VERY hard. This chapter 19, from which this
excerpt came, alone took over 6 months. To
show for it, I have a swollen arm with broken,
bloody, seeping skin from where I bite my right
wrist violently and then bang it into my teeth as
forcefully as I can with my dominant left hand
while caterwauling like a petrified alley cat. I
warn others to get back as best I can, but they
don’t always get my non-verbal message, and in
this state I am sure to grab, claw and bite you if
you get too close.
Do I want to be like this? Is this Autism? I am
not sure. From what I have gathered, “severely
autistic” may describe my way of being and doing as accurately as words can at this time.
If you and your spouse were to divorce tomorrow, would you be able to financially
care for your autistic child on your own—
perhaps for your child’s lifetime?
CONNER’S
LAW
I don’t know how to write about injustice and
anguish without feeling it. So, I bite into pain,
knowing Grace will come. The consistent, eventual reward and bliss of Grace fuels my perseverance and keeps me moving.
I planned to end this article with a rah-rah
for you to keep being and doing as Grace will
come. Then my perception changed. Two days
ago, I was just being on my smooth wooden
swing in a faultless fall afternoon, relishing remnants of my favorite microwave buttered popcorn on my fingers and cheeks, when I captured
the image of Grace. Astonishing! But how? My
autistic darkroom was closed. Grace was not out
there. Grace was in here. Like Malcolm Brown,
“I realized this is something of unusual importance and that I’d have to get them to the AP in
one of its far-flung octopus tentacles as soon as
possible. And I also knew that this was a very
difficult thing to do [in AUTISM] on short notice.” For immediate release: “See past octopus’
ink - Grace is always everywhere.”
Neurodiversity advocate Barb Rentenbach is a
sagacious and humorous writer. Due to “severe
autism” she does not speak but painstakingly
types one letter at time. Barb is the co-founder/
CEO of Mule and Muse Productions and star of LOUD
MUTE RADIO.
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ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
BALANCE
5 New Year’s Resolutions
for a More BALANCED Life
A
s 2015 comes to an end, it’s time to look less to the past and more towards the future and
the blank slate known as 2016. A new year means
new beginnings, a chance to rewrite
1
your own book or at least the next chapter! So, stop for a moment, take a deep breath
and reflect on the changes you want (or need) to make
1 that will allow you to live a happier, less
stressed and more balanced life. Just print out these five resolutions below and put them on your
refrigerator, bathroom mirror or anywhere else that will allow you to see them often.
2
Then resolve to make the change and be the BEST YOU you can be!
1 In 2016, I will take better care of MYSELF. You have a calendar full of your
loved ones’ appointments, but when was the
last time you had your vision tested, your teeth
cleaned, your bloodwork checked or even your
hair
2 cut? We all know that we can’t take care of
others if we don’t take care of ourselves first, so
1
why don’t we do it? This year, resolve to take
better care of yourself, improve your lifestyle
and not feel guilty about doing it.
3
1
2
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
SB923 Conner’s Law passed in VA. Join our
advocacy movement while we
go state by state, changing laws as needed...
Because a disability doesn’t stop
on a child’s 18th birthday.
Conquer for Conner
In 2016, I will worry less and TRUST
more. Steve Jobs once said, “You cannot
connect the dots looking forward; you can only
connect them looking backwards. So you have
to trust that the dots will somehow connect in
4
your
2 future.” Every person has their own time
3 so this year, resolve to worry less about the
line,
future and trust that the dots WILL eventually
connect!
In 2016, I will work on being “UNDER
CONTROL,” not “in control.” You may
not be able to control the situation, but you
can control how you react to it! When you are
under control, you are sending the message that
regardless of what is happening, whether it is
4
your child having a meltdown in the middle of
aisle 4 in the grocery store or your boss giv-
3
4
5
2
ing you another assignment on top of the three
you already have, YOU get to decide how you
feel
3 about it and how you will react. This year,
resolve to stay under control as it will allow
you to remain calm and keep the focus where it
3
needs to be, which is the situation at hand.
In 2016, I will concentrate on what is
RIGHT rather than what is wrong! Don’t
focus on what did not work or go as planned;
4
instead, look for the silver lining because, believe it or not, there is always one there. This
year, resolve to look at the glass as half full, not
empty, and celebrate every milestone, for none
are
5 too small or insignificant.
4
In 2016, I will remember that “to err is
human,” and no one is perfect. You will
not always make the correct decisions, react in
the best way or say the right thing. It’s okay!
Mistakes are how we learn. Personal growth
is only achievable when we are able to see that
every blunder, trial and hardship is not a failure
but an opportunity! This year, resolve to accept
that YOU ARE A WONDERFUL IMPERFECT
WORK OF PROGRESS!
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