Dear Readers,
Our everyday work includes lots of listening to people about intense personal situations, and sending people to our best support groups or therapeutic resources. We also assist those with legal issues, and engage in statewide policy and regulation discussions, and give group presentations in the community upon request. Read on to see what we've been up to lately!
Chris Perdziola and Jennifer Salamon have been out and about talking to provider groups (Beacon Behavioral Health and the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers) about our services, and discussing what specific supports are available to each population - adults or little ones. I was able to speak with a group of rural Consumer Satisfaction team members, Duquesne University's Autism Acceptance Club, and Allegheny Family Network this past month. So we are, as usual, all over the place in a good way! Let us know if you would like one of us to talk with a group you are affiliated with.
We had a really great time with those of you who visited our Trunk or Treat on October 26th! Thank you to our professional friends who handed out treats, and to our families who came in super cool costumes to visit for a minute - or longer - and shared some holiday fun! It was good to meet many new faces, and answer some of your questions in the midst of it all.
We have some school presentation requests in the pipeline. Please have your favorite staff person (teacher, guidance counselor, or admin) contact us to arrange a peer talk, an assembly, or staff training. We talk about all kinds of hidden differences or disabilities and knit in any particulars that can help in specific instances, without identifying any one student, unless they choose to self-identify. So as we begin by saying "our glasses are an accommodation for our eyes, which are part of our brain, and that is one kind of brain difference", and we move on through things like anxiety, ADHD, autism, Tourette syndrome, depression, and trauma, and discuss how we all need to defeat stigma. Of course we focus a lot on autism, since that's our thing, and in some classrooms, that is the main focus. Peers and educators need to learn and talk about things they ordinarily don't discuss, in order to include people so they can belong, which is the end goal. When possible we co-teach with autistic self-advocates, and often broaden our talks so that autism is just another way our brains have made us feel or do things differently, and that is all okay.
Kids are important to us, and we balance that focus with work to improve the adult systems of support, to assure the safest and most healthy future for all. No matter what your age, we'd like to meet and talk with you! We will have upcoming Autism 101 discussions that cover getting a diagnosis and then learning to navigate the unknown "landscape" of supports, funding, and healthy living ideas for your home, school, or work. We also talk about nonhelpful autism "fads" that you may encounter - common false or downright dangerous "methods" that you need to look out for, whose sellers try to manipulate you to take your money. Anyone is welcome in these sessions - even if you have experienced an autism life for many years, it never hurts to come and get some new information and ideas for living your best life.
So we all hope to see you soon!