Advocate for Inclusion and Neurodiversity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikioIpTcBbI A great video (link above) offering refreshing insights for autistics and for employers  1)   NEURODIVERSITY : how it can contribute to the workplace  when the thoughts of Neurodiverse people tapped into and unlock the refreshing ideas and insights from their brains. 2)    MICROSOFT , a giant company, have: - sought out autistic employees, - changed the interview process,  - gives them more time show their abilities  - hires substance overfit  (as in from the term job fit or how companies hire based on 'fit') Microsoft is reinventing the wheel! They are changing/transforming the way the system operates (pun intended!😆🤭) 3)  Key takeaway: NEURODIVERSITY can be  a) healthy, b) productive , c) innovative  and  is a COMPETIVE ADVANTAGE for employers  The speaker ends of by saying whether it is ASD, ADHD or whatever don't und...

A mother shared her story about her son's sensory issues and talent in music. I believe her experience is eye-opening for all of us and teaches us many lessons, including but not limited to: 1) Practical Strategies to Cope With Sensory - each have their own ways. For this mother, one of the ways is reducing the frequency of attending events with heavy sensory stimuli (e.g. weddings etc.), and to be prepared to have to take her son out of the venue to a quieter place when he gets overloaded. 2) Accepting your "New Kind of Normal", and even Embracing It. And Finding Your own Happiness  In this mother and son example: No birthday parties. Limited weddings. Dad and Mum not attending weddings together but separately so that one parent can take care of the child at home without the exposure to sensory overload. Doesn't sound like a so-called "typical life", yet as she say " Accept it". Two powerful words! This is her different kind of normal, in the sen...

Purple Parade 2019 is specially significant because of some improvements/enhancements made to the event, to live out the spirit of the event and to listen to the voices of the persons with disabilities. I wrote this Poem in Tribute to Purple Parade 2019 Purple Parade 2019 Progression, Perspectives and Purpose By: Wesley Loh Purple Parade (PP) ,for many people with special needs (PWSNs), is a special Occasion We approach it each year, and playing our part, with Enthusiasm Right from even before the actual day, during periods of campaign Activation A special segment added this year (2019), called Conversations   Serving nice Refreshments More importantly, hearing the voices of us PWSNs who serve as Inclusion Ambassadors, sharing our life stories with Passion And the PWSN Panellists who impart words of Wisdom Creating a platform for many to Learn Hopefully the things Ambassadors and Panellists shared gave some Revelation Then to the Carnival we all proceeded to...

To my readers, you might have read articles or watched videos of such similar popular titles of what not to say to autistics. Well, this is my version, based on my own real life experiences , they are not copied/adapted from other sources. They are not listed in any order of priority/importance. All are important for our well-being, mental health, respect and for us to build bridges in human relationships 1ST THING NOT TO SAY: "why do you <description of behaviour>?" Example: "why do you take what I say so literally". Isn't the answer obvious? Because I am autistic. This question may also hint to the autistic person that you don't accept him/her and wish for him/her to not exhibit such autistic behaviours. Do you realise in some cases we can't help it? Moreover, our autistic brains are wired a certain way. What to say instead : "Let me try to <description of accommodation >". An example: "Let me try to explain it ...

Purple Parade 2019 is specially significant because of some improvements/enhancements made to the event, to live out the spirit of the event and to listen to the voices of the persons with disabilities. I wrote this Poem in Tribute to Purple Parade 2019 Purple Parade 2019 Progression, Perspectives and Purpose By: Wesley Loh Purple Parade (PP) ,for many people with special needs (PWSNs), is a special Occasion We approach it each year, and playing our part, with Enthusiasm Right from even before the actual day, during periods of campaign Activation A special segment added this year (2019), called Conversations   Serving nice Refreshments More importantly, hearing the voices of us PWSNs who serve as Inclusion Ambassadors, sharing our life stories with Passion And the PWSN Panellists who impart words of Wisdom Creating a platform for many to Learn Hopefully the things Ambassadors and Panellists shared gave some Revelation Then to the Carnival we all proceeded to...

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...

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 ...

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...