Sunday, February 7, 2010
My Autistic Skills Help Me with Strong Memories Regarding Sports
During the game, it was noted that the Saints only won two playoff games the previous 42 years. They didn't announce which years they were but I used my Autistic talent to instantly remember that the Saints won a Wild Card playoff game over the Rams in 2000 and a Divisional playoff game against the Eagles back in 2006, both games at home. Yeah, it pays to be Autistic.
Ego by Keeping Track of Stats in my Head
I admit, I do get a bit ego-statistical because I like to keep track of my stats for each game in my head. I am notorious for doing this in whiffleball games. I was the tallest player on our team, so I played the Center position for the first time in my life.
My stats:
4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, one block, two assists, and four fouls. (Three of them were intentional)
The fact that I calculated these stats in my head is another talent of Autism. You know, with all of this talk about Autism, I minus well put this in my Autism blog. Hey Mr. Autism Awareness, consider this a gift from the Autistic Sports Nerd! P.S: I will have another post for the Autism Blog sometime this week about the last meeting we had and meeting Connor as well as Connor, Nick B, Christopher/Jennifer, and myself combining forces to pull off a heck of a meeting.
My stats:
4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, one block, two assists, and four fouls. (Three of them were intentional)
The fact that I calculated these stats in my head is another talent of Autism. You know, with all of this talk about Autism, I minus well put this in my Autism blog. Hey Mr. Autism Awareness, consider this a gift from the Autistic Sports Nerd! P.S: I will have another post for the Autism Blog sometime this week about the last meeting we had and meeting Connor as well as Connor, Nick B, Christopher/Jennifer, and myself combining forces to pull off a heck of a meeting.
Pieces for the Autistic Sports Nerd
Last Tuesday Night, the Rangers played the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 pm eastern time. Earlier that night, I hosted an Autism Awareness Club lecture on unusual talents, interests, and knowledge. Back in the mid 1990's when I was a young kid, my secondary team was the Los Angeles Kings. The reason why I liked the Kings was because I loved their old logo and I loved the colors of their home and way jerseys which were black and silver.
In fact, during the 1994-1995 season, the Kings hosted the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on ESPN. i remember that game so well, because that game was the first non-Rangers' game I have ever watched which I guess made me like the Kings even more. My dad even got me a Wayne Gretzky poster for my room of him in a white Kings' jersey over the city of Los Angeles. It was a great poster. That is the only time I went out of my way to showcase a poster of another team. I loved Gretzky when I was younger but not because he was great, but because he played for the Kings.
Here's a story: Back in the 1995-1996 season, the Rangers were scheduled to play the Kings at 10:30 pm because of the time zone in Los Angeles. I wanted to watch that game so bad, because it was my favorite team and secondary team going at it. The game was being played on a school night. I was in the second grade at the time. I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch the game. My parents refused.
I kept begging and begging. Finally, my parents agreed to let me stay up and watch the Ranger game that night. However, there was a sacrifice that had to be made. The Rangers' next game was scheduled to be at Anaheim against the Mighty Ducks. My dad said that game was going to be played on a Saturday night. My mom said that if I watched the Rangers play the Kings that night, I wouldn't be able to watch the Rangers play the Mighty Ducks (another 10:30 pm game) even though it wouldn't be played on a school night. I agreed and accepted the deal. I was happy.
Watching that Rangers-Kings game that night, I saw a commercial that the Rangers will be playing the Mighty Duck on Friday Night. My dad must have made a mistake. He thought the game was on Saturday night but the game was really being played on Friday. I didn't think it was necessary to tell my parents that so I kept it to myself. In the end, I watched the Rangers play the Kings AND watched the Rangers play the Mighty Ducks.
I explained all of that to the audience during the Autism Awareness Meeting because I figured that my fascination in the colors and logo of the Kings were traits of Autism. Later that night, I watched the Rangers play at the Kings, on a school night at 10:30 pm, approximately fourteen years after that whole begging scenario.
In fact, during the 1994-1995 season, the Kings hosted the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on ESPN. i remember that game so well, because that game was the first non-Rangers' game I have ever watched which I guess made me like the Kings even more. My dad even got me a Wayne Gretzky poster for my room of him in a white Kings' jersey over the city of Los Angeles. It was a great poster. That is the only time I went out of my way to showcase a poster of another team. I loved Gretzky when I was younger but not because he was great, but because he played for the Kings.
Here's a story: Back in the 1995-1996 season, the Rangers were scheduled to play the Kings at 10:30 pm because of the time zone in Los Angeles. I wanted to watch that game so bad, because it was my favorite team and secondary team going at it. The game was being played on a school night. I was in the second grade at the time. I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch the game. My parents refused.
I kept begging and begging. Finally, my parents agreed to let me stay up and watch the Ranger game that night. However, there was a sacrifice that had to be made. The Rangers' next game was scheduled to be at Anaheim against the Mighty Ducks. My dad said that game was going to be played on a Saturday night. My mom said that if I watched the Rangers play the Kings that night, I wouldn't be able to watch the Rangers play the Mighty Ducks (another 10:30 pm game) even though it wouldn't be played on a school night. I agreed and accepted the deal. I was happy.
Watching that Rangers-Kings game that night, I saw a commercial that the Rangers will be playing the Mighty Duck on Friday Night. My dad must have made a mistake. He thought the game was on Saturday night but the game was really being played on Friday. I didn't think it was necessary to tell my parents that so I kept it to myself. In the end, I watched the Rangers play the Kings AND watched the Rangers play the Mighty Ducks.
I explained all of that to the audience during the Autism Awareness Meeting because I figured that my fascination in the colors and logo of the Kings were traits of Autism. Later that night, I watched the Rangers play at the Kings, on a school night at 10:30 pm, approximately fourteen years after that whole begging scenario.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Great News!!
ATTENTION: The Autism Awareness Group on Facebook is NOT closing down after all. A new person took over and will make sure no one posts negative things on there. YES!! We didn't let those jerks win!
Friday, January 15, 2010
It's Not a Good Idea to Make Fun of Autistic People
This is really bothering me, people still don't understand about Autistic people. Last night, I received a message from the Administrator of the Autism Awareness Facebook group explaining that she has to shut down the Autism Awareness Site because there have been people posting negative comments about Autistic people on its wall and she cannot control it.
I couldn't believe it. An Autism site has to shut down because Autism Haters (who probably don't understand autistic people and only focus on the negative stereotypes we display) are being mean? That is like a victory to these anti-autistic people. We can't let these jerks win!
It's like in the Movie, "the Hangover" where they called the character from "Rain Man" with High Functioning Autism a retard. This is exactly the reason why I started the Autism Awareness Club at Utica College at this point last year. To Spread Autism Awareness and lecture to people what Autism really means and how it affects their family and friends.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: For those who are in college or younger, it's very possible and realistic for you to have children who are autistic. It's random. It doesn't matter whether or not you smoked or drank alcohol when you were pregnant, it makes no difference. For those who make fun of Autistic people because of their symptoms or ignorance or whatever, it would be karma if it turns out you had a child who will be diagnosed with Autism. It would teach you a lesson.
One of my biggest regrets occurred in an incident last February 28th. I was walking downstairs in Strebel and noticed these ladies who were standing there. As I walked past them one asked the other "Hey, would you like to join the Autism Awareness Club?" The other responded "Hell No! Hell 'F'n' No!" I stormed to the nearest exit as they were laughing at me. I should have stood up for Autism but instead I ran away. They always stare and laugh at me when I walk around but I usually ignore them. In that instance though, when they were more direct, I should have defended Autism but I didn't set a good example and allowed those ignorant people to get the last laugh.
People, you have to understand: When you make fun of Autistic People, it's like making fun of another race or gender. It's basically the same thing. As of right now, no one knows the cause for Autism. There is no cure. Some people on web-sites claim that they can cure your Autistic Child. In reality, they can't. Years back a priest did a ceremony to try and get "evil demons" out of an autistic child. Because Autistic people at a young age are usually prone to tantrums and bad behavior, the Priest and the child's mother thought there were "demons" in him. The Autistic Child ended up being accidentally suffocated under the blankets. *Shakes My Head*
Scientists thought that mothers were to blame for a child becoming Autistic back in the 40, 50's, 60's. Scientists believed that mothers didn't give their child "enough love and attention" so they became autistic. These mothers were classified as "Refrigerator Moms." That phrase is the worst thing to call a mother of an autistic child. Obviously that was proven wrong. It's a strong possibility the child is born with Autism. We don't know for sure.
Strike 1 Scientists
Scientists also had a theory that a child becomes autistic because the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. I knew this claim was B.S from the start. My mother never drank while she was pregnant with Nicky or myself. In fact, Spring Semester of my Freshman Year, a scientist came to Utica College and explained her theory as to why alcohol. What was the explanation? If you give a mother mouse alcohol, the baby mice bang their heads into walls and act differently.
..........THAT DOESN"T MEAN THE MICE ARE AUTISTIC!!
It could mean that the mice are drunk!! It could also mean that the mice have the alcohol disability that humans have when their mothers drink while pregnant. The head on wall banging is not a symptom of Autism.
Strike 2 Scientists
Luckily scientists have officially ruled out alcohol as a cause for Autism but at the same time, it's time for a Public Service Announcement from the Autistic Sports Nerd: Don't do drugs, even though it doesn't cause Autism.
The fact that scientists haven't found a cause for Autism yet: Strike 3 Scientists, you're out!
Man, it's like religion and science, who are both rivals to each other, both screw up when it comes to Autism.
The Nostalgia Critic, from thatguywiththeglasses.com, is a video Internet entertainer as he reviews old movies we watched growing up. I'm a fan of his because Nostalgia is a huge interest of mine. He made a joke about autistic kids during his "Ernest Saves Christmas" review. I wrote a personal E-mail to Doug Walker who portrays the Nostalgia Critic character complaining about the joke and showed him my Autism Blog to get a better understanding of what autism really is.
He wrote back to me the next morning and apologized to me. He said that he was thinking whether or not to put the joke in the video and decided to do so but thanks to my e-mail, he regretted it. He said the joke was stupid and will take it out of the video. He then said he usually stands by his humor and that this was the first time in his series that he took a joke out of a video. He replaced it with a recycled joke used in a previous video.
In fact, Doug has a girlfriend who works with Autistic Children and know a few autistic people himself, he told me. I wrote back and forgave him, and thanked him. I geek-ed out that he wrote back to me, especially since it involved Autism Awareness.
Listen, I don't want a cure for Autism. I'm happy with the way I am and I am proud of my brother. Plus, the Autistic Sports Nerd, Mr. Autism Awareness, and Team Autism wouldn't exist if there was a cure.
I also respect my friend Nick Bonacci, Christopher my men-tee, all of the Autistic Children I have worked and currently work with, and every other autistic individual I have ever met.
Autism Awareness Forever!!
I couldn't believe it. An Autism site has to shut down because Autism Haters (who probably don't understand autistic people and only focus on the negative stereotypes we display) are being mean? That is like a victory to these anti-autistic people. We can't let these jerks win!
It's like in the Movie, "the Hangover" where they called the character from "Rain Man" with High Functioning Autism a retard. This is exactly the reason why I started the Autism Awareness Club at Utica College at this point last year. To Spread Autism Awareness and lecture to people what Autism really means and how it affects their family and friends.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: For those who are in college or younger, it's very possible and realistic for you to have children who are autistic. It's random. It doesn't matter whether or not you smoked or drank alcohol when you were pregnant, it makes no difference. For those who make fun of Autistic people because of their symptoms or ignorance or whatever, it would be karma if it turns out you had a child who will be diagnosed with Autism. It would teach you a lesson.
One of my biggest regrets occurred in an incident last February 28th. I was walking downstairs in Strebel and noticed these ladies who were standing there. As I walked past them one asked the other "Hey, would you like to join the Autism Awareness Club?" The other responded "Hell No! Hell 'F'n' No!" I stormed to the nearest exit as they were laughing at me. I should have stood up for Autism but instead I ran away. They always stare and laugh at me when I walk around but I usually ignore them. In that instance though, when they were more direct, I should have defended Autism but I didn't set a good example and allowed those ignorant people to get the last laugh.
People, you have to understand: When you make fun of Autistic People, it's like making fun of another race or gender. It's basically the same thing. As of right now, no one knows the cause for Autism. There is no cure. Some people on web-sites claim that they can cure your Autistic Child. In reality, they can't. Years back a priest did a ceremony to try and get "evil demons" out of an autistic child. Because Autistic people at a young age are usually prone to tantrums and bad behavior, the Priest and the child's mother thought there were "demons" in him. The Autistic Child ended up being accidentally suffocated under the blankets. *Shakes My Head*
Scientists thought that mothers were to blame for a child becoming Autistic back in the 40, 50's, 60's. Scientists believed that mothers didn't give their child "enough love and attention" so they became autistic. These mothers were classified as "Refrigerator Moms." That phrase is the worst thing to call a mother of an autistic child. Obviously that was proven wrong. It's a strong possibility the child is born with Autism. We don't know for sure.
Strike 1 Scientists
Scientists also had a theory that a child becomes autistic because the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. I knew this claim was B.S from the start. My mother never drank while she was pregnant with Nicky or myself. In fact, Spring Semester of my Freshman Year, a scientist came to Utica College and explained her theory as to why alcohol. What was the explanation? If you give a mother mouse alcohol, the baby mice bang their heads into walls and act differently.
..........THAT DOESN"T MEAN THE MICE ARE AUTISTIC!!
It could mean that the mice are drunk!! It could also mean that the mice have the alcohol disability that humans have when their mothers drink while pregnant. The head on wall banging is not a symptom of Autism.
Strike 2 Scientists
Luckily scientists have officially ruled out alcohol as a cause for Autism but at the same time, it's time for a Public Service Announcement from the Autistic Sports Nerd: Don't do drugs, even though it doesn't cause Autism.
The fact that scientists haven't found a cause for Autism yet: Strike 3 Scientists, you're out!
Man, it's like religion and science, who are both rivals to each other, both screw up when it comes to Autism.
The Nostalgia Critic, from thatguywiththeglasses.com, is a video Internet entertainer as he reviews old movies we watched growing up. I'm a fan of his because Nostalgia is a huge interest of mine. He made a joke about autistic kids during his "Ernest Saves Christmas" review. I wrote a personal E-mail to Doug Walker who portrays the Nostalgia Critic character complaining about the joke and showed him my Autism Blog to get a better understanding of what autism really is.
He wrote back to me the next morning and apologized to me. He said that he was thinking whether or not to put the joke in the video and decided to do so but thanks to my e-mail, he regretted it. He said the joke was stupid and will take it out of the video. He then said he usually stands by his humor and that this was the first time in his series that he took a joke out of a video. He replaced it with a recycled joke used in a previous video.
In fact, Doug has a girlfriend who works with Autistic Children and know a few autistic people himself, he told me. I wrote back and forgave him, and thanked him. I geek-ed out that he wrote back to me, especially since it involved Autism Awareness.
Listen, I don't want a cure for Autism. I'm happy with the way I am and I am proud of my brother. Plus, the Autistic Sports Nerd, Mr. Autism Awareness, and Team Autism wouldn't exist if there was a cure.
I also respect my friend Nick Bonacci, Christopher my men-tee, all of the Autistic Children I have worked and currently work with, and every other autistic individual I have ever met.
Autism Awareness Forever!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Guest Speaker for an Education Class
This past Tuesday October 6th, the night after our very first Autism Awareness Club meeting of the year, I was a guest speaker at a Graduate Education Class. I was going to explain my education history to them.
Two coaches I know were in that class. It was a 6:30 pm class.
The speech started off with me explaining to the class how I went to five different elementary schools. A lot of my friends from elementary school would go to the same school, from school to school like me so we were always together.
After I explained my education history I gave them a lecture about Autism in general and what it was like growing up with Autism.
Then there was a Question and Answer session where the class would ask me questions and I would answer them.
One question one of the students asked was "If there was a cure for Autism, would you take it?"
It was a good question. I answered honestly. "No, and I wouldn't want my brother to take the cure either. I'm proud to be Autistic and I'm proud of my brother."
This was the best Autism session because things flowed naturally and I didn't force a whole bunch of information out at one time. It was a great experience and the class really supported me and I respected them.
The Professor also gave me some great information that I was not aware of. In order to be a teacher of any kind in New York State, you are required to learn and know about Autism. I think that's a great idea by New York State and hopefully the other states' Board of Education enforces the same law.
I am going to be a Guest Speaker for a Psych Child Life Class called Students with Disabilities this Spring where I will talk about my experience growing up with Autism. My journey to spread Autism Awareness at Utica College and Beyond continues.
Two coaches I know were in that class. It was a 6:30 pm class.
The speech started off with me explaining to the class how I went to five different elementary schools. A lot of my friends from elementary school would go to the same school, from school to school like me so we were always together.
After I explained my education history I gave them a lecture about Autism in general and what it was like growing up with Autism.
Then there was a Question and Answer session where the class would ask me questions and I would answer them.
One question one of the students asked was "If there was a cure for Autism, would you take it?"
It was a good question. I answered honestly. "No, and I wouldn't want my brother to take the cure either. I'm proud to be Autistic and I'm proud of my brother."
This was the best Autism session because things flowed naturally and I didn't force a whole bunch of information out at one time. It was a great experience and the class really supported me and I respected them.
The Professor also gave me some great information that I was not aware of. In order to be a teacher of any kind in New York State, you are required to learn and know about Autism. I think that's a great idea by New York State and hopefully the other states' Board of Education enforces the same law.
I am going to be a Guest Speaker for a Psych Child Life Class called Students with Disabilities this Spring where I will talk about my experience growing up with Autism. My journey to spread Autism Awareness at Utica College and Beyond continues.
Nicky edits my blog
Nicky actually reads my Autism Blog. I had no idea until he pointed out to me the mistakes I made in the blog. I listed his favorite movie companies wrong. I logged in and he fixed them for me. He also added the actors to the Aladdin and the Magic Lamp movie that I have missed. Thanks for the help Nicky!!
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