#Ninette ( mindset )

[cxrsedcreations]

Nιɳҽƚƚҽ ƚαɠ ԃυɱρ

[imthepunchlord]

LB!Alya/BC!Nino and Ninette/Kagalya for me as well! Being Scarabella would create an interesting plot point of there being no Ladyblog, as I see Tikki drawing the line at making a superhero website being far more likely than Plagg doing so. And with both of them pushing for their holders not to say anything to anyone in canon!Origins, I can see Nino actually listening to Plagg with not letting Adrien in on any secrets until he gets his own affairs and impulsive curiosity sorted out, while Alya would confide in Marinette almost immediately after becoming friends which would make Tikki double down even harder on not having a website, eliminating or significantly changing quite a few episode synopses, The Pharoah, The Mime, and Volpina being a few examples. With Ninette and Kagalya, it would be really nice for all four of these characters to be in relationships that boost their strengths and alleviate their weaknesses: Nino gets to be with Marinette, who won’t try to always call the shots with what they do or what they spend time on, who he can bounce off of creatively while fostering his own career ambitions, and who will tell him when he’s going too far with plans or assumptions without communication while encouraging him to be more attentive to such things. Marinette gets to be with Nino, who is very easygoing and won’t make her anxious or uncomfortable, who she can share her creative ideas with as someone with an artistic mindset, and who will remind her that, while still being a kind person, she’s not obligated to get involved with everyone else’s problems, especially if she’s busy or genuinely just doesn’t want to get dragged into it (it’s great to have someone you can rely on, but the rest of the class also needs to sort out their own issues sometimes without leaning on Marinette for everything, for God’s sake). Alya gets to be with Kagami, who can match her in bold, upstanding energy and not buckle under her personality, who has no problem telling her to her face when she’s going too far with something without any fluff or tiptoeing, and who can show her that sometimes people have home lives and accommodations that can’t always be dismissed or evaded without consequences or feelings getting hurt. And Kagami gets to be with Alya, who can show her that it’s okay and sometimes necessary to stand up to authority figures to be happier with your life, who can balance out her strict nature with sass and lightheartedness, and who can show her a good time doing normal teenage things while having obligations of her own.

The blog I haven't actually considered too much (espeically since it only shows up when the writers want it to), but I can confirm that Plagg wouldn't care too much so long as Alya doesn't go crazy with it, Tikki though Alya would definitely have to fight on. This kwami didn't even like the idea of Marinette keeping a secret diary, a blog where the public can see it all?

This kwami is going to flip out with all her anxiety and uncertainty. And as said above, Alya already pushed the limit revealing herself to one person.

If Alya is going to have this blog, it's an uphill battle.

I can't say if she would win.

[nxtherold]

          Y’know, back when I first played DA2, I never understood why Isabela was so against finding Ninette. I though maybe it was to play into a “don’t involve yourself in other people’s business” mindset. And it confused me. Her complete unwillingness to help the people trying to find Ninette came across as cold, and it didn’t sit right with me. Was she really that selfish?

          But then I learned of her backstory, and upon the next replay, it all made sense. Isabela’s refusal to help was by no means out of apathy. It was the most empathetic response she could have to the scenario laid before her. Up until the end of the quest, it is very much suggested that Ninette purposefully ran away. Her husband was abusive garbage. She was an object to him.

          All of these factors were things Isabela could understand better than anyone. She had once been Ninette. All she could see when she looked at Ninette’s husband, in all of his venom and ugliness, was Luis, her own abuser. And Isabela knew that, if this was indeed what it had been made out to be, then finding Ninette would be the worst thing possible that they could do for her. If Ninette had chosen to leave, then she deserved to have her freedom protected, not taken away from her.

          Of course it’s revealed at the end that this is not what happened, but throughout the investigation, Isabela doesn’t know that. All she sees is another Naishe, running from another Luis. And that both breaks my heart for her and makes me proud of her character, of how quickly she was going to fight for a woman she didn’t know because she understood what it was like to be her.

[jhstickynotes]

Work as a Musician with Autism

By Ninette Simonian 

Entering a job field is often a milestone for many young adults, especially as a means of “financial independence and psychological health” (Anderson, 2020), as well as “daily engagement, social connection, and self-esteem.” For individuals with autism, it is exceptionally challenging to find and sustain a job, more so compared to other disabilities (Anderson, 2020). Many barriers are not specific to personal characteristics, rather based on general societal structures and inaccessible work systems (Anderson, 2020). Although the general workforce advocates for expanding their diversity, problems like “prejudice, organizational inflexibility, and lack of services” (Anderson, 2020) are still very prominent for individuals with ASD. Therefore, the companies must recognize that incorporating diversity also means incorporating adaptive changes for all employees and the organization as a whole, in order to be successful. Whether an employee has a disability or not, employers should discover the specific strengths of their employees and utilize them as an asset. Research on early employment-related experiences of young adults with ASD lists some of their distinct strengths, such as “passion, willingness to help, attention to detail, loyalty, honesty, and rule following” (Anderson). Additionally, some qualities pertain more commonly for individuals with ASD compared to neurotypical people, like appreciating repetitive tasks (Anderson, 2020), that could be beneficial. All individuals on the autism spectrum are different, so while this may describe some positive traits of an individual, it may not necessarily apply to all. This is why it is important to find the strengths of all prospective employees, especially those with autism, in order to support them. 

A career in arts, culture, and entertainment have various differences compared to other career fields, in business, communications, education, science and technology, health, law, etc. A music making environment may be less strict in terms of its rules of conduct and social demands because there is no “predetermined outcome” (Levy, 2018). Therefore, a musical environment could offer individuals with ASD a more accommodating and neurodiverse situation, whereby “people can find meaningful ways in which to interact and communicate” (Levy, 2018). Specifically, musical environments offer more freedom for an individual in terms of rule following, as well as breeds more creativity and individuality. For instance, individuals with autism may struggle with typical social skills seen in daily language and conversation norms such as turn-taking, reciprocal vocabulary, body language, inflection, connotations, and more. Therefore, there is more possibility for misinterpretation and disadvantages, especially anxiety for individuals with ASD, when not following the standards of our “linguo-centric society” (Levy, 2018).

Jazz Hands Musicians Academy (JHMA), a program of Jazz Hands For Autism, has created programs with the aim of increasing employment success rates for its students, who are musicians with ASD. Although musical work environments have unique traits, JHMA teaches generalizable  job readiness skills that would be useful for the specific individual. Some skills include: writing and sending professional emails, constructing your portfolio/resume, appropriate attire, transportation training, leadership, conflict resolution, networking, setting goals, planning, planning and self-management, effective communication and teamwork. The efforts of JHMA involve combining cohesive improvements of on and offstage performance, social ability, and employability so an individual can find and be successful in advancing their musical career. More importantly, JHMA works to place its graduates in fulfilling jobs by utilizing various venue partners, such as Sound Stages, Coffee Shops, Lounges, Retirement Homes, Music Libraries, Studios, Orchestras.

A huge focus of Jazz Hands For Autism is to explore the different ways individuals on the autism spectrum increase their self-efficacy, which will consequently influence their social and professional skills surrounding careers in music. In other words, Jazz Hands For Autism believes that combining these job focused courses with overall music performance and education can help increase self-efficacy which can help improve one’s acquisition of skills in different domains beyond music. Studies have shown that self-efficacy is a large component in understanding and aiding one’s career development, since it is behavior specific and affects one’s choices, performance, and persistence (“Self-Efficacy and Career Development”). JHMA helps promote increased self-esteem and confidence in the musicians that attend the program, in order to help them find positions or work with volunteers and peers where these skills can be utilized, thereby becoming active members of their communities. In other words, when low self-efficacy may result in behaviors such as avoidance, low performance, discouragement, and more, increasing one’s self-efficacy helps individuals face the job market with a better mindset. 

Sources:

Anderson, C., Butt, C., & Sarsony, C. (2020). Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum and Early Employment-Related Experiences: Aspirations and Obstacles. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(1), 88–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04513-4

 Levy, G. (2018). Book Club: Music is a Powerful Tool for People With Autism. U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2018-06-08/music-is-a-powerful-tool-for-people-with-autism.

Self-Efficacy and Career Development - IResearchNet. Career Research. (2016, December 1). http://career.iresearchnet.com/career-development/self-efficacy/. 

https://www.jazzhandsforautism.org/program-info-academy