Romney: None so Blind

My son, known to readers as Amigo, stands with his white can and tells a good joke.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, isn't funny. Mitt is gaining notoriety for his bullying behavior in high school, behavior he calls "dumb things." I'd take it farther than just dumb or dumber.

To read the rest of the post, go to the new URL for Compost Happens. Trust me. It's all there. 

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Teacher Profiling - hearing aid compatible version

Ah, readers. You've come through for me in the past. I'm working on a post describing what it's like to be a hearing impaired person teaching in a virtual school. Here's my draft. Let me know what you think. Since I hit copy and paste, I've already made three changes. Five. Now I've lost count.

I entered the teaching field armed with a music degree, two teaching licenses, and two powerful hearing aids. The degree and teaching licenses got me hired; the hearing aids helped me thrive. My condition is a progressive loss, one that has worsened with time and will continue to change as I grow older. This loss is due to nerve damage, and hearing aids are the correct and only treatment. As my hearing loss worsened, I looked for an alternative to a traditional classroom setting, and Wisconsin Connections Academy attracted my attention. I was fascinated by the variety of families enrolled, the unique program, and the commitment to learning, and the enthusiasm for technology in education.

My hearing loss is only one part of who I am as a teacher. Sometimes I need small modifications, or reasonable accommodations as the law calls them. This was easy for WCA; all of the headsets are hearing aid compatible. My students and my coworkers take my hearing loss in stride.

At one time I taught students with hearing impairments – not as a specialist, but as their regular classroom teacher. The presence of a role model, a professional with the same disability they had, motivated these children more than any lesson I could teach. I hope that my current students see my disability, when they think of it at all, as an example that they, too, can succeed, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

Well, readers? I feel like it's still rather stiff, rather bland. Help me out, please?

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Next election: we're ready

One election down, another coming up in one month. In one month, Wisconsinites will decide who will challenge current Governor Scott Walker in a recall election. At least one young voter is ready.

Amigo uses an adaptive voting machine called an Auto Mark. It scans the ballot, reads it aloud (with headphones to preserve the voter's privacy), and at the push of a button, marks his vote.

When he was finished, he proudly wore his sticker.

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What's Goal Ball?

I asked the same question at first. Amigo explained the playing techniques, but I still couldn't picture it. I looked it up online and found out that goalball was developed after WWII as a sport for blind veterans. Today the unique game is part of paralympics, and many schools for blind students have a competitive team.

Amigo's team lost a close one, a heartbreaker of a game in overtime, to eliminate them from the conference competition. The coach arranged an informal scrimmage with the team from Iowa so that both teams could play a little more. These pictures are from the scrimmage.

First: Amigo is not sleeping. He is in ready position with his arms and legs stretched out to cover as much space as possible. If the ball comes his way, he will block it.

You may have noticed details about the gear. Players wear hockey shorts, the padded kind, along with knee and elbow pads. All players also wear covered goggles or sleep shades to eliminate any residual vision they might have. The goggles prevent a player with some vision from having an advantage over a totally blind competitor. All players compete totally sightless.

The ball itself is soccer ball size, hollow, with bells inside it. Players track the ball by listening intently. They keep track of their positions on the court by calling for a "tap" - a player to slap the floor. In this photo, Amigo is the right wing. The girl in the middle is the center. Before he rolled the ball, he called, "Center Tap!" and she slapped the floor so he could hear where she was and plan his throw. All this happens quickly; the team must get rid of the ball within ten seconds.


Here goes the throw - or more precisely, a roll. If the ball appears a bit blurry, that's because Amigo rolled it quickly. In fact, he rolled it so low and so quickly that the bells were effectively silenced - a technique that makes blocking difficult. He scored on this one. Yeah, Amigo!

Goalball. It's unique, it's fun, it's competitive. And when the competition is over, the team members socialize with an awards ceremony and a dance. The tournament? Great. The opportunity to socialize with other teenage blind athletes? Priceless.

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Celebrating Abilities Week and more

Sometimes there are just too many celebrations and commemoration days/weeks/months. This week in my fair city the downtown area and the school district have their version of Disability Awareness. In our neck of the woods, we call it Celebrating Abilities. I've had concerns about the way this group has portrayed disabled people as cute, incapable, very needy children. In the past few years they have changed their focus for the better. A few years ago they sponsored a recital that included a blind violinist and a cellist with one arm. Both are very talented musicians.

This year the theme is faces: the face of disability. Promotional posters feature adults, many of whom work at Goodwill Industries. It's a step forward, but also a step back, as the majority of the poster models have cognitive disabilities.

Why not take this a step farther? Follow a disabled adult like me through a normal workday. It might be dull, and maybe that's the point. I need some accommodations, but I'm an average, everyday professional on the job. I'm not a poster child for anything; I'm a teacher. A teacher with a hearing impairment, yes, but mainly a teacher.

I announced my new hearing aids to my coworkers via email, the norm in our online environment. I explained that I was adjusting to the new technology and they might need to bear with me for a little while. Within three minutes I had several replies, all positive.

One called me a good sport and an inspiration.

One thanked me for educating him about hearing loss.

Several wished me good luck with the transition.

One put a lump in my throat with her supportive comments.

This is the reality of being a disabled person. In some work environments, my hearing loss was basis for bullying and ridicule. In a positive work climate, dealing with my disability is not a big deal. My coworkers and I simply, well, deal with it, pass the coffee, and get back to work.

October's calendar also sports a depression awareness movement. Our wellness department, officially called the Office of Lifestyle Enhancement, included in their newsletter a short paragraph and several information links. One year ago, I could have been the poster model for this devastating illness. I'm recovering - not recovered yet, but making major progress. Working with positive people is a huge factor in developing peace of mind. A safe workplace makes a big difference as I'm healing - and beyond.

If you're interested, here are the links:

www.mentalhealthscreening.org

www.healthyminds.org

www.nami.org

www.wfmh.org

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New Decor: Amigo's Awards

We've redecorated, courtesy of Amigo. I've actually had these up for several weeks, but I didn't have a picture. Amigo thought the picture would make a good Wordless Wednesday. Oops, I just added words!

These are Amigo's awards from school! They included participation awards and special recognition, too. The plaque on the left is for the highest point total for a beginner in Forensics. the plaque on the right is a sportsmanship award for wrestling.

Here's the close-up of his school letter. He earned the letter and pins for track, drama, and forensics. Impressive, at least in my view!

I'll keep them up until they get dusty or until something else comes up. It's fun to look at evidence of his success every time we come in the room. All in all, he's a pretty awesome teenager.

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Fun with Closed Captioning

Closed captioning can be entertaining.

There was the time I was watching an Olympic hockey game (USA vs. Canada: USA! USA!) and the closed captioner typed "honky talent" instead of "hockey talent."

How about this one: "Inaudible lyrics."

Then there was the Piggly Wiggly commercial - or was it just a sponsored voice-over? - that should have read Shop the Pig but instead was captioned "Slop the Pig."

How about the captioner for the Today Show that had Hoda saying "Good Booze Day Morning!" instead of Tuesday morning?

Did you see the opera singer who competed on The Biggest Loser? She was on the Today Show, and the captioner wrote Oprah for Opera. Now I know Oprah's all over the headlines right now, but she's not an opera. Not yet.

A political hot potato turned into "hot spot state toes." The discussion was a federal budget issue, too, not a state conflict. Not that my fair state of Wisconsin is lacking in political conflicts....

Chuck turns off the closed captioning when he watches Gordon Ramsey for two reasons: 1. I can't stand the guy. 2. The captioning consists of "(bleep) (bleep) (bleep)."

Enough already. Or do I mean Enough All Red Ye?

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Not everyone loves the rising phoenix

God help you if you are a phoenix

and you dare to rise up from the ash

a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy

while you are just flying past

--Ani DiFranco, "32 Flavors"

The quote from "32 Flavors" resonates with me, and not necessarily the way DiFranco intended when she wrote the song. Recently I told my family that I am tired of being a trailblazer. I'm hearing impaired. I teach, I write, and no one in the school district seems to know what to do with me. They're accustomed to shuttling their disabled students off to special classes, but a disabled, capable, professional? They're stumped.

Maybe the image from DiFranco's song is what I need. If I can re-imagine my role not as the one out front stepping in front of the crowd, leading the way through the mud and getting slashed with low-hanging branches, if I can envision instead the phoenix rising from the ashes, it might give me the strength to fight my battles and leave a good, clear path for those who follow.

It's not easy being - well, it's like Kermit the Frog. It's not easy being different. I wonder if some perceive my success as somehow easier, rather than harder, than theirs. Do they think I got a break because I don't hear well? I have a hearing aid compatible phone. I.T. provided me with a longer cord so the computer monitor doesn't interfere with my telecoil setting. Those reasonable accommodations, however, didn't make teaching easier than it is for other, non-disabled teachers. These accommodations merely leveled the playing field.

Now I'm moving to a new position, one that I feel will be a better fit for my abilities than attempting to hear and react to a large, noisy classroom. I applied for and got this job through seniority, not through disability. I hope no one thinks I've jumped the line by virtue of my hearing loss. Then again, who cares? Anyone who thinks so is wrong. I know what the truth is, and if I rise from the ashes on my own, it's a gain for all around me.

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To ADA or not to ADA?

"Don't throw ADA at me; it makes me angry."

Let's set aside for the moment the fact that the principal who growled this at me was actually quoting the wrong law; he should have said "IDEA" or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This quote is a strong memory from Amigo's primary years. We'd reminded the principal that he needed to use appropriate methods for dealing with a blind child, and he put on an attitude. That attitude was part of his problem; he didn't want to recognize the need for reasonable accommodation, much less take responsibility for accommodating for a student's disability.

Now the position is different. I'm seeking reasonable accommodation for my hearing loss. I've handled all necessary adaptation for fifteen years - buying and maintaining hearing aids (not covered by insurance), working with the IT dept. to get a usable phone and a slightly longer cord so the computer didn't interfere with the telecoil settings on my hearing aids.

Now I'm seeking a preferential placement: one that will allow me to use my teaching skills, but not constantly adapt to noise levels around me. It's taking forever, and I don't feel supported. Thanks to our clueless governor, when our contract expires in July, I may no longer have a professional association for support, either.

ADA, however, is a federal law, not state. It should still work in my favor. I'm not talking about a lawsuit or taking anyone to court; I'm just looking for a way to continue teaching despite my disability.

Documenting this disability feels impossible. I jumped through hoops to get an appointment with the Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor (ENT), who told me he couldn't write what I needed because he had no knowledge of teaching. He then referred me to a doctor in Occupational Medicine. My regular clinic wouldn't take me unless I get a referral from my employer or it's a workers' compensation case. The other large medical group in town agreed to make an appointment. Now I just have to worry about whether or not this doctor can write the letter I need.

This garbage is not helping my depression recovery. Not a bit.

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Daisy and the Gatekeeper

Actual phone call with clinic; I am not making this up.

Me: I'd like to make an appointment to see Doctor DHH (deaf- hard of hearing).

Gatekeeper: Regarding?

Me: Creating a letter discussing medical accommodations for my job.

Gatekeeper: Oh, we don't make appointments for that. He just writes a letter.

Me: He already wrote a letter, and my attorney says it's not suitable.

Gatekeeper: In what way?

Me: It needs to be specific, suggesting an accommodation and giving a medical reason for that accommodation. I need to talk to Dr. DHH. Could you please check his schedule?

Gatekeeper: We write letters to employers all the time. The one you have should be sufficient.

Me: I've run it by my attorney, and she says it's not specific enough. I'd like to talk to Dr. DHH so we can draft a new one.

Gatekeeper: We send these out all the time to employers and SSI for disability cases. No one has ever had a problem with this.

Me: Please schedule an appointment for me so we can resolve the letter completely.

Gatekeeper: Oh, no, instead let's see what's in your file.
Me: (pacing next to phone)

Gatekeeper: Okay, he sent a more detailed letter to your family doctor and a short one to you. You picked it up two days ago.

Me: Yes. I have it. It's a short summary, and it needs detail. Maybe Dr. DHH could call me.

Gatekeeper: Let's see if the family doctor letter has what you need. We could send that one.

Me:(pausing while she looks it up)

Gatekeeper: Maybe you don't need a doctor's letter at all. You just need the audiology report.

Me: No, I've already asked. I need a letter from an MD. If I need to include audiograms, I have several years of them on file.

Gatekeeper: Oh, Dr. DHH won't need more. He has the one from November.

Me: If he needs to show that the loss is progressive, he'll need a series of audiograms over time.

Gatekeeper: Oh.

Me: Shall we schedule an appointment?

Gatekeeper: No, I'll ask Dr. DHH if we should use the medical letter.

Me (firmly, but politely): I will stop by to pick up a copy. Do not send it to my employer until I've reviewed it with my attorney.

Gatekeeper: Oh. Well...

Me: I'll pick it up Monday morning. See you then!

Notes: I managed to make an appointment a week later by going through a different receptionist. Dr. DHH was appalled to hear that his "gatekeeper" had refused to schedule my appointment the first time I called. We're still working on the disability documentation, but at least I made it one more step up the ladder.

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Fit in or stand out?

"Why do you try so hard to fit in when you were made to stand out?"

This quote turned up again, this time in my Plurk network. It strikes me in a sensitive place, as always.

I am different.

I have a hearing loss.

I wear two hearing aids.

And...

I teach.

I am educated.

I am articulate.

So which is it? In education we claim to value differences. However, I see more pressure to conform, pressure to follow the same path and be just like the others. We differentiate and adapt for our students, but not for each other.

Being a teacher and being different do not mesh well.

I may not always hear you perfectly, but when I know what you've said, I can address it and answer you in complete sentences. My hearing loss didn't stop me from earning an undergraduate degree from a Conservatory of Music and a graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I can write a research paper and quote the studies that support each point I make. I can write a letter that's short and succinct and yet complete enough for the newspaper to publish. I can write a grant application that brings my class and my school much-needed money.

So which is it? Square peg or round hole? Fit in or stand out?

I still don't know.

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Amigo gets athletic, takes show on the road

"Mom, you should write a post about me and wrestling and going to Ohio."

Wow. The teenager wants me to post about him? Cool! And his new involvement in athletic competition is cool, too.

He called us Saturday night as they got on the bus to come home from a wrestling meet in Ohio. The state schools for the blind compete against each other, which means travel. Road Trip! Amigo enjoys road trips, so this is just another piece of the whole positive experience. He can tell me the route they took to get from Wisconsin to the other schools, the choices of highways if there are more options than one. He packs his armband radio and explores the states by finding local radio stations and getting local flavor.

Back to Saturday night. He talked about the meet, how he'd done, and the ribbon he had that he could bring home. Of course we talked about the upcoming Super Bowl - did you have any doubts, readers? He's as wild and crazy a Packers fan as I am. As his bus rumbled down the Ohio turnpike, Amigo shared updates of the meet and I shared updates from home, including Super Bowl plans.

Sunday night he called again. There was one more adventure on the road; the bus broke down near Champaign, Illinois. The repair was major, a new bus had to come get them, and they arrived back at their dorms in Wisconsin at (are you ready for this?) 5:30 A.M. Sunday. Ouch. He slept until noon, and was still tired when we talked to him Sunday night.

Wrestling is his third sport this year. Amigo started the year in track and field, then participated in Goal Ball, and followed those with wrestling. We were amazed at first; he's a sports fan, but other than the Challenger League summer baseball, he'd never competed in team sports.

He's had a great experience in many, many ways. Enjoying practice with his peers, making progress in his own abilities, surprising himself in competition, win or lose.

And then there were the road trips. He and I might have to do more road tripping next summer; he has so many stories to tell, and being on the road is a great way to bond and share tales.

As long as he doesn't expect me to wrestle with him, all will be well.

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My part of the Compassion Project

The Compassion Project is an art project, a mosaic, made by students all over our fair city.

The Compassion Project inspired discussion, thought, and potentially acts of compassion.

Students decorated tiles to become part of a large mosaic. Teachers could volunteer to decorate a tile for the mosaic, too, so I offered to make one. Mine is still sitting, blank, in the kitchen. I have ideas, but I'm still struggling with the details.

I really want to emphasize visual and hearing impairments, disabilities. I thought about incorporating more disabilities into my 6" x 6" tile, but decided to keep it personal and stick with what I know. I can't use La Petite's "Touching Words" photo; I would need to take my own picture. Another idea: I could create a border using the word compassion in Braille. We have a Braille embosser and a labeler, too; the Braille border would look good.

But hearing impairment is harder to portray as visual art. I could use American Sign Language, finger spelling the word compassion, but finger spelling isn't really accurate. The true sign for compassion would be an active sign, incorporating motion that won't fit on a small tile in a mosaic. A photo of hearing aids, side by side with the Braille? Maybe, but that seems lame. There must be something better.

A quote might be nice. A quote in the middle, surrounded by a Braille border spelling compassion or rewriting the quote itself, could be effective. Maybe the quote could reference hearing impairment.

There is Helen Keller's "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." It's a good sentiment, but the quote is overused. I'd rather find something else.

Here's one from actress Marlee Matlin: "It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using."

Then there is "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were made to stand out?" I saw this first in DeafMom's blog. She tells me it comes from the movie What a Girl Wants.

I'm looking for a way to represent hearing impairment on a 6" by 6" ceramic tile with a Braille border. Simplicity is good; it will be part of a mosaic with hundreds of other identically sized tiles, each illustrating compassion in some way. My tile can stand out or blend in. Ideas, readers?

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Money Management and Teens

My "kids" are growing up and handling their own money, when they have it. The recession and its credit bust, especially the sub-prime mortgage crisis, made me think again about the importance of growing up money-smart.

La Petite had to manage her budget as soon as she moved into a college apartment. We paid the rent, she split the utilities with her roommate, and she and her roommate handled the daily expenses such as food, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. Oh, yes, I almost forgot - and bunny food and litter box refills.

La Petite had a summer job when she was in high school, babysitting a young girl during the parents' workday. She worked at a big box store's garden center when she was home from college. These jobs provided a chance to develop a work ethic and a chance to handle a bank account. Her checking account is held jointly with me - mainly so I could handle deposits and withdrawals while she was gone to college in a different city.

Amigo's situation is a little different. Teens on the autism spectrum sometimes have a hard time understanding the value of money. He has a bank account (again, jointly held with me, the mom-type person), and uses his own money for a few things. He doesn't have rent or food expenses because he lives in a dorm weekdays, so we parents have to give serious thought to finding ways to help him learn to handle money.

Money management practice needs to be authentic. Playing games, holding discussions, and teaching him scripted money lessons are not very useful. He needs to plan the shopping trip, load his wallet, and go. Last weekend he took his girlfriend to McDonald's. Simple, yes, but a perfect way to find out how much a fast food meal costs and decide if it's a worthwhile use of his dollars.

Debit cards and especially credit cards can strike fear into the hearts of parents of teens. American Express PASS program can help. A PASS card is a reloadable prepaid card that parents can obtain for their teens. It looks like a credit or debit card, so teens won't stick out socially by having a "different" card in their wallet. Since it's prepaid, there is no danger of overspending. The Amex PASS card is accepted anywhere that takes American Express. Parents have control over loading funds, monitoring spending, and even disabling/ enabling the use of ATMs if necessary. Gradually weaning teens from the parental control, letting them make small but correctable mistakes, can be part of the learning process.

My teen is 18 going on 19, older than the target age, but this kind of card would be a useful tool for him. He could learn to keep track of his money online, a more accessible option than a print statement (he's blind). He couldn't overspend, so we'd need to talk over budgets and priorities before hitting the stores. Timing is good right now, too; Amigo loves Christmas and everything involved, including gift shopping.

American Express PASS card has made me think. And when it comes to teaching money management, thinking is an important first step.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of American Express and received a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate. I did not receive an American Express PASS card as part of the review process; they provided the information and the link to their web site. Check out the site; it's easy to navigate and full of useful information.

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A radio - or a radio?

The first thing Amigo does when we enter a hotel room is follow this routine: take off his shoes, stretch out on a bed, and fiddle with the clock radio. He did this on Sunday night, but all didn't go as planned. Instead of music or news, we kept hearing frogs. And crickets. and babbling, bubbling water.

"Mom, how does this work? Can you help me get real radio?" This from the teenager who can figure out just about any electronic device, despite being unable to see it or read the labels.

Well, I took a closer look and found this:

The "Listen to" section was set to Brook. We had options of Ocean, Wind Chimes, or Music/Radio. If we used the clock's alarm feature, we could choose to wake up to a standard buzzer, a high pitched bell, cathedral bells, or radio. I showed him the buttons, and he figured out what he needed - a country music station. Of course - we were on a trip sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio, and he was listening to Country.

Somehow, in the process of exploring all the buttons, Amigo must have set the alarm. Around midnight the buzzer sounded. In his sleep - he remembered not a bit of this the next morning - he rolled over, turned it off, and made himself comfortable again.

Then we went back to sleep, eventually waking up to (drumroll) Amigo's talking clock and its rooster alarm.

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What is Normal? Who is Normal?

"But you seem so normal!" It was a phrase in a post from Deafmom, a post she titled "You're not really deaf, are you?" This one got me thinking - a dangerous pastime, I know.

Normal = neuro-typical, non disabled.
Normal = typical, following the norm.
Normal = expected, unsurprising.
Normal = cool forehead, no fever.
Normal = just another sheep following the herd.

Is Normal good or bad? Is Normal something in between? Is Normal a comfort level, don't rock the boat, or is Normal that's-the-way-we've-always-done-it?

• Does Normal have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)?
• Does Normal need an adapted cell phone?
• Does Normal stay in the background or insist on action?
• Is Normal pink, red, or mauve?
• Does Normal get on the right track, just stand there and wait to get run over?
• Does Normal slow for yellow lights or speed up?
• Does Normal walk to school or take her lunch?

The last one is the really telling question. "Normal" in the sense of non-disabled or neuro-typical is a label that doesn't really make sense. It implies that the disabled person is someone out of the norm, out of the mainstream, off the track. It implies that the person with a disability isn't one of the crowd, sticks out, doesn't belong.

"Normal" doesn't need to go the way of the R-word (retarded). Normal is, after all, a city in Illinois. But all of us, not just the so-called Normal folk, need to think before we speak. Telling a disabled person that they are not Normal is inaccurate, hurtful, and just wrong.

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Good fiction featuring characters with autism

Parents and teachers of children with autism, friends of people with Asperger's, people who know the ropes and recognize the characteristics will appreciate these books. Some intentionally include characters with autism as major or important supporting characters. Others feature characters that fit so precisely on the spectrum I have to say it.



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Imagine a novel with chapters numbered in prime numbers. That's just one unique twist in British author Mark Haddon's Curious Incidentof the Dog in the Night-time.


The Truth Out There
I read this book aloud to my sixth grade class a few years ago. The computer game element, the potential for alien sightings, skateboarding and other age-appropriate elements all make this mystery a page-turner. Asperger's Syndrome is an important piece of the puzzle.


Al Capone Does my Shirts
This Newbery honor book reveals the impact of autism on the entire family and the challenge in seeking appropriate educational placements and services. The historical element of the story lends an interesting perspective because autism wasn't a known diagnosis at the time. The parents just know their daughter needs help; a lot of specialized help.


Rules is another Newbery honor book that depicts the impact of autism on a family. By noted author Cynthia Lord, Rules is written in first person from the perspective of the disabled child's older sister. An interesting character in this story is another disabled young person, and the plot twists tightly as he find his place socially with the neurotypical and non-disabled students.


The Art of Keeping Cool
Set on the east coast of the U.S. during WWII, The Art of Keeping Cool involves two high school boys, an authoritarian grandfather, and a German refugee artist. The main character's cousin Elliot shows so many autistic-like traits that I'm certain a real-life Elliot would be on the spectrum. An "aha" moment for Elliot is the day he realizes his actions have an effect on others. Until then, he thinks only of his own small circle, his own perspective on life.


Silent to the Bone
Elaine "E. L." Konigsburg wrote a thriller in this one. Older brother Branwell loses the power of speech when his baby sister is seriously injured and blame falls on him. This isn't the part that suggestions autism, however. Branwell's character traits before the tragedy and his inability to cope suggest Asperger's. It takes a close friend to see through the silence and find a way for Branwell to communicate and help himself.

The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry features a non-verbal boy as the title character. An asylum for the insane looms in the background as a young girl learns to accept and reach out to the boy in the field, the one who despite his disability loves animals and takes care of babies of all breeds - or tries.

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Good readings in autism

If you bring up Asperger's Syndrome, someone will probably ask if you've read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Read it; it's good. However, it's fiction. I'm focusing more on nonfiction today.


Chuck and I were traveling to pick up Amigo at camp when we heard Lianne Holliday Willey on NPR talking about her book Pretending to be Normal. We knew we had to have it. The subtitle is "Living with Asperger's Syndrome," and that's exactly what the book is. Lianne was a resilient child, but a unique and quirky one. She didn't realize exactly why she was different until her daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's and she realized she was on the spectrum herself. Pretending to be Normal is insightful and articulate, a peek inside the experiences and feelings of an adult with Asperger's Syndrome.


Look me in the Eye by John Elder Robison is another memoir that lets people get a glimpse of how someone who appears different can also be highly intelligent and successful professionally. John Elder, as he was nicknamed in his youth, describes living the high life with the band KISS (he was a creative engineer with the band) and living in near poverty in between tours. He marries, divorces, but stays on good terms with his ex-wife and children. His memoir shows how a strikingly creative and intelligent person can run afoul of a rigid school system, develop unique relationships despite social awkwardness, and eventually recognize and seek treatment to come to grips with his autism. Look me in the Eye is fascinating, and not only for the backstage tales of rock and roll special effects.


Unstrange Minds is a tougher read, but well worth the time. Part clinical explanation and part personal story, this book explains the skyrocketing numbers of autism diagnoses better than anyone else I've read.


Send in the Idiots, another memoir by an adult with high functioning autism, initially turned me off because of its title. I was glad I read it, though. As Kamran Nazeer sought out his former classmates and described their successes and failures, he also faced his own uniqueness. Some parts were hard to read not because of any weakness in the book, but because being mom to a teen with Asperger's, the situations made me worry. The title doesn't actually refer to the students by the term "idiot," but quotes an echolalic phrase spoken by a classmate.


Each book is worth the time and effort. I bought all four over a span of several years because I wanted to take my time reading each one thoroughly without the constraints of library due dates. Owning books like this also allows me to go back and read portions at my leisure, rereading as needed.

Readers, I focused on autism. Can you recommend other books from the perspective of people with disabilities or people with disabled family members? Blindness, hearing impairment, otehrs...list them in the comments, please! I eagerly await your suggestions.

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Celebrating (Dis)Abilities

My community stages a celebration of sorts every year. They call it Celebrating Abilities. The weeklong project includes special events, concerts, presentations, and speakers to the tune of disability awareness.

And I got to thinking. Could I do that? Could I speak to groups about living as a hearing impaired professional? I don't fit the stereotype of an under- or unemployed disabled person. I don't sign, although I've considered learning. I get more use from strategic use of hearing aids and increasing lipreading skills.

When I taught at an elementary school that housed the program for deaf and hard of hearing students, I found myself in the position of role model. When I showed the class my hearing aids on the first day of school, my three hearing impaired students sat up straighter in their chairs; their teacher was one of them. The lone girl in the group was thrilled to see an adult woman with a hearing impairment - a college graduate and full time professional.

Many years later, I'm teaching in a different school - one where the families and teachers are less understanding of my disability. I've been thinking of designing an empathy style activity for students and staff where they get to sample and experience various disabilities.

The empathy piece is important. Children are often more accepting of differences than grownups. A teacher friend used a cane to support her as her MS progressed. She explained her condition to the students, reassured them that it wasn't catching, and all was well. No one harrassed her for using the disabled parking space, for walking slowly in the hallways, or for using a cane in public.


One principal used to come in and talk to my class each year, cautioning them not to try to get around me because of my hearing. She compared that kind of behavior to knocking a wheelchair down the stairs or kicking the white cane out from in front of a blind person. She was credible: her word was law in the schoolyard and school building. I handled my share of student discipline, but they didn't dare take advantage of my hearing loss.


I hope that the next generation of students won't even think twice about taking advantage of a disabled person, teacher or not. I hope that the children I teach now will take it in stride when they know someone with a disability, whether they be a teacher, coworker, neighbor, or relative. Familiarity in this case builds comfort, and comfort builds respect.

If respect for each other increases as a result of celebrating abilities, it's all right with me.

Stumble It!

Families in Crisis

A dear friend and fellow blogger is in crisis and needs assistance. You may know Margalit from MidCentury Modern Moms. She has twins the same age as my Amigo, both fascinating yet challenging children.

Her son is in the hospital, seriously ill. As she deals with this, she has other major financial crises that far exceed her savings.
Her car, left in Maine, is being declared abandoned unless she can raise the $1,000 to go get it.
The landlord has threatened to evict the family because of a broken window - a cost of $700 to repair, money they do not have.

Please consider donating to the family through Paypal using the button below or in the sidebar. Margalit is a proud and strong woman; she would not ask for help if she weren't desperate. Small amounts add up; don't hesitate to make a small donation.

Margalit has been very supportive for me during IEP conflicts and other issues. She is an intelligent and decent person; I'm offering help because I know her and trust her.

Stumble It!