Independence Ain't Cheap, But It Sure Is Aweome

Well, I've got my weekend booked for another year of going to the Toronto Comics Art Fest and it was a little more expensive than last year. But hey, it's worth it!

Almost an entire weekend completely on my own, over four hours away from family, lots of comics and, knock on wood!!, good Springtime weather!

Sure it's a lot of money for (really) just two and a half days, but for the past few years this trip has been something I wait for, plan for, and save for all year. I can't really go a lot of places during the winter, and major trips to far away places aren't really my thing (at least for now), but this TCAF weekend is something I can do totally on my own and more importantly, my parents are okay with me doing it on my own. So, I treat it as a "spend more to get more" kind of situation. And my mom taught me how to save on food, so that's cool!

It should be a great time and I will absolutely take plenty of photos for a big post when I come back!

Maybe this time, some of them won't be quite as horrifying. Haha!

Switched On

Yesterday evening, I attended a talk by John Elder Robison, an author promoting his book Switched On, as part of the Ottawa International Writer's Festival. Robison is autistic and his book is about how he received an experimental treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to help him better understand other people's emotions.

It was a pretty interesting event. I can't remember enough about the treatment itself to write about it, but the rest of what Robison said will probably stick with me forever.

See, autistic traits can be common in people with Joubert syndrome. I've never wanted to acknowledge this and have been uncomfortable even hearing about it, even though I display a few autistic traits myself. I guess it's because of fear of people perceiving me as something less than what I am. This fear has led to some thoughts and comments that have ranged from negative to out-right rude.

But hearing this man speak about his experiences which ranged from growing up with a disability to being a technician for rock groups like KISS and April Wine to being an advocate for those on the autism spectrum was quite moving. It actually almost brought me to tears.

Robison spoke about, among other things, how people should not be ashamed of being on the spectrum, of society needing to change the currently negative connotation surrounding autism and Asperger's (especially in the media), and how people need to advocate for themselves and each other.

After a Q&A, I went up to him, thanked him and told him a little about Joubert syndrome and my advocacy efforts. It was the first time I actually acknowledged to myself and in public that I have autistic traits. It felt pretty great!

The book he was speaking about was a little bit out of my price range at the time, but I did get his first book, a memoir called Look Me In The Eye.

Should be interesting.

Cheers!

Ten Fun, Interesting, and Random Facts About Me

Last month I found a thirty-day writing challenge, which I've decided to do this month. It's nothing you can submit, just thirty random topics to keep you busy.

I'm feeling kind of bored and lazy today, so I thought I'd share one of the topics from a few days ago on here, just for something fun to write.

Here's ten interesting and random facts about me:

1. I have a black belt in Taekwondo

For many years, I took a special needs Taekwondo class, and got as far as a first-degree black belt before college busyness forced me to give it up.

2. I’ve received the Award of Fortitude for scouting

At eight years old, while I was in Cub Scouts, I received the Award of Fortitude for scouting from the Governor General of Canada. I was nominated by my former Beaver leader and many other people who knew me.

3. My first word was platypus

Yo!

When I was little, I couldn't talk but all my other cognitive abilities (memory etc.) were fine. I also needed my parents to do chest physio and use a nebulizer to help with my lungs. Doctors told them to get into a routine with this, so they would do it while watching National Geographic and other nature programs. One day, everything came together, and out came "platypus!"

4. I have a rare genetic disorder

Everyone knows this one by now, but I figured I'd go for it anyway.

5. I've always been obsessed with cryptozoology, Bigfoot, and other monsters

I've always believed in creatures like Bigfoot and have been fascinated by monsters since I was little. I think teachers used to think I was weird for constantly taking out and reading monster books in school.

6. I almost studied Paleontology

Before applying to Scriptwriting, I seriously looked into Vertebrate Paleontology. I like dinosaurs so I figured, why not? I would've been Ross from Friends, minus Jennifer Aniston and the monkey! Realism set in soon, I realized that million year old fossils and a coordination issue might not mix well, and I decided writing about prehistoric stuff would be a safer move.

7. Pigs are my favourite animal

Seriously, they're awesome and adorable.

8. I've been regressed to a past life

I was attending an Easter Seals conference in my late teens, and the first night was set up with lots of vendors and activities. One of those was a woman who specialized in past-life regression. It was really weird. The woman took me back through events at certain ages like my early teens and when I was six, and then into a past life.

I was in a house with a lot of windows on a rocky beach, doing something involving drawing and looking at a woman who could have been a wife or girlfriend. She was pregnant, and I felt happy. Then I was looking down at an old man, most likely a grandfather or father, and felt sad. He seemed to be dying. I still can’t think of any explanation for what I saw or felt!

9. I enjoy both flying and public speaking

A lot of people consider these to be two of the scariest things to do, but I actually like them. I love the sensation of a plane taking off, the roar of the engines and then the g-forces as you go higher. It's also so cool looking out your window when you're above the clouds, especially at dawn and dusk!

As for public speaking, I've done it for so long now (thirteen years!) that I'm just used to it. I've never really ben scared of talking in front of strangers. Ironically, the most nervous I've been before a presentation was at the Joubert conference in Chicago this past summer, where I knew two-thirds of the people in the audience.

10. I've been on the national news

Months after I was diagnosed with JS, my mother and I were interviewed as part of a piece about Joubert syndrome and genetics for CTV News. A team including a representative from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (where I was diagnosed) and two camera men came to my house one afternoon and set up the interview, which was done via an ear piece/microphone with CTV's national health correspondent. She interviewed my mother and I, then the camera men got footage of photos of me, my mom and I talking (which was seriously weird to do), and me doing tasks like walking upstairs and typing.

The piece aired Christmas Eve, 2011. I was between Vladimir Putin and Santa Claus! The video, which made me realize I've got a gigantic bald spot, is no longer online, but the written version is.

And, boredom solved.

Cheers!

Burdens?? *Rant*

Yesterday, I read this article (here) about a college professor and his family being denied residency here in Ontario because his thirteen-year-old son has Down syndrome, and the country feels this boy would prove to be a financial burden on the health care system.

I was shocked while reading this.

I've heard of similar situations elsewhere, but I cannot believe a country like Canada would possibly be this ignorant to it's own citizens. Regardless of what may happen to him in the future, it's a shame that certain people in this country currently consider this boy a potential burden. And if someone like this is considered a burden, where will it end? Do we start denying assistance or citizenship to anyone who requires some kind of extra help or care. It may seem like a stretch now, but this could very easily turn into a slippery-slope kind of issue.

Maybe if governments like Ontario's put more money and effort into providing services for the disabled instead of doing things like trying to close specialized schools, then maybe children (and adults) such as this would be able to receive better care, and they and/or their families would not be put into situations like this.

I sincerely hope this boy and his family get help and are able to stay in the country.