Links for the cure (to ignorance that is)

11/29/12  Edit.  I have been told that some of these links are dead now.  Some no longer point to Autistic type sites.  I don't have the time nor inclination to fix them, but rather than delete the whole post, I will add this edit as a disclaimer.  click at your own risk.  TTFN




It’s been a while and I really shouldn’t be here now. It’s way past my bedtime, but as usual, I got distracted. Wandered over to a great web site called I am an aspie. and then of course wandered some more. Found the cure for Ignorance Campaign from the Aspergian Pride group. Quite cool and I didn’t get all the way through.
Somewhere in my wanderings tonight, I saw that we don’t suffer from Aspergers, we suffer from Ignorance. Don’t I know it. So I am going tp try to post these links either here or over at my new site. http://www.bouncingoffthewall.com/ If you go there you can see that we have a serious stuff section that talks about the education of all kids and the rights of kids with things like aspergers to get an appropriate education just like the NTs out there.

• Aspergian Pride Celebrating the accomplishments and the inherent worth of autistic people
• Aspies for Freedom An international civil rights activist group
• Aspergia Promoting the development of an Aspergian cultural identity
• Autistic Advocacy A collection of autistic pride articles, with links to discussion groups
• SpectrumHaven Information and chat for all people on the autistic spectrum
• Autistics.org: The Real Voice of Autism Civil rights advocacy and resource links
• No Autistics Allowed Michelle Dawson explores discrimination against autistics in Canada and elsewhere
• Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical A parody of autism research
• Autism Network International A self-help and advocacy organization
• Autism National Committee Promotes the right to self-determination
• CIBRA–Children Injured by Restraints and Aversives An advocacy group of parents and others seeking to end physical abuse of autistics
• Autistic People against Neuroleptic Abuse An advocacy group that warns against dangerous and unnecessary medications
• University Students with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Helpful information and advice for autistic students
• Oddizm Humor, pictures, and civil rights information and links
• Proudly Autistic Autistic pride T-shirts, etc.
• Neurodiversity.com: honoring the variety of human wiring An excellent collection of resource links for understanding the concept of neurodiversity
• Wikipedia on Neurodiversity Wikipedia’s definition of the concept of neurodiversity
• Multi Web Vista’s Neurodiversity Page “Diversity is not just the way we look, but the way we think!”
• Word Spy on Neurodiversity The Word Spy discusses the emerging concept of neurodiversity
• A Place for All An essay about pride and the freedom to be oneself
• Becoming Real An essay describing the joys of being an Aspie
• The Raventones An autistic singer and her folk-jazz band celebrate the idea that human neurodiversity is Spirit-driven and necessary to the unfolding of humankind
• Perspective on Autism in Adults An essay on pride and self-acceptance
• Self Affirmation Pledge Lianne Holliday Willey’s advice on cultivating a positive outlook
• The Kingdom of Laurentius Rex A site promoting positive action
• Reflections by elmindreda Writings discussing the autistic experience
• Autistics Need Acceptance, Not Cure An article critical of “autism awareness”
• Ray’s Autism Page A parent discusses harmful myths and stereotypes
• The Asperger’s Express An autistic child is a “person, not a problem to be fixed.”
• Valerie Paradiz Promotes understanding and acceptance of the autistic community
• On Our Own Terms: Emerging Autistic Culture An article on the history of autistic culture
• Jim Sinclair’s Web Site Personal articles and advocacy for autistic civil rights
• Why Disability Rights Are Not Enough An article discussing employment discrimination
• Curing Neuro-Bigotry “Autism is not a ‘tragedy.’ It is diversity.”
• Why Label? An essay on autistic identity and challenging prejudice
• Wikipedia on Autistic Culture Wikipedia’s article on the development of the autistic culture
• This Way of Life Joel Smith’s site about autism and advocacy
• Celebrating Autistic Parents On the strengths and joys of the autistic family
• Is Asperger’s Syndrome/HFA Necessarily a Disability? Professor Simon Baron-Cohen describes autism as a different cognitive style
• The Discovery of “Aspie” Criteria Tony Attwood and Carol Gray discuss positive traits
• The Gifted Visual Spatial Learner An article about the educational needs of visual spatial learners
• Autism and Computing A site that contains articles discussing the advantages of certain autistic traits in computer-related careers and how computers benefit the autistic population
• Wikipedia on the Autism Rights Movement Wikipedia discusses the campaign for autistic civil rights
• Ventura33’s Neurodiversity Page A discussion of autistic civil rights and a writing challenge on a Star Trek fanfic site
• My Little Rainman An autistic child’s mother describes her pride and joy
• Passing for Neurotypical What it’s like for Aspergian families “in hiding”
• The Hyperlexia Parents Network Helpful articles, success stories, and a discussion forum for parents of hyperlexic children
• Leif’s Page Discussion of neurological differences in information technology, as well as possible genetic origins of such differences, and an “Aspie Quiz” developed by autistics
• AWEtism A mother expresses thankfulness for her blessings; this site sells T-shirts and other merchandise with positive “AWEtism” messages
• Mimestream’s Story An autistic mother shares her thoughts on life, art, and society’s expectations
• Not a Miracle: A Mother’s View of “Autism Awareness” Why it’s offensive to describe a competent autistic person as “a miracle”
• Left Brain/Right Brain Kevin Leitch’s blog about autism and web design
• Autism Diva Commentary on autism statistics, debunking the “epidemic” myth
• Ettina’s Rants Essays on social attitudes toward autism and other neurological differences, with a link to the author’s informational site about various developmental conditions
• Whirled Peas Reflections on life’s puzzling questions and the importance of being oneself
• I’ve Heard Things “A different way of viewing the world and unusual learning methods does not mean that a person is defective or genetically bad”
• For Mothers of Autistic Children A Mother’s Day 2005 wish for acceptance and understanding
• Autism Research and Prenatal Testing Autism researchers are currently developing a prenatal test; routine abortion of autistic children may be less than 10 years away
• The Autistic Distinction An essay on the need for social acceptance of neurological differences as a healthy and natural part of human diversity
• Cheese-a-Phone A proud father’s photos and anecdotes about family life with his two young autistic sons
• Whose Planet Is It Anyway? Blunt comments on civil rights, neurodiversity, and consciousness-raising
• The Autism Prenatal Testing Eugenics Programme A mother asks: Where is the public outcry?
• Cuckoo’s Nest A mother discusses her experiences and her views of autism
• Would you have allowed Bill Gates to be born? Bioethics professor Arthur Caplan discusses the issue of prenatal testing for autism
• Neurodiversity Weblog Kathleen Seidel’s blog discussing her efforts to raise awareness of neurodiversity issues
• Ballastexistenz Amanda Baggs’ blog discussing autistic liberation and disability rights issues
• Neurodiversity Chain Letter A parent’s comments on developing a more tolerant and inclusive society
• Apology What would cause an autism research scientist to resign his position for ethical reasons?
• Just let them be kids “My son and others like him are not defective…”
• Social Minority Group A declaration seeking recognition by the United Nations of the autistic community as a social minority group
• Autistic Success A mother’s views on inclusion and acceptance of autistic children
• Ian Johnson’s neurodiversity blog “In this blog, my main purpose will be to explain the concept of neurodiversity as applied to my own life…”
• Autiemom Speaks Out A mother’s blog advocating social acceptance and respect for autistics
• Homo Autistic: Notes from the Autism Ghetto A blog supporting autistic civil rights
• Special Education and the Concept of Neurodiversity An article on positive approaches toward neurological differences in the classroom
• Autism: Getting the Truth Out An activist site that takes a critical look at autism awareness stereotypes
• Lindadiva’s Autism Rights Page A site discussing prejudice against autistics
• A Changeling’s Alternate Reality Story: Halloween 2005 A tale of becoming, in others’ eyes, something not quite human…
• Asperger’s: making intelligence a disease A professor of psychiatry discusses the emotional harm done to many children by the negative social value judgments in medical and disability labels
• Random reminiscing ramblings A blog dealing with human rights issues in the context of autism
• ASPIES–the place for self-advocacy Advocacy ~ Support ~ Pride ~ Identity ~ Education
• Autvocate A father’s site with discussion and links concerning autism and disabilities rights
• neurodiversity (idea) “The concept that variance in neurological structure adds needed diversity to the human race.”
• A Touch of Alyricism A blog dedicated to the equally fascinating topics of autistic advocacy and the sisterly sophistries of radical gender feminism
• Constructing Autism A professor describes autism as a social construct that arose in the context of the modern world’s anxieties about environmental contamination and cultural and technological change
• The Lucitania Hindenberg Foundation A website that seeks to improve social attitudes toward autism and argues against the use of extreme and negative language such as “catastrophe” in describing the autistic population
• Autistic Pride A forum for positive events and thoughts relating to autism spectrum conditions
• Farewell to Holland A response to the widely circulated essay “Welcome to Holland” about raising a child with a disability
• Autist Art: Autism with an Attitude An online source for autistic pride and anti-cure merchandise, with links to autistic advocacy sites
• Neurodiversity: In Praise of Dappled Things An essay on appreciating the beauty of natural differences as a part of God’s creation
• Say it loud, autistic and proud A magazine article describing autistic activists’ struggle to establish basic rights and to end prejudice and discrimination
• Autistic Conjecture of the Day A blog that highlights the absurdity of all the unfounded speculation about causes of autism
• Aspies.co.uk A parent writes: These sensitive, intelligent people have so much to offer I don’t believe they should be “cured” or forced to be “normal”
• Susan Senator A mother writes about her emotional journey to acceptance and understanding of her autistic son
• Autistics Speak An article that challenges the disability stereotypes perpetuated by groups such as Autism Speaks and the resulting prejudices
• Tales of an Aspie Freedom Fighter A blog that discusses the autistic civil rights movement from a personal viewpoint, with the focus on the motivation and mind-set of those involved
• Autism’s Edges A mother’s blog on life, love, and learning with a child at the edges of the autism spectrum
• Outlander!, or, Whose Neurodiversity is It, Anyway? “At its heart, neurodiversity is about the worth each of us have by our very existence…”
• The Joy of Autism The blog of a mother who writes that she is learning to look at the world through her son’s transparent coloured blocks
• Action For Autism Parental concerns, the dangers of quack treatments, and the importance of positive language are among the topics discussed by a father in his blog
• 29 Marbles A father’s thoughts and discussion on autism and its impact on individuals and society
• Autistic Culture “Here you can read about autism and the many aspects of our culture from the perspective of people on the autistic spectrum.”
• Processing in Parts The author describes her blog as “notes from my own corner — or spectral line — of the autistic spectrum”
• Autismland A mother’s blog, which she describes as “The Autism Reality Show starring Charlie”
• MOM - Not Otherwise Specified “On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction”
• Autism Hub Autism Hub takes the best in autism related blogging and pulls it all together in one easy-to-access interface
• Autism Demonized A blog monitoring and detailing the ways in which autism and autistic people are demonized and dehumanized, and the real-life consequences for autistic people
• The Voyage A mother’s blog about life, family, home-education and autism
• A Matter of Perspective An essay on society’s attitudes toward disability and eugenics
• Autism - Natural Variation Dispels crackpot theories of autism, criticizes questionable treatments, attacks stereotypes and demeaning descriptions, and highlights good science
• Abnormaldiversity A blog opposing neurological discrimination and asserting the value of all human beings
• Rett Devil A woman with Rett syndrome writes: “your kids can do more, and they want to do more, and they need to do more. Join me in raising some hell”
• Commentary on the State of the World A former ABA therapist advocates understanding of differences and acceptance of neurodiversity
• A Disturbing Timepiece A mother writes: “Eugenics is a scary word for anyone who believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, the term becomes especially scary for me when it’s used in reference to my own children”
• Autism: Deal With It! A blogger who calls himself “The Autistic Jedi” goes into battle against prejudice, seeking to turn our society away from the Dark Side
• Autism for Parents A good starting point for parents trying to learn more about autism, with information and links to a wide variety of resources - both on and offline
• Hard Won Wisdom A mother writes: “As a parent and teacher… here is the blog never around when I needed it. I hope it helps!”
• The Rettdevil’s Rants A blog about disability rights and the fight against bigotry and hypocrisy
• Autism Vox A blog in which an autism mother gets on her soapbox
• Simul Justis et Pecator A blog that addresses a variety of issues related to neurodiversity, disability rights, and gender identity
• Aspie Dad An autistic father writes about his family: “We are happy, independent people with advanced college degrees (well, our son doesn’t have one - yet) and have a good life…”
• Autism, Life and Liberty A Texas father comments on his love for his autistic son and the need for our society to learn tolerance and acceptance of neurological differences
• Neurodiversity and Democracy An article that addresses the need for modern democracies to accept neurological differences as a natural and beneficial subset of human diversity
• Mum is Thinking A mother’s blog about raising an autistic child (as an autistic adult), painting, homeschooling, and family
• Andrea’s Buzzing About A blog that discusses autistic human rights issues from a social theory perspective
• The Autism Acceptance Project A Canadian nonprofit group that seeks to tap into human potential and dignity
• Aspies Inc. Is Asperger Syndrome a disability or a gift? YES.
• It’s All Okay A mother writes: “Our future is bright and promising. This beautiful child grows and reaches new heights every day. Yeah, he’s not typical. But is that really such a terrible thing?”
• My Act of Combating Neurobigotry A modern-day gladiator goes into the arena of cyberspace to do battle for autistic civil rights
• My Quirky Boy A mom writes about her life with her three-year-old son, who “has Autism, and that is not a bad thing, it does not mean that there is anything wrong with him, or that he needs to be fixed”
• Abby’s Neurodiversity Blog Information and opinions about issues affecting the autistic community today
• Beautiful Autism A father’s home video of a happy and cherished autistic daughter
• Autistic Pride Day Blog Photos and stories about two beautiful and proud young autistic dancers who perform to raise awareness of neurodiversity
• Autistic Video Videos, animations, and music videos made by people on the autistic spectrum
• The Face of Autism A brother shows his love for his autistic sister through a video
• Jared at the Park A father’s view of his “beautiful boy” running around and playing
• I’m An Aspie An inspirational site that discusses strategies for the autistic life
• What are they thinking? The blog of a proud mother of six children, five of whom are autistic
• Don’t Mourn for Us Video A video montage of an autistic child’s first three years
• The Autism Acceptance Project Video A video celebrating the lives of autistic artists and people
• The Autism Life Resources and a discussion forum to help parents, caregivers, family, and friends learn about autism
• Me by the Sea A mother writes: “We are simply loving our daughter, and all we can do is hope we are doing the right things. We hope that with our love & acceptance, she will bloom in her own beautiful way.”
• Beautiful Child The story of an autistic boy and his family learning and loving and growing together… a story of acceptance for all children regardless of labels
• Life in the New Republic A mother describes her life with an autistic son and how she finds the Jedi philosophies of Star Wars to be useful
• Acceptance, Wouldn’t It Be Nice A video of a young autistic child playing in the ocean and hugging his mother
• With a Child’s Heart Scenes from an autistic boy’s day at home and at preschool
• The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network A nonprofit organization providing support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum while working to change public perception and combat misinformation by educating communities
• The Autism Crisis Michelle Dawson’s blog about the science and ethics of autism advocacy
• Ed’s Autism Page The blog of an autistic man who believes “that autism can be seen in better ways, respect can encourage potential in everyone, and there are many ways to celebrate diversity.”
• Whitterer on Autism A mother comments upon the more humorous aspects of keeping company with autistic children
• Incorrect Pleasures The blog of an autistic stay-at-home mom who collects interesting facts and figures involving autistic culture and other related themes
• The Vision Splendid A father envisions a day when “all neurodivergent people will be seen for the beautiful and fascinating individuals they are, and the word ‘normal’ shall be rendered forever meaningless.”
• How to Spot Bias in Research In a column written for the Association for Psychological Science, Professor Morton Ann Gernsbacher points out how research on autistics and other groups is often biased by unfounded assumptions
• The Posautive YouTube Group A large collection of positive videos featuring autistic people
• The Art of Understanding The blog of a self-identified autistic who writes that he also self-identifies as gay and doesn’t have a diagnosis for that either
• Kitties Ate My Tricorder TR Kelley’s blog about neurodiversity, collecting cat whiskers, and random acts of kindness
• Autism Issues A father seeks to share his journey, past and present, showing the joy and problems of autism
• In My Language A video about different ways of interacting with the world
• Aspie Home-Education “A parent who really desires to understand his child does not look at him through the screen of an ideal…”
• Gestalt An autism and psychology discussion forum
• The Beach on Autism Island A group blog by mothers who imagine themselves on a beach of “pure white sand, with seagulls calling and children laughing as the moms sit in comfy beach chairs, sipping drinks with little umbrellas.”
• Club 166 Where a dad of two great kids (one on the autism spectrum) muses about life
• ‘Normal’ shouldn’t be only acceptable realm A mother observes that “autistic teens and adults are speaking out against the prevailing attitude that their personality and behavioral traits constitute a disease that needs to be cured. And they’re right.”
• Mom Embracing Autism The blog of a busy homeschooling mom of 4 children, one of whom is autistic
• Existence is Wonderful A blog about transhumanism, radical life extension, and neurodiversity
• Autism Parents Forum A forum for pro-neurodiversity parents of autistic kids
• This Is Who I Really Am An autistic blogger who signs herself “unashamed” writes about her love of life
• Asperger Square 8 “We all have labels, acknowledged or not, because the world has an unmanageable number of facets…”
• Pictures of You A slideshow of a parent’s pictures of a happy little girl
• One Dad’s Opinion A father writes: “I have three cherished sons, one of whom is autistic, and this occurrence in my life has opened my eyes to the sometimes wonderful, always interesting world of autistic perspective.”
• Posautive A site highlighting videos with positive content about autistic people
• Life With Joey A mother of “two lovely boys, one with autism” shares her experiences
• The Reason: The Joy of Adam Images of a little boy growing, learning, and enjoying life
• Astrid’s Journal A young woman who is blind and autistic blogs about disability rights
• Autism Bites A father writes a humorous account of his life with six autistic children
• The Spectra Quarterly An online quarterly journal aimed at the professional community, about autism, written by autistics.
• The Pentecostal Pariah A mother of three children, two of whom are on the autistic spectrum, writes of her life as “a good but imperfect member of God’s family.”
• Autism Isn’t All Negatives! An autistic teenager writes about his experiences and advocates acceptance of neurodiversity
• Wherein I Talk To Myself The blog of a young, liberal, autistic autodidact writing about whatever is on her mind
• Autista A blog about a father’s attempts to be useful to his eleven-year-old son who has an autism diagnosis
• What Kind Of World Do We Want “The only kind of normal is diversity”
• An Autistic Speaks About Autism Speaks A “Daily Kos” article from the neurodiversity side of the autism debate
• Slow and Steady The blog of a creative, married mom of 2 boys with developmental delays
• Society for the Prevention of Autism Prevention An autistic university student blogs about her life and thoughts
• Dyssocial Butterfly The journal of an autistic person who envisions a world “where people of all shapes and sizes and abilities and differences are accommodated and celebrated”
• Autistic Input A blog about autistic integration and involvement in society
• Dr. Morton Ann Gernsbacher’s Laboratory Autism and language comprehension research articles
• And Stimming With Rainbows of Every Design The blog of an autistic teen who wants the world to become autistic-friendly
• My thoughts on… An autistic woman blogs about her advocacy work and future research in the field of autism
• Biodiverse Resistance A blog “in defence of biodiversity in all its forms, liberty, equality and the freedom to be different”
• It is not a disease, it is a way of life A news article about the campaign to celebrate difference, rather than cure it
• humans A website advocating for, and providing information to, people on the autistic spectrum and their friends and families
• D and DJ’s Weekend Two autistic boys who communicate with keyboards become close friends
• My Autistic Boy and Other Adventures in Fatherhood A dad’s anecdotes about family life
• An Unauthorized Neurotypical Thinks and Feels Among Boxes A girlfriend of an Aspie contemplates neurodiversity issues and what it means to be normal
• Liv’s Journey A father describes his life with five children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum

Starting out

I have no idea what I am doing. That won't last long. I can teach myself anything I set my mind to.. But If I don't post something I'll forget this is mine. I think I have another one, but all it says is Under construction. Sounds like me\\

TTFN

Right, Half Right, Wrong? Political correctness in the classroom

I’ve really been stuck lately. I have been told that I have an over developed sense of right and wrong. I have a hard time finding fault with that but it does cause problems for me and at least one of my kids, (who also has Aspergers).

School textbooks really annoy me. I need to preface all this by saying that I thoroughly agree that the omission of blacks in history was deplorable, however I do not agree that we should over compensate, by eliminating everyone else’s contributions and attributing them to others because we feel guilty? No kind of incorrect political correctness is fair to the kids.

Example: My daughter’s textbook stated that after the native Americans, a Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable settled the land that is now Chicago. Across the top of the page was the banner Black History. I would never have even seen this section of the book, if my daughter hadn’t been frustrated over a work sheet she was doing. There were 2 questions that had her stumped. The first asked who first settled the area and the second asked the date . For the first she entered the Native Americans as her answer but the only date mentioned in her book was the date that Du Sable built his house. Since the book clearly stated that Du Sable was the first Non-Native American, she was upset that she couldn’t find any date for the Native Americans. Well as it turned out of course, the answer that “the book wanted” for the settler was Du Sable. even though it was an incorrect answer. This infuriated me. I went to the internet, pulled up the Chicago public library and found a timeline. Not only was Du Sable not first, but he wasn’t even second. The Explorers Marquette and Joliet are not even mentioned in her book. They were in the area almost 100 years prior and helped make the river area well known. Later a Jesuit started a mission before Du Sable came, So to be PC we ignore the Native Americans and the first Explorers

And then of course if we do consider the book correct why then are the Native Americans mentioned but then discarded as if they didn’t count. Isn’t that just as bad as leaving blacks out of history.

When I questioned this all I got was, what the book was looking for. I was taught that if a question can have more than one answer, then the question wasn’t a valid question. I still hold that unless the question asked who was the first non Native American who settles Chicago, then my daughter’s answer was correct.

Now I am not just upset because she got an answer wrong, she still got an A in the class, but it’s the inconsistencies, and the "read and mindlessly regurgitate, what the other person wants to hear" that I don’t like. Then I remember the Aspergers.

When someone asks me how I feel, I don’t just nod and say fine, I tell them. My dad always says, “What ya doing” when he calls you on the phone. I don’t say, not much, or “waiting for you to call” like he does. I tell him! Even if I am writing code or something else really technical. And if you ask me if your outfit makes you look fat, I’ll tell you. Why would I let you wear something that looks awful on you if I can help it. If you don't want the answer, don't ask. Not very good at chit chat am I.

So that’s what it’s like in my world