By Adria Nassim When I’m in front of an audience sharing about my life with multiple disabilities, I try to be very relaxed, natural, and easygoing and make my presentations fun and interesting. I recognize that not every person listening may have had prior experience with anyone with a disability, and they may be a… Read more »
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Diagnosed at 15
By Adria Nassim I remember sitting in the developmental pediatrician’s office as she reviewed the clinical assessment her partner, a child psychologist, conducted. The results stated that I fit the criteria for what, at the time, was called Asperger’s Syndrome. “I would say she fits the syndrome,” she said quietly. Asperger’s Syndrome, now folded into… Read more »
I Am My Own HR Department
by Adria Nassim For several years now, I have recruited and brought my own direct care providers to the disability services organization I use for supports. The advantage to this is that I have more control over who provides supports to me. The direct care industry is currently strapped and struggling to find enough providers… Read more »
What’s Wrong with Functioning Labels?
By Adria Nassim A lot of times, when I hear someone describe a person’s level of disability, they might say something like: “My son or daughter is high functioning,” or “I work with students who are pretty low functioning.” While people do use these terms, I don’t especially like them for several reasons. ‘High’ and… Read more »
Disability Is Everyone’s Issue
How Perceptions of Disability Can Impact Relationships and What to Do About It By Adria Nassim It’s not uncommon for kids with disabilities to experience teasing, bullying, or insults from other children because of their circumstances. But what do you do when those who treat your child inappropriately are fully-grown adults? Most of the time,… Read more »