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soapver4 · 11 months ago

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Pity, a Star Wars series

Spinoff Bubble: A long time ago in a slightly more dissimilar galaxy far, far away… a clique of righteous, highly accomplished but long-orphaned Jedi Knights grow increasingly perturbed when they notice glints of doting sorrow in their ailing Jedi Master' eyes as her usually inscrutable facade breaks down. As twisty investigations on a mass murder mystery progress, they suspect that they were memory-wiped child assassins responsible for the killings. The Jedi Master, determined to safeguard the truth, now performs a memory wipe on herself, leaving them with no choice but to roam rough planets in search of their real families and what remains of kidnappers already known to mindwash, torture and train such child assassins.

The expeditions throw up three discoveries, some intriguing and some startling. First, though some of these Jedi bear strong physical resemblances to the assassins' families, the parents are strikingly different from those in the few stubborn remnants of their early memories. Are the Jedi Knights doppelgängers serving as red herrings for some purpose? Second, life at the bottom rungs of the galactic system proves far more violent and degrading than they had imagined. Third, certain kidnappers, wrongly presumed dead, have been resurrecting their operations.

Putting aside their parentage questions for the sake of the galaxy, the Jedi Knights rally enormous resources and forces — including the MedCorps, AgriCorps and EduCorps — to assist the suffering people, thwart the kidnappers' operations and rescue new child assassins and potential murder targets. In fact, the amelioration of ground-level suffering is crucial as it frees up attention and care for would-be kidnappees and tamps down socioeconomic ills that feed those spies-recruiting kidnappers' radical ideologies. Enthusiastic recruits from numerous species, such as humans, Wookiees, Mogwai and Ewoks, rush to join the massive project out of duty, a thirst for adventure or raw financial desperation.

Much unfortunately, in their endeavor to bring about political and economic stability in the various planetary societies, the Jedi Knights end up reproducing the overall socioeconomic order in the galaxy. Project respondents with the best means throughout life have the highest odds of possessing the talent for roles with the best remuneration and opportunities to explore and shape their galaxy. The ordinary ones net ordinary roles. Those who look like they can barely take care of themselves, like paraplegics without Darth Vader's bionics, are redirected to subminimum wage jobs in sheltered workshops, and if they insist that is not enough for the families they are actually breadwinners of, food in scuffles-prone soup kitchens as well.

Things take a bizarre turn when a human Jedi Knight among our orphaned leads bump into a wrinkled Wookiee woman he uncontrollably tears up at the sight of, while a bunch of human kids out of earshot poke fun at the gigantic species' extreme hairiness. To figure out the cause of his outburst, he follows her home, where he discovers the childhood bedroom in his dreams. On the bed lies the woman's only child, a Wookiee she later tells him was diagnosed with a severe intellectual disability prior to a harrowing bout of infection, a visit by a Jedi whose traits match the Jedi Master's, and his present coma. As he stares at the unconscious Wookie, waves of surreal numbness course through his human body.

Over the coming months, the supposedly orphaned Jedi Knights follow the lead to track down more families whose children became comatose after covert visits from the Jedi Master. Since the comas did not occur immediately after the visits and the families did not know each other, barely anybody seriously suspected her. By and by, these Jedi Knights discover her hidden talent of suppressing a child's consciousness and remotely transferring it from one body to another. The comatose bodies are naturally the original bodies, the suppressed consciousness and host bodies are the child assassins', and the transferred consciousness are the comatose bodies'.

But who are the other comatose people, the rest of the Jedi Knights at the heart of this series? They are the very class of galaxy inhabitants they sort into the bottom of the economic pyramid: One has severe cerebral palsy; another suffers from the locked-in syndrome; yet another is an autistic person with difficulties in camouflaging. The last one has had childhood schizophrenia. Even the Jedi with locked-in syndrome had an inquisitive mind and could do some meaningful work in her own body when equipped with the necessary technology. Nevertheless, they know too well that too few foremen in their own operations would have confidence placing bets on grit and stereotype fallibility to yield staggering quotas of goods and services out of their original selves under the forever harsh circumstances of the galaxy.

The celebrated Jedi heroes stand over a dusty manual on consciousness manipulation, juxtaposed with shots of their comatose bodies. Three of them make the hard decision to transfer their consciousness to captured kidnappers' bodies, arrange for rehabilitation of the awakening child assassins and continue their Jedi missions. The remaining pair, finding the notion of breathing and traveling through these depraved masterminds' bodies too revolting, choose to return to their trapping old lives.

#Star Wars: The Acolyte #Soapbending Sunbath 4.0

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funnuraba · 10 months ago

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I feel like I need to be talking about the specific symptoms of ME/CFS, because I really, really wish I'd known what all my snowballing symptoms were pointing towards before I became 98% bedridden. So, here's the brain fog:

Starting in mid to late 2020 (I believe my Covid infection was in March; the only symptom was a mild sore throat that I worried about but then brushed off because no respiratory symptoms developed), I started having trouble finding words, and making spoonerisms where I'd never done so before. I nervously put this down to turning 30, but wondered if it had really started this early for the family members who had similar issues in their 50s.

Now, as a result of pushing myself through fatigue for three years, I have full-blown ME that's finally presenting unmistakably, with Post-Exertional Malaise: if I use too much energy, I pay for it the next day with flu-like symptoms, and more often than that with a mental crash. In these mental crashes (I also get them before it rains), I can't speak. I can't think in full sentences, and it's prohibitively difficult to think in words of more than one syllable. Even one-syllable words with complex sounds are too much sometimes. Something like "please let this end soon", which tries to pop up a lot, is impossible to finish because the "pl" diphthong takes too much effort to think and to form with my mouth. I was able to entertain myself through a few crashes by noting these things, to the limited extent that I could put anything into words.

There's also some unusual linguistics at work. I can't, for example, put a pause between syllables except with great effort, but I can replace a two-syllable word with two or even three monosyllabic ones! For example, I can't manage "always" no matter what I do. I have to turn it into "all time", which is the same number of syllables, but for some reason takes less energy. I can't put a long pause into "always" and get it out that way. An example sentence I have to settle for during a mental crash would be, "This hard. Me want think big all time."

During one of these crashes I was thinking of Flowers For Algernon, and all I could manage was "rat brain book". "Me cry at rat brain book when kid. Now look at me. Life is shit. Ha." (Even in that state I had to force out a few more sentences clarifying that the part I cried at wasn't him being disabled to begin with, but that he had to go back to being bullied with no way to defend himself or understand what was happening to him. Why did I need to make sure I knew this, within my own brain that already knows my own thoughts? This is a long-standing impulse of mine that doesn't make much sense.)

Now, I could mentally picture a book cover that had the words Flowers For Algernon on the cover. I could see the F and the A, and the articulation of the full title was just out of reach. But reaching out and "grabbing" it was physically painful. I had to give up, despite being aware that the knowledge was in my brain. By a strange coincidence, the very next day brought a post on the r/CFS subreddit by someone comparing their own situation to Flowers For Algernon. As much as I believe people with brain damage and intellectual disabilities should be treated with dignity and not like a tragedy for existing, the loss of myself as someone who's always prided myself on my facility with words is beyond my ability to describe. These crashes, which also bring extreme sensitivity to other people's touch or presence, to light and sound--all light, all sound, including your own breathing--are like experiencing your own death, over and over and over again. You don't know if or even when it'll stop, because some Very Severe people are stuck like this, and every crash is the one that could be permanent.

All of which goes to say, you have no idea how much energy it takes to even think. When your mitochondria physically can't recharge, every scrap of energy is used up on things like breathing, seeing, hearing, digesting food. Your conscious thoughts are one of the first things to fall by the wayside so your body can keep doing those. And for people at the most extreme end of ME, they can in fact lose the strength to even breathe.

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mermaidsirennikita · 1 year ago

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People see more than one sex scene on a movie or a tv show and starts crying about it

The thing about the Poor Things scenes is that they're not really imo actually titillating (except for maybe the scene with Antoinette/'Toinette, but that's possibly based on my own POV) and some of the content is uncomfortable. But it's like... very much meant to be, lol. I don't think they're meant to AROUSE.

Yorgos/Tony McNamara can't control how people respond to the movie. Some people will always get things out of explicit scenes (or any scenes really) that the director and writer(s) did not intend. I can think of a scene in a certain Cronenberg movie that I find absolutely DISGUSTING and I think it's supposed to be shocking and repellent. I am sure... some people........... are into that.................................

But like, the thing about the way Bella progresses is that from day one, even when she is not a sexual being, the men in her life project sexuality onto her. Even the nice ones, like Max. She's dancing around like a baby, literally not potty-trained, and he thinks she's a stunning creature despite also believing she has a severe intellectual disability.

And yes, she begins exploring herself when she has the mind of a child still. Because, and I think some people on the right and the left viewing this genuinely don't believe this... kids do that. Not all kids. A lot of them. I think there potentially is something to be said about the discomfort of how that's framed visually (at points... not every point lol the kitchen scene did not play as something intended to be erotic at all to me). But I also think that there was at points a very intentional male gaze (at that point, Max's gaze and later Duncan's) on this childlike exploration.

I also think that she kind of was consistent with the precocious exploration and curiosity sometimes exhibited by kids who HAVE been abused. Not that Max and Godwin were necessarily abusing her to the extent that I think one would fear, but they were not treating her, especially Max, as you should treat a child. Max's gaze (though I found their romantic connection highly theoretical and more about a semi-romantic bond between two people who have shared trauma and shared love of one person, two people who were sort of RAISED together in a way, I definitely think she had more of a true RELATIONSHIP with Antoinette at the end, certainly on a physical level lol) was one of interest in a way that it shouldn't have been, right? And I think she responded to that in this warped way that is... true to how some people respond to abuse. It doesn't mean she's not being abused, and it doesn't mean the film doesn't think that, imo.

Like, the movie may not see Max as the ultimate villain, and the movie may have Max side with and support her in the end, but a) I don't think the movie is very interested in black and white morality anyway lol b) I don't think that's the moving absolving Max of his bad behavior. Him showing good behavior by supporting Bella does not mean he was never bad. I also really reject the idea that the movie undermines her liberty by having her settle with him in the end. Because she almost did, yes--and I think a lot of that was about again, them both loving Godwin and a very real idea of marrying someone to let Godwin know she's safe and happy. But I also deeply did not read the ending as Max being like... this keeper. She was definitely with Antoinette in the end, and maybe Max was there on the side lol. He was definitely Team Bella, but I don't think he was this man she huddled behind by any means. I don't know how anyone could read that.

But yeah, I think a lot of the sexuality people found so alarming onscreen was, tbh, less about her becoming like.... This liberated woman, and more about her becoming A WOMAN. A lot of people want to separate themselves form that side of human development currently because they find it messed up and gross. And that's fine. You can be repulsed by it personally. But to pretend that it's not an important part of growth and growing up for some people is... to be in denial, frankly. And when we're in denial of that, I think we encourage people do explore it in a safe way.

I mean, the movie MAKES THAT POINT. Godwin wanted Bella to marry Max because he was safe. But she still had things to explore. She was curious. The denial of her curiosity and the urge to treat her like a child forever led to her doing what... a lot of rebellious teenagers do. She ran off with someone she knew was bad but found "interesting" to explore. And he ended up treated her like a different kind of woman-child.

Idk, I just think the movie's rhetoric was fairly obvious, and some scenes WERE uncomfortable, and were supposed to be. To me, saying that this movie suggests that the people who made it (many people, but I'm seeing Yorgos and Tony McNamara get called out the most) endorse this idea of abusing women and young girls is like saying that The Favourite endorsed stepping on bunnies.

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aro-absol · 2 years ago

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What's the most Abled Person Thing someone has said to you?

And how did you respond?

Hi! Sorry for the late response. I have already answered the question here, but I just thought of another moment, so here we go.

13. What's the most Abled Person Thing someone has said to you?

Years ago, when I was a teenager, I went to a rehab facility. Not for an acute issue or something, I just wanted to get more intensive therapy for a few weeks to improve strength and stamina in my whole body and working on becoming more independent.

When the head physician came in for ward round the first time, we didn't have much to talk about because I didn't actually require medical attention. So he just asked me what my goals were, but we also talked about my normal life situation at home. One of the questions was how I was doing at school. I told him I went to a standard school and followed the standard curriculum, but I had a caregiver to help me with certain things as well as more time for tests (I can't write as fast as my peers). Overall, my grades were pretty good. This was all true, by the way.

This man, who only met me five minutes ago, had the audacity to insinuate that my caregiver was actually helping me with the tests by telling me all the answers.

WHAT THE FUCK

Apparently disabled kids can't ever be smart. Of course, none of us are capable of learning all the stuff our abled peers learn. (Sarcasm)

It wasn't even gifted kid, through the roof, I'm not challenged enough type of excellent grades. It was just good grades. Several of my classmates (who didn't have caregivers) were achieving the same or better.

My disability is purely physical. I do not have an intellectual disability/learning disability. The doctor knew that. He had my chart.

Unfortunately, I don't remember if I answered anything. I probably was too stunned to speak. I think now I would have the ability to speak up for myself, but back then, I didn't.

Anyways fuck that arrogant ableist.

#thanks for the ask!#disabled #disability #physically disabled #ableism #ableist doctor #ask #disability pride ask game #things i wrote in one sitting without proofreading #long post

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neverfakeautism · 2 years ago

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Facial features provide clue to autism severity

by Deborah Rudacille / 20 October 2011

Boys with autism have a distinct facial structure that differs from that of typically developing controls, according to a study published 14 October in Molecular Autism1. Specifically, boys with autism have broader faces and mouths, flatter noses, narrower cheeks and a shorter philtrum — the cleft between the lips and nose — compared with controls, according to the three-dimensional facial imaging system used in the study. These distinctive features suggest that certain embryonic processes that give rise to facial features are perturbed during development, the researchers say.

The participants in the study were all 8 to 12 years old, an age range during which the face is relatively mature, but not yet affected by the hormonal changes of puberty.

The researchers used the imaging system, dubbed 3DMD, to plot 17 ‘landmarks’ or coordinates on the face of 64 boys with autism and 40 typical controls. They then measured the distance between several of these coordinates.

Boys with autism who have the most distinctive facial features cluster into two groups with very different sets of autism symptoms, the researchers found.

Boys in one group tend to have wide mouths, combined with a short distance between the top of the mouth and the bottom of the eyes. They also show severe symptoms of autism, including language impairment, intellectual disability and seizures.

By contrast, those in the second group have broad upper faces and a short philtrum. They are more likely to be diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, and to have fewer cognitive impairments and language difficulties compared with the first group.

“As a clinical geneticist, I have always been impressed by a certain facial phenotype in children with autism,” says lead investigator Judith Miles. But it wasn’t until she turned to 3DMD, developed for use by plastic surgeons, that clear quantitative differences emerged between boys with autism and controls, she says.

Those differences almost certainly reflect underlying neurodevelopmental processes, she says. “The reason to look at the face is that it reflects differences in the brain.”

Group effects:

Studies have found that children with autism are more likely than controls to have dysmorphology, or unusual physical features, of the head and skull.

Earlier this month, researchers at the University of South Alabama reported that among children referred for genetic testing for suspected autism, those who have a copy number variation (CNV), a deletion or duplication of a genetic region, are more likely to have unusual facial features than those who carry no CNVs2.

“There is remarkable etiologic heterogeneity in autism, and the use of dysmorphology phenotyping may help us come to grips with some of this complexity,” says Curtis Deutsch, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who was not involved with either new study.

Studies of facial dysmorphology in autism have generally relied on observation or tools such as calipers to pinpoint specific facial features.

3DMD instead uses multiple digital cameras to capture a 360-degree image of the head. Algorithms integrate the images to produce a single 3D image that is analyzed using special software.

This generates results that are more fine-grained than manual measurements, says Kristina Aldridge, assistant professor of pathology and anatomical sciences at the University of Missouri.

“We’re not talking about kids you would pick out on the street as looking different. These are subtle differences that are systematic, [in the range of] 2 to 5 millimeters,” Aldridge says. “It is extraordinarily precise.” She has used 3DMD to assess facial dysmorphology in children with birth defects3.

Deutsch has used the same technology in his own research. Still, he cautions that the sample size in the study may not be large enough to generate reliable results.

“It is also important to guard against performing a multitude of statistical tests without appropriate corrections,” he adds. “Otherwise differences that are reported as significant can result from chance alone.”

Researchers typically apply mathematical formulas to correct for chance associations. Miles instead used cluster analysis, which pulls together similar entities from large datasets.

This sort of analysis can produce results that are difficult to interpret, Miles says. “It will always give you something, but we had to look at whether clinical differences correlated with the subgroups identified by the cluster analysis.”

Using autism diagnostic characteristics, intelligence quotients (IQ), medical symptoms and other measures, she says, “what we found is that those two subgroups really do appear to be discrete clinically.”

The findings resonate with researchers who have studied dysmorphology in autism using less sophisticated measures than 3DMD.

For example, a team at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, reported at the 2011 International Meeting for Autism Research in San Diego that severe autism symptoms predict the presence of dysmorphic features — albeit those not discernible to the naked eye. “The vast majority of cases [in that study] show very subtle facial differences,” says Robin Kochel, assistant professor of psychology at the Baylor College of Medicine.

The results of the new study jibe with what she sees everyday in the Autism Center at Texas Children’s Hospital, Kochel says. “Those who have more dysmorphology tend to have more problems and be more severely affected.”

References:

1: Aldridge K. et al. Mol. Autism Epub before print (2011) PubMed

2: Gannon W.T. et al. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 32, 600-604 (2011) PubMed

3: Martinez-Abadias N. et al. Dev. Dyn. 239, 3058-3071 (2010) PubMed

#autism #aspergers #asd

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saltymcsaltything · 2 years ago

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I grew up masking from a very young age because I was very self aware but very naive and I assumed based on shreds of information I picked up by 2nd grade that all of my emotional, health, and sensory problems that nobody outside of my immediate family could understand meant I was 'crazy', and the only thing I knew growing up was that my grandmother was ostracized and died because of her mental illness. Had she been "treated" by the standards of the day it would have been in an institution and it would have either involved massive sedatives or shock therapy.

I didn't know that most of my challenges were because of autism. I'm "gifted" but I struggled a lot with physical issues that went under recognized and unsupported. I hated my body and my emotions, but because I'm 'smart' I thought I just had to constantly watch myself and learn to fit in and then I would be okay.

Thing is, I never felt like I was any good at it. I relied a lot on being able to hide in the crowd, and I drifted away from friends before ghosting was a thing at any sign I was being found out, or at any transition point in life, because that have me a chance to naturally start over and not risk the pain of a relationship imploding when they realized what a fucking mess I am.

And I was *good* at masking, but I have always felt like I was tap dancing on the edge of a razor and one slip would get me fired, ostracized, hated, and locked away. And I still can't fully convince myself that's just a nightmare scenario I've built up in my head to keep myself from slipping and losing autonomy. I controlled myself to keep others from taking total control. And those feelings only got worse when my mom passed, because with both of my parents gone my one lifeline back to safety if it all fell apart was gone. I masked my way into a marriage and I didn't even feel safe letting my wife see how fragile my grip on "normalcy" was.

I got diagnosed after my mom died because I lost all capacity to mask. I could not take care of myself, and my wife watched me fall apart. She told me she thought I could be autistic... because she had suspected she was for years and she was seeing the outward manifestation of things she felt in my unmasked behavior. I eventually realized that she had exactly the same fears that I always had, compounded by other aspects of her identity that made her even more likely to be institutionalized if she dropped her mask.

I know that my nightmare scenario is closer to reality for a lot of people who are more like me than I ever knew. And I feel guilty for having the advantages that have allowed me to hide it. But I grew up thinking "you are crazy, hide this or die" because I saw that message in media. And every time I have started to convince myself that it's just horror movie fiction, I see real reminders of how dehumanizing and dangerous it is to be in a carceral system of any kind in this country. The physical spaces might not always look like a horror movie, but the loss of autonomy even in "Gentle Jail" is still barbaric.

I hated segregated special ed as a kid. 508's existed but only kids with purely physical disabilities got accommodations (poor ones at that). Anybody who presented with intellectual disability, speech or motor disabilities, or recognized learning disorders, as well as any "severe" behavioral problems was completely isolated from all mainstream kids. Special Education classes didn't even come to assemblies, they were literally on the far side of campus in a trailer. I had friends who were in there that I only saw after school in the neighborhood. Their bus might as well have been taking them to another city for as invisible as they were in school.

And I *knew* at 8 yrs old that we weren't really that different, but our lives were on two completely different tracks because I lucked into 'genius' level IQ. But I have always felt like I burn most of my cognitive horsepower running algorithms to keep the rest of my shit from falling apart. And I felt like I had to, because if I didn't, I saw what my kind of issues would get me. I got "extra" counseling after answering too honestly on some psych profile for children at one point, and had to double down on my people pleasing act to convince them I wasn't really a quivering bundle of anxiety and aggression... and it worked because I could play the part when I contain the fact that I was angry, exhausted and upset that someone was prying into my head at all if the things that terrified me.

And after decades of that and the abuse I endured along the way, I have developed mental health issues that make me 'crazy' the way I always feared I was. And now every potential encounter with authority is even more fraught because the feeling that I might get triggered and have a panic attack or a shrieking meltdown is very, very plausible.

So... yeah. Flying under the radar to stay alive and out of jail doesn't seem like such an irrational childhood fear. The reality is that those systems are as awful as my 8 year old brain felt they were, just with better interior design. My actual nightmares were full of outwardly nice child psychologist types who were abusive ableist control freaks and that is real. They tortured kids with electroshock and that is real. They controlled every aspect of every day and that is real. And I fucking hate that I was more right than I could have imagined.

Where are all the "slow" kids, the challenged kids, the burnouts from birth, the burden to have in class? Where are the autists who can't mask, who self harm, who are loud and can't stop stimming? The NDs with processing disorders, brain damage, brain fog? The ones with down syndrome, FAS, and other conditions that people treat like curses or defects. I hardly ever see them past 18 and I know they don't just dissolve once they become adults.

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kaypeace21 · 4 years ago

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El and “post institutional syndrome” (psych analysis)

Before I go in depth with this condition. I wanted to discuss the unique real life case of Genie (whose experiences most closely resemble El ‘s) . And , because of this , could possibly give us insight on how El’s past may affect her psychosocial development .

“Genie had spent almost her entire childhood locked in a bedroom, isolated and ab*sed by her father for the first 13 years of her life. The social worker soon discovered that the girl had been confined to a small room, and an investigation by authorities quickly revealed that the child had spent most of her life in this room. The windows were curtained and the door was kept closed.”

“At this time, she could only speak a few words -- including "stopit" and "nomore."

“While her circumstances until that point were undeniably tragic, they also presented an opportunity for psychologists, linguists, and other researchers to study psychosocial, emotional, and cognitive development in an individual who had suffered from severe social isolation and deprivation. In particular, the discovery of Genie presented an opportunity to study whether a child who was past the so-called "critical period" for language acquisition could learn to speak a first language.”

“The case was important, said psycholinguist and author Harlan Lee, because ‘our morality doesn’t allow us to conduct deprivation experiments with human beings; these unfortunate people are all we have to go on.’

* Brenner not only kept her in isolation via her room but even put her through severe deprivation via solitary confinement as punishment. Putting her in a completely barren dark room for hours.UN Special Rapporteur Juan E. Méndez warned ,”Considering the severe mental pain or suffering solitary confinement may cause, it can amount to t*rture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment when used as a punishment, indefinitely, or for a prolonged period, for persons with mental disabilities or juveniles.”

“After assessing Genie's emotional and cognitive abilities, Kent described her as ‘the most profoundly damaged child I've ever seen … Genie's life is a wasteland.’ She began to experience more developmental progress, but remained poor in areas such as language.Susan Curtiss worked with Genie to teach her English. Genie soon developed a rather large lexicon and was able to express herself. But despite extensive training, she remained unable to produce grammatical sentences. Here is a transcript of one of her reports of her time in the hands of her father:

Father hit arm. Big wood. Genie cry ... Not spit. Father. Hit face—spit ... Father hit big stick. Father angry. Father hit Genie big stick. Father take piece wood hit. Cry. Me cry.”

“According to Lenneberg, the critical period for language acquisition lasts until around age 12. After the onset of puberty (at 13), he argued, the organization of the brain becomes set and no longer able to learn and utilize language in a fully functional manner.The case of Genie confirms that there is a certain window of opportunity that sets the limit for when you can become relatively fluent in a language. Of course, if you already are fluent in another language, the brain is already primed for language acquisition . If you have no experience with grammar, however, Broca's (an area of the brain) remains relatively hard to change: you cannot learn grammatical language production later on in life. But the abilities to understand language and produce language in ways that do not rely on grammar largely make use of Wernicke's area in the temporal lope. This area is capable of expanding and rewiring throughout life—even after the teen years. The case of Genie confirms this. Grammar was beyond reach for her. But language comprehension and storytelling were not.”

So El struggling with grammar in some sentences but not in others and improving in grammar unlike Jennie- could possibly be because unlike Jeanie, El was 12 when rescued vs Jeanie who was 13?

“Researchers were also left to wonder whether Genie had suffered from cognitive deficits caused by her years of severe neglect or if she had been born with an ‘intellectual disability’. Most believed, the permanent mental impairments and ‘developmental delays’ Genie exhibited (upon being assessed ) were the result of the isolation and deprivation she was subjected to.”

For those confused about certain terms just used. “Developmental delays appear before 22 years of age. They are life-long disabilities that affect one or both physical and cognitive functioning. ‘Intellectual disability’ encompasses the “cognitive” part of this definition, that is, a disability that is broadly related to thought processes. People with intellectual disabilities are known for having below-average IQ/cognitive abilities . ID can be caused by a myriad of things- including physical and genetic factors, problems during pregnancy or at birth, health issues at an early age, exposure to environmental toxins, or non-physical causes such as lack of stimulation.”

*DISCLAIMER before we begin: I’m saying this now, cause I expect bad actors to try and cancel me. El , even if she has an intellectual disability- is still a human being with many aspirational character traits- that people can admire or aspire to have . She’s kind, selfless, brave, and resilient. People with ID can still function and have jobs, make decisions, and learn new skills too. And they have human emotions like everyone else. if you are “offended” that I say a character you like may have ID - and are pissy you related and empathized to a character that you would otherwise have ‘othered’ cause they have an intellectual disability. Me, an autistic person, (who the fandom has bullied for being autistic) is not the ableist one for simply saying she may have an Intellectual disability .Being angry by the very idea a character you like has a condition , and saying it’s “offensive”/”insulting to them” (is ableist). And in a sense dehumanizes these people who are greatly underestimated and mistreated by society already. you don’t have to agree of course- but don’t try to smear me for stating my opinion based on the psych papers I’ll be discussing. I love El, and have a cousin with ID, so no this isn’t me insulting El. The Duffers said they wanted to give a voice to those “othered” by society- and people who aren’t neurotypical could easily be on the list. The Duffers having us love, relate, and empathize with a character such as this wouldn’t be a bad thing- but good rep .So now I’ll continue with the evidence that alludes to El possibly having ID.

Post institutional syndrome

“In clinical and abnormal psychology, POST INSTITUTIONAL SYNDROME- refers to deficits or disabilities in social and life skills, which develop after a person has spent a long period living in remote institutions (such as orphanages). “

“Growing up in such an environment can change the brain for good.Institutionalization in early childhood can alter a child's brain and behavior in the long run.The ongoing nature of chronic neglect significantly impacts the brain in infancy and early childhood. It suggests that the specific ages of approximately 6−18 months old , may be especially sensitive to developing deficiencies in orphanage environments. “ (*Making El who was raised in such an environment since birth quite susceptible ).

“According to Perry (2002), neglect at this phase impedes formation of neurological pathways essential to communication in the brain. They found that early institutionalization changed both the structure and the function of the brain. Any time spent in an institution shrunk the volume of gray matter, or brain cell bodies, in the brain. Kids who stayed in the orphanages instead of going to foster care also had less white matter, or the fat-covered tracts between brain cell bodies, than kids who, at a young age, moved in with families.Staying in an orphanage instead of foster care also resulted in lower-quality brain activity as measured by EEG.”

“Neglect may be the most detrimental maltreatment type on brain development.A child’s neurocognitive and emotional development rapidly moves towards a downward spiral following extended time in an institution.Normal development may be disrupted by deprivation associated with neglect and can result in dysregulation of neural systems during vulnerable periods of brain development, leading to pronounced neurocognitive deficits due to maltreatment.There are many outcomes related to this disruption in brain development: delays in development of IQ , delays in language, cognitive delays that impact learning, and difficulty with behavioral inhibitions, social emotional functioning and well as impaired attachment (Wilkerson, 2009; Barkley, 1997).”

“Low-stimulation environments can lead to lower scores on intelligence and language tests. Neglect is the type of maltreatment most strongly associated with delays in expressive, receptive, and overall language development.interpersonal interaction is necessary for the acquisition of early language, and these interactions may be limited for children that have been in institutional settings or have experienced physical or emotional neglect.Speech and language delays along with social-emotional delays are very common as the child continues in the institutional environment.”

“Compared with youth that were not neglected, children demonstrated lower cognitive and language scores and more behavioral problems.Higher IQ could be predicted by language scores and an absence of externalizing behavior problems. When comparing the neglected children: shorter time spent in a stable environment, lower scores on language skills, and the presence of externalizing behavior problems predicted lower IQ.”

“The cognitive development of institutionalized children has been studied for more than 60 years. Between 1930 and 1950 a first wave of studies documented that children in institutions often showed a low IQ and severe language delays (Crissey, 1937; Durfee & Wolf, 1933), and children’s orphanages have been considered “natural experiments” on the necessary conditions for intellectual growth (MacLean, 2003).For example, Rutter (1998) found that the mean IQ of children leaving institutional care in Romania shortly after the fall of Ceausescu was about 50 (population mean = 100). Similar results were shown with Dennis in (1973) who addressed the question of how large the cognitive delay of children in orphanages was compared to children adopted into families. He studied children who were abandoned immediately after birth and were reared in children’s homes in Lebanon.Dennis found that at age 11, the average IQ of the adopted children was within the range of normally developing children, whereas the non-adopted 11 y old orphans still living in these institutions were diagnosed as Intellectually disabled.At his followup, when they were 16, these same girls at the Zouk institution had an average IQ going just above 50. While, In a meta-analysis of 75 studies, van IJzendoorn et al. (2008) found that children living in institutional care scored on average 20 points lower on intelligence tests than children who were raised in families.”

“These later studies also revealed that the percentage of time spent in institutional care was significantly and negatively correlated with full scale IQ, verbal, and memory scores. And that 12 years of institutional care, from birth to 12 years of age, showed placement into foster care did not increase iq points .The only cognitive improvement of placing these children in foster care at age 12 -was on working memory. While the only cognitive improvements of taking the children out of the institution by 8 years old was on processing speed. “

pics for proof if you don’t believe me-

* Meaning realistically El who was in such an environment (from birth to 12 years old) may learn new things after being placed in foster care (like with Hopper or the Byers)-but her Iq would never improve to the point of being neurotypical- she’d always have an intellectual disability.

Intellectual disability

“People with intellectual and learning Disabilities may have deficits in speech production . Impairment of speech production is among the most commonly reported difficulties in children, adolescents and adults with ID . The children, including some with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities may lack in phonological development in their speech. These children also exhibit many articulatory deficits, delays in expressive language and show significant limitations in grammar and syntax development compared to those their age (without an iD). They often speak in subdued tones or use explosive voice modulations .Some speak quietly, while in others vocal intensity varied from utterance to utterance. “

“Intellectual disability is identified as mild , moderate, severe or profound.”

So, if based on average of Iq of children raised in orphanages (from birth to 11,12, or 16 years old). El would have a mild intellectual disability (and an Iq possibly around 50).Of those affected with ID, about 85% fall into the "mild" category.

Mild intellectuality disability disorder symptoms:

-”being fully independent in self-care when they get older (brushing teeth, dressing themselves, cooking, taking public transport, etc)”

-having problems with reading and writing (having math/reading skills between a 3rd- 6th grade level).

-having an IQ range of 50 to 69

-social immaturity

“Iq below 70 isn’t the only marker for diagnosis. But, also issues in adaptive functioning are usually used for diagnosis. Three areas of adaptive functioning are considered:According to the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), the signs and symptoms of adaptive functioning deficits across 3 domains (conceptual ,social and practical) for a mild intellectual disability are:

Conceptual Domain

”Slow language development (children learn to talk later, if at all). Or problems learning to talk or trouble speaking clearly.”

”Difficulties in academic learning ( such as having math/reading skills between a 3rd- 6th grade level).”

* El can read but still struggles with proper grammar ( verbally and through her writing) .She’s even reading an english-learning book. Her unsteady handwriting/ lack of apostrophes hint she’s still learning to write (despite her reading abilities) . And at 14 she doesn’t know what a state is-specifically Illinois which she visited 6 months prior.

”Difficulty understanding academic and abstract concepts of time “

*She didn’t start learning how to tell time until 12, and only seemed to master it at 14.

“childish behavior inconsistent with the child’s age.”

*14 y old El and 5 y old Holly both having a thing for teddy bears, in s3/2.

”Problems with abstract thinking, short term memory, and cognitive flexibility”. (”Abstract reasoning tasks include the ability to understand subjects on a complex level through analysis and evaluation and the ability to apply knowledge in problem-solving.”)

(”Cognitive flexibility has been described as the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts, and to think about multiple concepts simultaneously.”)

*This one is a bit iffy, cause there’s a few explanations to the s3 example. El and Mike lie to their friends about her curfew.Yet the next day she is confused and says Mike wouldn’t lie to her - cause “friends don’t lie” All despite the fact she and Mike lied to Dustin, Max, Will, and Lucas the day before. So either she doesn’t understand the concept of hypocrisy because she lacks cognitive flexibility (or just doesn’t care about the hypocrisy)- aka her and Mike can lie to their friends, but she’s upset when they lie to her, (and she’s fine if Mike lies to everyone but her) ? Personally,I think she doesn’t grasp the concept of hypocrisy yet. Or she didn’t even realize she was lying and believed Mike was right about her curfew. Or bad writing. But given the concept of lying being prevalent to the season- I lean to Mike accidentally lying to her about her curfew (and El thinking her curfew was 4:00) . Or (more likely) El lies and doesn’t have the cognitive flexibility/abstract reasoning to understand that being upset Mike lied to her but not upset Mike (and her) lied to their friends is hypocritical. She also lied to Mike and pretended she didn’t hear the confession at the cabin for 3 months. She ‘forgave’ Mike but she never noticed Mike didn’t even apologize for lying just being ‘jealous of Max’ (despite lying being the thing she was upset and dumped him over in the first place). Anyways back on topic-

Social Domain

“Receptive language that may be limited to comprehension of simple speech and gestures.These students struggle to differentiate concrete and abstract concepts. Figurative language (metaphors, similes, idiomatic expressions, etc.) is typically quite confusing to them.”

“trouble understanding social cues”

“Limitations in language and communication skills.More concrete and less complex spoken language (if used), compared with peers. Limited vocabulary and grammatical skills.”

Practical Domain:

“May function age-appropriately in personal care (brushing teeth, dressing, going to the restroom etc).”

Early signs and symptoms of intellectual disability:

El has most of the signs...

-”Have trouble speaking or experiencing delays in speech, trouble understanding social norms,Challenges with problem-solving and logical thinking, Behavioral problems like extreme temper tantrums (breaking windows, pushing max, throwing food on Hopper and the girls in the mall), Having difficulty understanding the results of his or her actions (for instance like not understanding why spying on an ex is wrong).”

“If your child has ID, they may experience some of the following behavioral issues:aggression, Dependency, lack of impulse control passivity, stubbornness,low tolerance for frustration ,difficulty paying attention (She’s exhibited all of these).”

Other traits of Post institutional children

“poor self concept” (One's self-concept is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Generally, self-concept embodies the answer to "Who am I?".)

“problems with coping and regulating emotions ,poor impulse control, and aggressiveness.”

“Studies have repeatedly shown that children with disrupted attachment who have experienced neglect have problems coping and managing emotions, “

“inappropriately demanding and clinging”

“indiscriminate friendliness”

“44% of institutionalized children showed high levels of indiscriminately sociable behavior as contrasted with 18% of children who had never been institutionalized.children who were indiscriminately sociable as 8-year olds were not indiscriminately sociable toward adults as 16-year olds; however, these children were indiscriminately sociable in their relationships with peers (those their own age). Thus, it is possible that indiscriminate sociability serves as a marker of later problems in social relationships, even though manifesting differently by the teen years.That friendliness was probably an important coping technique in their socially starved early lives. What's interesting is it just doesn't go away.Indiscriminate friendliness may also be tied to the amygdala. In a study using fMRI, Aviva Olsavsky, MD, at the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues found that when typical children (4-14 years old) viewed photos of their mothers versus photos of strangers, the amygdala showed distinctly different responses. In children who had been institutionalized, however, the amygdala responded similarly whether the children viewed mothers or strangers. That response was particularly notable among kids who exhibited more friendliness toward strangers. Attachment and behavior problems, indiscriminate friendliness, and lower IQ seem to go together in the same children.”

(We have to admit she attached herself rather quickly to Max, and Kali after only a few days, same goes for Mike and the boys she knew for only a week).

“cognitive delays, particularly speech and language deficits.” (we’ve covered that)

“quasi autism (is a term used to describe autistic-like difficulties and traits following very severe social deprivation in the first year of life.) About 10 % percent of the children adopted from Romanian orphanages after 6 months of age were diagnosed with autism sometime in childhood. And of those who stayed in the institution to age 11, 8.5% with an IQ >50 , fit the “quasi-autism” profile (meaning they fit some but not all autistic traits). The results showed children with ‘autistic features’ usually experienced longer durations of severe psychological privation, than other orphans.”

El does have a few traits that some people on the spectrum have.

-” Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use echolalia, which means they repeat others' words or sentences. They might repeat the words of familiar people (parents, teachers, friends), or they might repeat sentences from their favorite video.”

(X)

-”Some children with ASD also have delayed speech and language skills.some children are even selectively mute. “

- ”Talk in a flat, robot-like tone” (obviously not all asd people. But I do think El’s voice in conversation can often be quite monotone).

- Many autistic girls on the spectrum also have disordered eating patterns . This can include simply eating the same foods over and over again (cough her eggo obsession). And although “disorder eating” and “eating dis*rders” are different.”Previous research has found that autism and eating disorders can occur together, as 20-30% of adults with eating dis*rders have autism (despite being only 2.2% of the US population).”

-“Has obsessive interests” (her whole room is covered in Mike related stuff like he’s her special interest- my gay ass has no idea if a whole room covered in bf related stuff is ‘straight little girl normal’ or a bit obsessive- but I lean to the latter, especially when compared to Max’s room XD)

-” difficulty understanding social cues .” (covered that)

- “And she is sensitive to certain noises (thunder etc)”

Alright, thanks for listening. Of course, this analysis is if the Duffers went the realistic route-which I do lean to them doing. One of the stephen King movies “dream catcher” was cited as inspiration for Stranger things . It even had a boy with ID who spoke in broken english, carried around stuffed animals, and had the superpower of being able to track people (just like El) . And he retained broken english/his interest in stuffed animals in adulthood.Of course her fitting the psych criteria I listed could have other explanations.El can most certainly learn and improve in academic skills, language, and social skills even with an Intellectual disability. But honestly, even if El had an Iq of 160 she would (at least initially) struggle tremendously given the lack of education and neglect/ab*se she’s dealt with.But, I’m excited to see El gain independence as she learns more about herself and the real world (and maybe heal from some of her tr*uma).

But if we’re talking academically-she doesn’t know basic geography or what a state is at 14.She’s still learning how to speak and write with correct grammar at 14.She only just mastered how to tell time at 14 . Does she even know how to add, subtract, multiple, and divide, let alone algebra (knowledge needed for highschool) ? Or basic science knowledge also needed ? No way would she’d be ready to go to highschool in s3 (like the others already attending, during the ending-time skip). If we were being realistic- she’d be held back a few years and or in remedial classes, or special school, etc. The kids in middle or highschool who don’t know her circumstances wouldn’t be understanding of why she has little knowledge of social norms, expressions, language issues,etc. El has only interacted with 4 kids her own age for 3 months (9 months with Mike) and was in a year of isolation with Hopper (being taught social norms via tv- which is not the best teacher) .This was hardly ‘typical socialization for a kid her age’. Unlike, the rest of the gang who interacts with many kids on a daily basis.How will she be in an environment with this many kids? I wouldn’t be surprised if she was sadly bullied.Regardless, I’m looking forward to El’s character arc of trying to assimilate to the ‘real world’ as she grows into her own person-most likely there’s some good in her journey and not just bullies along the way. :)

#el hopper #jane ives #stranger things

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adventuresofarainbowcrip · 4 years ago

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Hi! Bonjour!

I’ve never written a blog before. I guess I’ll just start by introducing myself. My name is Nirvana. I am a 30-year-old queer disabled cis white woman. “Rainbow” is because I identify as queer and love rainbows anyway! “Crip” refers to the word “cripple”, which was historically used as a derogatory term for disabled people, but is now being reclaimed by many disabled people as a positive term, similarly to the word “queer” for LGBTQ+ folks. I live in Portland, Oregon in the United States. I have cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia specifically). This means that I have difficulty with balance, movement and coordination. My muscles have spasticity in them all the time - even when I am at rest. I can’t walk unaided but I use canes for short distances and a walker for longer ones. I get tired faster than an able-bodied person. I use an electric scooter to get around the city on the bus. It’s been over a year since I rode the bus because COVID happened but I look forward to maybe taking the bus again later this year! I graduated with my Masters in French last June and now I have a job I enjoy teaching French to kids (online for now). I love French and am fascinated by languages in general. Some things I love : rainbows, pizza, doughnuts, laughing, owls and cats.

I am about to move out of my family home for the first time soon. Right now, I live with my two moms, my two brothers, one of my grandmothers and a cat! I am moving into a low-income apartment only 8 blocks away from my family, with one of my brothers who will soon be 26. I wanted to start this blog because when I started this apartment process in early March, I tried researching “moving out with a disability” or “living independently with a disability” but wasn’t finding much. I found a few resources written for parents or caregivers of disabled children or disabled people, talking about what they could expect for the future. There were a few videos that I found about people with physical and /or intellectual disabilities living independently. But not much first-person documentation of how it is to live independently, from THEIR perspective.

Before I continue, I would like to clarify that I have a physical disability as well as anxiety, and have experienced an episode of severe OCD in the past. (I consider mental illness to be a type of disability).However, I do not have any type of intellectual disability. I am only one person with one point of view. But I want to share my experience so that it may help others in a similar situation. I believe that anyone, if they want to and can, regardless of their disability, should be able to live independently - whatever that means for them. Independence looks different for different people, and can change during their lifetime. Independence does not mean “doing every single thing by yourself.” That is a societal idea of independence. I used to think that was what independence was. But now I see things differently. It took me a long while to get to that point, and sometimes I still get caught up in this idea. Now independence has a much broader meaning to me. For many disabled people, myself included, independence means doing some by ourselves and being able to ask for and get help for things that are difficult. Don’t get me wrong - I love doing certain things on my own but some things I can’t do by myself or would be much harder if I did them without help. Knowing my own limits and asking for help if I need it are part of independence to me.

This blog will focus on my experiences, process and adventures of moving out with a physical disability. I’ll also probably talk about being queer and disabled, travelling with a disability and other random things! I hope that if you are disabled, then reading about my experiences will help you. And if you are not disabled, then maybe you will learn some about one disabled person’s experience. Enjoy!

#disabledandmovingout disabledandqueer independenceiswhatyoumakeit cerebralpalsy

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khangowrites · 4 years ago

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Is it a Complaint Essay or is the Workplace Unsuitable?

Ah, what am I writing today? Oh, well I suppose it’s almost 12am. Seems like a good a time as any. I wanted to just jot down a few re-occurring experiences I’ve had in the workplace and sometimes in other social spaces, and attempt to analyze them.

CW: mild mentions of abuse and bodily ailments.

A bit of forward: I tend to mask myself heavily whenever I am in any social situation; whether it be at work, at home, with friends or online (although I’m getting better at being myself on Discord at least. I owe a lot to my friends who accept me and whom I care so much about.) What this means is I often plan out what I’m needed to say in advance of a situation. I have an arsenal of about 5 minutes of small talk before I tank and several small greetings/placations I can cycle through on any given day if I’m not overloaded. I also limit my natural inclination to movement.

It’s called unprofessional/unsightly to sit with your legs folded under you, or to sway and shake your arms and legs back and forth in time to music in your head. But it’s okay if you tap your pencil. Everyone does that.

I have to wonder how noticeable my ‘masked’ self is. How real or fake it appears.

There have been a few trends I’ve seen with the way people treat me as an employee in the time I’ve been in the workforce. For clarity, I am a 23 year old 5’1” AFAB person with a face that looks like it stopped aging when I was 12. I’m non-binary, but I’ve seen that many have a hard time using a different pronoun for me because I look ‘so feminine’. I had one old man repeatedly tell me that my body was too pretty and that I shouldn’t hide it and ‘pretend’ to be something else. I was and still am quite unsettled and disgusted by that comment.

I haven’t used my full preferred pronouns at work simply based in fear of being fired or discriminated against further. Same thing at home- I haven’t told all my family out of fear. I may look back on this at some future date where I fully respect myself and I’m confident. I look forward to that day.

Oh, and I’m autistic.

Perhaps it is one of these things or all of them that cause people to treat me certain ways. I’d like to find out.

I worked outdoors at an Orchard for a season. They called me Cinderella because of the way I looked when I cleaned. They gave employees gloves and heaters. Only not me. When I asked, I was given a broken one and told to fix it. A coworker who had intellectual disabilities and poor eyesight was not offered a heater at all. I did not renew for the next season. Kim and I stayed in touch though.

I worked next at a gift shop at a historical site. I loved the history and the old buildings, but the cashier work was admittedly difficult. Most of the employees were kind, retired old ladies who treated me gently, like a child. Sometimes too much like a child. The assistant manager seemed wary of me, and she often avoided me. I don’t know why. I’m not good with eye contact, and I always fear that people will mistake my zoning out as being creepy or disrespectful; maybe it was that. She never brought her kids with her on days I worked.

The head manager was courteous, but always called me Special. We had an older man work in the last 2 years I was there who had a strong inclination to associate with the children at the shop, and in turn, me as well. He would always want a hug or pat me on the back, but ignored the other workers. I told the managers my uncomfortable feelings about him, but it went mostly unnoticed.

When it was found that I was decent with computers, I was tasked with entering jewelry into the system and creating labels with number associations. I enjoyed it, and they promised me a decent raise. My pay was raised a dollar several weeks later, and I found myself being tasked with more and more computer work, to the point of becoming an office manager myself, earning a grand total of 9 dollars an hour while my counterpart who started a year earlier owned a home on the same work.

I left that job after 4 years to be the music director at a local church. I love music and was excited. Maybe too excited. I developed acid re-flux and was hospitalized the week before my start day due to a panic attack. I realize now it was from stress. I also had an ovarian cyst removed a year later- it took up my entire pelvis and its formation was also attributed to stress. I’ve since been diagnosed with generalized anxiety, and I continue to have ever changing digestive issues, muscle problems and panic attacks.

After realizing I was autistic and also non-binary, so much of the stress of life started to make sense. The past few months I have been making life changes, and working towards finding a workplace that is accommodating and safe for me. My stress has lessened.

I worked at the church for 2 years. My last day is actually at the end of this month. As is the trend, I was not treated with respect when it came to my job. My pastor started choosing the hymns over me, and would make comments about me during services. His favorite was to say that my music made him fall asleep, and wait for laughter from the congregation. He had no musical knowledge, and forced me to play every song as fast as I possibly could. He didn’t believe I could do my job. Any attempts at mutual work failed to manifest. I unfortunately was groomed by a member of the hiring committee there as well, a type of abuse I didn’t even realize I had fallen into until several months after it was too late.

I currently work at a high school as a choir accompanist. I use she/they pronouns there, but no one uses they and I’m too worried to be fully they like I am outside of work. I am wary of soiling my relationship with the director further. She’s quite religious in the ‘gays don’t have rights’ way, so I have my fears.

The director is kind, but sees me as this innocent child that happens to have natural piano abilities, and the mutual respect that I’ve come to dream of just isn’t there again.

The director has the key to the doors and lets students in without fail, but conveniently forgets to let me in almost every day. At one time, I was in physical therapy and had a hard time standing and walking for any period of time. I almost went home because she didn’t answer any communication, class started 20 minutes previously, and it was 90 degrees outside and I needed to sit down because my legs were cramping. She plans the music weeks in advance, but doesn’t give them to me until the day the students get it, despite my repeated asking for time to prepare.

One day I was on zoom and she and the student teacher greeted me and then ignored my presence and played the piano herself for class. She struggled with the parts and commented to the choir that, “wow, Ms. Khango is actually pretty dang good at this- that little girl can play!”, but didn’t listen to me when I offered to play. I left the zoom after an hour.

The online students seemed to share my surprise at least, and I am grateful to them. They kept me grounded and reminded me that I matter and should have the same respect as everyone else in the room, zoom or not. They talk to me about not being heard and their chats not being read during class. It bothered me, too. The next week I brought it up to her in the form of making sure the zoom students were heard and she quickly dismissed it, like it was a puff of smoke. The students online now ask me questions directly and I relay them. It’s met with annoyance by the director.

They have voices too.

One of the scariest moments of my life was last week- I wore my ‘disability rights are human rights’ shirt to school. (Okay, maybe not scary to some, but it very much was for me.) After class, one of the students came to me and asked if I could help him find a way for his grandfather to get a seat at the concert, as he was disabled and he didn’t know how to proceed.

It filled me with joy to help him, and it filled me with rage when the teachers asked if his grandpa could just get out of the wheelchair instead.

My overall conclusion to all of these things is that people simply don’t understand, or don’t want to because it makes their lives harder.

Is discrimination and ignorance really easier than respecting people?

I’m not sure if this is all just one big complaint essay. I guess it is. What I needed to do was write it all out. All the things that make me uneasy or feel like lesser of a person. And I wanted to know why.

I note that at every job I am perceived as a child, or as someone naïve. I am not treated the same as another adult employee. I was ostracized for my way of moving and talking. Taken advantage of. My needs were not accommodated.

Even now, I feel guilt for writing this, like I’m just playing the victim for attention or something.

I want to be strong enough to stand up to it and ask to be treated with respect and have it follow through.

I want to unmask myself more and let myself move and talk naturally, and use my real pronouns.

My respect for myself and for others must become a powerful force.

My friends on discord- my real, genuine friends, have become monumental in my life. Most of my life I did not have true friends. Without them and their unconditional love and support, I would not be where I am right now. We are all equals. I want to embody that strong respect and bring it to others.

It’s getting late. 1 a.m. now. Well, I have tomorrow. Plenty of time for Star Trek.

#workplace problems #actuallyautistic #essay #nonbinary #figuring out life

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armandismed · 5 years ago

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My (Updated) Masterpost for Asexuality [2020]:

Some Youtube Videos I found Really Lovely and Validating:

Debunking Asexual and Aromantic Myths

Ace-Spec and Are-Spectrum Book Recommendations

And Some LGBTQIA+ Channels That Bring Up Asexual Experiences:

Rowan Ellis

Problems of a Book Nerd

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard

Some Shows with Confirmed Asexual Characters:

Sex Education

Bojack Horseman

Liv in ‘Emmerdale’ (UK Soap)

Historical Asexuals/ Demisexuals:

Emily Brontë: Emily Brontë was a very private person and as such it’s impossible to be entirely certain of her sexual orientation. Some Brontë scholars believe she died a virgin, never having had physical relationships with men or women. However, most Brontë scholars think that the content of her novels would suggest she may have been asexual, but she was not aromantic.

J.M. Barrie: The man who wrote Peter Pan into existence, was reportedly asexual. His marriage was never consummated and ended in divorce when his wife cheated on him. Because of his relationship with his neighbor children, and the subject matter of his books, some speculated Barrie was prone to pedophilia. Those who knew him closely vehemently deny Barrie ever exhibited such behavior. Instead his lack of sexual relationships was more likely due to his asexuality.

George Bernard Shaw: Renowned playwright George Bernard Shaw was a man far more interested in intellect than sex. He never consummated his marriage (also at the request of his wife, Charlotte Frances Payne-Townshend) and was a virgin until 29. Shaw told friends he appreciated the ability of sex to produce “a celestial flood of emotion and exaltation” but only as it compared to the “conscious intellectual activity” he strove for with his work.

Isaac Newton: Isaac Newton’s supposed asexuality is based on his recorded behavior and lifestyle. He had strict religious views, never married, was obsessive in his scientific careers, and supposedly died a virgin. Whether he truly lacked sexual attraction or was simply too immersed in making massive scientific discoveries to have a sex life is unsure.

T.E. Lawrence: Tragically, T.E. Lawrence – a man immortalized in the film Lawrence of Arabia – was sexually assaulted while held prisoner during The Great War. His lack of sexual and romantic relationships in life were mostly attributed to this trauma but some scholars argue he may have been asexual. He had no documented relationships with men or women. Most notably, since it was the turn of the 20th century, Lawrence was known to be non-judgmental of homosexuals. His personal orientation may have motivated his tolerance.

Florence Nightingale: Interestingly, though “the Florence Nightingale effect” is a situation where a caregiver develops an attraction to the patient they are caring for, the effect’s namesake, Florence Nightingale, was likely asexual. The famous nurse never married and instead chose to devote her life entirely to her work. She even refused a marriage proposal from a suitor who had been pursuing her for years. Nightingale rarely discussed her personal life and the term “asexual” was not widely used at the time, but asexual activists and scholars strongly suspect she lacked sexual interest.

Nikola Tesla: Nikola Tesla, the revolutionary engineer who was instrumental in the invention of electricity, also lived a life of celibacy typical of asexuals. He showed very little interest in sexual relationships throughout his life, preferring to focus on science. Many asexuals describe their lack of attraction as a blessing allowing them sharp focus. Once again, we have a person who could have been too busy (and brilliant) to focus on relationships, but who’s asexuality likely allowed him to be busy (and brilliant). [Fun fact: I am actually related to ol’Nikola. Sometimes it’s nice to even think about someone in my family being asexual, because it makes me feel like we’d both be able to get along together when we get fixed in our little studies, research, and schemes ♥]

Frederic Chopin: Famed composer and pianist Frederic Chopin is supposed to also have been asexual. While he lived with writer George Sand, she noted in her biography that their connection was affectionate without being sexual. She described their affair as “eight years of maternal devotion,“ also noting, “He seemed to despise the courser side of human nature and…to fear to soil our love by further ecstasy.”Whether Chopin was uninterested in sex, or had reservations about consummating the relationship for other reasons, is unclear. Many scholars believe the famed pianist lacked sexual desire altogether.

John Ruskin: Victorian art critic John Ruskin was known to be particularly uninterested in sex. Though Ruskin was once married, he reportedly showed no interest in getting physical with his wife. Typical of other asexuals on this list, his marriage ended having never been consummated.

Young Adult Fiction/ Books about Asexuality (NOTE: Some of these are coming out later this year, August and September 2020):

How to be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess: Brave, witty and empowering, this graphic memoir follows Rebecca as she navigates her asexual identity and mental health in a world obsessed with sex. From school to work to relationships, this book offers an unparalleled insight into asexuality.

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, And The Meaning Of Sex by Angela Chen: An engaging exploration of what it means to be asexual in a world that’s obsessed with sexual attraction, and what the ace perspective can teach all of us about desire and identity. What exactly is sexual attraction and what is it like to go through life not experiencing it? What does asexuality reveal about gender roles, about romance and consent, and the pressures of society? This accessible examination of asexuality shows that the issues that aces face–confusion around sexual activity, the intersection of sexuality and identity, navigating different needs in relationships–are the same conflicts that nearly all of us will experience. Through a blend of reporting, cultural criticism, and memoir, the misconceptions around the “A” of LGBTQIA and invites everyone to rethink pleasure and intimacy.Journalist Angela Chen creates her path to understanding her own asexuality with the perspectives of a diverse group of asexual people. Vulnerable and honest, these stories include a woman who had blood tests done because she was convinced that “not wanting sex” was a sign of serious illness, and a man who grew up in a religious household and did everything “right,” only to realize after marriage that his experience of sexuality had never been the same as that of others. Disabled aces, aces of color, gender-nonconforming aces, and aces who both do and don’t want romantic relationships all share their experiences navigating a society in which a lack of sexual attraction is considered abnormal. Chen’s careful cultural analysis explores how societal norms limit understanding of sex and relationships and celebrates the breadth of sexuality and queerness.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann: Alice’s last girlfriend, Margo, ended things when Alice confessed she’s asexual. Now Alice is sure she’s done with dating… and then she meets Takumi. She can’t stop thinking about him or the rom-com-grade romance feelings she did not ask for. When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library-employee badge, Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated– or understood. [A bisexual POC protagonist; adorable fluffy, easy and sweet read].

All Out: The No-longer-secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages: Take a journey through time and genres and discover a past where queer figures live, love, and shape the world around them. Seventeen of the best young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. [This features several different types of queer stories, from transexual freedom fighters, but also a very sweet asexual love story set in a seventies roller rink with a POC protagonist].

The Pride Guide: A Guide to Sexual and Social Health for LGBTQ Youth by Jo Lanford: Jo Langford offers a complete guide to sexual and social development, safety, and health for LGBTQ youth and those who love and support them. Written from a practical perspective, the author explores the realities of teen sexuality, particularly that of trans teens, and provides guidance and understanding for parents and kids alike. [Although this is a little rudimentary, I found it a great resource even in my twenties for someone coming out, or to slowly but carefully come out to those who may be uncomfortable or not understand asexuality, or not see it as a valid sexuality or lack thereof].

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Katie Ormsbee: Natasha ‘Tash’ Zelenka has found herself and her amateur web series plucked from obscurity and thrust in the limelight. And who wouldn’t want fame and fortune? But along with the 40,000 new subscribers, the gushing tweets, and flashing Tumblr gifs, comes the pressure to deliver the best web series ever. As Tash struggles to combat the critics and her own doubts, she finds herself butting heads with her family and friends - the ones that helped make her show, Unhappy Families (a modern adaption of Anna Karenina, written by Tash’s eternal love Leo Tolstoy), what it is today. And when Unhappy Families is nominated for a prestigious award, Tash’s confusing cyber-flirtation with an Internet celeb suddenly has the potential to become something IRL if she can figure out how to tell him that she’s a romantic asexual. But her new relationship creates tension with her friend Paul since he thought Tash wasn’t interested in relationships ever. All Tash wants to think about is the upcoming award ceremony in Orlando, even though she’ll have to face all the friends she steamrolled to get there. But isn’t that just the price you pay for success?

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire: The story is set in a boarding school for teenagers who have passed through "doorways” into fantasy worlds only to be evicted back into the real world. It serves as something of a recovery center for boarders who find they no longer fit in, either in the “real” world or their own uncomprehending families. For a fortunate few it is just a way station until they can find their ways back to the worlds they do fit into; for others, it’s the least bleak choice in what may be a life-long exile. This unhappy ending for the students takes a terrifying turn when some of their number start turning up dead. A small group joins together in an attempt to expose the person committing these murders before it is too late to save the school, or even themselves.

The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality by Julie Sondra Decker: What if you weren’t sexually attracted to anyone?A growing number of people are identifying as asexual. They aren’t sexually attracted to anyone, and they consider it a sexual orientation—like gay, straight, or bisexual.Asexuality is the invisible orientation. Most people believe that “everyone” wants sex, that “everyone” understands what it means to be attracted to other people, and that “everyone” wants to date and mate. But that’s where asexual people are left out—they don’t find other people sexually attractive, and if and when they say so, they are very rarely treated as though that’s okay.When an asexual person comes out, alarming reactions regularly follow; loved ones fear that an asexual person is sick, or psychologically warped, or suffering from abuse. Critics confront asexual people with accusations of following a fad, hiding homosexuality, or making excuses for romantic failures. And all of this contributes to a discouraging master narrative: there is no such thing as “asexual.” Being an asexual person is a lie or an illness, and it needs to be fixed.In The Invisible Orientation, Julie Sondra Decker outlines what asexuality is, counters misconceptions, provides resources, and puts asexual people’s experiences in context as they move through a very sexualized world. It includes information for asexual people to help understand their orientation and what it means for their relationships, as well as tips and facts for those who want to understand their asexual friends and loved ones [A good beginning place to start if you’re considering your asexuality. Also provides reassurances about the most common stereotypes concerning asexuality].

Switchback by Danika Stone: Vale loves to hike, but kind of hates her classmates. Ash is okay with his classmates, but kind of hates the outdoors. So, needless to say they are both fairly certain that the overnight nature hike with their PE class is going to be a hellish experience. But when they get separated from the group during a storm, they have worse things to worry about than bullies and blisters.Lost in the Canadian wilderness with limited supplies, caught in dangerous weather conditions, and surrounded by deadly wildlife, it’s going to take every bit of strength, skill, and luck they can muster to survive.

Not Your Backup (Sidekick Squad #3) by C.B. Lee: Emma Robledo has a few more responsibilities that the usual high school senior, but then again, she and her friends have left school to lead a fractured Resistance movement against a corrupt Heroes League of Heroes. Emma is the only member of a supercharged team without powers, and she isn’t always taken seriously. A natural leader, Emma is determined to win this battle, and when that’s done, get back to school. As the Resistance moves to challenge the League, Emma realizes where her place is in this fight: at the front. [This is a third in a series, but the main character has recently come out as asexual at the end of the last book].

If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann: Winnie is living her best fat girl life and is on her way to her favorite place—Misty Haven and her granny’s diner, Goldeen’s. With her family and ungirlfriend at her side, she has everything she needs for one last perfect summer before starting college in the fall.…until she becomes Misty Haven’s Summer Queen.Newly crowned, Winnie is forced to take center stage at a never-ending list of community royal engagements. Almost immediately, she discovers that she’s deathly afraid of it all: the spotlight, the obligations, and the way her Summer King wears his heart, humor, and honesty on his sleeve.To salvage her summer Winnie must conquer her fears, defy expectations, and be the best Winnie she knows she can be—regardless of what anyone else thinks of her. [Another POC protagonist and promises to be a cute summer read in the vein of Gilmore Girls. Claire Kann’s first book was the adorable ‘Lets Talk About Love’ which reads as an asexual rom-com. This also promises to be absolutely precious.].

Immoral Code by Lillian Clark: Ocean’s 8 meets The Breakfast Club in this fast-paced, multi-perspective story about five teens determined to hack into one billionaire absentee father’s company to steal tuition money.For Nari, aka Narioka Diane, aka hacker digital alter ego “d0l0s,” it’s college and then a career at “one of the big ones,” like Google or Apple. Keagan, her sweet, sensitive boyfriend, is happy to follow her wherever she may lead. Reese is an ace/aro visual artist with plans to travel the world. Santiago is off to Stanford on a diving scholarship, with very real Olympic hopes. And Bellamy? Physics genius Bellamy is admitted to MIT–but the student loan she’d been counting on is denied when it turns out her estranged father–one Robert Foster–is loaded. Nari isn’t about to let her friend’s dreams be squashed by a deadbeat billionaire, so she hatches a plan to steal just enough from Foster to allow Bellamy to achieve her goals.

Loveless by Alice Oseman: The fourth novel from the phenomenally talented Alice Oseman - one of the most authentic and talked-about voices in contemporary YA.It was all sinking in. I'd never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean? Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush - but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she's sure she'll find her person one day. As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia's ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her 'teenage dream' is in sight. But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her - asexual, aromantic - Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever. Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along? This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn't limited to romance.

The Last Eight by Laura Pohl: Extinction was just the beginning in this thrilling, post-apocalyptic debut, perfect for fans of The 5th Wave series. Clover Martinez has always been a survivor, which is the reason she isn’t among the dead when aliens invade and destroy Earth as she knows it.Clover is convinced she’s the only one left until she hears a voice on the radio urging her to go to the former Area 51. When she arrives, she’s greeted by a band of misfits who call themselves The Last Teenagers on Earth.Only they aren’t the ragtag group of heroes Clover was expecting. The seven strangers seem more interested in pretending the world didn’t end than fighting back, and Clover starts to wonder if she was better off alone. But when she finds a hidden spaceship within the walls of the compound, she doesn’t know what to believe…or who to trust. [I’ve read there is also aromantic representation in this book too, so helpful for the Aros out there as well ♥]

LGBTQIA+ Comics with Possible Asexual Representation/ Influence:

Lumberjanes: At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! [I LOVE THESE COMICS SO MUCH I SWEAR THEY’RE SO DAMN CUTE ♥]

The Backstagers: When Jory transfers to the private, all-boys school St. Genesius, he figures joining the stage crew would involve a lot of just fetching props and getting splinters. To his pleasant surprise, he discovers there’s a door backstage that leads to different worlds, and all of the stagehands know about it!All the world’s a stage…but what happens behind the curtain is pure magic!

And Lastly, Extra Online Resources For Asexuality:

UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center: Asexuality

The Trevor Project on Asexuality

Campus Pride: Asexuality

The Canadian Centre for Gender Diversity and Awareness

Asexuality needs to be a recognized as its own, unique sexual orientation, Canadian experts say

Asexuality.org

A Lot of Ace (An Ace Positivity Blog on Tumblr ♥)

#asexuality #masterpost #lgbt+#lgbtqia+#queer masterpost #queer rights #queer history #queer literature #you're welcome #but honestly I love everything on here besides the shows which I actually haven't seen outright #but it's good to know those are out there #also I need to read the newest books of lumberjanes and backstagers #because they're adorable #personal #a-lot-of-ace

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kangwei18053060 · 4 years ago

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Annotated bibliography

PART I: Annotated bibliography

British Association for Music Therapy (2020) What is music therapy? Available at: https://www.bamt.org/music-therapy/what-is-music-therapy.html

The first article in the list of annotated bibliography is the British Association for Music Therapy’s (BAMT) article on definition of music therapy.

As individuals, music assumes a central part in our personality, culture, legacy and beliefs. BAMT calls music a ground-breaking medium which can influence all of us in a profound manner. The article is useful in understanding the basic ideas related to music therapy. BAMT defines music therapy as an “established psychological clinical intervention”, which is conveyed by HCPC enrolled music therapists to help individuals whose lives have been influenced by injury, sickness or inability. The music therapists offer support to their mental, emotional, psychological, physical, communicative and social needs.

In music therapy, music specialists draw upon the intrinsic characteristics of music to help individuals from all ages and capacities and in different phases of life. It can be used to assist new conceived infants to create healthy relationship with their parents, to offer crucial, sensitive and humane palliative care to those who are at the end of their life.

Everybody reacts to music, and music treatment utilises this connection to encourage positive changes in one’s emotional wellbeing and correspondence by introducing live musical interaction engagement among therapist and client. It can help create and encourage relational abilities, develop self-confidence and autonomy, upgrade mindfulness and familiarity with others, improve attention and concentration.

The article is useful in understanding how music therapy works in layman’s terms. Since musical participation and reaction does not rely upon the capacity to talk, music therapy is a powerful clinical intercession for individuals who experience issues in verbal communication. For individuals influenced by disability, ailment or injury, working with music therapists can be groundbreaking. Children with autism are able to form emotional, social and communication abilities. Somebody with a brain injury as the aftereffect of a mishap can benefit from music therapy to recover their speech. Music therapists work as individuals from multi-disciplinary groups in healthcare, education or social care, or have their own private practice.

Raglio, A., Attardo, L., Gontero, G., Rollino, S., Groppo, E. and Granieri, E. (2015) Effects of music and music therapy on mood in neurological patients, World journal of psychiatry, vol. 5, no. 1, p.68-78.

The days of parents asking children to turn down the music and focus on their homework might be over as more advances are made in the field of music therapy. Neurological illnesses are frequently connected with a several symptoms in one’s behaviour and psychology that are typically disregarded by neurologists on the grounds it that requires diagnostic techniques that contrast from those utilised for classical physical symptoms and are more appropriate in psychiatry field. Depression, tension, maniacal states, and disorders in thought and observation are some of the common psychiatric problems in neurology. In the past decades there has been a developing assemblage of proof in the utilisation of musical intervention taking place in clinical setting that is concerned to singing, listening to music, improvised creation in music, and other melodic exercises, insofar as more organised music therapy or MT treatment. Given that music engages in an assortment of cerebrum zones associated with feeling, motivation, discernment, and motor capacities, music interventions have been utilised to expand socialisation and intellectual, emotional, and neuromotor working.

Rehabilitative methodologies, for example, Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) allude to neuroscientific models and essentially utilise the capability of melodic upgrades for activation of observation and production regions in the human mind, giving a progression of therapeutic applications to sensory, psychological, and motor dysfunctions that can occur due to issues in neurological areas. Utilising directive approach that is dependent on a progression of activities, NMT might be utilised, for instance, to improve stride and developments in patients who have suffered from post-stroke or have PD or language in people suffering from aphasia. With respect to the neurological problems, music therapy may advance functional recuperation and furthermore improve social and mental results, for example, motivation, inspiration, temperament, and depression.

Taking these into consideration, it will be interesting to the role of music therapy in the lives of student.

Petra, K. and Humpal, M., eds. (2019) Early Childhood Music Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorder, Second Edition, Supporting Children and Their Families. United States: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

This book presents fourteen chapters by 14 US Music Therapists with broad experience of working with young people with autism. There is a solid accentuation on what is called evidence-based music therapy and there are numerous occurrences when the reader is advised this is the best way to deal with music therapy with kids with autism. The book is meticulously devoted to music therapists who use evidence-based practices to help small kids with autism issue and also support to their families. The book editors have also contributed towards the chapters.

The book is certainly a reference book that Music Therapists working with Autism Spectrum Disorder need to own. At the same time, Music Therapists outside the United States should know that numerous parts fundamentally about broad legislation with respect to ASD in the United States, which is not generally pertinent to different nations. gives an outline of mental imbalance including definitions and indicative highlights. It offers recent information in an unmistakable way and is a valuable reference for Music Therapists to have the option to utilise. It was intriguing to find out about which methods to Autism were considered in the 2015 United States as Established, Emerging, and Unestablished. However, maybe much more significant for Music Therapists practitioners both in the United States and in the more extensive world would be some data about how EBP approach can utilise music and music making and how the connection between the child, the family and the therapist may be improved and fortified, prompting the accomplishment of therapeutic objectives.

Even though the book centres around the subject of music therapy in the United States, it significantly makes use of literature on music therapy from outside of the country. It offers numerous useful suggestions like music therapy coaching that urges parents to connect musically with their young child, yet less focus is on supporting the parents themselves and expanding on existing positive associations between them and the child.

McCaffrey, T., McFerran, K., Gattino, G. and Sundar, S. (2020) The Global Music Therapy Educators Network. British Journal of Music Therapy, 34(2), pp.80-81.

The article talks about a tangible solution in current pandemic situation in the form of a The Global Music Therapy Educators Library (E-library) curated by a worldwide network of music therapy educators. This is a brief e-library lasting for the pandemic time frame, which offers a space for music treatment instructors to make and share recordings on music treatment through the VIMEO platform for instructive purpose.

Educators who use music therapy around the world are connected in their obligation to the advancement of the progression through the training of new professionals. While different college programs stress assorted methodologies and are illustrative of their encompassing societies, there is a lot of that is shared between various programmes and their instructors. Yet, preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, there was minimal collaboration between educators as a group. One reason suggested in the article is because of time pressures and an absence of need to come together and celebrate diversities. With the beginning of the pandemic and the quick progress to web-based learning, a sudden space arose for dialogue among the network of music therapy educator. United by the difficulties on professional training because of a worldwide pandemic, various global teachers joined in conversation to look for a path forward.

The relevance of this literature lies in the fact that it accesses the current pandemic situation and puts the music therapy in this context.

The occasion to connect educators from all around the world with assorted points of views and geographic areas under one virtual rooftop empowers us to share information and mastery in inventive manners that help the education-learning needs of the music therapy network. One of the most certain results of the Global Music Therapy Educators Network is that it has united this community, even in a time of social distancing.

Swaney, M. (2019) Towards a state of play: A case study exploring insight-oriented musical experiences with a woman with severe brain injury. British Journal of Music Therapy, 33(1), pp. 39-50.

This article has been included in the list as it presents an improvisational way to deal with insight-oriented therapy in music therapy. Other reason for including this article is that it details the case study of a woman with extreme cognitive impairments after she suffered from a haemorrhagic stroke. The research has investigated five clinical extracts across 40 sessions to show how a readied improvised melodic experience can encourage important self-investigation, prompting a revived self-identity in life after on suffers from brain injury. The reflective process of the therapist is essential to the attain therapeutic results; these are inspected with the casework material. This article recommends that insight-oriented musical encounters might be one method of supporting the emotional health of people living with the outcomes of serious brain injury either in slow-stream recovery or long-term neurological consideration.

Another reason this article has been included is because it introduces Winnicott’s (1971) notion of psychotherapy and states that music therapists are very much familiar the author’s work. Undoubtedly, in music treatment, the practitioners start their work by building up a platform whereupon the client’s capacities and limits are perceived. This therapy spaces enables encounters with each other and the demonstration of playing together unfurls. Where play is impossible, Winnicott proceeds by expressing at that point the work done by the specialist is coordinated towards bringing the patient from a condition of not having the option to play into a condition of having the option to play.

The case of study of Bonnie in the article shows how by presenting music therapy space, a person with extremely disorganised mind has the capability of engaging in deep explorations of their self as well as connecting with that self in a meaningful manner after sustaining brain damage.

Harvard Health Publishing (2016) How music can help you heal. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/how-music-can-help-you-heal

Finding someone who does not connect strongly to music is next to impossible. Regardless of one’s ability or inability to carry a tune or play an instrument, a person can give a list of songs that conjures happy memories and uplifts their spirits. The ability of music to heal emotionally as well as physically is the focus of this blog article. For a long time, surgeons have listed their favourite music in order to relieve stress when they are in the operating room. They also offer their patients with music in order to enhance the surgery results. Over the last few decades, music therapy has assumed a significant role in different fields of healing.

The article is informative about the type of people who become certified music therapists. There are the accomplished musicians having deep knowledge with regards to the manner in which music has the ability of bringing out emotional responses so that people can either experience relaxation or healing. This statement has been evidenced with real-life example of Holly Chartrand, who is a music therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated to Harvard. Chartrand has previously trained as a vocalist. After realising that music can be used to help other people just as she it helped her personally, she took the decision of becoming a music therapist.

The blog provides a sampling of how music helps in improving medical outcomes and quality of life in various manners. Some of the listed outcomes are easing a patient’s anxiety and discomfort when they are undergoing medical procedures, decreasing the side effects caused by cancer therapy, offering assistance during physical therapy and rehabilitation, providing pain relief.

Davis, L.C. (2015) Is It Harmful to Use Music as a Coping Mechanism? Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/is-it-harmful-to-use-music-as-a-coping-mechanism/413236/

This article from The Atlantic has been included in the list as it seeks to initiate a discourse on how much of music is too much. That music is a form of emotional self-care is understood by music streaming apps such as Spotify, that offers “Mood” playlists ranging from “Anthems of Angst” to “The Happy Hipster.” The article acknowledges the therapeutic qualities of music, by quoting Aristotle and the origins of music therapy in the mid-20th century, when in the United Kingdom, musicians went from hospital to hospital to play music for World War I and II soldiers suffering physical and emotional trauma.

The article refers to the research carried out by a Ph.D candidate Emily Carlson from Department of Music at Finland’s University of Jyväskylä. The article explores the question of whether it is possible to listen to music in manners that is sabotages one’s mental health. This question was asked in the Ph.D. study which surveyed music-listening habits of 123 participants.

The study found that among all the strategies utilised in listening to music, Discharge, which is the utility of music in order to express negative emotions, was linked to higher anxiety level and neuroticism among the participants, and more so in men. In turn, the fMRI data showed that men using Discharge strategy had decrease in mPFC or medial prefrontal cortex activity when listening to music. When compared to Diversion, which is a common music-listening strategy among females, Discharge can lead to amplification of negative feelings or result in what is known as externalizing strategy wherein an individual directs their negative behaviour and feelings outwards, and into the surroundings.

The article suggest the need for a little introspection to figure out if one’s music-listening habits is healthy. In case, one’s listening choices leads to feelings of rage or woe, then it is better to avoid such playlist.

Schriewer, K. and Bulaj, G. (2016) Music streaming services as adjunct therapies for depression, anxiety, and bipolar symptoms: convergence of digital technologies, mobile apps, emotions, and global mental health. Frontiers in public health, 4, p.217.

This journal article has been selected as it acknowledges the role of streaming services as an adjunct tool for treating mental health issues. Despite music therapies being around for many years, the diverse cultural origins, music genres, and personal preferences does not impact music’s universal values. The authors portray how a quick development in web and mobile technologies, including overall availability of music streaming and cell phones can to some extent address expanding worldwide mental health challenges. At the same time, a cross-disciplinary coordinated efforts and thorough clinical approval of explicit clinical cases is needed for repurposing music streaming services into therapies for depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety. The article has also taken into account the comfort and low expenses of conveying computerised mediations, creating music streaming therapies to offer new opportunities for patients, their guardians, medical services experts, music industry, and artists all around the world.

The authors have given the example of music streaming services like Amazon Prime, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, iHeartRadio, and Pandora that can play an assortment of songs on-request by means of the Internet and based on the preference and interest of the users. An individual can choose music stations dependent on particular tunes, musician, genre, or mood. The station then plays melodies, which the audience previously chose, and new tunes, which are akin to the previously played tunes.

Music streaming channels offer large number of songs and melodic tracks and are accessible around the world, or in chosen nations. Numerous stations offer classifications based on one’s mood, for instance Spotify with "Have a Great Day," "Mind-set Booster," "Quiet Down," "Great Vibes," and so on and Apple Music with "Get Happy," "100 Most Uplifting Songs Ever" offering preset playlists that the listeners can pick. In contrast Google Play Music uses mood in search criteria like “Confident," "Quiet," "Fiery," and so forth to offer specific music.

The article is useful in understanding how new innovations can be repurposed for music therapy.

Falodun, K. (2020) 'Don't stop the music': songs bring hope to a Nigerian psychiatric unit. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/04/dont-stop-the-music-songs-bring-hope-to-a-nigerian-psychiatric-unit

The focus of Falodun’s The Guardian news article is the use of the music therapy in Nigerian psychiatric unit. Africa suffers from a treatment gap for those with mental health issues, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, an expected 20% to 30% of the populace have some type of mental illness. Various combination of variables when regarding the mental illness. The article quotes Dr Adetoun Faloye, a senior registrar in the psychiatry division of University College Hospital who states that they do not only use medication or psychotherapy or music treatment, but various helpful methodologies are consolidated and tailored to meet the person’s needs.

The article details the story of Bola Otegbayo who brings a group of artists and instrumentalists into this psychiatric unit at UCH in Ibadan, Nigeria once or twice a month. Besides being a musicologist, Otegbayo is also a renal technologists, who understood a couple of years ago that a portion of her patients were lonely despite the fact that their friends and family visited and guardians gave aid. So, she started to share music.

Music can be stimulative or remedial, however it can likewise be a wellspring of sadness. This is the reason why it should be utilised cautiously. The mentions Otegbayo’s desire to utilise this kind of treatment in other Nigerian emergency clinics. At the same time, there is the acknowledgement difficulties, particularly for somebody who is not an individual from hospital staff. Other than being an artist or having an energy for aiding individuals, somebody leading a group should be prepared and ready to work with therapists and medical caretakers. This is snot something any artist can do as they would prefer not to trigger the patients. The individual also needs to notice if the music therapy is working. Thus, the article makes the reader aware of various challenges in implementation of music therapy.

10.

Balzer, C. (2020) Music can boost your productivity while working from home – here's how. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/15/music-productivity-working-from-home

This article by Balzer is significant and timely in the light of the fact that the current pandemic situation has resulted in work from home for individuals in many different professions. Music is shown to improve both productivity and cognitive execution, particularly in grown-ups. The article goes to detail the steps in order to curate a playlist that acts as music therapy to boost work productivity from home.

The author lists that the tunes toward the start of the playlist should not constrain the listener into a condition of productivity, however they need to continuously bring the listener in that mood. This idea is known as the iso standard, which is a procedure therapist’s use to adjust the state of mind of a patient. The specialist will coordinate music to match the patient’s feeling, and afterwards gradually modify the melodies to accomplish the desired mind set.

The suggestions for curation of playlist is backed by research findings. For instance, the author cites that scientists have discovered that faster track speed can bring about increase in performance. In one investigation that inspected the connection between music rhythm and productivity, most guineas pigs performed best while tuning in to tunes paced at around 121 bpm. This is tracks such as Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe, Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance with Somebody, and Diana Ross’s I Will Survive.

The article also cautions that while research proposes tuning in to energetic, complex music can help people remain alert and motivated while performing tedious assignments, narrative lyrics can be diverting to those attempting to accomplish cognitive work. The greater part of work playlist needs to incorporate melodies with harmless or subtly performed lyrics.

As the playlist develops, tracks need to be orchestrated so that it bodes well for the manner in which the listener works. There should be flexibility in the playlist by permitting the authorization to tune in to new music, evaluate new things, and try new things out.

11.

Wheeler, B.L and Murphy, K. M., eds (2018) Music therapy research (3rd ed.). New Braunfels, TX: Barcelona Publishers.

With increase in exploration of music treatment advances, textbooks offer an outline of the field and direction in planning and leading examination. In an area that is tested by monetary difficulties, there is a developing requirement for music therapists to exhibit value for money, by assessing, and having the option to defend, the effect of what they do. With the demand for evidence-based practice, opportunities are opening for quality innovative work in such practice. The book provides readers an outline of the primary research paradigms. From building up an exploration subject to inspecting writing and encouraging observational work, the reader is guided hypothetically and for all intents and purposes through phases of arranging and executing possibly significant research ventures.

The book can be read by those with no current research experience as it acquaints the readers with scholastic data sets and disclosing how to direct academic inquiries through writing. It is additionally useful for those with more examination experience, as it compares two unmistakable hypothetical structures assigned as "objectivist" and "interpretivist," and driving the reader through the effective utilisation of the aftereffects of examination.

As music therapy training, demands that understudies sharpen their musical instincts and their ability for attunement and sympathy, the authors also reason the risk of bias can be high for researchers of music therapy. In addition, a critical obstacle in the carrying out thorough exploration can be that advisors are not able or reluctant to develop a valid, haphazardly assigned control group for merciful, rational, or moral reasons. Nonetheless, in the light of gaining acknowledgment from other health administrations and officers, the book sets out how objectivist research that utilise randomized control preliminaries (or different techniques for randomisation or relapse of irregularity plans) are vital to creating research of high quality.

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themadvigilantist · 5 years ago

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things about time lords that was new to me and/or i forgot about that i’m now going to consider canon for basically every time lord in a fight:

Time Lords' physical forms are only fragments of much vaster multi-dimensional ones existing in a realm invisible to humans; this aspect is able to create coincidences around a Time Lord. (and everyone is so surprised by how strong they are. gallifreyans are (possibly) stronger than the hulk and captain marvel full force. k bye)

While the human eye was just a dish of light-sensitive cells, leaving the brain to do all of the processing, the Time Lord retina was capable of thinking on its own. As a result, on Gallifrey, the retina replaced fingers as the main method of communicating with machines. (a brain for the skull and a brain for each eye and just holy shit. they can feel people with their eyesssssss.) Gallifreyan eyes were better at seeing in general, as well as in the dark, as they could gather and enhance available light. They could notice incredible amount of detail from distances of at least one hundred yards away, as well as people that were well beyond the human line of sight. Gallifreyans had incredibly precise control of their eyes (which explains a shit ton on why the doctor’s eyes just get bigger when they can’t find a companion and have to resort to yelling their name. it’s like that meme about yelling something to get them to respond but extreme sports edition. like extreme marco polo or waldo like holy shit).

Gallifreyans could survive some falls which would shatter the bones of humans.

If pushed from a height into a liquid, a Time Lord body was capable of protecting them, sealing up the lungs to conserve air for a short period (see Hell Bent and 12′s constant diving)

Gallifreyans could survive extreme cold, due to having a "souped-up metabolism"; they could even withstand exposure to a vacuum for a few minutes with the only consequence being blindness rather than death. They could also survive extreme heat. They could even survive the subzero temperatures and extremely low pressure of vacuum for around six minutes, and survive electric shocks that would be fatal to humans.

Röntgen radiation affected Gallifreyans so minimally that Gallifreyan children were routinely given radioactive toys in the nursery. They could, at will, absorb very high doses of Röntgen radiation, transform it into a form harmless to humans, and expel it from their bodies. Radiation of other kinds could be fatal, but even then a Gallifreyan could handle much higher doses than a normal human could, and could hold out much longer than even most terrestrial life-forms, although a unique form of radiation around the Lakertyan System was only fatal to Time Lords while being harmless to humans.

Gallifreyans needed less sleep than humans, and could make do with as little as an hour.

A Gallifreyan who was severely injured without actually needing to regenerate to heal the damage would generally slip into a healing coma, and devote all his or her energy to healing the injury. While in the coma, they would appear to be dead.

Time Lords also seem to have an increased resilience to higher frequencies of sound.

Gallifreyans could be disabled by a blow to the left shoulder, which possessed a vulnerable nerve cluster.

Gallifreyans were capable of resisting attempts to disintegrate their bodies, despite being shown capable of disintegrating other organisms.

Early Gallifreyans deliberately infected themselves with the Yssgaroth taint to give themselves a biological advantage.

Time Lords occasionally displayed, or referred to, the ability to fly. (cough cough mary poppins, saxon, missy, that time lord messenger, tenth doctor when he got back to normal and cradled the master and cried after lucy shot him cough cough)

Even without regeneration, Gallifreyans had considerable lifespans. Within one regeneration, Gallifreyans could live for hundreds of years, yet look much younger than a human of equivalent age. (which means the curator in the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who is 500 yrs old in that face so like imagine young tom baker but with just the short curly cut like wow)

Physical stress could cause Gallifreyans to age.

the Time Destructor may have contributed to ageing

Gallifreyan children grew at about the same rate as humans of the same age. After this point, ageing would slow, with the Gallifreyan looking like a teenager for decades. ( @girl-in-the-tardis @gallifreylegacy so basically those kids end up being like twilight minus the disco ball vampirism when they graduate college and get the highest occupation of their job. like they could be considered both the youngest president but also the oldest being visually a teenager but actually 90 yrs old. like No. 5 from Umbrella Academy)

90 is teens, 750 is middle-aged and senility age when one time lord gets over 12,000 years old (depending on the regeneration i guess???)

Gallifreyans had all the senses possessed by humans, and to generally superior degrees. Gallifreyans also had extraordinary reflexes and precision timing, literally superhuman.

In the space of four nanoseconds, a Time Lord can move fast enough to dodge shots fired at them whilst devising a plan to escape. (so that trailer where 13 is like a speedster? fucking canon y’all)

Gallifreyans showed great hand-eye coordination and dexterity with a wide variety of tool and weapons.

Gallifreyans (in "younger" bodies) were, consequently, very physically able and highly athletic

A time lord perceived sounds from the TARDIS, while located several sections away in a larger spacecraft or planet.

Gallifreyans were capable of identification by taste. (see all of tenth doctor) The Gallifreyan sense of smell was equal to their sense of taste. They could do a chemical analysis of the air using their sense of smell. On some occasions Time Lords were also able to judge what time period and location they were in by the smell of the air. (this explains that comic where rose was possessed by the ninth doctor and she basically became the ninth doctor for that strip while also talking to him out loud as he responded in her head: basically 9 was remy the rat and rose was linguini the hair-controlled human k thanks. so that’s a thing)

Gallifreyans were better at coping with sudden changes in position than humans and were harder to disorient.

As well as the senses shared with humans, Gallifreyans had further senses, with at least a sixth sense. Gallifreyans had time- and spatial-related senses and physical attributes; they were able to resist fields of slow time, notice distortions and jumps in time, retain perception of local time flow, including a secondary "backwards" consciousness during jumps back in time that could overwrite the one prescribed by forward time, directly perceive the interstellar motions of cosmological bodies or their inhabitants — including sensing the "shape" of the world to the extent that they were aware when trapped in pocket dimensions — and perceive all possible timelines. Due to their time sensitive nature, Gallifreyans could retain memories of negate or alternative timelines. (so basically the whole ‘i won’t remember this’ schtick from 50th was a sham. which explains why tenth doctor was looking for rose the second he heard bad wolf but he was on gallifrey and not earth. this boy was looking for the moment but like she just didn’t appear and then the button changed into a rose shaped one like wow ok bye) The form of eidetic short-term memory, able to recall every insignificant detail of even the most moments in time (holy shit there’s no way you can win an argument with them. that’s fucking sad...for any human anYWAY). on a quantum level, their brain could receive information from possible futures, possibly without even realising it consciously. (ahaha do you mean that the tenth doctor saw different futures where he saw all outcomes of doomsday which makes all those edits where he’s living life with rose and donna as his sister fucking true but it’s also true that canonically he went, ‘nah, have tentoo im gonna skidaddle’ and left THEM OKAY BYE AGAIN). Time Lords shared a special mental connection to the structure of history. The chakras of the Time Lord nervous system could detect contours in the Time Vortex and also felt an instinctive gut revulsion towards fixed points in time.

The Time Lord brain was much larger and more complex than the human brain. The size differences effectively ruled out brain transplants from a Gallifreyan to a human, having one, two or three brainstems (so basically that whole plot in Get Out would have backfired so fucking hard. now that would have been a wild movie.) Time Lords could also separate the hemispheres of their brain, allowing them to multitask easily. Records on some planets indicated isolated cerebral hemispheres as a characteristic of Time Lords. Time Lords had an additional brain lobe dedicated to mechanical and other bodily functions, freeing the other lobes for intellectual endeavours. The autonomic functions could be artificially supplanted with a special device, allowing the Gallifreyan to think with their autonomic brain.

Gallifreyans could sense the presence of others of their own species, with the sense being specific enough to allow identification of one another just by sight, regardless of potential recent regeneration. (v and vin tend to turn this off because they like being surprised. surprises are fun.)

Body temperature of Gallifreyans are fucking Arctic or near Pluto levels, hence the layered clothing in the most hottest climate possible like what the fuck. it explains so much on why tenth doctor still donned that luau necklace thing because that was just a nice warm spring to him okay. which means if they get sick, you need oven gloves and a heat resistant suit. that’s what im gonna assume. like holy shit. no wonder that ice didn’t do shit for 10 in the 42 ep. good to know

Time Lords displayed the ability of touch-enabled mental manipulation; this manifested itself in a number of different ways, including hypnosis, mind-reading, thought sharing, the ability to relieve dementia, putting others to sleep, influence on others' dreams, memory erasure and could also transfer knowledge quickly to another person by headbutting them. In addition, they were telepathically linked to one another and could join the entire Time Lord intelligence as one. They could hold telepathic conversations over distances, but this was more difficult. They could converse with each over the astral plane, although this ability required intense concentration, and an interruption might have fatal consequences for the Time Lord. Their telepathy extended to less intelligent animals. Perhaps because of this, they had an innate ability to understand any language. In ancient times, Gallifreyans who were capable of blocking out the telepathic thoughts of other Gallifreyans were called Individuals. They usually had red-gold hair and often went on to become Young Heroes. (THAT’S 👏🏾WHY 👏🏾THE 👏🏾DOCTOR 👏🏾WANTS RED 👏🏾HAIR 👏🏾👏🏾 THEY 👏🏾 WANT 👏🏾 TO 👏🏾BE 👏🏾A 👏🏾INDIVIDUAL 👏🏾👏🏾) They were highly resistant against, if not immune to, other forms of mind control. However, they were vulnerable to more powerful forms of mind control. (so basically Jessica Jones episodes 1 thru whatever episode Kilgrave doesn’t find out about Hogarth trying to inject herself with his DNA, they are immune but, episode where kilgrave injects himself with it and becomes powerful might be vulnerable to it if that same kilgrave did what cartoon kilgrave did with tony stark and used the stark tower to boost and spread his control over everyone...or you know, maybe can withstand wanda vision’s control. maybe. i have to consider pythia and the karn so, it’s a good 50 - 50 chance on kilgrave and wanda being able to mind control a time lord. like properly. so jot that down)

Gallifreyans (Time Lords) don’t have prostates.

#mv: decretum #mv: longpost #mv: reference #ooc #doctor who #egyptroyal #c: 10 #vc: 11 1/2 #oc: the scientist #c: 0 #oc: allura #oc: the technician #oc: the sargeant

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purple-haired-faerie · 6 years ago

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Things I've learnt from working with people who have a disability/some sort of Special Educational Needs

So for context, I've worked for two charities (one previously and one currently) that offers day respite for children who have additional needs as well as currently working in a care home for adults with additional needs. I'm also the occasional carer for a kid with additional needs.

These people are not stupid. Sure some of the people I've worked with have significant learning difficulties and are non verbal but they are not stupid. They have worked out how to do certain things themselves, and can remember things you've told them. Don't underestimate them!

Following from this, don't confuse verbal ability with intellectual ability. It's generally assumed that the better someone speaks the more intelligent they are and where there is truth in that, it absolutely isn't gospel. Example: in the care home I work in, one of our residents is really verbal; you can completely understand what he says and can have a full conversation with him. But a lot of what he says is memory. He'll ask for a handful of staff as he remembers their name. He'll ask the same questions. There is stuff he can do for himself but staff have to help him do a lot. Whereas the most able person in the house is totally non-verbal and is very switched on about what's going on and what we are asking of her and what she wants.

If there is a will there is a way and bloody hell they will find it. One of the residents in the care home doesn't like mess, and will almost get herself seriously injured to pick it up. And if a kids pissed off and wants to hit you, they practically turn into a contortionist to do so. Repeating an earlier point: don't underestimate them!

You can't change them. You need to change you. It's not a case of "one size fits all". Some kind of the people I work with have good communication skills. They can ask if they want something, or make it very clear and it's easier to have their needs met. But for others, it's a case of trial and error till you find something that works. How you'd assist a more able person won't be the same way you would help a less able person. Some respond to very few words and a visual cue, such as "name, drink?" Whilst showing them a bottle. Others prefer Makaton, which is a form or sign language common amongst Autism, ADHD and Down Syndrome, but is not limited to them. Others it's a case of using pec cards or pictures. Point is, they won't change their communication, YOU do.

You need to give them time. You'll find yourself repeating the same thing several times. You'll ask them to do something (like going to the toilet, or having a drink) and it will take forever. They might be in a really shitty mood and be injuring you and as much as you want to swear and possibly hurt them back (both of which are total no no) you need to remain calm, try to calm the situation down and work out what's put them in the shitty mood. And this will take time.

Yes you will be hit, kicked, pinched, punched, spat at, bitten, had your hair pulled, grabbed, scratched, bear-hugged (and not in a nice way), sworn at and just generally beaten up (for the record I've explained all of them and have come home with the injuries to prove it) you will also have significantly more moments of "this is why I do what I do". A kid with learning difficulties you've worked with for several months learns your name. The person who likes their personal space wants to link arms with you. The kid who sat on the sofa doing fuck all and didn't really do people is now happy to walk around and explore a lot more and isn't too affected by have new people in his perimeter. All of which happened in the six months you were his 1:1 (despite him normally having at least 2 members of staff).

All in all, it's a tough fucking job that takes so much out of you, both mentally and physically but you do become a better person for doing it and I wouldn't change my jobs for anything. Yes they are disabled. Yes they have special educational needs but they are still able to teach you a thing or two and will keep you on your toes

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hislittleflower-throughconcrete · 7 years ago

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I’m gonna rant about disability services at private Catholic schools for a second

I will preface this by saying that this is my experience at both of the Catholic schools I attended growing up. If I am generalizing please correct me, let me know, but I believe this problem is pervasive in most private Catholic schools (probably not just Catholic private schools, but all private schools, but I’m not touching on that right now.)

My brother’s kindergarten teacher was the first person to identify that he had ADHD. My parents took him to the necessary doctors/professionals so see what they could do. However, the school that he (and I, as well as all of my siblings) went to only had one lady who acted as a “resource” for kids who were struggling. She was a mom, I don’t know if she had any training at all to deal with learning disabilities - I honestly think she just took kids out of class to give them extra time to practice certain reading and math skills. Because none of the teachers were trained in dealing with kids who had ADHD (let alone learning disabilities or special needs, which my brother didn’t have) there was a point where I, a 5th grader, got called out of my math class to come into his 2nd grade classroom to comfort my crying brother as the teacher said impatiently, “you deal with him.” That was when my parents decided to put him in public school because they had the resources to actually accommodate my brother.

Fast forward to high school, this time concerning myself. I was in and out of high school due to depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and an eating disorder. After the first hospitalization, I get back to school and discover that I am required to make up all of my work. All of it. At the same time as trying to complete the current work being assigned. I was so stressed and already a perfectionist that I went back tot he hospital for anxiety-induced suicidal urges directly related to being so overwhelmed with my life. This happened at least three other times - where I was hospitalized due to my inability to cope with my own deteriorating mental health on top of all of that work. My mom and I repeatedly explained this to my high school’s “school counselor” (again, not sure if this lady had any training at all, my school was notorious for hiring unqualified people just because they were good-hearted and faith-filled individuals). She and all of my teachers maintained that I must make up all of my work, months and months of tests, papers, projects, and even busywork. When we asked why this was so even though it posed a serious risk to my, ya’know, life, they said that at that present moment, too or three other students had been out “sick” for months at a time (one had mono and one had had a concussion) and if I got an exception it wasn’t fair to them. In other words: Justice, not Mercy. The fact that I could die from “some stress” never seemed to penetrate their consciousness. I distinctly remember my “guidance counselor” (as I sat in her office weeks into my summer break catching up on work from the previous year) saying off-hand when I mentioned the stress, “well, we can’t all take a vacation every time life gets too hard.”

Fast forward to college. We heard about this “disability services” thing during orientation. I looked closely at whatever pamphlet I had been handed, and it listed mental health issues as disabilities. What? My mom and I decided to check it out, saying “it would be really cool if I could have someone at this big college to talk to and goto if I am struggling with work,” thinking that that was all she could offer me - things like tutors and advice. After providing the hospital and doctor records to disability services, I find out that I qualify for extension for assignments, excused absences, extended time on tests, modified or completely excused assignments, and more, because of my mental health issues, without any professor allowed to ask me why other than “a disability-related reason.” They also appointed a disability services advocate whose job was to go to bat with my professors for me if they did not comply.

To say that we were floored would have been incorrect. I wasn’t floored. I just didn’t understand. I felt I was cheating. I didn’t even know this was allowed. How was this fair to the other students? “You have a disability, this is to allow you to do as well as someone who doesn’t have this disability.” You mean I just don’t have to suck it up and deal with my problems on my own time? I have a disability? What?

Okay. There are two points to this post. One is the obvious: Catholic schools, you are losing the opportunity for children with disabilities to be formed in the faith. Like it or not, the majority of parents and families aren’t the ones who teach the faith to their kids - either they learn it at Catholic school, or just don’t learn it at all. I am aware this issue is heavily tied to funding, HOWEVER: disability services shouldn’t be this nifty add-on to a school, a novelty or a selling point. They should be a fundamental, integrated part of allowing students of all abilities to have the opportunity to be educated in their faith and a faith-filled environment. Parents should not have to choose, as my parents had to, between having their child grow up educated in the faith or actually being able to learn and be treated appropriately by teachers who understood him. (Yes, he still did CCD, but no, the CCD classes did not have disability-educated individuals teaching it - shocker. How much did he retain from it? A few weeks ago, he asked me what Pentecost was.)

The second issue is more tied to my experience. You are damaging people’s perception of God and His Love. You are saying that those of disabilities - those same people Jesus healed and released from their pain and struggles in the Gospels - aren’t important enough to be accommodated using a basic section of the school’s budget. This may be controversial, but part of me thinks that a school shouldn’t exist at all if it doesn’t have the ability to accommodate children with physical, intellectual, psychological, or developmental disabilities - yes, even and especially Catholic schools. I had a severely damaged faith as a result of the attitude of my school - yaknow, the ones who taught me about God and Jesus. I graduated high school hearing about “mercy,” and hating the whole concept. I seethed every time I heard the prodigal son bible reading, because I hated the fact that the wayward son was allowed to do that without any punishment. I didn’t understand mercy and it made me angry. Everyone deserves justice, I thought, and mercy is the opposite - a hall pass for the weak and undeserving. I punished myself through self harm every time I got less than an A on a test, every time I said something stupid and felt embarrassed. The self-harming and perfectionistic inclinations were mine, but the importance of justice was fed to me by them. Self harm and suicidal ideation were listed as sins against the commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kill” without any mention about exceptions, or what to do if you felt that way. A teacher told us that the worst sin of all - above rape and murder of children - was desecration of the Eucharist by receiving it unfaithfully. I abstained from the Eucharist for years because I couldn’t stop cutting or disordered eating behaviors, and I was in a constant state of mortal sin (I thought) so I couldn’t receive. No one on staff was educated enough on mental health disabilities to point out that saying things like eating disorders, cutting, and suicidal ideation were sins could result from an illness, a disability, that was not being addressed. I told priest after priest that those were my sins, and to be fair, most asked if I was in therapy, but only one mentioned to me that he didn’t think that my cutting was “completely” a sin, that the guilt was reduced due to “addiction.” But I quickly disregarded that comment, because I was not giving myself a free pass. God deserves Justice - the least sin in His eyes breaks the whole Law. If an action hurts someone else or hurts God, the offended party deserves justice. Not excuses for weak people. Justice, not Mercy.

But college was also the same time I was actually introduced to having a personal relationship with Jesus. The first time I confessed to a priest who immediately said that I was so, so wrong in my understanding of who God was and what He wanted of me. He rejoiced in me. In me. His unconditional love did not excuse my sins, but heal them. His Mercy was not a free pass of pity at my weakness, but the bandages in which He used to bind up my wounds. If I had learned about Mercy before this, it was not in this way. I was taught through actions, if not the words themselves, that justice for others was worth more than mercy on me. And even now I am stunned every time I am “ given a break.” Because that’s what it feels like, bosses and professors who accommodate my disability - them being generous. Not my basic needs being met.

Love the least in the eyes of the world, Catholic schools. Do better. Don’t consider yourself inclusive after building some wheelchair ramps and asking a parish mom to come in on Wednesdays to help the kids who “just aren’t getting it.” Work with families. Hire trained staff members - plural - who are equipped to deal with a wide range of disabilities, including learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism, and Down syndrome. The souls of all children with disabilities whose parents want their child to grow to know Jesus through their schools hangs in the balance.

@patron-saint-of-smart-asses @catholicamputee @alwaysabeautifullife @hissaltandlight @tinycatholicbean and @ all other tumbler Catholics who either have a physical/mental disability or are parents of a child with one.

#catholic #disability #catholic school

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kulife2022 · 2 years ago

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Clubs at KU

Prologue

No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, there is something for you at KU. With clubs and activities for many interest majors and something else there are plenty of options on how to get involved while on campus. Also, as long as you make an effort, you can always find others with the same interests as you. By joining any of the clubs or activities on campus, you can get involved, stay busy, make friends, and even make the best of your time in college.

In this post we will be talking about three aspects of getting involved through clubs on campus. In act I Ava explains that KU offers several clubs for students with specific interests . In act II, Brynn explains the positive aspects of major related clubs on campus. Kylie then explains how to make friends at KU during act III. All of these acts dive into the aspects of being involved while at Kutztown, and how being a part of clubs and activities can improve the overall experience of college life.

Act I: Clubs and Activities for Specific Interests

Coming to college and being in a new environment can be difficult at times to meet new people, but being active in your community and on campus can make all the difference.

At Kutztown University there is an abundance of clubs and activities provided that are veered towards specific interests that students may have, there are over 200 of them. These clubs are a great opportunity for students to make friends and expand their horizon when it comes to getting involved on campus.

After talking to Julia Cook I was able to get more of an insight on what it's like to be involved in a club here at KU. Julia is a part of CEC, council for exceptional children. CEC is made up of students that aspire to work with kids around the area that have physical or intellectual disabilities. Julia explained that she has made so many new friends since joining this club, and since all of these students share the same interest in this club, she said that many of them also have several classes together. She goes on to say “it's really nice because we’re all there because we want to be…and we want to help out in the community.” Being a part of a community with the same interests and goals in mind is an exceptional way to create genuine bonds and friendships with other students.

– Ava Fester

Act II: The “Major” Clubs

When going to a new place, adapting can be tough, I know that for me it sure was. Searching for places, groups, and activities where I could fit in seemed to be one of the most difficult things for me to do when I first came to Kutztown. I decided that one of the best things for me to do was to find a club that would benefit me the most.

In the first few weeks of living on campus I attended an involvement fair. It truly opened my eyes for all the clubs and possibilities that were available for me. I realized that there are clubs related to specific majors, and decided that joining one was a great idea. Being a student in an art ed major I found a club perfect for me, National Art Education Association (NAEA).

Along with NAEA there are plenty of clubs at KU in a large selection of areas including, art, music, math, education, statistics, and science. With such a large variety in the choices of clubs the possibilities are great for many majors.

One aspect of being in a club related to your major is getting to meet others who will be or are already in your field of interest. Through NAEA I met Carmen Popovici, the current president of the club, and a future art teacher. She brought up many interesting points - and her views - on the positive aspects of joining major based clubs.

“Knowing I had people to go to if I had questions was really helpful,” Carmen explained. She went on to explain how the upperclassmen in major related clubs are great to go to for insight related to your major. As they have been where you are they can have tips on which classes to take, or even just offer overall support.

Along with meeting people who are in the field that you are entering, being in a major related club also opens up opportunities to get involved with programs and events. Carmen also mentioned her experience with this in our discussion: “ I’ve gotten so many opportunities and met a lot of people in the art education community while going to conferences.” Attending events that are held by - or are open for attendance through - the club are great ways to see and learn more about your field of study.

Along with conferences many clubs hold small events related to the major that not only build experience, but can be fun. These events offer great opportunities to get involved in the club, your major, and in some cases even the community. As an example to these events I bring up NAEA again. They hold events every so often called Friday Night Outs (FNOs). These events bring in local children and teach them different art related lessons. Events like this bring good to the community along with a sense of experience - in this case teaching art to youth - to those who are involved in the club.

Overall, being in a club related to your major offers a sense of community that may not be easy to find in other places. “Getting to experience certain classes, and sharing materials [with those in the same major and clubs as you], you really get a sense of belonging with others, being inspired by others,” Carmen explained. She then went on to say how she “ loves having people to turn to if [she] ever needed anything.” Joining a club for your major opens many doors whether it be through experience and getting involved, or having a support system composed of those who are in the same boat as you. You will not regret the decision to join a club in college; in fact, you may just love it.

– Brynn Merkel

Act III: Meeting People and Making Friends

“College is supposed to be the best years of your life,” as the cliché goes. Making friends on campus is crucial to enjoying your time at KU. One of the best ways to meet like-minded people is to be active in clubs and/or activities. Just being at a club meeting isn’t going to be enough to make connections with the people there. Get out there! Make an effort! Enjoy your time here!

When first coming to KU, I felt anxious about how I would meet friends. Going to plant club meetings allowed me to get over my anxieties and geek out over plants with people who shared my same interests. For me, not only did joining clubs and activities help me make friends but also strengthened my friendships with friends I already had! Being able to make new friends allowed me to feel like I could actually belong here.

Speaking to Kutztown University students, Amber and Jaime share with us how to make friends in a club setting. Amber – a member of the Plant Club – believes the best way to join clubs when looking to meet people is to join something that most matches your hobbies and interests; “When you are in a club that you really enjoy, you are surrounded by others who share the same interests. Because of the shared interest it makes it easier to form a connection and make a new friend.” Jaime – a member of P2P (Pen 2 Paper) – believes the best way to join clubs when looking to meet people is to find one that you are genuinely interested in, and look into what they do within the club; “Some tips to making friends in clubs is find people with similar interests and start a conversation about that… Or you can work collaboratively on something within the club.” Based on interviews of multiple Kutztown university students, here are a few steps toward meeting people in clubs and activities:

Look online to find different clubs that you could be interested in and make a list.

Go to activity fairs and talk to Eboard members about joining their club. This will help you get a feel for the atmosphere and cross off a few clubs on your list that you realize you really aren’t that interested in.

Go to a few meetings. Going to meetings of the remaining clubs and activities on your list can help you solidify your feelings about which club(s) you would like to continue in.

Start to interact with others. It is important that you make an effort to talk with people. When interacting with other members, be sure to be friendly and reciprocative to conversation.

Ask for contact information. Communicating with others outside of meetings will help develop friendship.

Most importantly, have fun! Your time at KU is limited, but if you make an effort, you could make lifelong friends. College can certainly be the best years of your life.

-Kylie Fralich

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