The definition of Freedom is very vague when you look it up in the dictionary since it means many different things to many different people. I feel one of the best freedoms to have is your own sense of psychological freedom. Psychological freedom means to be able to think for yourself and not have anyone influence how you think. It is the ability to be able to make your own judgments, decisions and have the ability to formulate your own opinions and ideas. As individuals we have the right to never give up and to be able to have success in order to feel our own self-worth. It is important for every individual to have a sense of worthiness and a high level of esteem to feel good about themselves.

People on the Autism Spectrum are variable and may seem slower in some areas than others. Trying to get individuals on the Autism Spectrum to achieve their goals takes patience, cooperation, and knowledge about the spectrum. This knowledge creates many different people to know how fast or how slow to teach the individual on the Autism Spectrum.  Once achieved Spectrumites need to speak for themselves rather than others speaking for them.

The Autism Spectrum is very variable which is why they call it a Spectrum of disorders. Some individuals need more attention to achieve their goals toward success. The many success stories of people on the Autism Spectrum came about because these individuals had the support of people in their life to help them. These individuals are capable of reaching their goals with the proper support system in their lives.

There are individuals in my life that believe that I have achieved my goals. They are very mistaken. What I have achieved to date is the stepping stone for me to move another step up the ladder to my many lists of goals. There are many achievements left that I wish to achieve and I know with time I will.

A success story consists of being happy for who you are. The more you achieve your goals, the more successful you become. You must always start out with small goals and work yourself up to the bigger ones until many achievements lead to success.

Individuals on the Autism Spectrum deserve every right to achieve the goals they want and live a life just like anybody else. You can not speak for anyone even those who can not talk. There are so many means of communication other than talking in expressing self-identity.

I hope people read this posting now allowing themselves to realize how important it is for every individual to express themselves. Helen Keller who could not see and hear was a success story because she developed ways to express herself. Individuals on the Autism Spectrum have ways to express themselves, you just have to listen, if not with your ears, with any other sense that you have.

Remind yourself everyday I am teaching an individual on the Autism Spectrum who is different and I am making a difference in this world. The world of difference in this world could turn out to be better than the world is today.

out, J

I grew up in the 1980’s where there was very little information available for people to understand Autism Spectrum Disorders. Many people on the Autism Spectrum were left unnoticed and misdiagnosed. There was not the diversity or understanding about Autism Spectrum Disorders as there is today. Most people thought of a person with Autism as Dustin Hoffman’s character in the 1988 film, Rain Man. The movie actually portrayed a man with Savant Syndrome whose family had placed him in an institution because they were unable to handle his strange and difficult behavior.

Unfortunately, most people today still view a person with Autism the same way. The misdiagnosing of people on the Autism Spectrum still continues to occur. The sudden attention of the various disorders within the spectrum has shined some light and has brought about media coverage. This exposure has helped to make the medical community become more knowledgeable enabling them to correctly diagnose individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This exposure has made people believe that there is an epidemic of autism, however, this is not so. Previously, these individuals were misdiagnosed with various mental illnesses when in reality they had Pervasive Developmental Disorder. There is no epidemic today but the large number of correct diagnoses shows the sudden understanding of autism in the medical community.

My mother raised me knowing that I was different from my brothers, cousins, and other children growing up with me. She knew that there was something unusual about me but did not understand why. She sought out medical assistance but was never satisfied with the answer they provided. She felt deep down inside of her the need to uncover what made me function differently than everybody else. Only in my early twenties did I discover the real source of my unusual behavior.

I attribute my success today to the persistence and care of my mother. Throughout my life even though she knew I was different, she has always been there for me. She enabled me to grow despite my handicaps and become a productive member of society. She continues to build my self-esteem and to challenge me to be independent and work hard. My mother has an innate understanding of what is best for me. Her natural qualities of patience and social skills have enabled me to have a true sense of who I am as a person.

My life growing up was very difficult and rocky most of the time. Throughout my life my peers, teachers, and siblings did not have an understanding of who I was or why I acted and said things that they deemed odd. Life was and continues to be a challenge for me every day. Life is quite different for a child on the autism spectrum and know matter how one tries they can not compete with their “Neurotypical” counterparts.

As I moved through various periods of my life there was many times where I wanted to do things when I was not ready to. My mother would tell me “Jason, be patient and listen to me, I am only trying to help.” However, there were many times when I would push myself harder than my mother felt I should. I would become frustrated feeling I was held back, but she always would boost me up with words of encouragement.

Many people felt that without having tenacity a person can not achieve anything. My life has driven me to make it in a field where only Neurotypicals achieve. My drive has given me a sense of accomplishment. I have become just as good as my Neurotypical peers who are in the field of Cardiac and Vascular Technology by proving to them that by struggling eventually you achieve what you want to. Sometimes you must feel inside of you what you desire even though it’s a rough road, and go with it anyways no matter how tough it can become.

My life’s journey brings about many individuals who help guide me. At times these individuals became more influential then my support system. However, there are many misinformed individuals who have no understanding about Autism Spectrum Disorders. These individuals can be very insensitive and cruel. They can cause pain, humiliation with no sense of our feelings. However, in order to reach for the stars you must recognize who is helping and who is hampering. Learning to use our instincts is the best way to handle these situations even when we don’t like what are instincts tell us.

In order to have success in the world you must listen carefully to what people say and to make clear judgments for yourself.  No matter what seems to happen in my life, I always show the tenacity and drive to keep on going.  As a current friend always tells me, “I am like the energizer bunny.”

Success equals Special Unknown Catalyst Carving Extraordinary Social Skills

out, J

Many people love people for certain reasons. Reasons that are unexplainable by the man or woman who loves the person. There are so many different forms of love. The one true love is trusting and ultimately being so committed that you only want to love the one person who you truly love. Though, you can like a friend to be only platonic love where the one person you love will never be greater than just a friendship.

There are many movies that show the true feelings of love, one that will come out soon called “Adam” with Hugh Dancy which is still in post production while the other is “The Truth about Cats and Dogs” with Janine Garofalo. These movies and much more are to show the getting to know a person so much that you just have to fall in love with them.

Commitment is very hard. Just because somebody looks gorgeous doesn’t mean they are for you. We may like them a lot and think about them, but in the end if we ever meet them in person they become ugly. Which brings me to a story or a past theory of mine, there is four areas of a person that each person weighs on when evaluating if they truly love a person or not. This varies from person to person:

Pretty outside, Pretty inside

Ugly outside, Pretty inside

Pretty outside, Ugly inside

Ugly outside, Ugly Inside

These categories are what I created. Yet, The ones that get the most underlooked are the Ugly on the outside, Pretty in the inside because most people don’t recognize these people. The ones who do see these types of people are the ones who have potential to be in love. Yet, everybody strives to have the first one I mentioned, but everyone is meant to be with a person for a specific reason and it is very hard to find a person like the first I mentioned. Somebody who finds someone to be ugly in the inside might be completely pretty to a different person. Or a person who finds a person is pretty in the inside, the other person might think differently. It all varies from individual to individual. That is what makes us individuals with our own feelings and intuitions. We meet certain people for a reason who complete us. Every individual has their own feelings on who they feel is in what category.

This creates a sense of individuality where everybody finds someone to love them. Just don’t think superficially think deeper than that. Think if the person you are with is the person that fits you emotionally and intellectually.

In order to find a person you love, you must figure out your common interests and your common dislikes. From that you find the person you want to love.

I remember when I was younger and the “Truth about Cats and Dogs” came out I must have seen it a thousand times because it inspired me. It teaches me to be confident and accepting of myself to allow people to love me for who I am and to see the truth in others. I have not seen the movie in a few years and seeing it on television tonight with my granny sparked the influence again.

To me, if someone is shallow and only sees the looks, they will miss the one true love in their life. It is what brings joy to life even for people on the Autism Spectrum who have those loving feelings as well.

A movie I can’t wait to see come out in theaters and I hope the critics love it very much is the Hugh Dancy film called “Adam.” It will be phenomenal.

Anyway, I know someday I will find that person for myself, but please take it easy and I will post again soon. Enjoy this video I put up.

out, J

check it out as well as my drawings I will scan in.

My mind is wandering from place to time
I am feeling happy and exhilerated
something is about to happen
in a days to come.

The life I have is about to change for the better. Soon I will be known and I will have things I have always wanted: Acceptance and appreciation.

I want have a life of my own. May be the sonography community will recognize me more. May be just may be times are changing for the better.

If everyone would take time out in the day to let voices be heard of people on the Autism Spectrum through either vocal or even any way that can be expressed, people would understand us more.

I know my life with Asperger Syndrome is a lot different than those with lower functioning Autism, but I still understand because I am on the Autism Spectrum myself.

Be sure to listen, read, and see the expressions of us on the Autism Spectrum and no that are feelings really count also. There really needs to be a challenging tasks for us to grow and support to lean on when we need it. If no body is challenged in life, there is no room for growth.

Parents can learn from my mother. If parents can learn from people like my mother, then parents and autistics will work with each other more getting to the point of independence striving to overcome those prejudices in society. Prejudices which created a feeling of less dignity and appreciation or acceptance.

I know that lower functioning autistics will probably not achieve similar achievements to myself, but hopefully they can achieve something.

Anyway, there are so many things going on now for me that I know that everything will be great.

Check me out July 1st when the ABCNEWS.com launches there on call plus autism site.

out, J