The winner of Britain’s Got Talent this year is…
The Lost Voice Guy!
He is very funny, but his message is serious (which makes for brilliant comedy.). As he says, “I was disabled before I was popular.” Furthermore, “People were laughing at me even before I became a comedian.”
One fan on YouTube has compiled this vignette of his journey:
We’ll let him tell of the rest of his journey!
Fred Rogers, Extraordinary Friends, written in 2000.
“You are special.” That’s the comforting message from Mister Rogers. And by “special,” Fred Rogers does not mean empty praise merely to inflate egos. Each of us is unique in his or her special way. With this, it is apt that Mister Rogers would introduce readers to other children who are different from them, in that they have a disability. With his characteristic empathy, understanding, and honesty, he acknowledges that these people who look or act different can make on feel uneasy. Yet, after taking the time to get to know these people, they are also much like them: they have hobbies, favorite foods, and like to be with others. In that way, Mister Rogers neither puts these extraordinary friends on a pedestal (what many in the self-advocacy community refer to as “disability porn”), nor presents them as objects of pity. Before he starts his narrative, Rogers introduces us to six children. Three have disabilities (though he does not reveal what kind), and three do not. With each of the six children, Mister Rogers simply explains what they like to do and their favorite food. Throughout, Mister Rogers gives tips on etiquette, to ensure both parties are comfortable. In acknowledging differences as well as what we share in common, we are simply being real friends.
Although the book’s positive message merits five stars, the writing is better suited to having an adult read the book aloud to the child. The message, however, is very much geared to the child, told in Fred Rogers’s own wonderful way.
It is worth recalling that Fred Rogers’s affinity for children very much extended to those with disabilities. Quite a few of these children were guests on his show. These children never forget the kindness of Mister Rogers! One of the most beautiful moments was a very special reunion when he was inducted into the hall of fame. No more needs to be said about Fred Rogers and the reason so many people continue to adore this special man.
New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney was on hand this week to meet with the first adult with autism at the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS) day center. That program was launched late 2015.
“The Center for Adult Autism Services is working to accomplish something that I think everyone agrees should be our top priority,” said Senator Sweeney in a statement on his website. “It allows adults with autism to live as fulfilling a life as possible. We want everyone, no matter what challenges they face, to reach their fullest potential. This support can make a real difference in their lives.”
When the first phase of the program is in full operation, the center will offer up to 60 adults with autism (living off campus) fulfilling university jobs. The effort will supported by Rutgers clinical staff and graduate students. The following (second) phase calls for a residential program for 20 adults with autism. These individuals will work on campus and live alongside Rutgers graduate students in an apartment-style residence. These inclusive settings will offer individuals with autism the satisfaction and learning that come from employment. As such, the program will present Rutgers students with important educational opportunities as well.
The University’s Douglass campus is already host to the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center. This on-site program for children and teens on the autism spectrum is accessible to graduate and undergraduate students in education and psychology.
Advancing Opportunities applauds efforts in New Jersey to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities settings for full participation in society.
Although most awareness months and days are on a national scale, this December will feature a global undertaking to raise awareness and promote advocacy. December 3 is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is an effort to “promote action and raise awareness about disability issues and draw attention to the benefits of an inclusive and accessible society for all.” Observed since 1992, this day focuses on a different theme around the world each year. For 2016, the theme is “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want.”
The objective of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is to raise awareness of all types of disabilities and dispel archaic ideas and stereotypes and stigma, as these are often “the greatest barrier to their full and equal participation in society and development on an equal basis with others.” Moreover, over the course of our lives, most of us will become disabled to some degree.
Nearly 1 in 7 people worldwide live with a disability. Of great concern are the barriers they face, which prevent them from being fully included in important parts of daily life, in such areas as transportation, employment, and education. In addition, many people with disabilities are not fully able to participate politically, a key to maintaining active citizenship in a democracy and being self-advocates for needed changes.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities recognizes not only physical disabilities, but also mental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Already a vulnerable group, these people, often face discrimination in employment and other areas of daily living or, at the very least, confront considerable hurdles to accomplishing these tasks effectively.
Last year, the theme was “Inclusion Matters: Access and Empowerment for People of All Disabilities.” As a result, the UN earlier this year adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals to provide a greater degree of inclusion for all people with disabilities. The UN efforts address the current status of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international treaty comprising eight principles:
A ribbon made of multicolored puzzle pieces. It has become one the most recognizable symbols of autism in the world. The various colors reflect the many “faces” of autism, a condition often referred to as the autism spectrum (ASD) because no two people with autism are alike. (The cognitive abilities of people with ASD range from nonverbal to intellectually brilliant.) The ribbon symbolizes solidarity and hope of a happy, fulfilling life for people with autism. The puzzle pieces remind us that the condition and the people with it are still very much a mystery.
Autism Awareness Month first came to be about 25 years ago, when the Autism Society of America undertook an effort to promote autism awareness. The primary objective was to “promote … inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with ASD is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest quality of life.” This year, the Autism Society seeks to go beyond awareness and encourage the public to play an active role as advocates, to speak out for inclusion of people with autism in school and community, embracing acceptance and engaging in an appreciation of their talents and gifts and for what these children and adults are capable of.
In addition, April 2 is designated World Autism Awareness Day, as a result of a 2008 U.N. resolution (first proposed by Qatar). An autism research and education organization, Autism Speaks, initiated the worldwide Light It Up Blue, campaign in its effort to raise autism awareness. Among many in the autism community, both advocates and self-advocates, Autism Speaks is highly controversial, because that organization is seeking a cure, whereas many people prefer to see autism as simply another way of being, “different, not broken.” These advocates and activists prefer the completed puzzle over the single puzzle piece that is a trademark of Autism Speaks.
An astonishing video from a television documentary has recently made the rounds via the social media. It shows how a Carly, a teenage girl with autism, who grew up nonverbal, was finally to express her inner voice that had been captive for over a decade. It proves how much there is inside children like her. Her message would be one we should all listen to.
Early Signs of Autism
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease control, early signs of autism include the following, and early intervention is urged:
World Autism Month is a call for all of us – and society at large – to understand and appreciate children and adults on the autism spectrum and, according to one blogger, to advocate for their parents as well.
Did You Know?
Asperger’s syndrome is named for Hans Asperger, who was the first to describe the condition. He did not live to see this honor.
Celebrating Individual Abilities 