Category: Asperger Syndrome

The Power of Volunteering

6/23/2014

Goose, my horse, being decorated at Horse Camp.

My horse Goose letting the area kids decorate him while they learn all about horses at Horse Camp!
Most every community in the world likely has a myriad of volunteer opportunities in any number of places. Equine therapy centers, animal rescue shelters, elderly home facilities, community gardens, museums, hospitals, and outdoor recreation spots are just a few of the sorts of places I have worked for during my time. I still help at several. The feel of giving back is very rewarding in and of itself, but it is even more than that. Many in our community need and want a chance to get out among the public to enjoy hobbies, special interests and friendship, but sometimes it can be very difficult to find a friend, or get a job in the field of our special interest or our hobby. Volunteering in those areas can be the key that opens lots of doors with lots of welcome mats and loads of satisfying fun.

Volunteering is easy to find at public and privately funded facilities, but it also abounds in neighborhoods where others may need help with yard work, walking animals, watching homes and collecting mail for those going on vacation, shopping for groceries or picking up prescriptions. Sometimes I used to just pick up trash in my neighborhood to keep the animals from grabbing hold of something that might hurt them. People don’t always have to be a part of your free labor. After all, sometimes it’s good to just do good things for the sake of doing good things!

If you are interested in sharing your time and energies (and perhaps your expertise!), do an online search for groups that take volunteers and talk to your local government agency or go straight to the group you think might want your help, to discuss your options. Don’t volunteer on something like Craig’s List or put up signs on bulletin boards, etc. Sadly, predators find their way to these places too often and it is better to stay on the side of caution and work through and with someone in a position of trust and good intentions. And never, ever forget to trust your gut…if you feel a volunteer opportunity is turning into a sort of slave labor arrangement or a dangerous situation, get out and alert the authorities or someone you trust. Do your research- make sure the group is a legit group with a good ranking from an agency such as The Better Business Bureau (in the US) or Yelp.

Staying safe, having fun and meeting new friends while enjoying something you like to do. That's the spirit of volunteering!

Aspie.com #Volunteer #Helpothers #Giveback

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No More Witch Hunting for Autistics

6/16/2014

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Don't let violence choose you!

Autism is the victim of today's witch-hunt. Makes me wonder if humanity has evolved at all. Will people always react with snap judgments and condemnation? Today it's autism, who will be burned at the stake next? People with different colored eyes?

Rant aside; there are some main truths to be found in this climate of unspeakable pain and devastation.
1) The world needs to come to terms with mental illness, providing early education, life-long supports for those affected, and a community of compassion. 2) Despite many 'experts' claiming autism is a mental illness, it is a neurobiological developmental disorder.
3) A course in research and statistics is in order for all. Point of fact, in populations as large as the autism and mental illness communities, there is no denying some individuals affected by one or the other or both, will commit a shocking crime, however (and this is a very important however) criminal justice research reports the odds are far higher that someone without these challenges will be the perpetrators of shocking crimes while people with an autistic spectrum disorder are more often the victims.

Let’s wrap our head around the fact the world can be very cruel to people who will take their inner confusion and rage in a myriad of ways from self-mutilation to an eating disorder to never leaving the couch to, horribly, killing. If we expect these horror stories to end, we need to do a much better job of being supportive and kind and helpful toward our fellow humans.

Aspie.com #dontbeavictim #violence #abuse

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Horse Therapy

5/12/2014

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Horse Therapy with me!

In my day there weren’t equine therapy or hippotherapy centers for me to explore and join. I had ponies and horses, a halter, some lead ropes, a bridle and a saddle and wide open pastures to roam. My mom had the dairy farmer up the street teach me basic horsemanship then she turned me loose in the morning and said “See ya when you get home.” Such a thing probably doesn’t happen much these days. I didn’t have formal lessons or instructors riding with me, but it’s important to note my go-to horse was an extremely gentle and well trained ex-show horse who knew his stuff. Blaze was his name and he was my best friend forever. I could jump on him like a gymnast over a vault. I’d stand on him while he munched his grass. I’d lay my back to his and watch the clouds in the sun.

Most days I’d go without a saddle and ride with a halter and lead rope for reins. The hours I spent teaching my body to mold to my horse, were priceless and precious pieces of my move toward what I call my bilingual world – half Aspie, half neurotypical.

Studies tell us equine therapy helps a person with core strength and balance, hand/eye coordination, body-awareness, focus and concentration, interpersonal communication skills, self-esteem, patience and self-control and sensory integration. Bingo. The magic mixture of autism supports. I hit the jackpot when I sat on my first pony as a little bitty girl. All these neat things began happening within my body to help me enter the seemingly crazy world a bit more seamlessly, because I took a liking to horse riding and care.

There are several different therapeutic based riding programs involving equines though they each share the belief that the horse’s gate and the warmth from his body along with the vestibular input the horse provides, work together to help the rider’s body align and work in ways that positively facilitate a variety of neurophysiologic systems. For example, research has shown equine based therapeutic riding can help the rider with bilateral coordination, sensory information processing, speech and language skills, core strength, fine motor control, standing, walking and self-control, confidence, leadership skills, executive functioning skills, depression, anxiety and fear, and perhaps a whole host of other things we have yet to attribute to equine therapy.

On a horse, I am free. My body forgets there is still a tightness that sits in my muscles and that I remain relatively uncoordinated. My mind forgets the complications I have when trying to understand language and do simple things like coordinating my schedule or running a household. On a horse I can forget my baggage and turn my trust over to the animal beneath me and truly, together, we work out what each of us needs to find that joint comfort zone of relaxed beast and relaxed human. The horse will drop his shoulders and engage his hind end to balance. I’ll adjust my seat bones and posture to help him. He’ll buck out a little or grind his teeth against his bit if I’m not doing my job to center him. I’ll nudge him forward or adjust my pressure on the reins to help him do his. We are a team working for physical connection. Most importantly, we are friends.

Aspie.com #horsetherapy #equinetherapy #ponypals

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The Power of Volunteering

No More Witch Hunting for Autistics

Horse Therapy

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