Lessons in Autism

 On Monday after I got back I worked on my drawing for my Drawing I class some more. During that class we sat and discussed each person’s drawing and when mine was discussed I got a lot of positive comments as well as some good suggestions. I also thought of my bird woodcarving and decided to make my bird the Eastern Bluebird, the state bird of Missouri, where I had all these adventures. Before class got out, I agreed to pay five dollars for gas to Emily in that class, who I was getting a ride with to or field trip to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. After class, I went down to the Union and took down the poster board for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group.

        When I got back to Ellis, I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. During that class I got a five out of five on the quiz. After class and sorting some recycling, I did my Algebra homework. Then I got some more board for my snack wrapper collages at the Union bookstore. When I got back to the dorm and worked on blocking out the colors for them.
        I later finished my abstract for my North American Indian class but I accidentally forgot to save it. However I knew everything I said on it so I could retype it. I read most of the reading for my North American Indian class on the treadmill. Afterwards I got back and talked to Tyler. I also realized I had one more day than I thought I did to go get something from Those Were the Days to make something for the Print Club.
        The next morning during my Algebra class I got one hundred percent on the quiz. After I got back to my dorm I worked on some beads made from cigarette boxes and then I reorganized my recyclables. After that I finished the reading for my North American Indian class. After my North American Indian class I went to the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group.
        Only Tom and Matt showed up to the group. We didn’t really do introductions, go over our rules, or pair up two people and take four minutes to get to know three things about the other person as we already knew each other and I suggested two ideas for or next meeting: getting together at a coffee shop, or a music night where we each picked a song that we secretly wrote down on a piece of paper, played it, and everyone would then try to get who picked the song. No one really seemed to care to much either way so they just agreed to have a music night. Tom and Matt left early but I stayed behind until 4:30 to see if anyone showed up to ask about the meeting, which they didn’t. While I did I read on my phone an article talking about how many people with bipolar disorder withdraw from social relationships and I thought perhaps women with autism are often undiagnosed with the condition as autistic traits can overlap with traits of other conditions they may have, such as bipolar disorder or ADHD. I also thought that it may have taken the Buddhist saint Padmasambhava years to subdue the wrathful demons of Tibet to help bring Buddhism to the country.
        I got back to my dorm later and made twenty more flowers from straws. Later I talked to my Granddad and he told me to have some patience with starting the group. Later on I worked on my snack wrapper collage of Maja Toudal some more and I thought it was becoming very satisfying. I also talked to my Granddad some more later on and told him about how I thought my snack wrapper collage of Maja Toudal was coming along great and how I thought all my collages would look very realistic and he said if anyone could make it look like a professional, I could and said that looking at my scrapbooks he couldn’t tell the covers were made from Cheetos wrappers. I talked to Tyler some more after that telling him I would talk to him for twenty minutes then had to go because there was other things I had to do but when he started getting upset over his breakup I agreed to talk to him for five more minutes.
        The next day in my Drawing I class we learned about how to shade a drawing and also how to make lines better. I thought while learning this that I might really enjoy woodburning with all I learned in the class. After my Drawing I class I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. Then I went to that class and found out I got 81% on the exam. On my way to Those Were the Days I found three new bottle caps for my collection and I went to the store and got a jar full of Bubble Up bottle caps with bent edges and insides lined with cork thinking I could make something from them for the Print Club and I remembered how I once read that collections can often stem from memories of or past. I also got a postcard of Craters of the Moon National Park, which I would try and frame and hang on a wall as rock formations kind of have a spiritual feeling for me. After I got back to UCM I took a walk around campus and found another bottle cap for my collection. I also realized just how big this campus really was.
        When I got back I read about how girls with Asperger syndrome will often try to blend in with others and get very exhausted from doing it, and also causing them to go undiagnosed and their apparently unknown fits of exhaustion cold cause them to be misdiagnose as bipolar. During dinner I realized I could make a necklace from one of the bottle caps I got at Those Were the Days, using the knife my dad got me. I also figured out how to shorten my North American Indian abstract to make it two hundred fifty words or less and learned on-line how to put a word count on my paper. While I ran on the treadmill I found the perfect image for my bottle cap necklace: calligraphy done by the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh saying, “Peace within oneself, peace within the world,” inside a Zen brush painted circle. I got back and I took strips of board leftover from the sheets I cut out for my collages to make a yarn painting. I talked to my dad, a professional PhD psychologist, who agreed that coexisting conditions may make it harder for girls with autism to get the diagnosis. I also talked to Tyler, who didn’t talk so much about his break up this time. However that night I did not get any sleep at all.

        The next morning I found I couldn’t find the sheet I had for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group with the list of times and places for or meetings so I e-mailed Presley Wehrle from the Office of Student Activities asking for her to resend it. I later went to my Algebra class and got back a four out of five on my study guide though partly because of a grading error and I showed it to the instructor and got back a five out of five. I also got one hundred percent on the quiz. I also read an article on Wrong Planet about how many people told their friends they had Asperger syndrome and it caused those friends to stop being friends with them.
        Later on I finished my abstract. During my North American Indian class, when I was ready to take a nap afterwards from exhaustion, the instructor told us about Saudi Arabia Day in that library at 3:30Shortly after my North American Indian class I went to Saudi Arabia Day where there was an exhibition in the museum of traditional Saudi arts and handicrafts and I stepped out of my finicky eating habits and tried some delicious Saudi food. Saudi Arabia I knew was a country somewhat involved in a conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Bangladesh where Bengali settlers were evicting the predominantly Buddhist hill tribes of eastern Bangladesh off their lands while the Bengali army and the Saudi-funded Islamist missionary group al-Rabat joined in trying “civilize the heathens.” Eastern Bangladesh and Northeastern India were as far east as the ancient Arab-Islamic empire spread as the jungles of that area prevented Arab-Islamic conquerors from moving into there and cut them off from peninsular Southeast Asia. Yet here at Saudi Arabia Day these things hardly seemed to have any importance to myself or others.
        I got back to my dorm and talked to Tyler whose older brother he told me was having another baby and I told Tyler I was happy for him. I also made two of those necklaces from the bottle caps in the jar I got, including one for myself. Then I took a nap to make up for my loss of sleep. After I got back from the Rec Center I took out my recycling, and then made five more roses from straws. I also talked to Tyler some more.
        The next day I rode with Emily and Kiera from my Drawing I class to the Nelson and paid Emily the $5. When we got there, we went on a scavenger hunt to find certain kinds of paintings listed on a sheet of paper. After we were done I heard Kiera telling our instructor that she was thinking of doing art therapy for children with Down syndrome and told her and Emily as we were leaving the museum about Tyler and some unforgettable experiences I had with him. I told them about some environmental crafts I did and they thought that sounded great. We went to Spin Pizza afterwards where I also got a new non-crown bottle cap from my drink.
       Later I started thinking some people with autism may go misdiagnosed with AD/HD as they are particularly sensitive and thus prone to distraction by certain sensory experiences. Later I sent out an e-mail to the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group about the next meeting. I got back and I made a flower from receipts to decorate a hairpin. I also went to the Print Club where our faculty advisor told us to bring any sort of artistic creation we felt like bringing to sell at our booth at Those Were the Days that we were going to set up. After the meeting I made another coaster from receipts and I talked to Tyler.
        The next morning I refilled one of my medication prescriptions and did some laundry. I also called my mom asking her to send fifty dollars from my account at home to my account at school which she said she would do. Then I read some reading for my World Masterpieces class. Later I called my mom again and I told her about my medication and she said she would try and have her friend Mrs. Wendland sent it up as she and Dave were in our vacation house in Colorado for about a week longer. She also suggested trying to get people to come to the autism group by sending out personal invitations to those who had already come.
        Later I made one hundred sixty dreidels from plastic bottle caps and toothpicks and after dinner I made twenty-seven beads from cigarette boxes. I used some gum boxes to store those beads, hair bands, paper clips, and teabag strings so I wouldn’t need to store them in cigarette boxes and could make more beads from them. Then I worked on some trellises made from bottle rings and twist-ties. After I got back from the Rec Center I worked on an outline for my yarn painting, depicting Mahatma Gandhi. Then I talked to Tyler for a few minutes.
        After talking to Tyler, I started cutting apart a leather belt I had that was too small for me to make bracelets using the knife my dad got me but as I was cutting apart strips to make strings, I got an awful cut on my thumb and quickly wrapped it in paper towels to stop the blood from flowing out. Then I took a little nap before writing in my meditation journal and while I did, I read on a website about Shambhala arts (contemplative arts in the Shambhala Buddhist community) I learned about the Heaven principle, the principle of the unknown. Then I read about the Earth principle, the principle of one’s inspiration. Then I read about the Human principle, the principle of bringing one’s heart and awareness into the process. I also watched a video of a Shambhala arts class where they were making collages and were supposed to learn about their subjects in the process. Then I watched another Shambhala arts video of a man making music and thought maybe I could inspire myself to play my flute some more if I found some new music to play and get out of my routine. I also sent a picture of my collage to my mom who said she liked it and couldn’t wait to see the final product.

        The next morning, I found three new bottle caps for my collection while sorting some recycling in Ellis after I saw a guy throw away a cardboard pack of beers loaded with cans, found some new pebbles outside when I recycled the cardboard, cleaned my bathroom, and swept my floors. Then I worked on some earrings made from bread tops and my bags woven from bags. Then I read some most of the reading for the past few days and that day for my World Masterpieces class, taking ten minute breaks after each hour where I sorted some recycling and took some photos. After I got back to Ellis I sorted some more recycling on my floor. Later I worked on my yarn painting of Gandhi, made some dreidels from bottle caps, and a little after running on the treadmill for an hour I talked to Tyler.

        On Monday in my Drawing I class I continued to improve my drawing ability. After class I read the rest of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. Later I realized I could stop the inside of my bottle cap necklaces from smearing or smudging by putting some tape over them and I did that after I finished my Algebra homework. I ate dinner with Mary and I worked on my yarn painting some more after that as well as my bag woven from bags. After I got back from the Rec Center I worked on the design for a mandala made from plastic bags while I talked to Tyler.
        The next morning during my Algebra class I tried to pass the practice test a few times but couldn’t do it though I still had until 12 the next night. Later I read the reading for my World Masterpieces class. After my North American Indian class I went to Music Night where Tom and Dr. Mayfield showed up to and I had them both write down a song on a piece of receipt paper. Then first we played Radioactive, then Amazing, Just the Way You Are, then Here Comes the Sun. We guessed soon that Brian picked the first, I played the second, and Dr. Mayfield picked the third.
        After the meeting I saw Monica about to sign up to volunteer with the Special Olympics, and she seemed fairly happy to see me and said she mixed up the time of the meeting. I worked on that bag woven from bags when I got to dinner and Mary passed by my table admiring the project. I realized after I got back from the Rec Center that I could make my mandala smoother if I covered it with packing tape and I made a necklace from a plastic bottle cap and straws. I sent a picture of my plastic bag mandala, my Gandhi yarn painting, and my straw necklace to my dad and he loved them. I also talked to Tyler and thought, while you could say looking after someone with a disability like him can be an emotional burden, other things in my life become less so from learning to deal with him and the same could be so with educators and health care professionals and even if it costs more to provide autistic and others support, in doing so it would cost less to make our educators and medical professionals more productive.
        The next morning during my Drawing I class I continued improving my drawing skills. Afterwards I read most of the reading for Friday in my World Masterpieces class. During that class we talked about how societies coddle girls and ask boys not to show any emotion and wondered if that could have any effect on how girls on the spectrum show their emotions more than boys and be mis/diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After class I passed the practice test. Then I e-mailed Dr. Mayfield asking her if I should start looking to enroll in classes for next semester and she e-mailed me back saying yes. I also sent out a group e-mail and individual e-mails to all the students in the group.
        Afterwards I got some packing tape, magnetic tape, board, and super glue at the Union bookstore. On my way back I thought of how people in inclusive classroom settings have been demonstrated in studies to have more sensitivity, problem-solving skills, and leadership skills and that if future politicians were more like that our government would do things that were more beneficial to people and “paying it forward,” like providing Head Start programs. When I got back I worked on my Gandhi yarn painting and decided to put the Indian flag in the background with the wheel Gandhi and his people used to help themselves achieve their independence. While I ran on the treadmill I did a planning drawing for a snack wrapper collage of Pablo Picasso, also on the autism spectrum. When I got back to my dorm, I worked on that bag woven from bags while I talked to Tyler. I also got a new quarter for my collection when I went down to get a snack from the vending machine.
        The next morning during my Algebra class I got a 94.12% on my test and then I finished the study guide and started on the next homework assignment. When I got back to Ellis, I read the reading for my North American Indian class and started on the role-playing assignment. During that class I got a call on my cellphone, and I later found out it was from the Office of Academic Advising, and I called them back and scheduled a meeting for next Thursday at 10:30. Then I bought some more super glue at the Union bookstore. When I got back, I took the box my mom sent my coat in into the recycling bin outside. Then I went to Walgreen’s and got some Altoids to make dioramas, floss, some packing tape, and a new quarter from my change, then I went to Hasting’s and got the November/December 2013 issue of Poets and Writers, the November 2013 issue of Shambhala Sun, Volume 17, Issue 100 of Ancient American, the November/December 2013 issue of Archaeology magazine, and National Geographic’s The World’s Greatest Empires: A History of Power. When I got back, I worked on my yarn painting of Gandhi some more. Then I talked to Tyler while I worked on some beads made from cigarette boxes. I also sorted some more recycling in Ellis.
        On Friday I didn’t have my Drawing I class so I used a lot of that time to read the reading for my World Masterpieces class. During the class I got four out of five on the quiz. After class I got a new flash drive as I lost my old one, again. I got back and reorganized my recyclables. Then I went down to Hasting’s and got a November 2013 issue of Total Film magazine with an article on the next two Hobbit movies, and Issue 105, Volume 20 of MovieMaking magazine, with screenwriting exercises and I realized now that I have plenty of screenplay ideas, I might try using some of the exercises in one of my books that I could use before because I didn’t have them. I got back and watched Spongebob during dinner, remembering how Monica watches the show. Then I worked on my Gandhi yarn painting and some Oriental stress balls made from straw wrappers. I also decided that in order to not procrastinate on the book report on the book for my North American Indian class Cahokia to try and read ten pages every night. I read eighteen while I was on the treadmill and loved it. I got back and worked on a scrapbook with a snack wrapper for a cover and made a dream catcher from a glow necklace.

        The next morning before I went to bed I made some more beads from cigarette boxes. Then I read an article on girls with Asperger syndrome, about how Asperger syndrome can culminate in depression, how Marilyn Monroe is suspected to have had Asperger syndrome, greatly contributing to her depression, how Lisa Simpson is thought of as a girl with Asperger syndrome, and how many girls with Asperger syndrome become obsessed with looks, dress, and dieting. After breakfast I went down to Hasting’s and got the Historical Collector’s Edition JKF Assassination: the 50th Anniversary Edition as well as an illustrated children’s version of a great classic The Epic of Sundiata, a West African epic called Sundiata: The Lion-King of Mali. Then I went to Bi-Lo Mart and got the current issue of National Geographic Traveler. I picked up and recycled several bottles and cans on my way back.
        Shortly after I got back, I got back I did some laundry. Then I sorted some recycling and found another non-crown bottle cap for my collection. Then I worked on that bag woven from bags and the role-playing assignment for my North American Indian class. I sorted some more recycling and made a stamp from a plastic bottle cap and some Styrofoam. I also read Sundiata at dinner during which I read that the warrior-king of Mali who freed his country from enemy invasion, was, in addition to being born unable to walk, also unable to speak. He was also driven into exile by rivals in the court of Mali shortly before Mali was invaded. Later while I ran on the treadmill, I read fifteen more pages of Cahokia. After I finished running, I saw an ad for an event on campus the next Friday at 7 called Experience Africa hosted by the UCM African Student Organization which would feature music, dancing, poetry, and fashion shows. I got back and read about half of the next day’s reading for my World Masterpieces class. I also realized that maybe, since so many girls with autism find a way to “blend in,” those who would have trouble with speech mimic speaking the way parrots, who don’t actually speak, but manipulate the muscles in their body to stimulate sound, say things.

        The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual to try and get ahead of my workload, thinking my World Masterpieces take-home exam was due on Friday when it was actually due next Monday. I used that time to work on some bike streamers made from snack wrappers. On my way back to the dorm from my Drawing I class I found another pebble for my collection. I finished reading all the reading for my World Masterpieces class and I got a four out of five on the day’s quiz. Afterwards I tried to finish all of the assignment for the next day for my College Algebra class but there were some problems I had a lot of trouble with and couldn’t focus so well on all of the sudden. I got some help in the Student Success Center though some of the tutors took a while to get to me and figure out what to do. I got done all I could before taking a break to eat dinner, which I did with Autrey and Amanda while I worked on that bag, then worked until the Union computer lab closed at eight, realizing that I was really exhausted from hearing Tyler with his problems with Mary. I started understanding how many girls on the spectrum can get tired from trying to blend in with others and wondered if all the work they put into physical appearance was to help them feel respected by their peers and thought I needed one of my medications to do this in the future. I didn’t go to the Rec Center that night but read twelve more pages of Cahokia. I later called my mom and reminded her to wire one hundred fifty dollars from home to my account at school. I also talked to Tyler a little bit. I also wondered if Marilyn Monroe never put so much work into her looks to get respect.
        The next morning, I finished my Algebra homework and only got less than half a percent off for lateness. After class I worked on my North American Indian role-playing paper. Despite feeling limited energy, I managed to go to the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group meeting and Tom and Dr. Mayfield were still the only ones who showed up. However, when I suggested several activities for next week, such as bingo, trivia, or ice breakers, Tom said, “Bingo,” this time with a lot more enthusiasm and Dr. Mayfield said she thought that would be great and said she would bring prizes to. When I got back to my dorm, I read some more of the blog post on women with Asperger syndrome by Tania Marshall and saw it also included a great sense of humor. After that I made another stamp from a plastic bottle cap and Styrofoam and I ate dinner with Connor, John, and a few other people from my hall. I worked on some Oriental stress balls afterwards and some earrings made from bread tops. I read twelve more pages of Cahokia on the treadmill and shortly after I got back, I talked to Tyler some more explaining how I felt about always listening to his problems about Mary and he agreed to talk about them less.
        The next day during my Drawing I class I learned how to do better wrist movement by balancing my hand on the paper. Later I got an idea to make a Green Man face from plastic bottle caps and wire. I finished my Algebra practice quiz after my World Masterpieces class got out, and then I worked on and edited the role-playing paper for my North American Indian class. I got back to my dorm and worked on my mandala made from plastic bags and started on my Green Man made from bottle caps. I covered my giraffe sculpture made from snack wrappers with packing tape to make it sturdier and have a nicer texture and realized that like a giraffe, I have my head high even when there’s trouble. Later on, I went to a SexEd trivia on my floor and then I read another twelve pages of Cahokia. I also talked to Tyler some more while I made five more stamps made from plastic bottle caps and Styrofoam. I also realized how I’m sort of like a giraffe in that I’m very independent.

 

        The next morning, I went to my academic advising meeting with Krisana and enrolled for Modern Sub-Saharan Africa on-line, Early American Literature, World Archaeology, and Film Appreciation, also on-line. Then I went to my Algebra class where I got one hundred percent on the quiz and got more than halfway through the study guide. I read most of the reading for my North American Indian class afterwards while I sat with Alex at lunch. After class I finished that paper and e-mailed to my instructor before the deadline at 12. I also got a call from the Office of Student Financial Services and found out I needed to fill out a tax registration form and went over to their office and got one. After fixing some of my flowers made from straws and my giraffe sculpture, I ate dinner with Oscar, Logan, and a first-year THRIVE student whose name I forgot and found out from Logan that Ryan collects bottle caps like I do by going onto Coca-Cola’s website and winning bottle caps as prizes. I later saw Ryan at the THRIVE Halloween party and he said he’d sometime show me how to do that. Later I ran on the treadmill while I read ten more pages of Cahokia. I got back and talked to Tyler some more. I also talked to my mom who I found out had sent the money she said she would.

A Weekend at Home

On Friday my granddad came to my dorm to pick me up and I showed him some of my environmental crafts, which he enjoyed seeing. I got my stuff together and he brought me home. Once I was there, I found one of my paperweights that said “Wisdom” so I could bring it back to school and put it with the other paperweight I meant to go with it that said, “Compassion.” Later I talked to Tyler and we agreed to go see Captain Philip the next day. I called Jack but I didn’t hear back from him. The next day my mom and I decided to see the movie at 2:30. We went to pick up Tyler and on my way I heard my mom say my Facebook status said I was still in a relationship and suggested I change it, and I thought she was right. We got Tyler and went to the movie, which was full of suspense throughout the whole thing. All in all, I thought the movie was pretty good.

Tyler and I got home and watched some television. Later we decided on him staying for dinner and then for the night. Tyler, Dave, my mom, and I had some juicy steaks and Tyler said he enjoyed having a home-cooked meal, which he hadn’t done since all his siblings left the house and his mom started taking care of his grandfather. He also said he loved having a sleepover, which he had never done before.

After dinner I deleted that post saying I was in a relationship. Then Tyler and I shared some stories that night and I learned about a friend he had in middle school named Jennifer Johnson who had bipolar disorder, scoliosis, was in a wheelchair, and couldn’t speak except with a machine, and died around the time he was in middle school. We also watched a show on the Disney Channel called Wolf Blood about some underground maligned werewolves in rural Wales experiencing bullying at their school and banding together to help each other and it reminded us of the way people with various disabilities, such as Asperger syndrome, bipolar disorder, and Down syndrome, have been forced to live for decades. I also questioned him about Monica to see if it was really her he knew. I asked him if she had shoulder-length black hair and he said yes. I asked if she had blue eyes and he said yes. Then I asked him if she had a wide open smile and he said yes. That sounded like her. Before I went to bed, I read a post about women with Asperger syndrome on a blog by a women named Tania Marshall, an expert in women with Asperger syndrome, and learned they can have mood swings or be diagnosed or misdiagnosed with AD/HD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other conditions, and can also have a lot of artistic or creative ability, as well as great empathy. I also read on Wrong Planet how some people with Asperger syndrome deny that have it and instead say they have bipolar disorder.

The next day when I woke up Tyler joined me in my meditation, following what it appeared to him to be going on at least. After breakfast we went to Starbuck’s and on our way back his dad saw us and gave us a ride home and I said goodbye to Tyler, and he left. For the rest of the day before I went back, I made some flowers and roses from straws and straw wrappers and redid the ones I did for my cousins Kyley and Hunter, which they left at our house, worked on my planning drawings for my snack wrapper collages, and helped Dave get some stuff ready to take to the second home in Colorado they bought last summer. Then Mom gave me some clean clothes and my train ticket and Dave took me to the station.

I got on the train and read a lot of the World Masterpieces reading Don Quixote, quite a funny book, until the train pulled into the station, and I got off. I got back and had dinner with Mary and Autrey, presuming not to bring up Tyler to Mary. After that I worked on some earrings made from the tops of bread bags. While I ran on the treadmill, I read some more of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. I got back and worked on one of my snack wrapper collages some more. Then I talked to my granddad who I told I thought my snack wrapper collages would look very life-like and he said if anyone could make them look professional, it was me, as he said when he saw some of my environmental crafts that they looked very manufactured, as if they hadn’t been made from trash.

Third and Fourth Week of the Autism Group

         

On the first day of the month, I took my exam for my North American Indian class, and I thought I did pretty well on it. After that I went to the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group Game Night, where I saw Tom and met a new person named Matt. After introductions we paired up into groups of two, Matt and I, and Tom and Barbara. I learned that Matt was from England and had an interest in Japanese culture and anime. After we shared what we learned with the group, we all played a game that Matt had brought, a Japanese anime card game which was rather complex but fun all the same.

When I got back to Ellis, I found my mom had sent me a cutter and some toilet paper rolls from home to make some decorated cable holders for the group. I made two more of them then talked to Tyler a bit. I also started cutting out pieces of snack wrappers to make collages. Later I went to a mandatory alcohol program in the Union which was basically a violence and substance abuse trivia night. On my way I realized I am probably running the only autism group in all of Warrensburg. Then later back in Ellis, I sat at Late Night with several people from my hall including John and Kyley, while I worked on my handbag made from snack wrappers, which I thought I’d give to my mom for her birthday sometime and make another one for the next girl I date. That night I also found my phone charger wasn’t working while my phone was out of batteries, and I gave up trying to charge it after much frustration.

Thankfully I woke up in time to meditate, shower, and eat breakfast before my Drawing I class even though I didn’t have my alarm. After my Drawing I class the next day, I read a lot of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. After that class I found a new non-crown bottle cap for my collection while sorting some recycling. Then I finished my Algebra practice quiz for about an hour and a half before I passed with one hundred percent necessary to move on, then a review. After that I worked on some planning drawings for my snack wrapper collages, to be of history’s great people on the spectrum.

I then got a haircut at ProCuts, and then went to the Verizon store to get my phone and charger figured out. While a woman at the counter looked at it, I saw Tom and Jerry playing on the TV, thinking about how Monica loved to watch that show. Finally, after the woman came to the conclusion my charger wasn’t working, I got a new one for $34. When I got back to my dorm, I talked to Tyler some more and I heard him say he knew Monica, from a dance troop, which did make sense as I remembered her saying she was in a dance troupe in high school. I also recharged my phone with my new charger, and it worked.

Before my Algebra class the next day, I read some of the reading for my North American Indian class. Then during my Algebra class, I passed the test with 100%. I later finished reading the reading for my North American Indian class. I also realized how for girls with autism, coming to a group like the one at UCM may be harder for them as they may not know how to assert their own boundaries and are in groups surrounded by males as females often get the diagnosis very late in their lives if at all, not because of a lack of females on the spectrum, but of them often being able to blend in with their non-autistic peers. I started writing a letter to Sharon daVanport of the Autism Women’s Network, asking questions about how groups like mine could make a more comfortable environment for females and what kind of unique struggles they experienced.

I talked to my granddad who thought it was a good idea to write that letter seeing what I could learn. I also ate dinner with Levi and Mary while I worked on my scrap pieces from snack wrappers and Levi thought my letter was good idea and was also doubted there were necessarily less girls on the spectrum. Later I worked on some flowers made from straws and my new wall art piece made from toilet paper rolls. I also talked to my mom and dad who liked my letter idea, and my dad said one of the biggest questions people in his field of psychology are faced with is how to get females on the spectrum to be comfortable getting support.

The next day I started on some beads made from cigarette boxes after my Drawing I class. I also read the reading for my World Masterpieces class. I sent out e-mails to the group members about the bowling night the next week and then I worked on my poster board for Disability Awareness Week, but I found out none of the printers on campus would print color which I needed for several things on the board. Then I went to the Grinstead Building for the next Print Club meeting but got there and learned that I missed it, and it was an hour earlier. However, one of the members, Stacy, stayed behind for a few minutes and told me and wrote down what they discussed. I learned we were making designs for cards for the next meeting and would all try and go to a junk antique store in Warrensburg called Those Were the Days, buy something there and make something from it. After I thanked Stacy for going over all this with me, I went to Crazy Dog’s and got myself some ice cream as a reward for one of my days of studying. I later worked on my wall art made from toilet paper rolls.

The next morning, I ate breakfast with Chris and John then Oscar and Mary after they left. After that I worked on two pairs of Oriental stress balls. Later I found out I could not print using the cords I had to my computer and printer, but I texted Hillary asking her if I could use her printer for to print these off and she said I could when she got back from Lee Summit that night. I worked on some flowers then talked to Tyler, who still seemed to pine over Mary and after talking to him for about an hour, I felt fairly stressed with my schoolwork and finishing the poster board for Disability Awareness Week, doing my laundry, reading my World Masterpieces reading, and finishing my card for the Print Club before the weekend ended. I talked to my mom, which felt like it didn’t do too much good-she told me I need to take breaks sometimes with being a regular student-and I soon felt ready to explode, but I felt better after running on the treadmill. After that I got some flaming hot Cheetos, Hershey’s, pepperoni, Altoids, shampoo, and soap. I got back and talked to Tyler and told him I loved talking to him but couldn’t hear him talk about Mary all the time because I have a lot of work with the group and my schoolwork. After words I took a short nap to recover my strength and then I got a text from Hillary saying she had gotten back, and I went and printed some stuff off. Early the next day I finished my poster board, then did some laundry. Later I read more of the reading for my North American Indian class and during my exercise I read a lot of the reading for my World Masterpieces class.

I woke up at 6:30 on Monday so I could do my meditation, take a shower, and eat breakfast before going to the Union to set up the poster board at 8. I learned later that it was Cam’s birthday on Facebook and posted a happy birthday message. Later as I was cleaning up my student e-mail account, I found an e-mail from last year from a student named Caleb who said he was on the autism spectrum and saw the group flyers and wanted to know about the group. I responded apologizing for not noticing his e-mail until now and telling him about the Bowling Night. Then I worked on my drawing for a card for the Print Club. During my Drawing I class I worked on the midterm assignment-letters made from anything we could find that spelled a word from mythology. Mine said “Xeinos,” a Greek term I learned during my World Masterpieces class discussion of The Odyssey, which meant reciprocity, cut out from the paper package my mom sent those cardboard tubes in, which I twisted to make look 3-dimensional.

I got back and worked on some Oriental stress balls made from straw wrappers. Then I read a lot of the reading for my North American Indian class. I also texted Cam to wish him a happy birthday. Then read the reading for my World Masterpieces class. After that I finished my Algebra assignment. I ate lunch with Connor, Richard, Ro, and Mckenzie. Then I went down to the Union and got myself a strawberry smoothie as a reward for finishing the poster board and drink it while I made another coaster from receipts. I got back and talked to Tyler while I worked on my lampshade made from straws.

          

The next day I got one hundred percent on my Algebra practice quiz, and then I got one hundred percent on the quiz. I also realized more of how I’d make my lampshade made from straws. When I got back, I finished my card for the Print Club then worked on my lampshade. I also got a text from Mom saying my friend Erin’s grandmother had died. Then I read the rest of the reading for my North American Indian class. After that I worked on my snack wrapper collages a little bit. During my North American Indian class, I found out I got an 89% on the exam.

After class I went to the bowling alley. Tom was there and soon Matt arrived. Then James got to the alley and said Monica might be coming. After waiting a few minutes, we got shoes and set up the game. After that Monica got there and we added her name. After I bowled well on my turn I told Monica, “It’s a lot like fighting a dementor. You got to think of something happy.”

She laughed and said, “I love Harry Potter. I once watched all the movies in a row.” By the end of the game, Monica had the highest score. Afterwards she asked when the next meeting was, and I said I’d send everyone an e-mail about it.

I got back and worked on my sign for my Drawing I class. Then I saw Connor, Thad, and Mckenzie all walking to dinner, and they asked me to join them, and I said I would. I saw Alex, Oscar, and several other THRIVE students sitting at a table, and they invited me, though I explained I was already eating with some other people and would catch them next time. After dinner I made some more flowers from straws. I talked to Tyler after I ran on the treadmill, and I got my medication.

The next day in my Drawing I class I learned to draw by moving my elbow rather than my wrist. After class I remembered something my former THRIVE counselor asked me to do: take a risk loving someone who will love me the way I deserve to be loved. Then I called Erin and wished her my condolences. I also got myself a mango smoothie at the coffee shop as a reward for being willing to take a risk in love. When I got back my mom called and asked if I wanted to come home this weekend and I thought that would be nice and said I would. I talked to Tyler that night and we agreed for me, him, and Jack if he was able to, to get together this weekend.

          

The next morning in my Algebra class I got all the homework for that class done. After class I read the reading for my North American Indian class. Then I realized more of how I’d make some beads made from cigarette boxes and worked on the when I got back. After dinner I talked to my Granddad and found out he was taking me home the next day. Later I made forty more flowers from straws and worked on my snack wrappers collages.

I went to the Print Club later and met several people there and while we went to another room to work on computer editing the cards Stacy saw me haul a bunch of paper from a trash can into a recycling bin and said she respected me respected my recycling, having seen me put a bottle from the trash into the recycling bin last time she saw me and I told her and a few others about my environmental crafts which they thought sounded great. Then I finished computer editing the card and got my design on some wax paper so it could be used to make prints. Afterwards I got back and talked to Tyler some more. Then I read some more of Sahara, took a nap, and worked on my wall art made from toilet paper rolls.

Second Week of the Autism Group

On Monday I saw Jessica walking by and we said hi as my art class and I drew Lovinger hall using one-point perspective. I also thought of how when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organized a one million man march, it would be hard to break up a force which would be so formidable, again seeing the power of non-violent resistance. Later at my World Masterpieces class I got a four out of five on the quiz. I sorted some recycling after class, during which time I found a new Snapple cap. Then I did my Algebra homework.

                I finished my flowers made from straws at dinner. Afterwards I talked to Granddad who said that feelings of doubting Emily’s and my relationship were perfectly normal and I didn’t have to decide what to do now. He also told me Victor from the Pathless Land and his girlfriend were getting married. Then while running I learned about newspaper being used to make coasters and flowers for hairpins and I decided to do that with receipts. When I got back I worked on my handbag and I talked to Tyler.

                I was able to understand the material I was being shown online fairly well in my Algebra class the next day and I got one hundred percent on the quiz. After class and sorting some more recycling I got back to my dorm and worked more on a bust of Thomas Jefferson made from tin foil. Then I edited my paper and read the reading for that class. Before going down there I wrote down what Joe and Lavender put on their interest surveys. On my way to class I also found a plastic Quik Trip lid to make into a coaster.

                After class I rushed over to the Union and asked at the front desk where Union Room 219 was. The girl at the desk pointed me there and I went over to it. Dr. Mayfield entered the room, followed by a tall dark-haired man about thirty. 

                “Hi, what’s your name?”

                “My name's James,” he said.

                “Well nice to meet you, James,” I said and wrote his name down.

                Another person came in, this time a girl with shoulder-length dark hair, a calm smile, and very peaceful eyes.

                “Hi, your name is?”

                “Monica,” she said smiling.

                “Nice to meet you,” I said, writing her name down. 

                Another young man came in with coiled straw-colored hair. I asked him his name.

                “Thomas,” he said.

                “Nice to meet you, Tom.”

                Dr. Mayfield came up to me and said, “Ben, Lavender is in the hospital and her sister Joe is with her, so they won’t be here today.”

                “Oh!” I said, “Then in that case I guess we’ll move Game Night to next week.”

                I gave James, Monica, and Tom interest surveys and they all filled them out. I gathered them, noticing on Monica’s, which lay at the top, she checked Photography. After that I started with introducing myself and we all went around the room introducing ourselves. Monica, I learned, was from Lee Summit, majoring in Biology and thinking of changing it to Aviation. James, I learned, was very much into music recording. Tom said his name but didn’t say much else. 

                After we got done introducing ourselves I told them that we would go over some rules of the group, pair up and take four minutes to get to know three things about another person, and then we would vote on what activity to do the week after next week. James looked excited, Tom a little nervous, while Monica looked up at me smiling. Suddenly I just felt ready to lead like I knew what to do. I reminded them of some simple group guidelines such as avoiding put-downs, sharing too personal information, and that anyone at the group could talk to a peer mentor if they felt it necessary. 

                Next, we paired up into groups of two. Since there was an odd number of people, Dr. Mayfield offered to sit this one out, while James paired up with Tom, and I paired up with Monica. I set the alarm on my phone for four minutes and then started talking to her. I told her about my pets-my two cats, three miniature doxens, and Wallie who was part Border Colly, part Golden Retriever.

                “I love Golden Retrievers!” said Monica. 

                I told her about how I ran on the treadmill every night and she said she also liked to work out.

                “Oh, cool,” I said. “Do you go to the Rec Center?”

                “No, I work out in my apartment building.  I live in this apartment called Campus Evolution.”

                “Cool.”

                She told me how she loved to watch movies on Netflix and loved Spongebob, Adventure Time, and Tom and Jerry.

                “It’s just so classic,” she said.

                I told her about my favorite shows such as Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Bob’s Burgers, and King of the Hill.

                “I love King of the Hill,” she said. I felt so connected in a way I hadn’t this close to someone in a while. Suddenly, my timer went off and we went around the room to share what we learned. 

                Next, I brought up some possibilities for things for us to do next week, including a Music Night and a Bowling Night.

                “Bowling sounds good,” said Monica. “Pretty safe.”

                Everyone else agreed.

                “Alright, then it’s settled the week after next week will be Bowling Night,” I said. “We’ve gotten through with everything for today so if you guys want to stay here and talk amongst yourselves or go back to doing other things you can.”

                “I think it would be cool if we took a walk around campus,” said James.

                “Ok,” I said. "I know this really cool place upstairs in the Union I could show you.” 

                I took them upstairs and showed them the artifacts in a glass case all brought by the international students and how I’m a bit into arts and crafts myself.

                “Me too!” said James. “I’ve got so much junk at home that I plan on doing something with later.”

                I showed them my beads made from straws and the lid in my backpack and told them how I planned to make it into a coaster and also the different prizes I planned to make and about the Friend of Autism Pledge, explaining what it was about. We all parted afterwards and later on I found a penny on the ground, which put in my shoe. I guess people find the group helpful as when last I had heard the JCCC group had eighty members.

                I rewarded myself that night with a smoothie from Jazzman’s in the Union where I saw James and showed him a coaster I was making from receipts, which he thought was neat. He also said he knew Monica and told me a little bit about her. I e-mailed Sean to tell him how the group went on the treadmill. I told my dad, mom, and grandparents about the group and they were all happy for me. My granddad also told me that I didn’t need to worry about formally breaking up with Emily, as long-distances relationships sometimes end on their own. I also talked to Tyler.

                The next day I perfected my two-point perspective drawing technique some more. Then after class I made some copies of the World Masterpieces study guide for Philip. I sat with him and Hillary at lunch and told them about how Emily and I were all but broken up. Philip said, “Yeah the thing about long-distance relationships is, they suck.”

                “You know what,” I said. “It’s ok.”

                Philip and I walked to my World Masterpieces class together after that. Class got out early and as I was sorting some recycling, Philip said, “Ben I’m proud of you. People just throw that stuff away, but you have the integrity to go through trash.”

                I got back and worked on my Thomas Jefferson bust made from foil. Then I made another coaster from receipts while I drank a Jazzman’s smoothie. After that I went to the Filmmakers and Actors Coalition in the Union, where I learned that they actually make films. When I got back I worked on one of my bags woven from bags, some Oriental stress balls made from straw wrappers, and some magnets for the group.

                I heard a knock on my door and saw Maria. She told me there was a karaoke night in the lounge and I was welcome to come if I wanted to. I did and enjoyed some popsicles. I sang Amazing Just the Way You Are and Dynamite. I also met a guy named Chris who was in my Drawing I class. I talked to Tyler, who talked about spending the weekend with me in Warrensburg, then his mom got on the phone and she asked if Tyler could stay this weekend. I hastily said yes if that was ok with Connor.  When Connor got back I said, “Hey, Connor, I was going to have someone stay this weekend, he’d just sleep on the floor, is that alright with you?”

                “Yeah sure,” he said. "I’m going to be gone Friday night so he can use my bed if he wants.”

                “Ok, thanks.”

                The next day I got one hundred percent on my Algebra quiz and started the next assignment. After my North American Indian class, a girl saw me recycling and said, “Are you recycling?”

                “Yeah,” I said.

                “You’re a good person!” she exclaimed.

                As I sorted some more recycling outside a guy asked me, “Are you recycling?”

                “Yeah,” I said.

                “Thank you. I wish more people would do that.”

                I got back and worked on one of my shopping after that. After dinner I went down to Walgreen’s and filled my prescription Dr. Mays wrote. While I was there I bought the current issue of National Geographic, the Photo issue, National Geographic’s 100 Mysteries Revealed: Secrets of the Supernatural Explained, Ancient Civilizations Unearthed, Conundrums of Science Exposed, along with several Altoids boxes to make into dioramas. When I got back from the treadmill later I felt kind of stressed, wondering how I would be able to study for my next two exams, one in my World Masterpieces class on Monday, and one in my North American Indian class on Tuesday. I told my Granddad about it, and he said it would probably be good idea if I called Tyler and told him I couldn’t have anyone stay overnight that weekend and I did. He was rather upset, but I knew he was just trying to make me feel sorry for him so I would change my mind and would forget about it very quickly. Later I started my meditation journal but decided to finish the rest the next day.

                The next day I got an A in my portfolio for my Drawing I class and saw Mrs. Carter passing by in the Rec Center where we worked on our drawing, who said hi. At lunch I ate with Connor, Kyley, Chris, John, and Aaron. After my World Masterpieces class I got a new Ethernet cord at the Union computer store and some chapstick at the Union bookstore. Then I studied for two fifty minute study blocks in the Union, two for my World Masterpieces class, and two for my North American Indian class. After fifty minutes I took a break to use the bathroom and water fountain and I set an alarm on my phone. 

                After studying I sent friend requests to Monica, James, and Tom then I changed my Facebook status to single. I rewarded my studying with dinner at Crazy Dog’s where I got another bottle cap for my collection and after having so much trouble making a snack wrapper into a coaster, decided to give up on that project. I found another bottle cap on my way to the hardware store where I got some magnet pieces for the magnets for the group, then went down to Hasting’s. While running I started working on another scrapbook. When I got back I worked on some more pairs of Oriental stress balls. Then I talked to my granddad, who thought it might be a good idea to change my Facebook status back to single. After that I worked on a bracelet made from Kool-Aid pouches and finished some of my magnets. 

                The next morning I talked to Tyler, who seemed to have gotten over his disappointment. Then I worked on my travel plans to Kenya. I did my same study plan that day at the same time in the same place, taking ten minute breaks after every fifteen minutes to use the bathroom and get a drink. Afterwards I went to Hasting’s and got the current issues of American Archaeology, Circle, and Total Film. Then I ate at Sonic as a reward for my studying. I did the same study pattern the next day and ate at Sonic for a reward, while I recorded what people put down for their interest surveys.

                On Monday I learned about snack wrapper collages and I worked on my bird woodcarving, finding a way to put a log under its feet. I also took some more photos. Then I took my exam for my World Masterpieces class and thought I did pretty well on it. After that I finished my Algebra assignment that was due the next day and the study guide that was due on Thursday. I also found out Monica, James, and Tom had all accepted my friend requests. Later I submitted my World Masterpieces take-home exam to SafeAssign. Afterwards I worked on my Oriental stress balls. When I got back from the Rec Center I worked on my handbag, not totally sure what I would do with it in the future.

First Week of the Autism Group

Note: this post mentions several individuals from the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group. The names of these individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.

On Monday morning I learned how to draw much more 3-dimensionally in my Drawing I class.  Then at my World Masterpieces class I got a five out of five on the quiz. Then I got back to my dorm and organized all the material I planned to repurpose. Then I worked on my lampshade. After that I went down to the Lovinger computer lab and filled out an application form for a room in the Union for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group to meet and I finished my math review. 

                I got back to my dorm and made another flower from straws and made a vase to put all these flowers in from a Pringles can. After dinner I made three more pencil cups from Pringles cans and two more cable holders from toilet paper rolls. I also took some more photos. I texted Emily later though I didn’t hear back from her. That night at Late Night I worked on my handbag over a root beer float from dispensed root beer and ice cream from the soft-serving machine Tyler came up with, which we had together every night last year. I also called my mom and found out she had sent my money to my account at UCM. Then on my phone I saw a design from a Korean Buddhist temple and went back to my dorm and started making some toilet paper roll wall art like it. 

                The next day I read the reading for the last North American Indian class, which was online, and nobody could access the link to. After class as I sorted some more recycling, I found a stamp for my stamp collection showing Thomas Jefferson, America’s autistic president, as well as two new Snapple caps. On the way back I took some pictures. For dinner I had apple sauce for my fruit as it wouldn’t result in me throwing anything into the landfill. After dinner I made two more pencil cups from Pringles cans and worked on my lampshade. I thought Raun Kaufman, the poster child for his parent’s home-grown autism recovery program probably only inspires neurotypicals and self-hating autistics, while I’ve inspired people with various mental and perceptual abilities. 

             While I running, I read most of the reading for The Odyssey then sorted a lot of recycling. I got back and took several photos and worked on my handbag. I saw Kyley as she was leaving the hall, and we said hi, and I realized the people on my hall really do seem to value me. Meanwhile, while I had been taking a lot of pictures of my stuff to repurpose, I felt that is fine as Lao Tzu in The Tao Te Ching said, there is nothing better than uncut wood or raw silk, from which great things arise. I got back to my dorm and worked on my toilet paper roll wall art, which I got some pictures of. 

              I took a few photos before I went to my Drawing I class the next day. There I prefect my drawing technique some more. Later I found out one of my prescriptions had been refilled. Then I started working on my coasters made from straws.

              I had lunch with Autrey before my World Masterpieces class. On my way to that class I took some pictures and realized that color and texture can help us realize what we’re seeing and tell a lot about what’s in the photo. I took some more photos after class. Then I got a new issue of American Cinematographer from a stack in the Communications Building before getting one hundred percent on my Algebra practice quiz. Then I talked to Tyler a little bit.

                I read on-line that many students in inclusive education develop better social skills, which I thought it may be due to interacting more with regular students. Then I signed two petitions afterwards, one to a website asking them to take down and apologize for material claiming there is a link between autism and pedophilia and another to Goodwill asking them to pay their disabled workers fair wages while their executives make six figure earnings. I got back and made another pencil cup from a Pringles can. Then I worked on a bracelet made from snack wrappers. I also thought of how spending every minute of one’s day home from school for non-neurotypical people can take away from one’s sleep, worsening their school performance, and creating a vicious cycle. While running, I made a bracelet from strips of plastic bag. I went to Late Night with Ro, Connor, and Mckenzie afterwards.  Autrey joined us shortly after that and got to meet Connor. 

                The next day at my Algebra class I took the test and got 82.35%, my highest grade ever on an Algebra test since I had an Algebra teacher named Mark Hills, who happened to have Asperger syndrome, at JCCC, which was around an 81%, and that was in a pre-college Algebra class. I viewed the video lectures for the next lesson able to go back if I needed to and learned how the internet and technology can allow us to accommodate people with disabilities in a cost-efficient manner. I got back, took out my trash and recycling, and found some more pebbles for my collection. I also realized that my arts and crafts seem to have the elements of texture and color much like miksang photography and about how the Buddhist art of dressage, contemplative horseback riding, is about working with another being’s body and how that is sort of like the art of Tango. 

                I read more of the reading for my North American Indian class and read in their about how in our society, people taking on opposite gender roles were thought of as strange, unlike in Native American societies, and that lead to them having second-class status, much like with disabled people.  During the class I was able to connect everything the instructor said fairly well. I also realized people view struggling as a way to identify autism, learning disabilities, and other cognitive differences, yet we never heard of Thomas Jefferson or Charles Darwin struggling it seems and we could identify them both as having autism, and autism and other cognitive disabilities could also be perhaps identified with strengths rather than just weaknesses, all the more reason the idea of autistic pride is so important. I also remembered the poster out in the hall with the Dalai Lama, and a quote saying, “The more you are motivated by compassion, the more fearless your actions will become.” I also realized I could put more images for magnets, cable holders, and pencil cups on one sheet of paper to start saving paper. 

                As I sorted some more recycling, I found another new Snapple cap. After dinner I found out my mom had gotten my medications. Then I worked on my lampshade and finished two bracelets made from snack wrappers. When I got back from the Rec Center I worked more on my handbag. 

                The next day I learned some new drawing techniques in my Drawing I class, and then I took some more photos. I went to my World Masterpieces class where I got an A on my first response paper and a three out of five on the quiz. After class I found out the first meeting for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group would be on Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 in Union Room 308 and I e-mailed it to Barbara to forward to the students registered with autism in her office so that I got send a message to them and no one would see their names. I got back to my dorm, and I started making a picture frame for the picture I got from the Campus Kick-Off from a paper plate. Afterwards I went to the Art Shoppe where I got some more embroidery floss and picked up some cans and bottles to recycle. Then I went to Crazy Dog’s where I got a new bottle cap for my collection and tried unsuccessfully to make coasters from snack wrappers but did get the idea to make Oriental stress balls from pulp dried up from paper straw wrappers and give one pair to Tyler to help him deal with his stress. I realized as much as people are imperfect, it makes us work harder to love and accept them and be better able to work with and relate to different kinds of people. When I got back to my dorm, I also realized I could make my paper plate picture frame stronger if I put a cardboard square inside. 

                The next day, while I was showering, I thought of how during Gandhi’s peaceful resistance to British rule, the violent crackdown on the protests at Amritsar Temple may have made the British more careful about using violence on protesters with the press probably seeing such violence being used against peaceful protester moreover at one of the holiest Sikh sites. I remembered learning in my History of India class at Johnson County Community College how the Gandhian strategy of boycotting British clothes and gathering their own salt had been so effective against the British Empire because the British needed the funds to colonize India. After breakfast I took some more pictures and read more of Sahara. Then went to the library where I sorted some recycling and e-mailed Sean Swindler from the JCCC Autism Spectrum Support Group asking him if he could send me the interest surveys we used at JCCC, which asked a person’s basic information, a checklists of interests, social strengths, areas they wanted to improve, how they learned best, whether they had an IEP in high school, their goals for the group, and anything else they wanted us to know, to help us get to know the students better and plan activities for them. Then I went to Hasting’s, taking several pictures on the way and getting the current issue of American Archaeology. Then I went to Bi-Lo Mart where I got shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and bagels.  I got back and took several pictures on the way. 

                I worked on some Oriental stress balls made from straw wrappers, and then Richard from my hall invited me to eat dinner with him. I did or rather had more of a pre-dinner snack as later I ate dinner at Sonic as a way of rewarding myself for working so hard on Ben’s Blog. I was glad I had a lot of hobbies to help me relax, which is a very Easter philosophical approach, often taught by Taoism. Later I got a new nickel for my collection while at the Rec Center before running on the treadmill for two-and-a-half hours, while reading up on travel with my Lonely Planet books on Kenya and Northeast India. I also found out that I had sent my e-mail for Sean to the wrong address, so I looked it up, retyped, and resent the e-mail on my phone.

                The next morning, I read more of Sahara. Then I found out Dr. Mayfield had sent e-mails out to all the students and while I was napping, I saw Sean had e-mailed me back saying he was getting back into town the next day and would love to e-mail me the papers in town and would love to have lunch with me sometimes if I was ever home to visit. I got out of bed and went to the library, as my Ethernet cord had broken, and e-mailed Sean back thanking him for sending me the papers and would love to get together and eat with him some weekend while at home. I also thanked him for helping me get these groups together, saying I thought they would soon help make things happen in a way we were only beginning to understand. I got back to my dorm and made a toilet paper roll diorama of Boudhnath Stupa in Nepal. Tyler texted me later saying, “You are my favorite brother I have you through thick and thin always thank you.” I also read more of the reading for my World Masterpieces class while running on the treadmill for two-and-a-half hours. 

                On Monday I took part in a two-person drawing that was in two-point perspective. After that I took some more pictures. I also thought that maybe if people on the spectrum were given the services they need, they might not overeat, and we wouldn’t pay for so many health problems. Later I nearly finished the study guide for my Algebra class and finished the on-line assignment. After that I took some more pictures. I also learned how to stitch a book together on-line and about making snack wrappers into bicycle streamers. I also talked to Tyler some more.

                The next day I got help with the last problem I needed to do in my Algebra class and found a problem I did wrong and corrected it. On my way to my Algebra class, I got a picture of a bronze heart sculpture in the library. I got one hundred percent on my Algebra quiz. Afterwards I read the rest of the reading for my North American Indian class at lunch, found out Sean had sent the surveys, e-mailed him thanking him, and then printed fifty off.

                After my North American Indian class, I went upstairs in the Union where the group would be held, but Dr. Mayfield and I waited for at least half an hour, and no one came. We talked and finally two young women, one thirty, and one eighteen walked up to where we had a room reserved. I asked them, “Are you here for the meeting here?”

                “Yeah,” said the younger one.

                I asked the younger one her name.

                “Joe,” she said.

                “Thank you,” I said then turning the older one said, “And you.”

                “Lavender.”

                “Thank you."

                I took their names down in a notebook and then I gave Joe and Lavender interest surveys and told them to hand them back to me when they were done. After I got them back, we started the meeting with introductions. First, I introduced myself, telling them about how I started the group, then Dr. Mayfield, then the two girls, who I learned were sisters. I told them we only had a few simple rules: avoid any put-down like comments or sharing of one’s own or other’s private information, and how if one had something they needed to talk about with someone, they could see a peer mentor. Then we took four minutes to pair up two people and get to know three things about the other person. I paired up with Lavender and Dr. Mayfield paired up with Joe and we took four minutes. I learned how Lavender looked cats, grew up in Warrensburg, and went to school in North Carolina. I also heard Joe tell Dr. Mayfield she was interested in creative writing. After four minutes was over, we shared what we learned about the other person with the whole group. Then I asked them all what they thought would be a great idea for us to do the next week, mentioning a couple of ideas, including a Game Night.

                “Game Nights good,” said Lavender. “Because I have a lot of games. I have one game that we can play that can hold up to twelve players since we don’t know how many people we’ll have next week."  Joe nodded.

                “Game Night would be good,” said Dr. Mayfield.

                “Alright, Game Night it is,” I said.

                On the whole I was really pleased with how the group had turned out that day. I sorted a little bit of recycling after that like I would have normally done after class and a guy saw me doing and asked me, “Are you recycling?”

                “Yeah,” I said.

                “Thank you,” he said.

                I took out my trash and recycling when I got back. I told my mom she was just thrilled and I also asked her if she could send me several corks to make some bottle cap magnets and she said yes. Afterwards I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class while running on the treadmill. Later I told my dad and grandparents who the meeting went. They were also thrilled. I saw sure enough that Joe’s survey said Creative Writing, while Lavender’s said Crafts/Projects and Art/Painting. I also talked to Tyler some more.

                The next day, after passing by a guy near the bridge handing out bibles, I worked on the assignment we had for the day in my Drawing I class. Then I read more of the reading for my World Masterpieces class. During that class I got a four out of five on the quiz. Afterwards I sorted some recycling during which I noticed several dead bees in coffee shop cups. A woman sitting nearby me thanked me for that while another guy said, “Good job.” In the trash I found several bibles and a guy passed by me saying, “Oh good, you’re recycling.” Then he asked me, “What are all those books?”

                “Oh, these are bibles people have thrown away.”

                “I’ll take one,” he said.

                “Sure,” I said. “There’s two versions. Which one do you want?”

                I don’t care.” I gave him both of them. 

                Soon another thought occurred to me about how bureaucrats will withhold services from people with autism, saying they are too expensive. Yet I’ve heard it said that the most successful people with autism are the ones who advocate the most aggressively for their kids. I thought that if the courts kept going to battle with the parents, it would eventually cost more than providing them with the right services. On my way back I ran into Mrs. Carter from my first year in THRIVE and we stopped, said hi, and talked for a bit. Then I got back to the dorm and gave Connor one of the bibles and started on a Buddha sculpture made from tin foil. I returned my library books and sorted some recycling in the library, careful not to be too noisy. I saw an exhibit of shells down on the first floor which I got several pictures of, getting in the color, light, and texture. I felt encouraged to slow down not worrying about what things like what our government with its spending cuts do our schools and people with disabilities as bigots it has been said, are more likely to suffer heart problems raising the costs of health insurance, losing both good health and paying lower taxes. I also saw an ethnic musical instrument display which I admired fondly, thinking of my ethnic musical instrument collection. 

               I printed off more of the images for the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group items at the Lovinger and the girl at the desk asked me what they were for, and I explained how I was making magnets from bottle caps, cable holders from toilet paper rolls, and pencil cups from Pringles cans. 

                “That’s really cool,” she said.

                After that I sorted some more recycling at the Lovinger building. After I was leaving the Rec Center, a guy walking back to me said with a slightly thick Caribbean accent, “Hey I see you a lot at the Rec Center.”

                “Oh, yeah, I go down there every night.”

                “Yeah, I work there.”

                “That’s cool.” 

                “My name’s Francis.”

                “Ben,” I said shaking his hand. “Do you live around here?”

                “I live in an apartment a little bit away,” he said.

                “Cool, what’s your major?”

                “Mechanics,” he said.  “What about you?”

                “Mine is Cultural Studies.”

                “That’s cool,” he said. “Well, I got to go. See ya.”

                “See ya.” I got back to the dorm and talked to Tyler.

                I saw my psychiatrist Dr. Mays, who worked part time in Warrensburg the next day telling him about transitioning from THRIVE to the regular UCM program, repurposing trash, writing in my meditation journal to teach my future kids about meditation, my friend Tyler, and the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group and how it went back to my time at JCCC. He said it was amazing someone as young as I could have such a broad perspective on helping other people. I did tell him I also tended to feel somewhat distracted from time to time and he thought it could be that I was taking on more challenges, so we agreed to experiment with a slightly higher dose of one of my medications. When I got back, I went to the Student Success Center and got help with my study guide. Then I got back the last two study guides in my Algebra class both with five out of five points. 

                Later while I was at my Anthropology class, I heard a blonde female professor from the earlier class, telling two female students about a condition related to Down syndrome called Trisomy 18 and how babies with it were highly unlikely to ever survive for long in life.  One of the girls said she heard  kids with Down syndrome would often grow up to be really great, and I told them about being in THRIVE and having a roommate with Down syndrome and learning so much from him, then showed them some pictures and they all looked really touched. After class I sorted more recycling and felt a greater sense of compassion as I sorted some recycling and bees got on my arm and hand but didn’t sting me, seeming very friendly. I remembered how a mother once asked the Dalai Lama at one of his talks how kids can be taught to be compassionate in a world filled with violence, and he said, “Teach kids to learn about insects.” I got back and talked to Tyler some more. I also got the idea to start a bee farm on the several acres of land my mom and Dave bought in Colorado. 

                Later I started the assignment for my North American Indian class and a janitor working at the Rec Center saw me sorting some recycling and gave me some gloves to do it. I got back and worked on my handbag. Then I talked to my Granddad who thought I’d be great at a bee farm. Then I worked more on my Buddha sculpture. I also talked to my mom, and she liked the idea of a bee farm.

                The next day we didn’t have Drawing I. Never-the-less around the time I went to my World Masterpieces class I felt a little overwhelmed by a feeling of being rushed. After class I sorted some more recycling and a woman, middle-aged, asked what I was doing, and I said I was just using some snack wrappers to make bicycle streamers. She said she thought I was looking for food and was going to give me some money, saying she could be doing that someday, but I thought if she kept her money, maybe she wouldn’t, and no one would give her money and end up in her situation later. I realized that landfill could destroy bees by destroying their habitat, making me think of what the Chinese government was doing in Tibet, and I poured Coke and other soft drinks out of bottles and cups as I realized the, drawing bees away from the trash. 

                I did take some more pictures and realized the colors and texture in my photos are very similar to ones I made in paintings. Then I bought some more glue, tape, and construction paper down at the Union. I got back and sorted my upcyclable materials some more and worked on my lampshade. I also made a promise to myself that I would do the reading for my World Masterpieces class and the papers for my North American Indian and Drawing I class. I also e-mailed Dr. Mayfield, Joe, and Lavender about the Game Night. I went to the Print Club meeting later, but I was only there for about ten minutes as the faculty advisor, Mark Farris, was on a staff retreat. Then I went to Crazy Dog’s finding another Snapple cap on the ground from a bottle to be recycled and my drink there where I also read more of the website for my North American Indian class. Later that night I saw Monster’s University at the Union movie theater. On my way back to Ellis, I almost went down the stairs past the bridge, as though going to the ground floor of South Ellis where the THRIVE hall used to be, forgetting I now lived on the second floor.

                 At breakfast the next day I worked on my shopping bags and saw Philip who asked if we had been given a study guide for our upcoming class in World Masterpieces when he wasn’t there. I told him we had and offered to make a copy for him. I also showed him the shopping bag woven from Walmart bags I was working on and asked him to pull it and feel how strong it was. He did and said, “Boy, that’s strong!”

                We exchanged numbers and I took some pictures after that. I was working on a scrapbook cover made from snack wrappers when I heard a knock on my door and found Maria asking if I wanted to come to dinner with the hall. I said sure and I went down with her, Richard, and a few other students where I finished the scrapbook, leaving them all very impressed. I also showed Philip, who was working down there and was also impressed. I talked to Tyler later on and I found out at the Rec Center that there was a group called the Filmmaker’s and Actor’s Coalition meeting on Wednesday at 4:30 in the Union. I read more of The Aeneid for my World Masterpieces class on the treadmill and when I got back, I talked to Tyler some more. He said he was going to apply for a position with the Down Syndrome Gild working with the government and said Ann, the woman in charge of the program, said she knew me. 

                During breakfast the next day I read more of The Aeneid then I took out my trash and recycling and also found some more pebbles. I got back to my dorm and typed up my paper for my North American Indian class. I worked on my shopping bags and learned about how you can use plastic bags to make a Buddhist mandala, an idea originating from an artist named Virginia Flecke living in L.A. inspired by “celebrity yoga and Hollywood Buddhism.” I talked to Tyler while making some bracelets made from strips of plastic bags. Unfortunately, I also realized Emily and I hadn’t talked in a long time and wondered if she was actually the girl for me.