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Adria's Notebook Indiana University Bloomington

Speaking from a Personal Point of View

Posted on by ssoto

I am most commonly asked to speak to parents and professionals or college students interested in working in fields where they will likely serve children and adolescents with disabilities. Audiences typically ask to hear about my personal experiences living with disability. I try to make my speaking engagements very personal because I want to leave audiences with an inside look of what living with disability can really be like. I think many times, audiences have the opportunity to hear from parents or providers working with people with disabilities, but rarely the individuals themselves. I think if more people had the opportunity to hear firsthand from those with disabilities, it might help make them more open minded about their capabilities.

Some questions I am frequently asked:

  • How old were you when you were diagnosed with autism?

Mid-Teens to early adulthood

  • What does your service dog Lucy help with?

Lucy is trained to assist with navigation due to severe difficulty with visual spatial orientation as well as balance assistance.

  • Do you have certain environments you struggle in from a sensory perspective?

Yes, I really don’t like loud, crowded environments, but have learned to tolerate them.

  • What accommodations did you receive in school, if any?

I did receive accommodations in school and had an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) K-12 due to a severe math learning disability. I also received special education services along with being in the general education classroom. Some of the accommodations I received included:

  • Pulled out of the general education classroom for math in a smaller, special education environment K-12
  • Use of calculator for math tests
  • Scribe for essay tests
  • Extended time on testing
  • Tests in separate distraction free room
  • High school: Note taker in class

Ask Adria a question by emailing her at anassim@iu.edu!

 

Are Businesses That Aim to Employ Mainly People with Disabilities Good or Bad?

Posted on by ssoto

Every year, CNN broadcasts a special called “CNN Heroes” honoring ordinary people doing work to help others. The public can vote for their favorite CNN hero at CNNheroes.com. Whichever hero earns the most votes will be named CNN Hero of the Year during a live broadcast on CNN December 9, 2018, at 8:00 p.m.

Last year’s CNN Hero of the Year, Amy Wright of Wilmington, North Carolina, was honored for starting Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Shop named after her two youngest children, both diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the coffee shop’s website. Bitty and Beau’s has since expanded to two additional locations in Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, and mainly employs young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For the most, a job at Bitty and Beau’s is often their first paid working experience.

While part of me was happy Wright received CNN’s Hero of the Year for 2017 because her work involves supporting young people with disabilities and giving them an opportunity at a paid position, part of me felt nonplussed by the win because the coffee shops are run, in large part, by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These shops don’t incorporate a large number of typically developing peers aside from interactions with the public who visit the shops.

While I am definitely in favor of employing young people with all types of disabilities, I would rather see them employed among a large number of typically developing peers. According to a January 2017 press release on The Today Show’s website, all forty employees at one Bitty and Beau’s location have an intellectual or developmental disability with the exception of two managers. Although, I have to admit, if I lived anywhere close to North Carolina or Georgia, I would probably still buy a cup of coffee from Bitty and Beau’s, solely because it does employ young people with disabilities and gives them a chance at paid work, which I do support very much.

Resources:

https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/

http://specialdogsandmore.com/ 
Hot Dog Restaurant in Fair Oaks Mall, Columbus, Indiana, also staffed by people with intellectual disabilities

 

Summer Theme Parks

Posted on by ssoto

Many families like to visit theme parks during the summer. Did you know many theme parks offer special programs that cater to the specific needs of guests with disabilities? I have listed some Midwestern theme parks below along with information on accessibility. Find information on specialized boarding pass programs, which allow guests with physical disabilities and sensory issues to board rides at specific times and use designated entrances lessening crowd interaction, sign language interpretation, and other services.

Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari: https://www.holidayworld.com/help-information/accessibility/
Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay: https://kentuckykingdom.com/policies_and_services/policies
King’s Island: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/help/accessibility
Cedar Point: https://www.cedarpoint.com/help/accessibility
Six Flags St. Louis: https://sixflags.com/stlouis/plan-your-visit/guests-with-disabilities
Six Flags Great America: https://sixflags.com/greatamerica/plan-your-visit/guests-with-disabilities

Getting a Move On

Posted on by ssoto

I recently moved out of the house I had lived in for 5 years. It had been a good house, but required a lot of upkeep with the yard and landscaping. My family and I decided it would be best to move me to a condominium where all the maintenance and yardwork would be taken care of. We are still waiting for the condo to be built, so I am living in a separate condominium complex now until it is ready.

Getting ready for a move can sometimes be intimidating for some individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Some individuals have difficulty with change in schedule or routine so moving to a new place can create anxiety.

I had a group of friends help me pack my things in boxes for the move and then unpack and get them all set up once I moved into my temporary place. Having people I knew to come help was fun and it also lessened the anxiety. It took a bit to get used to my new place but with time it got easier. I was already familiar with the neighborhood, which helped and I knew people around town. For me, I had to get used to a new living environment. Which did take time, but with help, I was successful.

Here are some tips in helping others on the autism spectrum have a successful move, too!

  • Show pictures of the house or let him tour it beforehand
  • Tour the neighborhood and local area
  • See if there are any special interest clubs or activities he could become involved in for social skills building

The resources below on transition to community living can be borrowed from the Library at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community:

Dear Diana: Diana’s guide to independent living for adolescents and young adults with different learning styles and special needs by Diana Bilezikian

Promoting successful transition to adulthood for students with disabilities by Robert Morgan

The road ahead: Transition to adult life for persons with disabilities edited by Keith Storey and Dawn Hunter

 

Let’s Go to Camp!

Posted on by ssoto

One of my favorite memories as a child and young adult was going to camp every summer. From the time I was 11 until age 23, I attended Camp Barnabas in southern Missouri for a week every summer. Camp Barnabas offers 9 week long sessions for children ages 7 to 17 and their siblings and adults ages 18 to 40 with disabilities and chronic illness. Camp Barnabas activities include swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, rappelling, canoeing, and more.

Going to camp allowed me to meet many kids from around the country experiencing a similar situation and to have fun. My summer camp experiences provided a safe environment free of the possibility of judgement and intrusive questions. I had the opportunity to try a lot of activities I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to try like a high ropes course and horseback riding.

Being around other kids who were in my same situation was one of the best things for me emotionally. I also had the opportunity to use age appropriate social skills at camp. If you are interested in enrolling your child with disabilities in a summer camp program please visit:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/summer-camps-and-programs

Thank you!

Have a great summer!

-Adria

Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
2810 E. Discovery Parkway
Bloomington, IN 47408
812-855-6508
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu
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