Advocate for Inclusion and Neurodiversity

https://sg.style.yahoo.com/why-purple-parade-needs-lead-033509514.html I agree with many views in this article. The ill treatments we get from society causes more/additional damage than the disability itself. Many who go through a lot of bullying and victimisation end up in emotional trauma, depression, and even seeing the world through tainted lenses, seeing the world as evil, and being suspicious of everyone including the genuinely kind people. It can be to a point the language of kindness becomes a foreign language to those who have been victimised for too long. This article shows us how important and urgent it is to stop the bullying trend in schools and to pay attention to mental health issues. It is time for Mental Health to be included in the syllabus starting from Primary school. Mental health can even affect one's lifespan. _______________________ This article also cites real life examples of ill treatments of school teachers which cause the author a lot of trauma. S...

This real life story draws many lessons for caregivers and autistic adults - click this URL link, or copy paste to your internet browser, to read the story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/10/16/how-listening-autistic-adults-helped-me-understand-support-my-son/ LESSON 1: Change Our Perceptions The author states " now know that the despair was caused more by my exposure to negative stereotypes about disability, and less by my child’s reality . "  Don't keep viewing yourself (as an autistic or a parent) or your child as a defect or an unfortunate event. Sometimes such views stem more from society-created stereotypes , discrimination , skewed perceptions etc. in relation to your child's autism, and not just autism in and of itself. By Design, not Defect. Bright, not Broken  Blessing, not Burden LESSON 2: Walked the Tough Road? Leave a Trail and Lead Others Who Come After You  Many of the autistic adults this parent spoke to were able to help "war...

I had a chat with two fellow ASD guys who started serving National Service (NS) only recently. I am heartened to hear that the Pes E Basic Military Training (BMT) programme has gone through major improvements since my time. The programme is a lot more robust now. Vocational training more in depth too. These guys have such a positive attitude toward NS, and that really encourages me! I did not have such community peer support during my time as I had no ASD community back then. That made life very tough for me. But I am glad today I can be part of the efforts to create that support for those who come after me. And with another ASD NSMEN on board, and with the first two ASD  NSFs guys (i.e. currently serving NS), who tap into this support, possessing such positive attitude... I believe this spells hope for us to be potentially be able to light the way ahead for others who come after us. There is hope. And if we can successfully create such a support system in future, then I would say ...

https://advice.shinetext.com/articles/the-7-types-of-rest-you-need-to-actually-feel-recharged/ This article delves deeper into the various kinds of rest deficits, and helps us check which one we might be missing. In my opinion... Thanks for sharing this interesting article. I suspect many autistics will find themselves needing Social Rest, Emotional Rest and Sensory Rest Social Rest - socialising is stressful for many of us. Navigating a Neurotypical world can be stressful. For some, attending social gatherings (including family gatherings, such as at festive occasions) can be socially exhausting. Many then find the need to take a break from all that by having time to themselves, or being with a friend or family who is close enough whom they can confide in _______ Emotional Rest - tiredness from stresses of each day [think: Spoon theory] - other kinds of emotional stress like emotional triggers, rejection etc. - it helps to have family or friends whom we trust whom ...

The beneficiaries of my company's CSR event today included autism schools. I volunteered with the team of volunteers who played the role of hosts __________________ THE EXPERIENCE (MORNING) In the morning, my sub-team hosted an autism-focused school which integrates mainstream academic curriculum together with life readiness skills in their school programme. I told the teachers I am autistic too. It was an enriching experience to relate to like-minded students whom I see so much of myself in them and able to connect with within the first 5 minutes of conversing.  More importantly, by the way they communicate, and express themselves, I saw so much potential in them to be the next generation of autistic leaders to further our cause for our autism community. Before they left the event, I told some of the school teachers these: When I see these students, I see hope I hope they can build/groom this next generation of leaders to build our future - the future ...

There is hope That is what I have to say after my experience this morning at my company CSR events, with the team of volunteers who took the role of being hosts. I was assigned to the team hosting Pathlight school, and had an enriching experience interacting with kids who like-minded with me... For some of them, within 5 minutes of conversing, I see the potential  in them... the potential to be the next generation of autistic leaders to build the future of our autism community. I told the teachers, "I see them, I see hope", and I  described what I said above. and they were encouraged Today's experience has given me renewed renewe hope  for the autism community. I will blog more about this tonight. So stay tuned. Meanwhile, we have another autism school to host in the afternoon, so bye for now

Spoon Theory is commonly mentioned in chronic illness, disability, and autism circles. https://autisticmama.com/what-is-spoon-theory/ I feel that this spoon theory is a good analogy to help others understand why autisitcs (and those with other disabilities) get tired more easily than others, and end up in a grouchy mode on some days, and end up drawing others' energy instead. Spoon deficit! If I can break it down what was explained in the article: 1) daily activities use up more spoons for us than for non-disabled people 2) some things use up our spoons which otherwise doesn't for non-disabled people A parallel analogy could be a cup. If your cup is overflowing, others can draw water from you and you still have enough for yourself. If your cup is empty, you will be drawing water (energy) from others and draining their cup of water (draining their energy)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/02/simon-baron-cohen-autism-neurodiversity-brains-money Neurodiversity is the next frontier This is more than just simply the new "in" thing or new fashion or fad. This is serious business concerning the wellbeing of precious people. Autism has gained a lot more awareness in the recent years. We even have an annual Autism Awareness month in April worldwide where people #lightitupblue, and more recently the #redinstead movement by #actuallyautistic people (it is outside the scope of this blog post to delve into that). It is alarming then, that the lives of autistics is NOT increasing proportionately with the awareness. Autistic people are more prone to depression, suicide and other mental health issues due to the inherent difficulties faced day in day out living in a society where navigating the Neurotypical world is like navigating a foreign land and a lost maze. Those who "hide" their autistic traits well to ble...

We concluded a "Life After Death" Autism Forum on 28th September 2019 Being a groundbreaking first of  its kind initiative, this marks a significant milestone for the Singapore autism community. Here is why: It is Autistic-led, something n ever done before in Singapore. The main organiser who initiated this is an autistic adult . All the panellists are autistic adults. Volunteers are made up of both autistics and neurotypicals (of course it is good to have neurotypical allies, especially those with a genuine heart for the autism community and those with experience in event management) The Forum's focus is a very different spin compared to other Forums and Conferences attended in the past. This Forum focuses on Inclusive Equality which is a concept of novelty. Coined by the main organiser of this event, it is defined as promoting autistics as equal partners with allies, as opposed to being the needy ones. Empowering autistics to take responsibility for our...