The Joy of Autism

Star Dust

I have a soft spot for Christopher Plummer. When Adam was a year old, he was mesmerized by the Sound of Music. He loved when Captain Von Trapp used the whistle to call for his children and keep them “in line.” I enjoyed Adam’s baby belly...

Published Mon, Feb 27 2012 6:40 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Inspiration

We Deserve Better

Since Adam was diagnosed with autism at the age of 19 months, we employed ABA therapists. The therapy consisted of look-me-in-the-eye programs, table-top learning. Adam was a baby. When we talk about early intervention for autism, we don’t want...

Published Thu, Jun 23 2011 5:58 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance, communication, Wandering, school

Reflections Of Our First Decade

Tonight Adam asked to be carried to his bed. “Carry!” he implored. He’s got a determined look in his eye. Usually, he climbs into my lap and expects me to carry him to his bed. So I let him again tonight and cradled him in my arms. “Adam...

Published Wed, Jan 11 2012 7:21 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Estee, Autism and Learning, Family, Single Parenthood, Ethics, Discrimination, Autism and Intelligence, Acceptance, Joy, Autism and Employment, autism, Autistic Self Advocacy, Advocacy, Autism Theories

No Pity: As April Approaches…

I am finishing my M.A. in Critical Disability Studies, a fortunate position which I hope to give back to many others as The Autism Acceptance Project grows again. There are lots of writing deadlines now and April is on my mind…if you haven’t...

Published Mon, Mar 11 2013 6:33 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Advocacy, Charity, The Economy of Pity

Who is Safe; Who is “At Risk?” Some More Considerations Before April

As we head into April, I thought I’d post Protest on the Plinth which states that the value system from the Nazi era hasn’t changed much today. If people make out disabled people’s lives to be “intolerable,” then how can...

Published Mon, Mar 25 2013 6:05 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Inclusion, Research, Advocacy, school, Ableism, Disability History, The Autism Genome Project, Newgenics, Charity, Government Services, Pity, NEugenics

Acceptance Is Action

Here are a few videos promoted by The Autistic Self Advoacy Network for Autism Acceptance Month with Amy Sequenza, Henry Frost and Kevin Barrett: —- And here, an interview Keep Hearing Voices with autistic self-advocate, Bev Harp. Digg this post...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 10:23 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance

The never-ending labyrinth

Adam’s jerking has increased as it was a few years ago… when we did the EEG and they said he had no seizure activity. My own anxiety feels seismic, and I wonder when all of this can explode, get worse, or if all my calming strategies for Adam...

Published Fri, Jun 28 2013 11:24 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Anxiety, Sensory Differences, Behaviours, Movement Disturbance, Medications, seizures

Mothers

Adam’s twitching has not fully abated and he was up all night…not something we’ve seen to this level for over three years now. He seems to be happier and I am working on keeping him calm – and there’s people who also help...

Published Fri, Jun 21 2013 12:38 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Parenting

The Autism Acceptance Project

The Autism Acceptance Project website is now live. BUT, we have a lot of work to do, still. A few months ago, the site was hacked and we now have to upload all the materials and photos so that people can see the scope of the events and lectures. We saved...

Published Fri, Dec 14 2012 10:09 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: The Autism Acceptance Project

My Duct-Tape Day: The Economy of Pity in Action

This morning I woke up feeling I should walk around town putting duct tape over my mouth. I just couldn’t find any so I put The Autism Acceptance Project stickers over it – a befitting act seeing as how our material was pirated. I in fact...

Published Sat, Feb 09 2013 6:15 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: The Economy of Pity

Issues From Looking From the “Inside-Out” in Autism Research and Organziations

Attending IMFAR for me this year raised many more questions, if not affirmed some of my assumptions about the extent (or not) to which autistic individuals are involved in research as well as autism organizations. While more autistic people may be in...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 8:22 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Inclusion, Research

Why is Seeing, Believing?

I learned another lesson tonight. Adam has had a few difficult days. He was complaining last week that his ear hurt, and I thought maybe he had an ear infection. I took him to the doctor who suggested it could be his 12-year-old molars coming in. I was...

Published Thu, Nov 21 2013 6:52 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Anxiety, communication, Behaviours

Universal Design & Making Spaces for All Bodies

I’m in Denver at the AutCOM conference, having posited the question of who gets to occupy space (and how)? At many autism-friendly conferences I attend, autistic people are permitted to get up, make noise, sleep under the table. How many times,...

Published Sat, Oct 12 2013 8:09 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Uncategorized, Universal Design

Beyond Mall Therapy

I think many parents will agree that one of the most challenging things for families with autistic children are outings. Adam’s anxiety and repetitive activities increase over his perceived threats and fear of change; he will need to check out the...

Published Fri, Mar 21 2014 9:02 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Anxiety, Inclusion, communication, Obsessions, Autistic Self Advocacy, Travel, Sensory Differences, Transitions, Safety, Parenting, Autism Theories, Behaviours, Wandering, ABA, Language, Community, Living, seizures, Intelligence, Aides and Assistants, Accessibility

Important October Events!

Disability Pride March, Queen’s Park, October 4th at 1 p.m. There are two events that are important for the autism community to attend in October. The first is Disability Pride March at Queens Park…meet at 1 p.m: Sign Up by clicking this phrase...

Published Tue, Sep 23 2014 8:20 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: EVENTS

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