Today I would like to talk about a hearing that I went to for the Self-Directed Advocacy Network (SDAN) in September of 2019. Here are two key points that were discussed in the hearing: The Importance of the Power of Choice Here is the link to a previous blog post, Making Your Own Choices. You can use this as a reference as I’m talking about the power of choice. The power of choice is important for … [Read more...]
Sunny Writes: 4 Ways to Make the World More Accessible
To me, accessibility means being inclusive to all people. These are 4 ways I think the world could be more accessible: 1. Technology: Through trial and error, I have noticed that technology is not fully accessible to the blind. Some apps on the iPhone are not compatible with VoiceOver, an accessibility setting that reads the screen out loud to users. It is also very difficult for a blind person to shop online … [Read more...]
Sunny Writes: 5 Things to Know About Being a Jam Session Leader
On October 19th, I led my first Empowerment Jam Session entirely on my own. It felt really good to lead it on my own, and felt like it was the right space to lead for the first time. If you are interested in being a leader of a jam session, here are the 5 helpful things to know. Patience: Being patient is important because sometimes it takes a while for people to get comfortable in the jam session space. If … [Read more...]
Sunny Writes: Social Experiences
Social experiences are very important for people whether they are on the autism spectrum or not. These experiences encourage people to relate to each other and to get along well in society. Social experiences can sometimes be very hard for autistic people for many different reasons. I believe that autistic people should be allowed to socialize on their own terms, not on the terms decided by neurotypical … [Read more...]
Summer Empowerment Jam Session Wrap-Up by Sunny
On Wednesday August 7, The Musical Autist hosted an Empowerment Jam Session at Maryland Hall Café. We had about 15 to 20 people in attendance. It was a fun, laid-back and relaxing event. We did an opening song, a 12 bar blues, an empowerment chant, and Musical Autist Troupe, one of our programs, performed songs, then we did our closing song. The staff at Maryland Hall Café provided snacks and coffee for everyone … [Read more...]
Sunny Writes: How Our Bodies Move
How many times have you heard therapists tell their clients, “Quiet hands. Quiet body.” There have been many occasions in my life where I was told to sit still, stop rocking, and stop moving my head. I realize that autistic people do not always have autonomy over their bodies. I know that it might look strange to others when we move our bodies differently in professional or work settings. People always tell … [Read more...]