Inclusion and more

People with autism (kids or adults) face many challenges. I thought I'd highlight five challenges in this blog post  1. Dating relationships When I first started experiencing for my amazing boyfriend Adam Pitts, I was afraid if I told him I liked him that he'd reject me. When he asked me to be his girlfriend it was the happiest day of my life.  He was my ideal boyfriend as we both love God, we both went to Chaparral High School, we both love Christian and Country music and we were clients of SARRC.  Before our first date to Macaroni Grill we did a photo shoot together at our house. We used poses like holding hands and walking, sitting on a bench together or sitting on a wall together. Adam is my best friend and we look forward to one day being engaged. We're talking a few years after I am done with First Place. My dream a few weeks ago was he had proposed to me at 29 Palms and our...

1.  Participating in SARRC's programming  When I was a student at Chaparral High School, I was introduced to the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.  I signed up for Autism CommunityWorks, employment classes and Life Skills trainings.  Through being committed to SARRC's programs, I was selected to serve on SARRC's Peer Advisory Board. SARRC's peer advisory board, allowed students who are affected by autism and their peers without a disability, to improve SARRC's programs.  Meetings for the board were held on Saturdays at the SARRC Vocational and Life Skills Academy.  2. Accepting employment at Christ Lutheran School  When I accepted an aide position at Christ Lutheran School, I knew it was my dream job.  The school is all about inclusion which means the world to me. Last year they had Matt Resnik, a SARRC participant who owns his own business SMILE Biscotti, speak to the second grade students.  I learned this over the Christmas...

Growing up, I was around staff and students at Christ Lutheran School. My sisters Molly and Kate and cousins Matt and Brittany Schmidt went there.  I went to holiday parties, family fun nights and class parties.  It was truly amazing to be "raised" around such an amazing school that equips students with lessons of God's love for all people- through Chapel services and other things. When I was about to graduate from the Project SEARCH program a few years ago and I knew I wanted to find a job working with kids. My mom and I immediately thought of Christ Lutheran School as a potential employer. I leapt for the opportunity t work at CLS so I sent the principal my resume and a cover letter. I got an interview with the school's then principal Mrs. Ehlers.  She asked me questions about myself and other interview questions like "What is your biggest strength?" I answered her questions with honesty.  A little while after that interview, Mrs. Ehlers called me offeri...

Today, January 20, 2017 is International Day of acceptance. Acceptance is defined as the act of accepting someone regardless of their disability.  As a person living with autism, I can tell you what acceptance means to me.  When I was a student at Chaparral High School for five years, I was accepted by my peers who saw me for my abilities NOT my disability.  There was no judgement of what I couldn't do but rather it was what I could do. I could speak in front of large groups,  I could excel in vocabulary tests of English class and I could fix computers. Chaparral High School was and is very accepting of students with disabilities thanks to our Best Buddies club.  The Best Buddies program creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development and integrated employment for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. When I prepared for months to try to speak during graduation in May 2014, ...