community happenings! Come get involved! We
look forward to meeting you!
RESOURCES: ARTICLES
1. Walk Now for Autism 2014-by Stephanie Prosser
2. HEALTHY KIDS DAY-by Stephanie Prosser
3. YMCA BASEBALL TEAM-by Stephanie Prosser
EDUCATION: ARTICLES
1. Disability Conference-by Stephanie Prosser
2. May Monthly Community Action Meeting-James Harless- by Stephanie Prosser
AWARENESS/ACTION ARTICLES:
1. Taste of Abilene 2014-Keri gets Crafty– by Stephanie Prosser
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ARTICLES
1. REACH Support Group welcomes The Joseph Thomas Foundation -by Stephanie
Prosser with Amanda Morgan
2. Autism Support Groups for Dads
3. June 3rd Monthly Meeting-John Thomas
4. Abilene Dream Center- by Stephanie Prosser
HOPE ARTICLES:
1. Dear 'Daddy' in Seat 16C Flight 1850 From Philly-by
2. What I have Learned- by Paige
3. Mirror, Mirror- by Juile Fraser
THE WALK NOW FOR AUTISM 2014
What a great ending to April’s Autism Awareness month! The
Annual Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism held at the Abilene
Zoo was a blast and a wonderful celebration. This year REACH
and its booth’s participants
were caught “red-handed”, er, uh,…and blue, and pink !
REACH for a
Difference loves
connecting with
families and
keeping them
close to our
hearts! So this
year we brought
back “Painted
Hands”, a great
activity from the past that allowed us
to get close with the people who were
truly interested in our resources and
services! This year we had attendees
paint their hands and leave their prints
on a drop-cloth with their names
beside their hand print. This family
collaged cloth will be used as our
tablecloth for future conferences and
events! We always want to showcase
what matters most to us when we are
out and about in ACTION; and that is
the needs of the ASD families in our community!
This year we were extremely excited to have our one of our Partners join us in the education and
awareness celebration! Sara Collins CEO of REACH invited our green thumbed partners Hug a Root
Family Farms to join in on the festivities and offer an educational and fun activity for those who stopped
by the REACH booth!
Created by Josh and Pamela Casey, Hug-A-Root Family Farms is an organization of people in the
Abilene/Big Country area of Texas that are concerned about the quality of food we eat. REACH and Hug
a Root combined forces to provide supplies and materials for Pamela Casey of Hug a Root to offer a mini
garden complete with gummy worms and frogs for the kiddos to dig in and practice planting seeds. Each
family could take with them a personalized plant potted/planted by their child to keep and watch grow
right along with their child! Hug a Root provided tools, seeds, and plants for the fun, and came energized
and full of smiles!
Hug a Root’s presence was truly appreciated! It’s cool to see how people and organizations that aren’t
necessarily directly related to Autism can learn about ASD, educate, support others, and GROW (no pun
intended)!
Everyone had a blast! What we loved most about the Walk this year is getting to see everyone just
coming together to show support and enjoy who they are!
LOTS OF HUGS AT THE WALK FOR HUG A ROOT FAMILY FARMS
YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY 2014 WITH REACH
Thank you
Britney Roberts
for representing
REACH for a
Difference at
this year’s
YMCA Healthy
Kids Day!
It was a free
day of family fun! With a
Fun Run, Karate, Cheer,
and Dance Demos, Swim
Lesson, Baseball, and
Summer Camp
registrations, Local
vendors, an open swim
and bounce house, with
plenty of arts and crafts
and prize giveaways!
KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR
NEXT YEAR!
REACH RANGERS YMCA SPONSORED BASE BALL TEAM
REACH for a Difference is proud to sponsor
YMCA’s RANGERS baseball team! Go guys Go!
WEST TEXAS DISABILITY CONFERENCE 2014 ABILENE TX-by Stephanie Prosser
During this amazing local event we were invited to learn, collaborate, and organize in order to build a
stronger West Texas for people with disabilities, their families, and professionals that serve them.
Whether you were a parent seeking services and supports for your family, a consumer interested in
changes in Medicaid, or a self- advocate looking for ways to get active, they had something for everyone!
The organizers of this conference included: The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), Community
Now! (CN!), and Texas Parent to Parent (TXP2P). Co-Hosting was the ABLE Center for Independent
Living, Burkhart Center for Autism Research, Disability in Action, LIFE/RUN Center for Independent
Living, Panhandle Center for Independent Living, Texas Panhandle Centers Behavioral and
Developmental Health, West Texas Community Network.
The Conference began Friday evening with check in and registration.
Hosts were on hand to welcome everyone to a beautiful reception and
excellent networking opportunity that was followed by an interesting
“Interactive Advocacy Exercise”! The exercise was a fun, productive way
to practice speaking with legislators in a variety of situations. It helped
participants to prepare for self and group advocacy during the 2015
Legislature. Participants were given a legislative topic to debate for with
pretend legislators, and were required to utilize their best advocacy efforts
to lobby for change!
Techniques, communication skills, and presentation skills were first
presented by Featured Guest John Thomas to prep the audience for the
task at hand!
John Thomas is from Abilene, Texas. He is a Motivational Speaker,
Training Facilitator, Project Manager, and Marketing Consultant. John
recently founded No Podium Needed and is President/CEO of the Joseph Thomas Foundation, which he
and his late wife started in memory of their son. This organization raises money for children with
medical issues in and around the Big Country.
In addition, he founded the Lee Elementary children’s
program, which provides Christmas gifts for the school’s
underprivileged children. John currently serves as
Governor of the American Advertising FederationDistrict 10, the youngest Governor in the history of the
10th District. In 2009, AbileneBiz magazine named John
as one of their “20 under 40” up-and-coming business
leaders.
The first night was a great kick-off to the Conference
and the informational workshops that would be given the
next day!
Saturday began with a wonderful breakfast and
continued registration. We were given a welcome by
Rodney Hanneman of the CTD Board, and Joe Tate of
Community Now! Along with Jeanine Pinner (TXP2P).
Keynote Speaker John Thomas gave a riveting speech
with a personal touch on Advocacy and Communication
and we all were privy to a special video message from
Representative Susan King (HD71) who stressed the
importance of knowing your legislation and getting active.
The latter part of the morning was focused on Medicaid Managed Care. Experts weighed in on big
changes coming our way in Medicaid. Topics covered and included service delivery in rural areas, and
what are “Community First Choice” and “PASRR” and what do they mean to the client. A Q&A panel
followed with participants discussing their personal care, and the care of their family members. Speakers
for this portion of the conference were: Kelley Longhofer (Amerigroup), Ceseley Rollins (Superior
HealthPlan), Debra Smith (Health & Human Services Commission), and Garth Corbett (Disability Rights
Texas).
The afternoon began with lunch and several Self-Advocacy
Presentations. These presentations are a favorite of mine! There is a
huge take-away from hearing the life stories of those with disabilities
and firsthand accounts of struggles and victories! These were true
problem- solving stories from people with disabilities and family
members. Speakers included David Chapple, Jake Pinner, Michelle
Dooley, and Silvia Vargas.
We were able to hear firsthand accounts of college transition stories,
nursing home and assisted living experiences, navigating services, and
discovering relationships!
Personal accounts were followed by a series and menu of afternoon
workshops to choose from. The workshops were as follows:
Workshops:
Funding Resources: What Every Family Should Know! Develop a
vision and learn where to turn for help. Join us to review a variety of
resources for families.- Cindi Paschall (CN!)
Introduction to Organizing for Change: Learn about the types of power and how to apply power to
influence issues. Group activity: Take your Power back. Joe Tate (CN!) and Sarah Watkins (CN!)
Behavioral Intervention: Identify issues, learn about resources and services, how to navigate systems and
advocate for your child: Dr. Wesley H. Dotson (Burkhart Center)
Legislative Issues: Make your voice heard at the Texas Capitol! Learn the top issues in 2015 from
CTD’s policy pro. Dennis Borel (CTD)
Centers for Independent Living (CILs): What are the CILs and what services can they offer you?
Michelle Crain (LIFE/RUN CIL), Leah Beltran (Disability in Action), Marilyn Hancock (ABLE CIL),
Doug Hammett (Panhandle CIL)
Voting Rights & Accessibility: Several primary elections were decided by less than 100 votes. 2014 is a
huge year in Texas elections. Know your rights and be sure to vote.- Chase Bearden (CTD)
The Conference ended with a brief wrap up and a word to participants on following through with a small
exercise, envelopes were given out to attendees, and we were instructed to address them to ourselves that
will be mailed out by hosts at a later date. In those envelopes we wrote down key-points of things that we
learned/discovered at the conference that we would like to follow up with and explore further! The West
Texas Disabilities Conference was a huge experience and a great success!
May Monthly
Community Action
Meeting-James Harless
by Stephanie Prosser
James Harless, 22 is now a fairly contented local
college student here at TSTC, but the academic road to
where he currently resides wasn’t smoothly paved.
Growing up and going through the school system was
difficult for him for various reasons; whether it be
uncooperative teachers, undereducated staff in the areas
of special needs, or ill equipped counselors, James
often found himself on an educational rollercoaster. A
constant place of refuge in his life is his mother Vicki
Harless, and his grandparents; whom James says “to
this day, the relationship with his grandparents is
irreplaceable.”
James, transitioned from High School to College, starting out at Cisco Jr. College, and then on to
Abilene Christian University. Harless has overcome a bevy of obstacles in order to get to where
he is currently, TSTC, in pursuit of a Computer Networking degree. Harless is a computer whiz.
He began reading MS DOS manuals at age 5… “for fun!” He also really enjoys the Roller
coaster Sims Games, and his mother utilized this as a reinforcement tool growing up.
The most impactful of all was James’s candid approach to life. Having Asperger’s, James spoke
of being misunderstood, of his frustrations, and his victories over disciplining himself in his
school endeavors and concurring life responsibilities. Overall the things that helped him most is
the people in his life who went above and beyond their duties to ensure his success and well
being, and those who took the time to listen and allow him to have a voice.
James says “there are no short cuts”, “ I still have to work hard.”
His mother once asked him the popular question what would you like to be when you grow up?”
James’ reply was “a Senator” . With the added caveat “Although I try to hold myself to a
standard, and can’t be bought off as easily!” When asked if he could be neurotypical the answer
is a very truthful and matter of fact “No”, and we at REACH for a Difference feel exactly the
same way!
We just want to thank James for coming and sharing his story with us! It is a blessing and
inspiring to hear what ASD life is like from the mouths of those who live it!
I truly enjoyed James speaking about his years in school, therapies, and the research he was a
part of; as well as learning about the mentors & caseworkers who supported him throughout his
educational experience from elementary until now. This was his first time to speak in front of a
crowd and he was awesome!
Our own, John Mark also spoke during the meeting about growing up with Asperger's, his two
children that are on the spectrum and his life in general. He’s a wealth of experience and
knowledge when it comes to Autism hands on! It was wonderful to hear about his family unit as
a group of individuals on the spectrum, and how they laugh and joke “just like anyone else”. He
gave a sobering lesson on the educational system as a whole, and areas of improvement, as well
as transitioning into the workforce, and social issues.
I loved the meeting and was excited to see all of the new faces and families. Coming together to
learn together is what it’s all about!
TASTE OF ABILENE 2014 KERI GETS CRAFTY!
Thank you Keri Meuth for this year’s beautiful centerpieces
and participation in the Annual Taste of Abilene!
Taste of Abilene is an annual showcase of some of Abilene’s finest restaurant &
caterers. This event is presented by the Abilene Rotary Club and the Abilene
Restaurant Association. Taste of Abilene benefits local non-profits and
community organizations.
The event was revived in 2006 and has raised more than $100,000 collectively, to
benefit community organizations and culinary scholarships.
REACH for a Difference loves participating in these type of
community events! It’s a great way to showcase who we are and
what we do; and get in touch with the community! We can’t wait for
next year!
REACH Support Group welcomes The Joseph Thomas Foundation -by Stephanie
Prosser with Amanda Morgan Director of Support Services
Every Monday morning from 9:30-11:00 am at Mezamis Coffeehouse, Amanda Morgan of REACH for a
Difference and a group of ASD moms get together to share their lives with one another over a nice cup of
Joe. Morgan started our much needed REACH Autism Support group a little over 3 months ago. She
wanted a safe place for moms of children with autism to support each other and share in their experiences.
“The support group is important because it’s important to have someone else who can relate to your child
with autism. When sitting down with moms and talking to each other you find out how they may have
handled a situation that you are currently dealing with. Really it boils down to finding others you can
relate to and not feeling alone in this confusing world of autism” says Morgan.
“I think it is more of the relief of others understanding and not feeling like you are the only one who has
dealt with a behavior or situation, Amanda exclaims. I know we feel relieved when others say their child
has done something similar at one time or another.
“Also, for others who have children that are a little older, they can give insight to how the behavior
changed or how they dealt with a situation. It’s great that if one mom doesn't know how to handle
something or who to contact, another one does! It isn't about Sara and I shelling out all of the
information, we ALL truly support each other!”
Along with the opportunity to share with one another, Amanda brings in a wide variety of topics and
educational tools for the ladies. Monday May 12th, the group was honored to host motivational speaker
and fellow non-profit owner guest speaker John Thomas of the Joseph Thomas Foundation.
The Joseph Thomas Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that helps provide help for medically fragile
children of the big country. Their mission is to “Outshine Medical Disabilities”. The foundation was
created in honor and memory of John’s son: Joseph was a special boy. He needed constant medical care,
like most kids with special needs do; and we know firsthand how hard that can be. With the foundation,
John and I plan to help families who need medical equipment, supplies and other medical needs. We feel
we can use our knowledge as an outreach and help other families in need. The foundation’s main
fundraiser every year is the Joseph Thomas Triathlon.
For those who cannot make it in person to the Monday morning support group meetings, Amanda also
has an online FB Support Group page which is set to private. Mothers who are interested can become
members of the page and discuss issues freely amongst one another to share in support 24/7. The
facebook support group also has a wealth of information, resources, and educational tools! Come Join Us!
REACH ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP FOR DADS
REACH for a Difference Autism Support Group for Dads
Reach for a Difference is excited to announce that there is now a REACH for a Difference
Autism Support Group for Dads. John Mark McDonald will be the REACH volunteer in charge
of this group. We are so excited to have Mark share his experience of being a father of two
children on the spectrum. Thank you Mark for continuing to help families that have a family
member(s) with autism.
If your husband is interested in speaking to other dads please have him join this group. We have
had several men reach out to us and thought this would be a great addition to the support
REACH is already offering the community. A bonus it will be different from our mother’s group
because men communicate differently than women do!
To visit our REACH SUPPORT GROUP FOR DADS SEE US ON FACEBOOK!
Community Notice! REACH would like to inform everyone that Childcare for our Monthly
Community Action Meetings is cancelled for the Summer Months. We are also in need of
volunteers! Our community meetings are the first Tuesday of every month from 6pm7:30pm. If you would like to volunteer please contact us at
[email protected]
The Abilene Dream Center-by Stephanie Prosser
I had the privilege of touring the Abilene Dream
Center the other day with my new friend Don
Fletcher! I got to see their home facilities and
their work shops. The Dream Center makes
gorgeous handcrafted crosses which are sold to
help raise money for operations, as well as
scrumptious banana bread baked daily! What
impressed me most about the center was the
participants open hearts, honesty, and the love
that they shared. The gentlemen were all
working together for the betterment of one
another, the facility, and the community. You
could tell that the people there are truly
transformed individuals and great men of Christ!
Your past does not determine your future!
Don made us this wonderful cross for REACH
for a Difference. It is so wonderful to connect
with other organizations in Abilene that are
dedicated to changing lives for the better! Thank
you Don for our beautiful cross, and for all that
you do! Check out the Abilene Dream Center at
www.abilenedreamcenter.com they have an
amazing discipleship program for those who
struggle with addiction and homelessness. They have many fundraisers throughout the year
in which you can lend a hand or make contributions to aid in continuing this amazing cause!
The Abilene Dream Center is a 9 month discipleship program geared in to assist those who
struggle with addictions, homelessness, brokenness, and anyone who is looking for a change in
life. Society says, "Once an addict always an addict, but Jesus says, "I am The Truth and The
Truth will set you free." We are not a 12-Step program, we are a One step program... Out of the
darkness and into the Light!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
The Dream Center’s Vision is "Restoring Hope, Transforming Lives, and to
Experience True Freedom in Christ!"
They believe that if an individual is going to truly make a life time commitment to
change, they will need more than a 28 day program. The Dream Center believes:
True freedom comes from an experience and over the course of 9 months our
students encounter what they will need to continue on in a successful Christian life.
Without self-discipline an individual will not carry out the things he or she is taught
and apply it as a lifestyle. Here at the ADC they will not on ly learn, but learn to
apply what they are taught as their new journey as a follower of Christ begins.
Abilene Dream Center
2802 Old Anson Rd
Abilene, TX 79603
(325) 437-6577
Dear 'Daddy' in Seat 16C Flight 1850 From Philly
http://www.goteamkate.com/1/post/2014/01/dear -daddy-in-seat-16c-flight-1850from-philly.html
01/09/2014
804 Comments
Dear 'Daddy',
I don't know your name but Kate called you 'daddy' for the entire flight last week and you kindly
never corrected her. In fact, you didn't even flinch as you could probably tell that she was not
confusing you with her own 'daddy' but instead making a judgment regarding your level of
'safety' for her. If she calls you 'daddy' then you better believe she thinks you are alright.
I sat Kate in the middle seat knowing full well that there would be a stranger sitting next to her
for the duration of this flight. I had to make a quick decision and based on her obsession with
opening and closing the window shade I figured she might be less of a distraction if she sat in the
middle. I watched the entire Temple basketball team board the plane and wondered if one of
these giants might sit by Kate. They all moved toward the back. She would have liked that, she
would have made some observations that I would have had to deal with but she would have liked
those players. I watched many Grandmotherly women board and hoped for one to take the seat
but they walked on by. For a fleeting moment I thought we might have a free seat beside us and
then you walked up and sat down with your briefcase and your important documents and I had a
vision of Kate pouring her water all over your multi-million dollar contracts, or house deeds, or
whatever it was you held. The moment you sat down, Kate started to rub your arm. Your jacket
was soft and she liked the feel of it. You smiled at her and she said: "Hi, Daddy, that's my mom."
Then she had you.
You could have shifted uncomfortably in your seat. You could have ignored her. You could have
given me that 'smile' that I despise because it means; 'manage your child please.' You did none of
that. You engaged Kate in conversation and you asked her questions about her turtles. She could
never really answer your questions but she was so enamored by you that she keeps eye contact
and joint attention on the items you were asking her about. I watched and smiled. I made a few
polite offers to distract her, but you would have none of it.
Kate: (Upon noticing you had an IPad) Is dis Daddy's puduter?
You: This is my IPad. Would you like to see it?
Kate: To me?????? (I know she thought you were offering it to her to keep)
Me: Look with your eyes, Kate. That is not yours.
Kate: Dat's nice!
You: (Upon noticing that Kate had an IPad) I like your computer, too. It has a nice purple case.
Kate: Daddy wanna be a bad guy? (She offered shredder to you and that, my friend, is high
praise)
You: Cool.
The interaction went on and on and you never once seemed annoyed. She gave you some
moments of peace while she played with her Anna and Elsa dolls. Kind of her to save you from
playing barbies, but I bet you wouldn't have minded a bit. I bet you have little girls, too.
Not long before we landed Kate had reached her limit. She screamed to have her seatbelt off, she
screamed for me to open the plane door and she cried repeating, "Plane is cwosed (closed)" over
and over. You tried to redirect her attention to her toys. She was already too far gone at this
point, but the fact that you tried to help your new little friend made me emotional.
In case, you are wondering. She was fine the moment we stepped off the plane. Thank you for
letting us go ahead of you. She was feeling overwhelmed and escaping the plane and a big, long
hug was all she needed.
So, thank you. Thank you for not making me repeat those awful apologetic sentences that I so
often say in public. Thank you for entertaining Kate so much that she had her most successful
plane ride, yet. And, thank you for putting your papers away and playing turtles with our girl.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED –by Paige- Hope Center for
Autism
http://www.hopecenter4autism.org/what-i-have-learned/
Submitted by Paige
Aidyn has taught me many things throughout his short 4 years of life. He was diagnosed with
Autism when he was almost 2; and although we were fairly sure that’s what we were dealing
with, it was still life-changing. It’s as if all of your hopes and dreams for your child go out the
window, and new ones take their place. Thinking about the far future is no longer necessary. All
that matters is today. What will he do today? What strides for improvement will he conquer
today? When he said his first unprompted word (“more”), we threw a party. When he said his
first complete sentence, I cried.
I cry often for my son. Not because I am sad, although sometimes that is the case. But more
because I want to do what’s best for him, and I’m always scared of making the wrong choice, or
missing out on an opportunity that could have helped him improve his skills. I long to have a
conversation with him. I long to know what he is feeling and thinking about certain things. I
want to know what his dreams are.
[quote float="right"]Acceptance to me is fully embracing the person, positive and negative, and
with no judgment.[/quote]Without a doubt, the biggest thing Aidyn has taught me is patience. He
knows his limits and what he is ready and capable of. And even if he can’t fully express it, I have
learned wait. I give him little pushes here and there, must mostly I wait.
Aidyn has taught me to have no expectations. Do I have wishes and hopes and dreams for him?
Sure. But as long as he is happy and healthy, I will be happy. In his 2 years of early intervention,
therapy and preschool, he has exceeded many of our hopes and dreams. He went from having
zero words, to being ahead in his language. He can also read and spell (better than I can
sometimes). We still have struggles. Social situations, family outings, and potty training (he is
almost there!) are all things we are still working on. He is a very smart kid, and I know he will
rise above these struggles someday.
The next is acceptance. I think it’s hard for people who are the “outside”, people who don’t have
a child with special needs, to fully understand the child/family that is dealing with the special
need. They may empathize, but that’s completely different than acceptance. To me empathy
implies feeling bad, and quite often, there is still judgment there. Our little family has
experienced this many times, often from our own family members. Do I feel bad for having
Aidyn in our family? Never! And so other people shouldn’t either. Acceptance to me is fully
embracing the person, positive and negative, and with no judgment. This can be hard. But as I
keep trying to help Aidyn I find it gets easier, when we interact with other children with
challenges, to be accepting of them and their families.
The last is hope. Hope that there will continue to be new ways to help these little ones (and
adults) with Autism, so that they can live to their full potential. Hope that information,
knowledge, and stories will reach to the four corners of the Earth, so that people everywhere will
be aware and become accepting of these beautiful creatures. Hope that my son will be able to
grow up safely in this ever increasing harsh world. Hope that he will be accepted for who he is;
that he will be defined but his strengths and not his weaknesses. Hope that he will rise above his
insecurities and know that he may have Autism, but Autism doesn’t have him. Hope that he
knows that I will ALWAYS love him. Hope that he knows he is a miracle to me. Hope…
June 20, 2013
Mirror, Mirror- by Julie Fraser-Hope Center for Autism
http://www.hopecenter4autism.org/mirror-mirror/
Submitted by Julie Fraser
My son is now 15 and has Aspergers. We have gone from not being able to enter a store, due to
too much stimulation, to a child that loves to volunteer for area organizations. He decided to
enter his 8th grade graduation contest by writing a speech. For my son to write something on
paper takes a long time. He has amazing ideas in his head and can even verbalize them but can
never get it from the pen to the paper. His speech was chosen to be read at his 8th grade
graduation. I wanted to share it with you as I hope it could give some other children some
encouragement to just be themselves…..
Mirror, Mirror
What do you see when you look in the mirror? When I look in the mirror I see a teenager that is
trying to do his best, though others have tried to knock me down. Yes, I have been called a Nerd,
Geek, Weirdo and those are just the nice words. But what these people with harsh tongues don’t
realize, is that I am different but in a good way. I am autistic. I have Asperger’s. I am not afraid
to say it.
[quote float="left"]I guess all of this makes me, me. I am proud of me.[/quote]Now, can you tell
that just by looking at me? I am sure some people will say, yes I see it and maybe they can. In
my eyes, I see someone that wants to be considered “normal”. I do look at things different than
others do. I tend to enjoy my alone time. I can vision things in great detail in my mind. I can
even put myself in another world. I go overboard or almost become obsessed when there is a
topic I really enjoy. This makes me, me. I like who I am.
Many don’t understand me. They say I need to do this or do that, just to be considered “normal”.
I try, but I seem to constantly drift away from this so called normal. I tend to be negative a lot,
which explains, why I am always being reminded to think positive thoughts. I have a hard time
with change. I like my routine. I like being me.
My Mom says I have come a long way, whatever that means. When I was little, they couldn’t
even take me to Wal-Mart. It would cause too much of a stimulation and I would cry or get very
naughty by screaming and kicking. I also used to hit my head on the floors and walls. I have no
idea why, I just did I guess. When I was learning to talk I created my own language. I used my
brother’s language and my baby language, by combining the two and came up with my own way
to communicate. I could carry on conversations like you wouldn’t believe, though no one else
could understand me.
My family never gave up on me. They were always there to pick up the pieces or help calm me
back down. Having someone there to watch over you and to keep you safe is very important in a
child’s life. Again, my family never gave up on me. They helped me through each obstacle I
have had to face.
There are things I am still working on. School is a challenge for me. Reading and writing are my
least favorite subjects. It takes my brain so long to get the thought from my head to my pencil to
my paper. I love to do math, but again I can do the problems in my head, I just have a problem
showing my work on the paper. I know I have things I need to improve on. I am not giving up. I
like being me.
I don’t enjoy being in front of people. When I get nervous, I tend to rub my hands together. This
is one of the first signs my Mom and brothers tend to notice. I remember this one situation,
where there was a lot of noise and commotion going on. It was some type of children’s program
where all the kids had to sing. I was out of my comfort zone. I remember my brother getting up
from his seat with his class and going to find my Mom in the bleachers to say that we need to get
Jacob out of here. Now don’t tell my brother this, but I think he really cares about me. Yes, I still
have problems when there is too much noise in a room. But, I am learning to handle it more and
more with each situation.
I guess all of this makes me, me. I am proud of me. My family is proud of me. I am finishing 8th
grade. I am not sure many would have thought that would have been possible when I was
younger, but I did it.
So now look in the mirror and ask yourself…. what do you see?
~By Jacob F.