We are the only student written newspaper in the state of Wisconsin that the paper is written only by the students from the high school and some from the middle school too.

Here is my article; it took me 3-4 weeks of writing and editing and making it good. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Editor’s Note: While the “P-News Point of View” column usually features an opinion article written by a Pulaski News student, this issue, the column will feature a first-hand article about what it’s like to have autism and attend Pulaski High School.

My name is Jerrod Michael Zeitlin and I have a type of autism called Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). No, you didn’t happen to just accidently wander into an autism anonymous meeting; this is my attempt to give you a glimpse into my world and the world of other students with autism. Everyday, my alarm goes off and around 6:15. I roll out of bed and begin preparing for school. I have to get dressed eat breakfast, take my medication, brush my teeth and put on my shoes.
While I’m on the bus, some of the kids try to bully me, but I refuse to fight them (I’m not that kind of person) so I just ignore them, the best I can, and wait until we get to school.
During first hour, I attend gym class. The biggest problem I have in gym is that I have trouble keeping up with my classmates. After recent foot surgeries, I am still limited by the pain and had to take a week off of gym. Even though I was able to rejoin my classmates a week later, I’ll still likely have to have more foot surgeries in the future.
Besides struggling because my surgeries, gym class is also hard because I don’t have any friends in this class and often I end up being paired with someone I don’t know to do activities like weight-lifting. For now, I just look at it as another obstacle I have to overcome. (Sometimes I feel that there’s an obstacle around every corner while I’m at school, but I just deal with it and keep going.)
After gym, I have business class. I like it, but it’s a bit fast-paced for me. I find the material interesting and enjoy the projects (one of our projects is to make our own business and I really like that) but sometimes I wish it was slower paced.
My next class is Pulaski News, and it’s my favorite class (and, no, I’m not just saying that because my article is in the paper) but I enjoy writing for a newspaper that is distributed throughout the public and enjoy the hands-on aspect of the class.
Passing time in-between classes is tough because there is a lot of noise and people hanging out and I wish I could join in their fun.
Fourth hour I have math class, however, I take math through an online program called Odyssey, which is nice because it reads the problems out loud. This is a big plus since sometimes reading more complicated material can be difficult for me.
I’m supposed to do my math work during fourth hour, but lately I’ve had to use that time to make up missed gym classes. I will have to be sure to catch up my math when my gym class is caught up. I worry about this a lot even though my teachers reassure me it will be okay.
During fifth hour, I have study hall, which is a nice chance to slow down and make sure I’m caught up on all of my work. At least that is how it is supposed to go. Sometimes it takes me a long time to catch up on my work so I don’t always finish my current work, so I often worry about completing everything on time.
Sixth hour I work in the school guidance office as part of my school’s work experience program. The program is designed to help students to prepare and develop skills that will help them once they’ve graduated from Pulaski High School. As part of my job description, I run passes to students and teachers, make copies and just generally help out in anyway I can.
The last hour of the day I have art class. I like the class and making the projects, but sometimes it’s a little difficult to keep up with my classmates who always seem to be a few steps ahead of me. I am trying to work through it the best I can. I know trying my best is all I can do, but it is hard to be okay with that.
Finally, at 2:48, the bell rings and I make my way to the buses to head home. I like to get on the bus first and get one of the back seats. I think I should get a back seat since I’m a senior. Sometimes the other students pick on me on the ride from school, but I just tough it out until I get home. A lot of time when I get home I need to rest and shoot hoops to help reduce stress from the school day.
While I know the education I am receiving as a student at PHS is important and necessary, I wish I had more of an opportunity to make more friends among my classmates. Often, other students are confused by my condition and do not know how to react to me.
This is especially difficult since PDD already makes it hard to meet new people and understand other people’s intentions. I think I have gotten better about it as I have gotten older, but it sometimes still bothers me.
While students with an ASD may require extra time and assistance in the classroom and a few other everyday situations, it’s important to remember that we still want to be treated normally, like everyone else; ask me about autism, I’m happy to talk about it. I want to help others understand ASD disorders.
My story is just one of the 730,000 individuals in America living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With no known cause, and so many variants of the disorder, it’s important to remember to treat those with ASD like “normal” people. As one of my favorite, famous individuals living with an ASD Temple Grandin says, “I am different, not less.”

I have spent many years trying to anticipate the challenges that can stop them cold in their tracks. They are remarkably resilient and very determined. It does not help that no one believed that they had any issues while they were in elementary school or middle school. Each girl was able to act appropriately while in class. However, when they were released, they were unruly and abusive. We now know that they had been expending energy just to make it through the school day. It did not help that they were often correcting the factual errors that their teachers made during the day.

Their knowledge of history, mathematics, and English literature and grammar made it difficult for them to sit in class and hear their teachers make incorrect or inaccurate statements. AND, science class was even worse!

They are each currently enrolled in junior college. Each could probably teach several of the classes they have been forced to attend. However, their ability to use executive function skills has been a detriment in their advancement.

If you wanted to find a position that would use their talents, each child would be an asset for the companies that accepted them. They might need a mentor to assist them with the hidden curriculum of their environment.

I would love to talk more about the support group that we run in this area, and to find out what employment is available to those on the autism spectrum.

I could go on forever about this topic, but I wanted to be succinct right now.

thumbnail image from bundles of blossoms

 I am a high functioning Autistic individual who is seeking a job in the Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Texas area. What would you suggest to do in my job search?

I am already signed up with DARS agency and have a job coach, but I am still having trouble finding a job.

What kind of advice would you have to give me on getting a job?

Laura 

Does anyone have any information or advice for Laura? Please leave them here in the comments or email them to me.  I’ll make sure she gets them.

Thank you!

Hello:  My son is 19 and is high functioning with PDD.  He is capable of doing work but needs help because of initial anxiety and sometimes needs instructions repeated several times. He can gradually learn but needs that extra help.

Is it possible for me to find a job coach through your website who specializes with people like this who can help me locally?  I live in Marin County in the Bay area in California.

I told Debbie about Barbara Bissonnette of Forward Motion Coaching, then discovered we had a previous request for job coach information in the San Francisco Bay Area (http://www.jobs4autism.com/job-coach-needed-in-san-francisco-bay-area-an-aspergers-request/) that had received two comments – one from Barbara Bissonnette and another from a man who says he works with people with autism and Asperger’s and left his phone number.

Does anyone out there have any other advice or information for Debbie or others in the Bay Area? Please share it here!

Thumbnail image from http://www.zazzle.com

Groups are now forming in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area.  It will run for 10 consecutive Mondays from October 3 to December 5, and take place at the NESCA offices at 55 Chapel Street in Newton.

Group meetings provide detailed, step-by-step instruction on everything from career research to resume writing, networking and interviewing. Weekly assignments build skills and confidence, and offer hands on experience with resume writing, networking, interviewing and more. Individual check-ins provide personalized assistance and support throughout the program.

Topics include: decoding the language of job postings; networking; overcoming telephone phobia; thinking like an employer; marketing yourself without lying; disclosure and accommodations; and staying motivated.

A comprehensive section on interviewing explains how to navigate a job interview, answer common questions, discuss salary, convey enthusiasm, and more.

Three books, assessments, worksheets, articles, a written resume critique and checklists are included. Group size is limited to 8 to ensure full participation by all. The material is geared to individuals who are seeking competitive (not sheltered or supported) employment.

Please pass this information on to individuals who are struggling to find employment.  A description of the program, downloadable brochure and registration form are on the Forward Motion Coaching Web site: www.forwardmotion.info/collcareer.html

Thumbnail image from http://www.ecenglish.com

This is an email we received recently from a mom named Pam.

I’m not aware of any resources specific to Iowa but I’m hoping one of our readers can help.  Please add your suggestions in the comments section or email them to me and I’ll make sure they get to Pam.

Thank you!

(thumbnail image from siouxcitygifts.com)