The truth about the so-called emerging autism awareness, I felt as I
lay awake before going to sleep a week into February, is that it has less to do
with so-called charities which have no autistic members in their board or
general membership body and pay more to their executives, but autistics such as
Temple Grandin and Jim Sinclair. Soon
after I woke up, I found seven more bottle caps for my collection in my stash of
ones to repurpose. I then worked on my
Altoids box diorama for Erin and my handbag made from snack wrappers, and at
dinner I saw Jai, Ryan, and Kim, the latter of who told me Sinho was in Kansas
City and would be back that night or the next day. Afterwards I thought about how I could
perhaps make prints of my plastic bag mandalas to sell, like the artist
Virginia Flecke does. After that I went
to the Pinterest party and meet several people while I met several people and
painted a picture of a buffalo like the one on the Jefferson nickel as a symbol
of autistic pride as Thomas Jefferson was autistic, to inspire me, and realized
I could make prints of this painting and others that I’ve done, and I cut out a
coaster from the Styrofoam plate I used. I realized I could make prints of my Green Man made from bottle caps to. I texted my dad a picture of the painting and
my diorama and he liked them both. I
talked to my Granddad and told him my new thought on the so-called emerging
autism awareness, and he told me I had certainly done my part with my blogs,
groups, my interview in the Kansas City Star, and my interview with Chris
Hernandez. He also loved my print idea
and we talked about how I sort aluminum cans and he said that is a way to
prevent the need for more mining to secure aluminum sources. I realized that cutting down on mining by
recycling aluminum cans is good for Tibet as mining by the Chinese is a huge
problem. Then I sorted some more
recycling. After that I worked on my
coasters made from Styrofoam and paper plates. I took out my trash and recycling while I sorted some recycling in the
Ellis courtyard and realized that another way, I am helping potentially helping
the autism community the government spends less money on our landfills and has
more money to spend on autism services. I got back and I realized I could make prints of my toilet paper roll
wall art. Then I worked on my coasters
made from Styrofoam and paper plates. After that I got the idea to do my Early American Literature paper on
William Penn and his contribution to the founding of America. Then I worked on my snack wrapper collage of
Maja Toudal, finishing her likeness. After that I realized I could also do prints of my yarn paintings.
The next morning,
when Sinho had returned and asked me a question on the proper English of a
sentence, I started to have a little bit of understanding for how the Korean
language works. Then Tyler called me, and
I talked to him a little bit, during which time we role-played me asking a girl
out and he talked about this children’s sci-fi movie as I remember it, and how
it was one of Tyler Weekly’s favorite movie as a kid. I went down to Walgreen’s and got some new
nail clippers, some packing tape, and four more Altoids boxes, then to
Hasting’s where I got the March 2014 issue of Shambhala Sun, the February 2014 issue of National Geographic, and the February 2014 issue of Archaeology magazine. I went to Walgreen’s to see if they had a new
issue of National Geographic Traveler or
Mindful, and when I left, I got a good
picture of a church silhouette in the sunlight. On my way back to campus I also picked up some more bottles and
cans. Later I found out my Modern
Sub-Saharan Africa book report is due on the twenty-fourth. I also found several different types of
warrior traditions from all different cultures for my Altoids box dioramas. I read the reading for my Film Appreciation
class, during which time I read about the stress a director takes on and
remembered how when I helped a camp counselor with this one non-verbal kid at
Camp Determination, he, who I told of my ambitions to become a director, said
he really believed I would become a director, in contrast to the people who say
people with Asperger syndrome can’t speak for non-verbal people. Sinho offered me these shrimp flavored chips
from his native Korea, which were really good, and I offered him some Altoids,
to which he only ate one at a time, and said they were good, even if he was
just being polite, and I learned he and I learned he had been to Thailand,
Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the Vatican, the last of which he had
some trouble pronouncing during which time I learned some times for him and
other international students there is the challenge of knowing how to pronounce
a word in communicating with other students, and he asked if he could ask me
about me to help him understand English, which said was fine and he asked me
what religion I practiced to which I said I followed the teachings of the
Buddha, though really more as a way of life than as a religion, and learned he
had no religion but his mother was Catholic, and that he loves to read comic
books, including Japanese comic books, which are really popular in South Korea,
and watch movies, and asked me what kinds of movies I like and I said I love
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies and he said he loves them to, that
The Lord of the Rings is very popular in South Korea, and that he hasn’t seen
the second Lord of the Rings movie, and we agreed to watch it together next
weekend hopefully being able to find Korean subtitles, so I thought I would do
my Film Appreciation movie viewing and writing for next week and the weeks
after that earlier in the week, and he asked me what kinds for snack I liked,
saying he wanted to get me a snack at the Break Time gas station where he was
shopping and after I told him a little bit about it he came back with some
Doritos. I talked to my granddad and he
said that I prove with Tyler how untrue that is, and that letting Tyler
role-play must really make him feel better. I realized Tyler cannot speak for himself and the fact that he’s not
even autistic shows I can speak for people of all sorts of abilities. Then I sorted some more recycling near the
front desk. I saw several of the girls
and female THRIVE volunteers in the TV Lounge after that and said hi to them,
who I learned were having “girl time.” I
said, “Well I don’t mean to interrupt,” at which point Mary (Oscar’s
girlfriend) said, “No, you’re fine.” Then
I got a post card from Mom and Dave in Hawaii and two new stamps for my
collection from it. I also finished my
Altoids box diorama for Erin and I realized Granddad was probably right about
how letting Tyler role-play with me makes him feel much better.
The next morning Sinho
and I ate breakfast with Autrey and Tom, who I introduced to Sinho. Then I got the idea to make a Christmas tree
angel out of paper plates before watching a movie on race for my Film
Appreciation class called An Imitation of
Life, about a half-black girl who had a black mother and a father who
abandoned her and her mother, and she herself always tried to pass for white,
while living with a white widow actress and her daughter, while I worked a
little bit on my angel. Then I ate
dinner with Tom and Autrey. After that I made
some playing cards into boxes, which I used to keep small miscellaneous items,
my rubber gloves, and my bird puppets, allowing me to recycle the tin can I
kept them in, and two more malas from straws. Then I worked on my handbag.
After that I sorted a bit of recycling in the Ellis TV Lounge.
The next morning
before I went to bed, I helped Sinho learn how to open our mailbox, but after
trying several times, he said we could just figure it out another time. Before I went to sleep, I made a few more
flowers from straws. I improved and
finished my Altoids box diorama for Erin, using a lot of brightly colored paper
I’ve found in trash cans to support the cut-outs. Then I worked on my coasters made from paper
plates and Styrofoam. After that I saw
on my e-mail account that during Autism Awareness Month, the Autism Society of
America was going to challenge subminimum wage laws, and aversives, restraints,
and seclusion of autistic people in schools, and help with transitioning
programs, as well as links to GRASP (Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome
Partnership) and scientifically based therapies for autism as well as that Ryan
was interested in me speaking at the THRIVE student organization about my
group. Then I found several sources for
my research paper for my Early American Literature class. I e-mailed my instructor asking if he
approved of the topic. Then I started
reading one of the books for my research paper. I also found out we needed to meet with the instructor at least once to
talk about the paper. After that I
e-mailed Laura Scott asking if we could move the meeting time to next
Wednesday. She e-mailed me back saying
that would work perfectly. I then sent
the e-mail about the next meeting out to everyone. After that I decided I would start projects
like my research paper earlier, requiring me to do less work but over a longer
period of time. Then I checked out those
books from the library. I got back and
worked on my Christmas tree angel made from paper plates. After that I ate dinner with Sinho, Ryan,
Kim, and another guy whose name I sort of remember, while I read more of the
books I checked out. I got and I worked
on my handbag. While I was at Late Night
I made some more flowers. After that I
sorted some more recycling. Then I did
some laundry. I got back and I found out
Dad really like the environmental crafts I showed him. Then I made another mala from straws. After that I wrote in my gratitude
journal.
The next morning, I
sat with Oscar at lunch. After that I
kept reading the reading for my Early American Literature class. Then I edited my paper for my World
Archaeology class. I went to my Early
American Literature class afterwards where I found out that William Penn was
not yet taken. Then I met with my Early
American Literature instructor about my paper. I got back and I made another flower. Then I worked on my lampshade made from straws, my snack wrapper
collages, and my handbag. Afterwards I
fixed my angel made from paper plates. Then I cleaned a lot of dust off my floor. I sorted some recycling in Ellis during which
time I found two more bottle caps for my collection. Later I had dinner with Sinho, Jai, Kim, and
another South Korean student named Hideki. After that I wrote in my gratitude journal. Then I helped Sinho with homework some more. I also made another mala from straws and five
more heart-shaped hair pins from straws.
The next morning, I
read some more of my books on William Penn for my Early American Literature
class. Then I sorted some
recycling. I read a lot of the reading
for my Early American Literature class. After that I worked on my coasters made from paper plates and
Styrofoam.
Later I cleaned out and made thirteen pencil cans from Pringles cups
for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group. I also woke Sinho up twice I while I worked on
my coasters made from paper plates and Styrofoam and decided one of our door
prizes would be a set of five coasters, rather than one, and the first door
prize would be or getting five people to sign, while the second would be for
getting ten people to sign, and the third would be for getting twenty people to
sign. I also worked on my lampshade made
from straws. After that I shared A
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism’s post on inclusive education examples on Facebook. Then I realized I may have positively
impacted many autistic people’s acceptance from their parents and themselves,
which could make them more openly autistic and raise awareness about this
condition. While running I almost
finished making nine heart-shaped hair pins from straws, thinking I was making
only eight. After that I realized a willingness
to burn myself alive if I failed the autistic community that I had and even and
even give my life for them is not too different from the samurai suicide
tradition, which I suddenly understood more in the context of warriorship, and
a knight or warrior’s own willingness to die for people. I got back and talked to Dad while I finished
those heart-shaped hair pins and realized how many I had made which he said he
really liked. I worked on my handbag and
during Late Night I read that the Combating Autism Act has been criticized by
ASAN for its curing autism mentality. I
felt so connected and understanding of who I am afterwards, with my artistic talent,
filmmaking and writing ambition, my love of books, nature, art and music,
Buddhist convictions, deep passion for social justice, and interest in
different cultures, things that I share in common with many females with
Asperger syndrome that psychologist Tania Marshall described. I wrote in my gratitude journal afterwards.
The next day I
realized that what I’m studying in school has a lot do with struggles like the
autistic struggle such as religion and literature (Gandhi’s non-violence was
inspired by Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Leo Tolstoy’s and
Henry David Thoreau’s works), political science, literature, and film (the
Civil Rights era was inspired by Gandhi’s work, novels, and several films),
history (the Disability rights movement was inspired by the Civil Rights
movement and Women’s Rights movements, which were in turn inspired by Gandhi),
and art (various artists helped inspire the anti-apartheid movement), and they
may all come as useful when I strive for the autism community. I also realized how great my plastic bag
mandala made from restaurant take-out bags would look, with the Quizno’s Q and
Chinese restaurant smiley face looking like geometrics signs all on a mostly
white surface. I made several more
flowers and worked on my lampshade. After
that I helped Sinho understand some of the things on his Blackboard. Then I worked on my mandalas made from
plastic bags realizing that the K, A, and U possibly from the bags that say
“Thank You” look kind of like Greek letters, and the Colonel from the KFC bag
almost looks kind of like me (and really might in fifty years) and I could say
he’s helping me visualize myself as the Buddha, and I worked on my handbag while
I ate dinner with Sinho and Jai. I ran
on the treadmill for about forty minutes-I would have run longer but someone
accidentally set the alarm off, and I left-during which time I made eight more
heart-shaped pins from straws. I went to
Late Night where I met Jacob and Wonyang, two of the Korean students I saw at
the soccer game and got Jacob’s number and said when we were doing things with
the hall, I would text them to invite them.
After that I had
lunch with Kim and Jacob, who I introduced to each other. I also posted several links from autism
groups I belong to. After that I posted
on Elizabeth’s Facebook page saying Elizabeth Boresow is one of the greatest
and bravest autism advocates I have ever met, that graduating from KU, she has
worked so hard in cross-disability activism, that through the hussels of her
life she advocates for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and
underprivileged people in a way that is overwhelming, has been through numerous
hardships, yet has risen like a phoenix from the ashes to be a bastion of
comfort for those in her struggles, that people like her who challenge
governments in such just ways are truly immortal, and viva autism
liberation.
I later invited my friends to like a feminist blog, repurposing,
a page opposing a Kansas bill against gay marriage, the Autistic Self-Advocacy
Network, Parenting Autistic Children with Love and Acceptance, the Down
Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, and the National Disability Rights
Center. Afterwards I took a walk where I
saw Ryan e-mailed me about meeting with his group and got some quarters. I got back and learned that the Chipko
movement to save trees in India practices the non-violent resistance methods of
Mahatma Gandhi. Then I did a watercolor poster
of Merlin from the cover of The Lost Years of Merlin, and it looked so bright
and colorful and just great, and that Shambhala arts is about bringing art to
people who are not necessarily professional artists. After that I read a lot of the reading for my
Film Appreciation class. I got back and
added a quote to my poster “The heart can see things invisible to the
eye.” After that I saw several people
responded to my invitations and that Elizabeth liked my two posts about
her. I invited people to like the Autism
Women’s Network. Later I got rather
caught up in working on my snack wrapper collage of Charles Darwin and after
helping Sinho some more unsuccessfully, I saw how easy it could be for a girl
like my friend Cassie not to overextend herself in a relationship while she
focused on her career. I did find I got
a postcard from Hawaii with new stamps for my collection and package from Mom
with wasabi peas, a chocolate lollipop, and receipts, sharing some peas and a
piece of lollipop with Sinho, who declined anymore peas after he found out they
were spicy, saying that Japanese sushi and wasabi peas are eaten in South
Korea, though he doesn’t eat them himself, after which I realized that Korea
must have had a long history of influence from China and Japan.
The next morning, I
didn’t sleep at all, and I used the time to web-surf on my phone. During that I learned the Chinese Yuxia warriors often practiced
calligraphy, in addition to fighting, one of the main types of Shambhala
arts. After I got out of bed, I read the
reading for my Film Appreciation class before watching the films for the
class. I wrote what I plan to say for
the post down. Then I cleared my bed of
my collages, wood burnings, and painting. After that I turned the binder, I found in the garbage into a bin for my
newspaper using some duct tape, and the envelope from Mom’s packaging into a
folder for my syllabi and papers. I made
eight more heart-shaped pins while running and I got back and worked on some
wallets made from Kool-Aid pouches. I talked
to Tyler for a bit, who role-played as a girl for me to ask out telling me she
heard Tyler Weekly was the vice president of the UCM Autism Spectrum Support
Group when I brought it up, told me I need to think of things other people
wanted to do, and asked me why I always get angry at my computer. I also decided to get up early tomorrow to
work on my paper so I could get my reward for doing so before it was due, and
to get myself a reward if I get in bed by 1 tonight. Then I wrote in my meditation journal, during
which time I thought I might be able to get sodas in a can near in the machine
near the South Ellis first floor lounge, so as not to down-cycle. I realized I could and for fifty cents less
while I sorted some recycling.
The next morning, I
ate breakfast with Mary. Then I cleaned
of my desk, microwave, and windowsill. After that I got eight total sources and used them in my research paper
for my Early American Literature. I got
back and had dinner with Tom. After that
I sent my Film Appreciation instructor my paper. Then I did the posts for that class. After that I sent several people on Facebook
invitations to like several of my autism groups and a petition against an
educational facility using restraints and aversives while I realized that even
if not a lot of people sign or like these things, I will have helped by getting
some people with me and also made my intentions known. I also saw ten people liked the Autistic
Self-Advocacy Network, while five or six people liked the Autism Women’s
Network, the National Disability Rights Center, the Down Syndrome Guild of
Greater Kansas City, and the Autism Support Network.
The next day I decided to try and put more time into
my stamp collection, realizing how it may teach people like boy scouts things
like about different cultures, and thus to be good citizens, which is one of the teachings Trungpa gave his students, and I went to the library and
finished my research paper for my Early American Literature class. Then I sent some more invitations to like
autism groups on Facebook. After that I
posted some more things on my Facebook page after that. I also I decided to spread out my invitations, so people won’t get overwhelmed. Later I
found a way to use a black coke bottle cap to make my carved egg stand up on my
desk. Then I made about fourteen more
heart-shaped pins and then twenty more while running. When I got back, I found out my dad liked my
Charles Darwin collage, my Merlin painting, my newspaper rack made from a
binder and duct tape, my folder made from a mail carrier, my heart-shaped pins,
and my egg stand. During Late Night I made
eight more heart-shaped pins. I got back
and I realized I could use my ripped plastic bags to wrap things I buy when I
travel. I also got some quarters from a
purchase at the gas station when I bought something there so I could do laundry
when the front desk was out of ones, and I only had a five. I got back and did some laundry. I also realized that the art of calligraphy,
which does kind of have a warrior feel, was something Sokka from Avatar the Last Air Bender learned when
being taught to sword, just as he learned painting, like that Merlin painting I
did, and others throughout my life.
During my Early
American Literature class, I found out we could revise our papers later and got
the idea to make a sky for one of my plastic bag mandalas using the red and
blue colors from Price Chopper bags. After my last class I went to the OAS Office
and scheduled an appointment with the Testing Center. Later I saw Laci walking by alone down at the
Rec Center and she smiled, and I smiled back. After that I went to look for some straws I was carrying thinking I’d
dropped them, and I would only have enough to make heart-shaped hair pins for
half an hour and not know what to do on the treadmill afterwards and went back in knowing I’d already done my part to
help the environment and found them on the front desk as I swiped in
again. While running I made nineteen
more heart-shaped pins. During Late
Night, I felt after the relief of having finished my paper, a sense of wanting
to find some new activities to occupy my time, maybe taking a break from environmental
crafts, and thinking of doing some bird-watching in that time, and work on my
screenplays.
