Summer is Over: What is There For Me in the Fall?
As summer starts to die down, I wonder what my next set of plans will be since I would usually be starting school around this time. Since I won’t be doing anything school or work related for a while, I think I’ll just go on the rest of this autumn actually enjoying it and taking […]
Read moreBecoming a Certified Peer Specialist
Years ago, when I was at my lowest dealing with anxiety and depression, I couldn’t imagine doing the things I am now. An autism diagnosis came later in life as well after a doctor noticed that the current medication regimen wasn’t panning out and referred me to get tested for ASD, rather than just try […]
Read moreMarriage and Being on the Autism Spectrum
“You’re weird, I like you.” That is what my husband says his opening line should have been when we first met eleven years ago. I’ll be the first person to admit that when we met, I had no interest in having a romantic relationship with my husband. I joke with him all the time that […]
Read moreWho I Am
I’m a thinker, a dreamer, a writer, a self-advocate. These words describe parts of me, but only parts of who I am. I can choose which label to use in many situations and that changes the way other people interact with me. The way people see me also changes the way I see myself and […]
Read moreNew Beginnings
In mid-October last year, my sister announced that she was pregnant and it was by far the biggest surprise for me because I came to the realization that I was nervous at this point in my life to become an uncle. I wondered if I was even going to do it right since I have […]
Read moreInsincere Reconciliation
The word forgiveness can instill a lot of emotions. From pain and trauma to perhaps a reconciliation with one who has hurt you or a quiet forgiveness that you only offer to yourself. Apologies can meld a wound closed if a person is truly sorry and pledges not repeat a harmful action. On the other […]
Read moreHome Alone
After some prompting my parents they decided to leave me home alone while they went away on two trips recently. Since this was the first time that they’ve done something like this they used this as an opportunity to see if I could take care of everything without them. The first night they left for […]
Read moreOvercoming the Green-Eyed Monster: Jealousy
I have always struggled with jealousy of other people, whether it was my siblings, acquaintances and friends. The main reason I felt so jealous is that I thought their lives were easier than mine and their lives looked so picture-perfect. I always felt like the ugly duckling, usually feeling out of place, especially since things […]
Read moreLooking Back and Moving Forward
It’s officially been a year since the #ASDNext website has launched! To celebrate our first anniversary, we’re taking a look back at what we’ve accomplished and sharing some insights on where we’re headed. #ASDNext was created with the goal of expanding the work already being done by ASERT to support individuals across the state, specifically […]
Read moreGaming for the Real World
So, after a discussion in my school today about video games, I believe that overall video games did make a huge impact on my life. As I mentioned in a previous article, video games have been a huge part of my life and I think they have helped me become confident of liking my repetition. […]
Read moreInfo Inspecting
A situation I’m going to outline is something that more often than not is all too common. You log on to your favorite social media site and are greeted with a news story that sounds incredulous or presents information that you know is fabricated as truth. We’ve all seen circumstances like this, but it’s also […]
Read moreFear Factor
Feeling the wind pushing against me reminded me that I was really high up and the ground was really far down below me. I already knew that I was afraid of heights. How did I get here? Why was I challenging my fear of heights? Making an effort to engage in healthy risks was the […]
Read moreDo I Have a Luggage Issue?
I often don’t know what I need for an everyday trip, so I would just take my backpack with me. Half of the time, I would feel as though it’s needed and sometimes…I don’t. It’s not something I would question usually, but it is something I think about these days since I’ve been in the […]
Read moreNature’s Bounty
My father taught me a lot of things growing up. What he instilled in me was valuing and appreciating nature. An interest in wildlife. Knowledge of plants, including being able to identify common poisonous ones. Marine life as well, even though I don’t share his love of fishing, we bonded over films like Free Willy […]
Read moreTo Tell or Not to Tell
Recently I was with a group of Aspie friends and there was a common theme amongst them. Many of them shared that they had, at one point in time, been fired from their job. They all seemed to have accepted that being fired was part of the Aspie learning curve. Most were fired because they […]
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