03-22-2008, 04:45 AM
ed] I got this from an email from the ASAN and thought it was an interesting article
Breaking All the Rules: A Look at the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome / Autism Spectrum Disorder Meetup Group
By: DJ Skibington-Roffel
Almost everyone knows the tell-tale social signs of autism, which include: inability to maintain eye contact, inability to relate to others, inability to start/maintain a conversation, ritualistic behaviour (the need for strict routines), inability to understand humour and the inability to remain in a social situation for very long. What happens to those signs when people on the autism spectrum get into an environment that they feel comfortable, loved and accepted in? What happens when they get together with like-minded people?
In 2003, I became the Organizer for the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome /Autism Spectrum Disorder Meetup through meetup.com, an online organization that facilitates the planning of groups of local people who meet about a certain common interest. The description of the Meetup group says: "This group is for all folks on the Autism Spectrum, their families and friends. It is a positive place to share ideas and support about our differences, gifts and challenges."
At first, there were about 6 people who regularly attended. We just sat around a small coffee shop and talked about how things were going in our lives and what was new. A much-needed change in location in 2006 drew more people and our group grew considerably. Parents were coming to the monthly Meetup and bringing their adult children with them. Autism societies and mental health associations began to refer people and a few found us on the meetup.com website. Some professionals even stopped by to see what we were all about.
One of the most notable effects of the Meetup has been a reduction in some of the tell-tale signs commonly seen in individuals on the autism spectrum, particularly with eye contact, sticking to strict routines, lack of a sense of humour and initiating/maintaining conversations...if only for two hours on the third Monday of every month! The room used right now has one group of movable tables on one side and a group of booths on the other. If one were to come into the room during a Meetup, one might be hard-pressed to determine who in the group are on the autism spectrum: the group of people chatting and telling jokes at the tables, or the group of people talking quietly amongst themselves at the booths.
Janna Hoskin, an autism interventionist and friend of autistic people in Calgary says: "I think the amount of eye contact that is made, the amount of "social chit-chat" that is achieved without prompting from others, and the lack of structure are all things that would surprise any professional who came by." Jim Pearson, an Aspie and one of our original members, says that "with other Aspies... we are like everyone else. We can talk, have animated discussions, make jokes, laugh and so on. However, get us out of our environment, we regress almost instantly." Lydia, mother of one of our younger members, also noted "how sociable people seem to be."
One night, a parent were asked me what happens at the Meetups. I mentioned that we do not have any sort of structure, that the conversations are fairly lively and to just jump in and ask questions if needed. He was surprised when I said that no one seems to really want any rigid structure in the Meetups. They just wanted to take things as they happen. He shook his head and smiled in disbelief because he had always heard that autistics need and adhere to rigid structures or they get agitated.
"We seem to break all of the stereotypical rules here." I said as before he sat down to chat with some other parents.
What is it about the group that makes people more sociable? What sets this group apart from others? Is it just a matter of getting people of like-mind together or is there more to it?
The following three factors seem to contribute to the Meetup group's success:
Acceptance - Every person who walks into the meeting is welcomed, introduced to and immediately accepted by everyone. It just happens. No one ever comments on stims or personal interests and it is not a treatment or a therapy group. Jim Pearson says that coming to the Meetup is "like going to a Star Trek convention, except here everyone accepts you for who you are... and you are not treated like an outsider, weirdo, and so on like I have been with most other groups."
Self-ConfidenceBuilding - Almost every member on the autism spectrum has mentioned that they have often felt very alone and out of place in the world, given the experiences they have had throughout their lives. Some were bullied in school and some have just gone through life wondering why they never really fit in while others have gone through life with the message that autism is "wrong", thanks to the media and such. Some have found ways to turn a profit using their special interests while others are beginning to feel good about who they are and are glad to be accepted for who they are. Lydia says that her son Terry "does not feel alone with his Asperger's anymore, and seems to have accepted it, and feel proud of it, since attending the Meetups."
Connection/Communication - In life, everyone is searching for some sort of connection, whether it is with services, jobs, friends to hang out with or even that special someone. Many who have come to the Meetup have found at least one connection they were looking for...and even some that they were not. A worker from a program which helps young adults with developmental disabilities find work, came to see what the group was all about and to see if anyone would benefit from the program. By attending the Meetup, she has been able to connect a lot of our young-adult members with a supportive program which will support them as they seek independent work. She has also managed to connect a lot of her current clients with other young people in the Meetup group so that they can make friends with like-minded people their own age. The parents who attend the Meetup have found connection with other parents in an environment where they are near their children but not actively involved or worried since their children are having a great time with their friends. Janna Hoskin not only got to know more autistic people in a social setting, she also met her "intended" at the Meetup back in the fall!
The purpose of the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Meetup group is to provide a positive environment for folks on the Spectrum, their friends and families to share ideas, support and experiences...or just enjoy food, drink, fun and friends. It seems to have grown into a positive oasis in a world where autism spectrum conditions are often seen as a disease, an epidemic, a travesty and a curse. It's the way we are, why not learn to appreciate our strengths, accept each other, share ways to cope with our challenges and have fun while doing so?
Perhaps there is something to acceptance after all!
So what do you think of all this?[/color]
Breaking All the Rules: A Look at the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome / Autism Spectrum Disorder Meetup Group
By: DJ Skibington-Roffel
Almost everyone knows the tell-tale social signs of autism, which include: inability to maintain eye contact, inability to relate to others, inability to start/maintain a conversation, ritualistic behaviour (the need for strict routines), inability to understand humour and the inability to remain in a social situation for very long. What happens to those signs when people on the autism spectrum get into an environment that they feel comfortable, loved and accepted in? What happens when they get together with like-minded people?
In 2003, I became the Organizer for the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome /Autism Spectrum Disorder Meetup through meetup.com, an online organization that facilitates the planning of groups of local people who meet about a certain common interest. The description of the Meetup group says: "This group is for all folks on the Autism Spectrum, their families and friends. It is a positive place to share ideas and support about our differences, gifts and challenges."
At first, there were about 6 people who regularly attended. We just sat around a small coffee shop and talked about how things were going in our lives and what was new. A much-needed change in location in 2006 drew more people and our group grew considerably. Parents were coming to the monthly Meetup and bringing their adult children with them. Autism societies and mental health associations began to refer people and a few found us on the meetup.com website. Some professionals even stopped by to see what we were all about.
One of the most notable effects of the Meetup has been a reduction in some of the tell-tale signs commonly seen in individuals on the autism spectrum, particularly with eye contact, sticking to strict routines, lack of a sense of humour and initiating/maintaining conversations...if only for two hours on the third Monday of every month! The room used right now has one group of movable tables on one side and a group of booths on the other. If one were to come into the room during a Meetup, one might be hard-pressed to determine who in the group are on the autism spectrum: the group of people chatting and telling jokes at the tables, or the group of people talking quietly amongst themselves at the booths.
Janna Hoskin, an autism interventionist and friend of autistic people in Calgary says: "I think the amount of eye contact that is made, the amount of "social chit-chat" that is achieved without prompting from others, and the lack of structure are all things that would surprise any professional who came by." Jim Pearson, an Aspie and one of our original members, says that "with other Aspies... we are like everyone else. We can talk, have animated discussions, make jokes, laugh and so on. However, get us out of our environment, we regress almost instantly." Lydia, mother of one of our younger members, also noted "how sociable people seem to be."
One night, a parent were asked me what happens at the Meetups. I mentioned that we do not have any sort of structure, that the conversations are fairly lively and to just jump in and ask questions if needed. He was surprised when I said that no one seems to really want any rigid structure in the Meetups. They just wanted to take things as they happen. He shook his head and smiled in disbelief because he had always heard that autistics need and adhere to rigid structures or they get agitated.
"We seem to break all of the stereotypical rules here." I said as before he sat down to chat with some other parents.
What is it about the group that makes people more sociable? What sets this group apart from others? Is it just a matter of getting people of like-mind together or is there more to it?
The following three factors seem to contribute to the Meetup group's success:
Acceptance - Every person who walks into the meeting is welcomed, introduced to and immediately accepted by everyone. It just happens. No one ever comments on stims or personal interests and it is not a treatment or a therapy group. Jim Pearson says that coming to the Meetup is "like going to a Star Trek convention, except here everyone accepts you for who you are... and you are not treated like an outsider, weirdo, and so on like I have been with most other groups."
Self-ConfidenceBuilding - Almost every member on the autism spectrum has mentioned that they have often felt very alone and out of place in the world, given the experiences they have had throughout their lives. Some were bullied in school and some have just gone through life wondering why they never really fit in while others have gone through life with the message that autism is "wrong", thanks to the media and such. Some have found ways to turn a profit using their special interests while others are beginning to feel good about who they are and are glad to be accepted for who they are. Lydia says that her son Terry "does not feel alone with his Asperger's anymore, and seems to have accepted it, and feel proud of it, since attending the Meetups."
Connection/Communication - In life, everyone is searching for some sort of connection, whether it is with services, jobs, friends to hang out with or even that special someone. Many who have come to the Meetup have found at least one connection they were looking for...and even some that they were not. A worker from a program which helps young adults with developmental disabilities find work, came to see what the group was all about and to see if anyone would benefit from the program. By attending the Meetup, she has been able to connect a lot of our young-adult members with a supportive program which will support them as they seek independent work. She has also managed to connect a lot of her current clients with other young people in the Meetup group so that they can make friends with like-minded people their own age. The parents who attend the Meetup have found connection with other parents in an environment where they are near their children but not actively involved or worried since their children are having a great time with their friends. Janna Hoskin not only got to know more autistic people in a social setting, she also met her "intended" at the Meetup back in the fall!
The purpose of the Calgary Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Meetup group is to provide a positive environment for folks on the Spectrum, their friends and families to share ideas, support and experiences...or just enjoy food, drink, fun and friends. It seems to have grown into a positive oasis in a world where autism spectrum conditions are often seen as a disease, an epidemic, a travesty and a curse. It's the way we are, why not learn to appreciate our strengths, accept each other, share ways to cope with our challenges and have fun while doing so?
Perhaps there is something to acceptance after all!
So what do you think of all this?[/color]
