Jessica Pegis

Recent Activity

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  Jessica signed the petition | about 1 year ago

  South Africa: Take Action to Stop 'Corrective Rape'
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  Jessica commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  (Not So) Typical Tween

  People with autism are capable of chaging at any age--just like anyone else--but that does not mean that they fundamentally alter themselves. Nor should they. Yes, I agree with James that at some point it falls under the person's control how much they want to blend in. But what some parents interpret as recovery is really just the child developing. (BTW, as the mother of a soon-to-be-12-year-old, I do sympathize. Yes, slamming doors and anger are just part of the package.)
  
  In retrospect, though, I think my autistic brother, now 63, was given less permission to do those teen things. It was easier to keep him in the child role and expect from him the responses of a child. Marks in school are not the issue at all. Talent is not the issue--my brother has a music degree. The space to let the child who will eventually be an adult BE an adult and be independent is critical. Can parents do that without foisting their agenda on this kid? My brother did not get this chance till his 50s because no one thought of it or believed in it.

  
  

   

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  Jessica commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Really Big Numbers: The "Costs" of Autism

  I meant that a job might be something one tolerated but because it often involves a great deal of social interaction and reading of situations and people, it might not give one much pleasure, the way jobs do for at least some people. That is certainly the case with my brother. Kids, teens and young adults with autism deserve to have their prospects maximized with schooling and career preparedness that suit them. I don't think these things need cost a fortune either.

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  Jessica commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Really Big Numbers: The "Costs" of Autism

  Love is the Message, thanks.
  
  Here's another thought. My brother also has a music degree that he has never been able to spin into a job. His job is something he does for money--music, on the other hand, is an all-consuming passion. For my brother, it works to separate these two things. His job doesn't have to be this heady "career". I'm not saying everyone should do this. More like it's the not-my-way-of-doing-things phenom that you were referring to. It's almost like with the job, there is this "tolerance" thing that people with autism have. You hear them talk sometimes of how damned difficult it is to "act normal" all day.
  
  What's important for survival is to earn $$. The job may not fulfill and it doesn't have to. I don't know where I'm going with this but typical Career preparedness may be too narrow for people with autism.

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  Jessica commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Really Big Numbers: The "Costs" of Autism

  Such numbers are probably frightening to many people. In the wrong hands, they will no doubt be used to plug the "erradicate autism" message.
  
  I too noticed that a large percentage of this money is lost productivity through lack of employment. My brother (63) is employed in a sheltered-workshop-type situation making not much money, but luckily he lives in subsidized housing. But if my brother can go to work and get through a day involving interaction with other people--something he truly finds challenging--then I am confident that many more can do it as well. The recent Easter Seals Survey on living with autism indicated that most parents worry a great deal about whether their child on the autism spectrum will ever be employed. As a parent, you desperately want to know if your child will be able to take care of him or herself in the future. Years ago, my brother's ability to do just that was grossly underestimated by my parents. . .not their fault--there were no messages out there really telling them otherwise--but today, we know that 1. adults with varying abilities can work, and 2. workplaces can accommodate themselves to differently abled people. I agree with you, Kristina, that this is a top priority. I also agree with the last writer that this whole "cost to society" message is such a downer. These numbers always seem to come gift-wrapped in the most dismal language. We can be realistic without being alarmist.

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  Jessica commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  And Vermont Becomes Four....

  Well, folks, we've been watching this from our mezzanine seat in Canada with glee. Way to go. Hope for all things good in 2009.

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  Jessica commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  And Vermont Becomes Four....

  Edward's a troll. Don't feed him. All he does is run around to other posts with LGBT content and spew. Gives him a chance to use his favourite word--cornhole.

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  Jessica signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  End the Perpetuation of Pity