#world autism awareness month 2023

[monriatitans]

April 2023 Cause of the Month: Autism Awareness

During the month of April, World Autism Awareness Month quotes were shared, along with a resource to learn more; Different Brains, "a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strives to encourage understanding & acceptance of neurodiversity." Join the movement!

Below are the links to the Instagram posts.

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Quote 1

Quote 2

Quote 3

Friday, April 7, 2023

Quote 4

Quote 5

Quote 6

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Quote 7

Quote 8

Quote 9

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Quote 10

Quote 11

Quote 12

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Quote 13

Quote 14

Quote 15

—

Below are the links to the Tumblr posts.

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Quote 1

Quote 2

Quote 3

Friday, April 7, 2023

Quote 4

Quote 5

Quote 6

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Quote 7

Quote 8

Quote 9

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Quote 10

Quote 11

Quote 12

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Quote 13

Quote 14

Quote 15

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MonriaTitans started The Weekend Game Show (WGS) with the mission to educate on and discuss different aspects of game development, and to show why video games can take years to make, with the goal of preventing another Cyberpunk 2077 scenario. Watch MonriaTitans on Twitch and YouTube! Please consider supporting by buying MonriaTitans & WGS a Ko-fi!

In addition, what began as a fun activity has become a mission; Artist Shout-Outs are provided with the goal of supporting human artists to combat AI compilations and their parasitic developers. To be clear, she does not have an issue with the AI themselves, only with how they are being constructed. Want to learn more about the Artist Shout-Outs? Click here! The Artists Shout-Out posts can be seen on Instagram, Tumblr, Discord, and more!

[naimahtaylor]

Here’s a Fanart of Happy Autism Awareness Month and That Means I’m Autistic with the Puzzles and Every Heart of With All World Autism and in Every April Awareness Autism and Tell Me Who’s Autistic and with the Earth and i hope you gonna enjoy the post and Please Add a Nice Comment Like and Reblog

[todayontumblr]

Tuesday April 11.

Autism Acceptance Month.

Today is Tuesday, April 11, which means we are eleven days into the 30 blessed days of #autism acceptance month, 2023 (previously known as #autism awareness month). April is the month and April 2nd is the day—World Autism Day, to be precise—and these first weeks of spring are a time for uplifting autistic voices of all identities, advocating for acceptance, progress, and sharing in the community's joy. It began back in 1972, as National Autistic Children’s Week, and was founded by The Autism Society to raise awareness and campaign for change in communities, schools, medical facilities, and businesses. And this same vital, wonderful work continues today, and not just for the month of April, of course—but every day of every year. The lived reality is that every day of every month is Autism Acceptance Month, and it is on all of us to do better.

Progress has been made, but there is still so much to be done in the struggle for equality and justice for all those living under the broad church of autism. And if these words sound hollow, then simply read the moving story of Debra Vines, of The Answer Inc., and of her autistic son Jason. She articulates everyday struggles that families can face, and the many joys they experience, too. Her message is simple, but powerful: don't give up on milestones.  

Want to know more, get involved, or donate? Here is just some of an impressive selection of charities sourced by the fine people at the Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide, where you can find the complete list of 20 charities and organizations:

The Asperger/Autism Network

The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Autism Research Institute

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autism National Committee

Happy Tuesday, folks, and here's to better.

[misfitdollies]

For autism awareness day this year a few months back, I had wrote a piece on G3 Twyla, autism representation as a whole, representation specifically for autistic women and girls, and my personal experience with autistic girlhood as a formally undiagnosed autistic girl. I never posted it here, so here is that piece now! Please remember that this is just my personal experience with autism focused media and it may not be relatable to everyone and that’s ok!

“She’s just like me”

🕸️

When Monster High came out, I was not yet diagnosed as autistic. I knew I was different and I was struggling to fit into a world that just wasn’t made for me, but I didn’t have a word to apply to those differences. It was like I was on the set of a film and everyone knew the script except me. I would try so hard to pretend I knew, but at the end of the day I didn’t and I would fall flat on my face with my attempts to improvise. It was exhausting. Monster High was my outlet. These little dolls in all their pink, gothy glory were something special, something I could escape with when the world was so incredibly confusing and neurotypical. The whole message behind the line was to be yourself after all and it stuck out so boldly to younger me, even if I wasn’t as aware of it as I am now. My dolls went everywhere with me, the store, my grandparents. Anywhere I went, they went. Looking back, my need to have them around me at all times was very much my autism making itself loud and clear. They made dealing with trying to be neurotypical when I wasn’t easier. 14 years later, my dolls still bring me that comfort they brought me back then. Coming home and being able to pick them up and interact with them after socializing and things I struggle with is a form of therapy to me.

Eventually I would be diagnosed with autism and lots of things made sense that didn’t before. My inability to be exactly like my neurotypical peers no matter how hard I tried suddenly made sense, as if a missing piece to a puzzle had suddenly been found and now it was complete. My autism diagnosis didn’t make me neurotypical. It didn’t suddenly flip a switch and make it easier to socialize, but it did give more insight into why I felt the way I did, why I acted the way I did.

The thing about having a diagnosis though, at least for me, is I wanted to seek out media that portrays people like me. Because having characters that look like you or act like you is nice and makes relating to the media you engage with easier, so of course I wanted to find characters I could relate to with my diagnosis, characters who acted like me because of it. I realized very quickly that that wouldn’t be the case. The amount of autistic characters that explicitly stated they were autistic was slim and when they were, they were often male or portrayed very stereotypically. Relating to people in the real world was hard enough, so to realize that a lot of the behaviors I had were written off as comic relief or boiled down to a cheap stereotype was salt in that wound. Characters that were relatable and well written often times just got the label of being eccentric and although I could relate to them because of the autistic coding, there still wasn’t that added layer of actually being autistic and I was left wondering if it was intentional by the writers or not. Not to mention, a lot of the times those very relatable characters happened to be men. Finding women on TV who I found relatable was an added layer to an already mile high struggle. Sure not all of it was bad, but enough of it was. Monster High was no different in that regard. They had characters I could relate to and a message that made me feel less abnormal, but at the end of the day, there wasn’t a character I could point at and go “hey, they’re autistic too!”

Flash forward to 2023 and Monster High has finally come back into the spotlight with an all new reboot and line of dolls. I’m still as obsessed with it as ever, but I’m an adult and have been diagnosed as autistic for many years now. Unlike the first reboot it had gone through, it’s well received and there’s a brand new show to accompany the characters who are very different from the original characters that they were based on. I was unsure of it when G3 was first announced, after all change is very hard for me, but by the first year of the reboot being in full swing, I’m invested and so happy to see this franchise that I love back on the shelves. Already I could find characters I related to, but again not one of them had the label of autistic, until they finally did. In January of 2023, it would be announced that Twyla would be Monster Highs first canonically autistic character. I cried so hard when I found out. A franchise which had helped younger me feel less out of place when I wasn’t diagnosed was introducing a character who was just like me. Not to mention she was also voiced by an autistic woman! It was so exciting, but it was nerve wracking too. Would she be a stereotype? Would they call her autistic and never touch on it again so she could appear neurotypical? I hoped and had faith she wouldn’t be, but after years of bad representation being some of the only representation you get, it’s hard to not worry that they would drop the ball with her. That same month though her music video would come out and it would very much change my view. She was shown flapping her hands, being sensitive to noise, and the lyrics highlighted things that were so clearly meant to represent her as autistic. She would make her first appearance in the show soon after and she would use the words “I am autistic” and explain what it was, but never once was it framed as a bad thing or a joke. I was just as emotional then as I was when they first announced her, because for once in my life I was seeing a character who was so much like me and it wasn’t being painted as a bad thing or used as the butt of a joke. I was seeing a character who I could relate to because they were autistic, not because they were some quirky character who might be autistic, but stating they are would just be too weird or annoying. I was filled with joy and my inner child was screaming with it alongside me. Now a year later they’ve expanded on Twyla more and her being autistic was definitely not a one off thing, she has even had a doll with noise canceling earplugs and her autism is a major part of her character. Even with that though, she isn’t just reduced to her autism. She has depth, she has interests.

I see people often times dismiss the representation in G3 as pandering or pointless, but Monster High has always been about inclusion and although it was by no means perfect or the best representation every time, at the end of the day the message of being yourself and accepting everyone for who they are has always been there. It’s easy to dismiss a character like Twyla as pointless and unnecessary, especially if you’ve always felt represented yourself. To always see character who is like you, who you can relate to is a privilege and isn’t something that is a reality for everyone. Somewhere out there though is a kid who is just like me, who struggles with eye contact and loud noises, who flaps their hands, who feels confused and unsure of how to navigate a world that just hasn’t adapted to accommodate people like them. Somewhere out there is a kid who hasn’t found a character that’s like them, who might find Twyla and finally have a character that they can relate to and that is so incredibly important. The ability to relate to characters that are like you and the ability to see characters that aren’t like you is so important. Representation is so important.

Twyla isn’t perfect autism representation and she doesn’t represent every autistic person, but she is good representation. Autism is a spectrum and it would be impossible to encompass the autistic experience into one character, but she is a start and hopefully there’s a point in time where there is a character like Twyla for all autistic people to relate to.

So to every autistic woman, girl, boy, man, and person, happy autism awareness and acceptance month! The world may seem so hard to navigate at times, it may seem unfair and it may not be built for people like us, but one day it will be. Keep advocating, keep stimming, and keep making everyone know that we are here and deserve to be seen and heard.

And to my dolls, who have always been so much more than just dolls to me.

[fashinistagirlunit4]

diversity on the catwalk

fashion creatives are embracing inclusivity and body positivity, exploring themes such as size, gender, age, race, and disability.

Precious Lee, Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser

The fashion industry is constantly improving and evolving, we are starting to see more culture and diversity through ought each season.

In July 2020, Gucci launched its new genderless shopping category on its website called ‘Gucci MX’ using only gender neutral models to showcase the pieces.

Brands such as Simone Rocha, Rachel Comey and Vivienna Westwood are starting to include many more older models to showcase their work this is making the fashion world more diverse and as the seasons go on their seems to be more inclusivity each time.

AlexandraKutas

Hailing from Ukraine, Alexandra Kutas claimed the title of the world’s first runway model in a wheelchair as well as Ukraine’s first fashion model with a disability. Alexandra modelled on the runway during Ukraine Fashion Week in 2015 and a couple of months later unveiled a photography exhibition called “Break Your Chains” alongside photographer Andrei Sarymsakov in an effort to break down society’s stereotypes and negative perceptions of people with disabilities.

Kelly Knox for Grazia 2018

Greater diversity within the fashion community opened up a space to celebrate all beauty and gave a platform for people with disabilities to be more visible. As a result we are seeing more people with disabilities making appearances on runways, on the cover of magazines, in fashion ads and beauty campaigns.

Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture spring/summer 1998

among the roster of major designers Jean Paul Gaultier is notable for his concerted adoption and celebration of queer aesthetics from placing men in skirts in 1985 to repeatedly drawing on the homoerotic motif of the Genet-esque muscly. Over the years he has had many collaborations and with friend and muse Tanel Bedrossiantz to various striking ends. In his spring summer 1998 Age of Enlightenment influenced couture show, Bedrossiantz apps rated in a tightly corseted ruffled gown over a white shirt and tie an image so iconic it was included in the catalogue for vogues 2019 camp.

Somali-American model, Halima Aden 2017

Halim Aden was the first Muslim woman to wear a hijab on the international high fashion catwalk at the Max Mara show held in Milan on 23rd February 2017.

Madeline Stuart is a 20-year-old model with Down syndrome from Brisbane, Australia. Madeline has walked in Art Hearts Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week China, Style Fashion Week, Melange Fashion Week, Runway Dubai, Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival, and Birmingham Fashion Week. She has appeared in Vogue, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Women’s Weekly, Elle, New York Times, People, Marie Claire, Huffington Post, and many more. She was also named Model of the Year in 2016.

Nina Marker famous model with autism

Nina Marker was scouted at a McDonald’s in 2014 and was quickly snatched up by Elite Model Management. She has walked the runway for Chanel, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Valentino, Givenchy, Fendi, and Versace, among many others. Nina is an advocate for the Autistic community, as she herself has Asperger’s. She has talked openly about being treated differently when she was young and the depression she experienced following that; she is passionate about creating awareness for Autism and wants to show people that Autistic people can do anything they want to do.

Harvard Referencing:

Shutterstock (2020). Unforgettable Photographic Moments: 2020’s ‘Big Four’ Fashion Weeks. [online] The Shutterstock Blog. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/big-four-fashion-weeks [Accessed 28 May 2023].

Mcloughlin, L. (2017). Ashley Graham shows off curvy figure in clinging latex mini dress. [online] Mail Online. Available at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4871728/Ashley-Graham-shows-curvy-figure-latex-mini-dress.html [Accessed 28 May 2023].

Brain, E. (2020). Gucci Mx Line Explores Gender Fluidity Within Fashion. [online] HYPEBEAST. Available at: https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/gucci-mx-non-binary-gender-fluid-collection-fall-winter-2020-jackie-1961-bag-lookbook.

Tsui, D. (2019). Finally, Some Age Diversity on the Runway. [online] The Cut. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2019/02/older-models-of-all-ages-were-on-the-runway-at-fashion-week.html.

Managment, M. (2018). | MiLK Model Management. [online] www.milkmanagement.co.uk. Available at: https://www.milkmanagement.co.uk/women/women/1152-kelly-knox/ [Accessed 28 May 2023].

The Photo Studio. (2018). 20 Disabled Models And How They Got Their Starts. [online] Available at: https://thephotostudio.com.au/all/modelling/20-disabled-models-and-how-they-got-their-starts/. [Accessed 7th June 2023]

Stuart , M. (2015). Madeline Stuart NYFW 1st catwalk appearance with my Jellyfish men. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://youtu.be/n9PMB9y9xAc [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].

‌

[astramthetaprime]

Update, March 4th, 2023

Okay so here’s that update as promised.  

I finished the latest TopGun story this morning, I’ve been going through it making corrections and sundry changes all today.  This one took some doing, it didn’t just fall off the turnip truck like the others.  I’m thinking it may be longer than “The Flight of Dragonfly-1″ but I haven’t done a word count yet.  It was an emotional roller coaster to write so I was sitting here this morning just sobbing.  But it ends happy.  

I was stuck for a title but finally found it.  I suck at titles.  It’s going to be called “The Devil You Know”.  

I’m aware I’m behind on posting links to the individual stories.  But if you look up “AuntyProton” on AO3 it should come up.  Also the most recent is the official timeline post, which I will need to update as well for the new story.  

In other news, I may have a job.  I have had an interview and a one day trial, so I am in serious consideration for a job.  It will work out well if I get it, it’s doing simple data entry at a physical therapy office.  It’s via a temp agency but they have a policy that if you stay three months at a job it’s a permanent job.  So we’ll see.  Otherwise, I’m continuing to turn in applications and such, I won’t stop that til I have an actual job.  

I had to go out and buy some decent shirts and some decent shoes, first time I’ve actually gone out to buy clothes anywhere except WalMart or Amazon for probably decades.  The experience was not comfortable.  I am not female.  The whole fashion thing is completely foreign to me.  Plus the store had everything hung up so high I couldn’t reach most of it.  I’d have felt better just going to WalMart and getting guys’ clothing as I normally do, but ... well.  When people see me, they see a female body.  They expect female clothing.  They expect me to be something I’m not inside, and regardless of how uncomfortable I may be I will be judged on my appearance.  If it’s anomalous, I’ll be judged badly.  I don’t know what this is called in transgender terms.  Passing, maybe?  I don’t know.  Masking, in autism terms.  I’m ashamed to say I don’t know nearly as much about being transgender as I should considering I am one.  This is the first time I’ve had to really deal with such things.  Then again, I’ve never worked in a standard office environment.  At the Post Office we had uniforms so, ya know... it was different.  I did wear guys’ shirts at the PO, and either cargo shorts or cargo pants, so I was more or less okay genderwise.  The world would be a better place for me if everybody just wore t-shirts everywhere all the time.  

So I’ll be posting the new story likely tomorrow morning, I have to go through the story to put in the italics by hand so it takes a while.  If you’re on alert for my stuff you’ll see it likely before lunch.  L8R G8Rs.  

[bipolarinboston]

Mental Health Month posts from Facebook (because sharing multi year posts suck)

2023

So is it Mental Health Awareness Month? Or could it be Mental Health Acceptance Month? I guess it's a matter of education. But I was inspired by the fact that April is Autism Acceptance Month. I don't know if the sentiment is the same.

* I am out at work as much as I feel comfortable. I lead an internal DEI group and we introduce ourselves each meeting using roles outside of work. I'm a queer person who uses They/She pronouns and I'm a peer with lived mental health experience. My boss and a couple coworkers know I'm a presenter for In Our Own Voice because I invited them to present for June's DEI meeting. But I am NOT comfortable sharing my diagnosis to work (minus my friend) and I can't present myself sadly.

* About this time last year I volunteered to be a 'tech buddy' DBSA is STILL USING ZOOM. This is good for me because the commute home from Belmont after 9pm would be unbearable. Tech Buddies are the zoom host, and help take attendance and manage the speakers queue with raised hands. Going to DBSA let me know I'm not alone in a way I hadn't experienced before.

* My individual gave up her office early on in COVID and is permanently virtual. My group therapist retired in July and I had to say good bye on zoom. His replacement is private pay, but I'm using FSA funds to justify it. I started seeing my Psychiatrist in person only for him to retire 6 months after group did! I'm currently without a prescriber for the 3 time since 2016. Charlestown MGH is overloaded with patients and understaffed. The one difference this time is that I'm stable.

* I'm still running, but I started stressing about it in October, and I think my COVID bout (which was mild) is still impacting my performance. My photo a day streak is STRONG. I even called into a podcast who was doing an episode on "what works for me" because it really does help me get out the house. That and obsessing over step counts.

I enjoy making mental health content during May, but I feel like I'd just be repeating myself this month. Enough has changed from last year to write out this post. If you're still reading I bet you're very aware and I hope you're even accepting at this point.

2022

Mental Health Awareness Month is here again and I'll be posting for the third year.

In a perfect world I could be out on my public twitter. In a perfect world I could disclose online without any fear that come next job hunt, someone in HR will find that and take a pass on me. In a perfect world I could disclose at work even though I don't need any accommodations. It's not a uniform system but I've cobbled together fb, instagram, and my anonymous bipolar twitter account as safe spaces to share. I'm trying to feel less segmented but it's difficult when real world repercussions are a possibility.

Still zooming with NAMI's In Our Own Voice. They're starting to get in person presentations but it's just easier for me logistically to stay virtual. I've zoomed with plenty of places I'd never be able to get to in person.

This time last year I joined DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance) Boston, a peer led org that hosts support groups. I'm busy Wednesday nights zooming with the "Young" Adults group. A bunch of millennials and gen z folks using their lived experience as shorthand to bond. It's meant a lot to me and I'm walking with team DBSA for this year's NAMI Walk.

Covid still drags on. Last couple of Mays I wrote that I was glad I had Bipolar. And it's still true. My toolbox of coping skills is flush with things I knew, like taking baths with epsom salt, and things I've learned during the pandemic, like how I developed a running habit. My take a photo a day streak inspires me to get outside. And perhaps most importantly I can still see my prescriber, my individual and my group therapists remotely.

So happy Mental Health Awareness month. You're probably very aware at this point.

2021

I’m taking part in Mental Health Awareness Month again. I am still not out on Twitter*. I still cannot publicly disclose my bipolar, or even just 'mental illness' on an account with my full name for fear of personal and professional repercussions. In these kinds of spaces, it is much easier to navigate out as queer than out as bipolar. *This January I started an alternate anonymous twitter account so I can better engage with the neurodivergent, disabled and mental illness communities. (You'd be surprised at how much those overlap)

Before all of this began, I signed up NAMI's In Our Own Voice. You’ve probably heard about it whenever I mentioned the NAMI Walks I’m doing in a few weeks. We started zooming in August and I want to say it was one of the best decisions I made in terms of advocacy and stigma busting. I have presented to different groups, college nursing classes, one of the inpatient units at McLean Hospital, and several groups of Family to Family, the program mom took 15 years ago when I was initially diagnosed.

After over a year of Covid, I'm still GLAD I’m Bipolar. There's a collective mental health flare happening right now. But I have my diagnosis, meds, my therapy, and coping skills. I have a toolbox of things to try when I am stressed out or sliding backwards. And perhaps most importantly I have established relationships with my individual, group and my prescriber. I am so lucky that I've been able to see them remotely.

So happy Mental Health Awareness month. Now you're probably even more aware.

2020

Mental Health Month Post: I realized something: I am not out on Twitter. I can not publicly disclose my bipolar, or even just 'mental illness' for fear of personal and professional repercussions. I am more out in my queerness than in my mental health struggles. How ironic is that? I wish things were different.

When I signed up NAMI's In Our Own Voice, I was hoping to use it as a tool for greater advocacy but also to increase my "outness" as a bipolar person. Even though the training was Presidents Day Weekend, I never thought that a pandemic would put all presentations on hold.

Sure I participate in chronic illness (disability) twitter and will 'flirt' with outing myself. If you read behind the lines, check who I follow and talk to, you may be able to out me. But I talk about my crohns and humira, not lithium, and I leave therapy to my journal on patientslikeme.

But at a time like this I'm actually GLAD I am Bipolar. There's going to be a mental health flare when Covid starts to wind down. But I already have my diagnosis, meds, my therapy, and coping skills. I already have a toolbox of things to try when I am stressed out or sliding backwards. And perhaps most importantly I already have established relationships with my individual, group and my prescriber.

So happy Mental Health Awareness month. Now you're probably more aware.

[readingforsanity]

The Coworker | Freida McFadden | Published 2023 | *SPOILERS*

Two women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can't be taken back.

Dawn Schiff is strange. At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn't show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrel - beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running - is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything...

It turns out Dawn isn't just an awkward outsider - she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who's the real victim?

But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

Natalie Farrell is the Vixed golden girl. A saleswoman for a nutritional supplement company, you'd think she had it all: good looks, popularity and the eyes of a good-looking man whom she has started dating recently. But one fateful morning, Natalie's entire world will change.

When Natalie's co-worker and cubicle mate, Dawn, fails to arrive for work, Natalie begins to worry. Dawn is punctual in every sense of the word, promptly arriving to work at 8:45am before following a specific schedule for bathroom and lunch breaks. Dawn is fairly new to Vixed, only having worked there for the last 9 months, and through correspondence with her only friend Mia, who lives across the country, details how she would like to befriend Natalie though things don't go quite as planned.

Dawn is a bit on the strange side, showing more than a few characteristics of autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder and hyperfixaction, specifically with turtles. Dawn is a little more than obsessed with them, owning many figurines and stuffed animals of the creature. This turns off most people around her, oftentimes causing her to fail have any sort of meaningful relationships with people.

Natalie, once noticing Dawn's absence, begins to bring concerns for her wellbeing to her boss's attention. Seth, the manager of Vixed, does not take the concerns seriously, saying that he has a meeting with her that afternoon to discuss matters of great importance, according to Dawn, and that he's sure she'll show. However, when Natalie goes to visit a vitamin shop in a different Boston neighborhood, she learns from Seth that Dawn never did show up for the meeting.

Natalie, aware that Dawn lives closeby as she had given her a ride home from work once when her car was in the shop, goes to her home in search of her. With the back door unlocked, Natalie takes it upon herself to enter into Dawn's home and what she finds is shocking. There is what appears to be signs of a struggle in Dawn's living room, with a large pool of blood being found. Natalie contacts the police straight away who arrive forthwith and begin their investigation.

Detective Santoro interviews Natalie, who gives her answers as truthfully as she can. Caleb arrives, and the two of them leave the scene once it is cleared for her to leave. Natalie begins receiving menacing phone calls from a blocked number. Nobody ever says anything on the line and it begins to scare Natalie that someone is harrassing her.

The next morning, despite her better judgement, Natalie arrives to work and is told that she may take the day off, but that she must remain until the detective from the day before arrives to interview the staff, her included. Natalie begs Caleb to tell the police that he was with her all night instead of having left her home at 9:30 as he did the night Dawn supposedly disappeared. Against his better judgement, Caleb agrees though it is difficult for him to lie to the police for her.

When she goes home that evening, there is nothing new on the disappearance of Dawn, though the search isn't without efforts. Detective Santoro arrives again the following morning, informing Natalie that more than one co-worker was adamant that Natalie was in the midst of bullying Dawn, also confirmed through the series of emails to Dawn's friend Mia that were uncovered when police went through her computer. Natalie is grossed out by this, saying she wold never bully another person, but the emails paint a different story.

In one instance, for another co-workers bridal shower hosted at the office for co-workers, Natalie tells everyone to bring a dish. Dawn spent the entire night before making cupcakes for the party, leaving them in the fridge. When the party was commencing, she found the cupcakes destroyed at the bottom of the garbage can in the break room, and Natalie not allowing her to enter the party without the prerequisite items. In a different instance, Dawn arrived over an hour late to a meeting, and missed another meeting entirely, because Natalie was telling her the wrong start times for the meetings in the hopes it would paint her in a bad light.

Eventually, Dawn discovers missing money and details her findings to Mia via email. She believes that the person responsible was Natalie, and plans to discuss this with both Natalie and Seth, though would like to discuss it with Natalie first. Natalie is adamant that it isn't her, and offers to get together with her in order to find the true culprit, offering to come over to her home late into the evening hours after she has dinner with Caleb, to which Dawn agrees.

It is at this point, after Natalie is publicly arrested for the murder of Dawn Schiff during a 5K run for her friend Amelia's honor and battle with cerebral palsy, that we discover the truth. Dawn isn't dead. The body that was found, which lead to Natalie's arrest, isn't Dawn after all but a woman of similar stature to Dawn. Instead, she has been hiding out at a motel outside of Providence, Rhode Island in hiding, watching everything unfurl through the news as she had left her cell phone behind when she concocted this plan.

Even worse, Dawn's accomplice is none other than Caleb. The reason behind it: Mia is Natalie's supposed friend, Amelia. After a series of bullying instances from Natalie and her friend Tara when they were 17 years old, Mia took her own life after they played a particularly cruel joke on her. Better yet is that Caleb is Mia's half-brother, and is seeking the same revenge against Natalie, though not as seriously as Dawn.

The two of them move on to a different hotel after Natalie had discovered where the blocked calls were coming from. Natalie has her bail set, and Seth posts it. He had previously put her on an unpaid suspension while he looked into the accusations of embezzlement, though these were unfounded during his search of the financial records and this was his way of apologizing to her. The two of them go to the motel where the calls came from though Caleb and Dawn are long gone by this point.

The motel manager, however, identifies Caleb and thinks that it is Dawn that was with him, though hes unsure since the woman with Caleb at the motel had longer hair, though he does admit it could be a wig. With this information, Natalie and Seth begin their trek back home in order to figure out what to do, but they are confronted by Caleb.

He's worried about Dawn, who left a terrifying voicemail for him stating that she meant to finish it, as the body that they had found had been officially discovered as not being Dawn's. Caleb is worried that Dawn is going to kill herself to further the plot to frame Natalie for her murder, and Caleb ultimately identifies himself as Dawn's boyfriend and Amelia's older brother.

Natalie eventually finds Dawn, who has plans to tie a cinderblock to her ankle before throwing herself off the pier at high tide to her death, something Natalie herself imagined when she was in jail awaiting her bail hearing. Natalie tells Dawn that she is sorry for what happened to Mia, and that she never intended for anything bad to happen to her; that she was just a child and didn't know any better. And how Caleb never wanted her, that he only wanted Dawn and how he was devastated by the thought that something terrible was going to happen to her. Dawn, seeing this for the truth that it is, lowers the cinderblock she planned to use on Natalie in order to end her life, agrees that it is time to move on.

When Caleb and Seth appear at the beach, it is clear how much Caleb loves Dawn and that he was never even remotely interested in Natalie. However, Seth, whom Natalie had been sleeping with on the side for at least a year, leading to the end of Seth's marriage to his wife Melinda, has feelings for her that he never felt for his wife. When he says that the body that had been found was identified as a woman named Tara Wilkes, Natalie coldly realizes that Dawn got some of her revenge, having killed Tara for her part in Mia's suicide.

With this knowledge in mind, Seth and Natalie begin a relationship and Caleb and Dawn continue theirs. At the charity 5K run the following year, Dawn takes a bigger part in its organization, and money is raised. Caleb asks Dawn to marry him at the end of the race to which she says yes. Seth is now officially divorced from Melinda allowing him and Natalie to continue with their relationship, giving them more chance to be open about it in public instead of hiding it.

And Dawn's accusations of embezzlement were true, Natalie using the charity run as a front to skim some money from the donations in order to continue her high-strung lifestyle. She had put the money back into the account when it was discovered so Seth wouldn't find it, but now that they're in a relationship, he will be less likely to look into again any further. Dawn and Natalie seem to have garnered some type of friendship, if only because they both have secrets on one another that could end their lives as they know it.

[preacherpollard]

777 Movies In A Year?

Neal Pollard On July 5, 2023, Zach Swope’s set a Guinness World Record by watching 777 movies. The 32-year-old man did it for a cause, to raise awareness about autism and suicide awareness. He did it at a cost, even though he had an unlimited membership that allowed him to watch all these movies for $22 per month. After all, consider the time expended. He saw several movies multiple times to…

[joseficemen]

News April 2023

Hello everyone! Here are the news for April 2023!

Hello everyone! April was both autism and easter month so I’ve been quite busy. I’ve had meetings and a lecture, which I will tell you more about on this post. On 2nd of April it was World Autism Awareness Day and I participated in an event that the association, Autism Stockholm County, that I am on the board for hosted. The event took place at Kulturhuset, Studion in Stockholm, Sweden. Below…

[monriatitans]

ANNOUNCEMENT - 03/31/2023: April’s Cause of the Month

View on Twitter

With March, and Women's History Month, coming to an end, a new cause to raise awareness of is in order. If you missed the quotes for March, you can see them here!

April is World Autism Awareness Month, so, for April 2023 (and every April, to be frank), I will be sharing quotes pertaining to autism awareness. In addition, I will be bringing to everyone's attention a resource to help autistic and other neurodivergent individuals.

"Autists are the ultimate square pegs, and the problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is hard work. It's that you're destroying the peg." - Paul Collins

These are all the updates I had for this evening.

Thank you for reading! May every decision you make in the future be in the spirit of fairness and may the rest of your day NOT go to $#!7.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MonriaTitans started The Weekend Game Show (WGS) with the mission to educate on and discuss different aspects of game development, and to show why video games can take years to make, with the goal of preventing another Cyberpunk 2077 scenario. Watch MonriaTitans on Twitch and YouTube! Please consider supporting by buying MonriaTitans & WGS a Ko-fi!

In addition, what began as a fun activity has become a mission; Artist Shout-Outs are provided with the goal of supporting human artists to combat AI compilations and their parasitic developers. To be clear, she does not have an issue with the AI themselves, only with how they are being constructed. Want to learn more about the Artist Shout-Outs? Click here! The Artists Shout-Out posts can be seen on Instagram, Tumblr, Discord, and more!

[ffcarlos-grad603-part2]

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg, in full Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg, (born January 3, 2003, Stockholm, Sweden), Swedish environmental activist who worked to address the problem of climate change, founding (2018) a movement known as Fridays for Future (also called School Strike for Climate).

Thunberg’s mother was an opera singer, and her father was an actor. Greta was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which is now considered an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is characterized by abnormalities in social interactions (as in classic autism) but with normal intelligence and language development. People with Asperger syndrome tend to focus deeply on one idea or interest, and Thunberg’s cause became climate change. She first learned about the issue when she was approximately eight years old, and within a few years she changed her own habits, becoming a vegan and refusing to travel by airplane. (Both livestock and airplanes emit a large amount of the gases that contribute to global warming.)

Seeking to make a greater impact, Thunberg attempted to spur lawmakers into addressing climate change. For almost three weeks prior to the Swedish election in September 2018, she missed school to sit outside the country’s parliament with a sign that stated “Skolstrejk för Klimatet” (School Strike for Climate). Although alone for the first day of the strike, she was joined each subsequent day by more and more people, and her story garnered international attention. After the election Thunberg returned to school but continued to skip classes on Fridays to strike, and these days were called Fridays for Future. Her action inspired hundreds of thousands of students around the world to participate in their own Fridays for Future. Strikes were held in such countries as Belgium, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands.

Thunberg received numerous invitations to speak about climate change. She gave speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and at the European Parliament as well as in front of the legislatures of Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In September 2019 her appearance at a UN climate event in New York City—which she traveled to on an emissions-free yacht—drew particular attention for her impassioned comments: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words…We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money, and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” That month millions of protesters marched in climate strikes in more than 163 countries. While Thunberg was credited with shifting some people’s views and behaviours regarding climate change—her influence was known as “the Greta effect”—she was not without detractors. Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro notably called her a “brat” in 2019.

In addition to her environmental work, Thunberg was credited with raising awareness about Asperger and inspiring those who had the disorder. While acknowledging that Asperger had hampered her in some ways, she also noted its advantages, at one point tweeting: “I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And—given the right circumstances—being different is a superpower.” Her books include No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference (2019), a collection of her speeches, and The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions (2023). The documentary I Am Greta appeared in 2020.

[kicksaddictny]

Foot Locker Brings Back "Be Seen" For Autism Awareness Month

Foot Locker has announced the second year of its “Be Seen” campaign to drive awareness during World Autism Awareness Month throughout April. The “Be Seen” campaign shines a spotlight on the community of people with disabilities, with a focus on autism. “Be Seen” celebrates modeling opportunities, and inclusive design in the fashion industry.

The campaign is led by the Foot Locker, Inc. Employee Resource Group (ERG) Laced Differently. The ERG’s mission is to create visibility, raise awareness and strive to empower persons with disabilities, inclusive of those with physical (both visible and invisible), cognitive, and learning disabilities.

“The CDC recently released statistics (in 2020) showing that 1 in 36 children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Even if ASD doesn’t affect you personally or someone in your immediate family, chances are you know someone on the spectrum. We want to help promote inclusion within the autism community — not just for this month, but day in and day out,” John Hochadel Foot Locker, Inc. Global VP of Footwear Development and president of Laced Differently.

This year, Foot Locker, Inc. unveiled several partners involved in the “Be Seen” campaign:

A Foot Locker, Inc. in collaboration with PUMA and actor, comedian and writer Ron Funches designed a shoe with adaptive laces for Autism Acceptance Month. Additional product details will be available later this month. The shoe will release April 12th on FootLocker.com and ChampsSports.com. Foot Locker, Inc. and PUMA will donate $25,000 to NEXT for AUTISM in support of their ongoing efforts. In addition, NEXT for AUTISM will present to Foot Locker on the importance of neurodivergent inclusion and allyship.

Anuel AA will release the highly anticipated second shoe from the rapper’s partnership with Reebok, which debuted last year with the “The Sky Above The Street’’ capsule collection. Dropping later this month, the newest iteration will feature the iconic Reebok Classic and Question Mid. The shoe will release April 25th on FootLocker.com and ChampsSports.com. Foot Locker, Inc. and Reebok will donate $25,000 to Autism Speaks to support the organization’s work.

In partnership with the “Be Seen” campaign, filmmaker Ben Rosloff will release a documentary celebrating triumphs of people with autism.

Additional marketing products will be created by autism friendly suppliers, such as t-shirts from Spectrum Designs and hosiery from John’s Crazy Socks. All content from the PUMA x Ron Funches and Reebok x Anuel partnerships were conceptualized and produced by GAMUT Management, a premier consulting and talent management company working exclusively with and for people with disabilities.

“Be Seen” for Autism Awareness Month 2023 is the latest example of Foot Locker, Inc.’s ongoing commitment to driving awareness and acceptance during World Autism Awareness Month. For more information on the efforts and for the latest details on the product drops, please visit FootLocker.com and ChampsSports.com.

[neurodivergentrebel]

Autistic Wishes for World Autism Day 2023

Awareness can be helpful because it can point us at problems, helping to gain sympathy for causes that may be underserved. However, Autism and Autistic people ARE NOT a problem.

Today (April 2nd, 2023) is the 16th Annual World Autism Day. It is my 6th World Autism Day, knowing that I am Autistic. This day started as “World Autism Awareness Day” in 2007 by the United Nations and was still primarily known as such by many when I first learned of my Autistic brain over six and a half years ago. Historically, April has been a month for non-autistics to sell ABA and other…

[vivianseda]

April is:

AUTISM AWARENESS/ ACCEPTANCE MONTH

In April we celebrate Autism Awareness, Autism Acceptance, and World Autism Day on April 2, 2023. If you have autism or love someone with autism, join us to help increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. A person with autism may also suffer from medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues. The autism experience is different for everyone. It is called a “spectrum” because it affects people differently and to varying degrees. According to the CDC, autism has risen to 1 in every 44 children as of 2021.

While there is currently no known single cause of autism, early diagnosis and intervention helps a person receive services and support that can improve their quality of life and provide the opportunity to live fully.