The Au-Some Conference

ASD Canada Conference Logo 2016 Au-Some Conference

Join Autism Canada and Every1 Games at the Au-Some Conference in Hamilton, ON, this Au-gust 20th, 2016.

Why?

Because I'm speaking. But also because it will be at least as fun as the last Every1Games Unconference I attended last year.

Registration is open right now and limited to 100 attendees. On the registration page, you can also make a donation towards the conference, which will help an Autistic person attend, or help pay for my trip out there.

Let me know if you'll be there! If you can't make it, all talks will be recorded and put on the website after, so you don't have to worry about missing out on everything. 

Advisory and Anthologies - I've Been Busy

Late last year, I joined the advisory committee at Autism Canada. It's really great of them to include #ActuallyAutistic people, but also it's been great making connections across the country. We're in the process of planning a conference - there will be three: one in the Maritimes, one central and one in BC. I'm on the planning committee for the central one, which will take place in Hamilton, ON in August.
I'll get you more details closer to the date.

I have to decide soon if I'm going to speak at it. I'm feeling a little nervous and haven't written anything yet.

The other exciting thing that is happening is the anthology I contributed to, All the Weight of Our Dreams, should be coming out at the end of the month. You can check the site for updates. Also, please buy a copy! :)

I've also been asked to write for another anthology, so I better get cracking on that one because the deadline is also in August.

It feels good to be doing things I hope will make the future easier for autistic people, as well as building community. There are few things better than finding your tribe. 

The Blame Game

We attended an autism conference last weekend. It was a mix of the regular money grabbers, useless studies (we want to know how stressed special needs parents are - hey guess what, we're stressed! Now what? Do I get a cookie?), and hokey stuff like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (which I was informed *only* works if you do exactly 40 sessions and spend at least $5000. Of course! My hubby writes a longer analysis on his blog.)

There were also a lot of people looking to blame someone or something, but when you talk to them, they all seem a little ASD themselves. Sorry but there's probably a large genetic component!

The blame game doesn't get you anywhere, you just have to deal with what you have. Look, even I think there's probably some chemical out there that is slowly poisoning us or building up over time and messing with our DNA or neurological system or whatever. But I don't think it's vaccines, I don't think it's a conspiracy and I don't think a fad diet is going to cure him.

I think I just have to do the best we can with what we got, which is a very sweet, friendly, intelligent and beautiful little boy. Why would I want to blame anyone for that? I created a masterpiece.