Wretches and Jabberers
“Dispel the darkness around us wretches. Take us for real people. Don’t sideline us.” –Tracy Thresher, “Wretches and Jabberers”
The other night I had the opportunity to bring my 24 year old autistic son Nat to a dinner with Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, the stars of the documentary “Wretches and Jabberers,” directed by Gerardine Wurzburg. The film was the kickoff movie for an event called “ReelAbilities,” a mini film festival running January 31 – February 6, under the aegis of the Boston Jewish Film Festival. ReelAbilities is dedicated to showing movies that hav...
Source: Susan's Blog - January 31, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Touching the Sky
Yesterday I climbed a mountain on a bike. I hired a guide, Brian from Santa Barbara Fitness Tours, and together we planned our trek. Brian was a young man in his late 20′s, slim, bearded, and sporting a colorful tattoo on his leg. He gave me several options — did we want to do a more technical route with some singletrack areas that would test my mountain biking skills? Or did we want something less technical but still unpaved, and in the wilderness up high? Or old equestrian trails in Montecito? I told him I wanted wilderness, challenging climbing, and some technical maneuvering.
The night before the ride I...
Source: Susan's Blog - January 27, 2014 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Ghosts of New Years’ Past
I am reposting from my own blog, four years ago New Year’s Day. Here’s what was on my mind, maybe it’s something you can learn from. I’m hoping it’s something I can learn from, at any rate:
The New Year is here, and with it comes the Old Fear. I keep buzzing around the issues of adult services, or perhaps these are buzzing me, tiny specks needling into my eyes and ears like gnats. But it is Nats, really; Nat’s future.
When Nat was younger, plunged deeply into the center of his school days, all I could think about — in activist terms — was that the career of the private special needs scho...
Source: Susan's Blog - December 30, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Call for Interviewees for my Third Autism Book
As some of my readers may know, I am working on a third autism book. (My two earlier books are Making Peace With Autism and The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide (For Dads, Too!). I need to talk to parents of autistic children, age 18yo +, particularly low-IQ but also any child considered “low-functioning.” If you are such a parent and you would give your legal, wholehearted consent to my using your first name, your state, your child’s first name, and his/her age, please contact me at: susan@susansenator.com for an interview. The interviews will be either over the phone or by skype.
* If you are a parent ...
Source: Susan's Blog - December 26, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
My Notes from the Massachusetts Higher Ed Inclusion Task Force 11/13
In November I was appointed to the Higher Eduction Task Force on Inclusion of Students with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. I represented the Community College Consortium for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities as well as being an autism advocate, mom, and author. The following are my impressions of the hearings:
I sat on the Higher Ed Task Force hearings wearing at least two hats. The first, my oldest and most comfortable, is as the mother of Nat, my 24 year-old son with fairly intense autism. The second hat I wear is as the Director of Outreach for the Community College Consortium for Autism and Intellectual Di...
Source: Susan's Blog - December 22, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Yankee Swap
Nat, though seriously involved with his autism, has a good life. He lives in a small house with three other young autistic men, and they are overseen by kind, caring staff and a wonderful house manager. The house was started by three of the four families almost two years ago. I had the vision of such a place, a home near me, in Boston, close to parks and YMCA’s, restaurants, shows, etc. Roommates who were his age and had similar interests and similar challenges. They could learn from each other. They could grow together. Some people feel that there should be higher-functioning role models around for their lower-funct...
Source: Susan's Blog - December 9, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Nat’s holiday party
Here is the agenda for Nat’s holiday party. I just got from Nat’s house manager, in regard to the holidays. My heart is just brimming with thankfulness.
(Of course they asked if we wanted to do a Chanukah activity, but I declined because it’s already over! But — I will contribute blue and silver decorations!)
Appetizers- as people arrive
Toast to the guys and the home
Dinner buffet style at beginning part of the party
Standing up the Tree
The guys will decorate their tree on Monday Night, I feel this will leave room for us to do the other activities but also provide them a time to decorate the tr...
Source: Susan's Blog - December 6, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Our Favorite Autism Therapy: Time
I wrote an essay, published by WBUR/NPR, related to the new findings that autism may be detectable as early as 18 months of age. I’m not convinced that this is the best form of research we could pursue. Autism resources are frontloaded into the early childhood years. As Nat’s mom, I gotta ask: “What about the grown-ups, and all that they need? What works for them?” (Source: Susan's Blog)
Source: Susan's Blog - November 29, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Be Prepared to Bleed
Part of you pours out of me in these lines from time to time.
My husband Ned just had part of his thyroid removed — a benign nodule had swollen up there — and he has written very eloquently about it. This was the first kind of surgery we have experienced as a couple (together for 30 + years) and even though the cutting and recovery happened to him, we were steeped in the fear and waiting together. We’ve been through autism and other woes, and I’m happy to the depths of my soul that we seem to be stronger than ever. I’m beyond grateful to God and fate and the randomness of the Universe that pu...
Source: Susan's Blog - November 24, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
I Salute You, JFK
This was the man who was instrumental in getting Special Olympics off the ground. Watch this beautiful video and put Special Olympics on your list of worthwhile charities this holiday season.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANJfuEWckM&feature=youtu.be (Source: Susan's Blog)
Source: Susan's Blog - November 22, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
My Workshop on Housing
Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC)
in partnership with
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC)
“A Full Life Ahead” ~ a series of monthly workshops for parents and guardians
of young adults with a disability. The series focuses on transition, employment, housing, friendships and other topics that will lead to interdependent, full lives
in the community for young adults with disabilities.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
What Makes a House a Home?
7:00 – 9:00 PM
MDSC Office
20 Burlington Mall Road — Suite 261
Burlington, MA 01803
» » Information on Housing Connections ~ Chris Williams« «...
Source: Susan's Blog - November 19, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Interview with Nat
I am writing a fourth book, my third autism experience book. The working title is: “Autism Adulthood: Living a Fulfilled Life on the Autism Spectrum.” The book is to be largely based on interviews with people up and down the spectrum and their families. I will weave in my own narrative with Nat’s experience throughout the book. I decided to try interviewing Nat. I typed the questions and read each one to him, one at a time, with a lot of silent waiting so that he could come up with the answers. He would then say his answers and start typing. He would hesitate, and I would say, “Go ahead, Nat, type i...
Source: Susan's Blog - November 5, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
New Massachusetts Task Force: Disabilities in Higher Ed
I am on a Task Force headed up by State Rep Tom Sannicandro and Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, President of Bridgewater State University. The Task Force is having four hearings (the first of which was today, sorry to be late with this announcement), in different parts of Massachusetts, to hear testimony from the public about the need for and matters pertaining to the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts state colleges and community colleges. Here is a press release to explain in-depth and for all upcoming hearings:
Higher Education Task Force Focuses on Including Students with Disabilities
Higher Ed...
Source: Susan's Blog - November 1, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Housing Workshop!!
This is a terrific organization founded by friend and mentor Cathy Boyle. If you live anywhere near Framingham, Massachusetts and you want to know about housing for someone with autism, try to get to this one!
Autism Housing Pathways (AHP) will present a full day workshop on housing on Saturday, December 7th, at Advocates, Inc., 1881 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA. Come prepared to roll up your sleeves and work! The goal is to end the day with an idea of what benefits your family member may be eligible for, what you can afford, and what models might be applicable to your situation. We will be completing questionnaires and ...
Source: Susan's Blog - October 30, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
By the way
Go Sox! (Source: Susan's Blog)
Source: Susan's Blog - October 29, 2013 Category: Autism Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
