Further, as of October 2009, it appears Ian’s position at the YMCA will likely turn into a part-time paid position.

Ian has worked hard over the last several years, as have the staff supporting him. By carefully looking at Ian’s strengths and preferences and being in tune to how Ian expresses himself, success is being achieved…Ian is demonstrating that employment is possible when he is rewarded in ways meaningful to him. For Ian, kind words of encouragement from co-workers and the knowledge that work can bring financial rewards, has enabled him to accomplish goals some thought were out of his reach.

Susan is a writer and mother to three boys, including Nat, 19, who has autism. She uses her writing talents “to make sense of autism and find a way to my oldest son, and help others with this challenge of autism at the same time.” Besides her blog, she has written numerous articles and two books: “Making Peace with Autism” and “The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide”, to be published in the spring of 2010.

In “My FaNATasy” Susan points out that her fantasies and dreams for Nat have just been modified…”dreams shaped by what Nat is like.”

She writes, “My fanatasy is that Nat would be able to get a job similar to one of the 5 (five!) jobs he now has. So far he has learned to do cafeteria-serving; janitorial stuff; making boxes; delivering messages; and filling orders for classrooms, as well as his volunteer work with Meals on Wheels. My Natty is a Nat-of-all-trades, at least of trades that many 19-year-olds find for themselves, disabled or non.

The best part is, Nat loves to work. Nat does not even know that his work is “beneath” him. Therefore, it is not.”

To read the complete blog post, click here. To view Susan’s website and read more, click here.

also, i take the food from dear church cheerful place to the food bank downtown. we take it so homeless poor people will have something for dinner. i feel good to help people.”

I worked one morning a week at a city library branch in the summer. All the books taken to the wrong library to there. My sister Sara and I sorted the books to go to the right library.”