February Update from Autism RMWB

Happy Valentine’s Month from the Autism Society of the R.M.W.B.! This month we hosted a family tubing day at our local ski hill. It was great turnout, with 98 people in attendance. Everyone had a blast, weather was great, and the staff at Vista Ridge were amazing!

In other news, a local boy named Josh generously requested that, instead of getting birthday gifts, his friends and family should make donations to the Autism Society of the RMWB. In total $415 was given to us on his behalf. We are so grateful for such a kind gesture from such an amazing kid! A big thank you to Josh!

We are planning several new events for the upcoming months:

Sincerely,

Autism Society of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
780-742-4424
AutismSupport@AutismRMWB.org

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Autism, Gender and Sexuality

You may have any variety of reactions to this. You may have negative or positive feelings regarding homosexuality and transsexuality. Sexuality is heavily-politicized issue, and obviously autism affects all of us regardless of our politics. It is sometimes difficult to broach such things in (politically) mixed company. Nonetheless, I feel this is an important issue to address, because sexuality is an important part of most adult people’s lives, and we as a society often forget that people with developmental conditions might have sexual feelings at all.

I don’t often talk about my own sexuality, certainly not publicly, but doing so may help to illustrate some of the problems that surround our understanding of the sexualty of disabled people. I am asexual – meaning that I do not experience sexual attraction. I likewise find romance rather uninteresting. I don’t know why – I just do. As a result, I do not date, though I certainly could choose to do so regardless.

This absence of sexual feeling appears to be more common among autistic people than our neurotypical peers, but it’s still relatively unusual, even for us. However, a common reaction I get when I discuss this aspect of myself with others is, “Well, most autistic people are like that, right?”

Life would be much simpler if that were so.

The reality is that most autistic people do experience sexual feelings and that many autistic people struggle with expressing their sexuality in social settings due to the complexity of the rituals and norms that surround sexual and romantic interactions. Others simply do not express their feelings for fear of rejection. Yet others do have healthy, if atypical, sexual relationships. And some, like myself, happily ignore the entire hullabaloo. The difficulties of this situation are often exacerbated by an insufficient effort to provide appropriate sex education to autistic adolescents due to our discomfort with thinking of disabled people as sexual beings, particularly in cases of co-occurring intellectual delays.

In terms of gender, I am equally apathetic, having no strong feelings on the topic. Due to my androgynous features and strong preference for the comfort and versatility of masculine and unisex fashion, this can cause a great deal of confusion. Seeing as I am not in the least offended by the idea of being seen as a man – after all, it’s far from an awful thing to be – I usually go along with strangers who call me “sir” or “young man” to avoid distressing them or mortifying them by giving the impression that they have caused offense. I understand how such a thing could be upsetting for another person, but to me, my gender is a relatively unimportant aspect of who I am as a person.

Nonetheless, we live in a gendered world, where what is appropriate and what is inappropriate are often a function of the genders of the people involved. I am not exempt from the additional complexity of such factors simply because I exist outside of them in my own mind. I suspect that many other autistics struggle with the expectations of gender in much the way that I do, even when they don’t share my indifference.

I have, since a very young age, been oft cajoled to be more feminine, at least when people were aware that my first name is indeed “Jessica”. At other times I have been sharply criticized for being insufficiently masculine, primarily by people who knew me only as a soft spoken stranger in a suit. For all that I do not mind dresses and similar items, I have become more reluctant to wear such things in public places, as it seems people on the street are far more likely to invade the personal space of and make discomforting comments towards a broad shouldered woman than they are a short, round-faced man. Such situations are difficult for me to navigate and potentially dangerous besides, so I largely default to a more masculine presentation, for all that I am yelled at by the occasional street preacher.

The expectations we have of people based on the gender we perceive them as can be hyper-complex and arbitrary – an excellent recipe for confusion and, in many situations, danger, given the violence with which gender is sometimes policed. It’s therefore important to discuss gender and gendered expectations and the ways in which autistic people are more likely to be affected by negative reactions to perceived deviation from these norms. It would also behoove all of us, regardless of our opinions on the subject, to be more tolerant and understanding of the harmless little ways in which people express themselves differently, perhaps especially when we do not know why.

The Weekly Anchor
January 23, 2017

Research Coordinator Amber Young, Regional Manager with Aspen Collaborative Services Sandra Zesko, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary in the Edmonton Region David Nicholas, and Autism Treatment Network (ATN) Coordinator at the Glenrose Hospital Shannon Mah lead the Autism Focus Group at the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division on January 17. Photo: Mikaela Kuefler

Autism Alberta and the University of Calgary hosted the first Autism Focus Group meeting on January 17 at the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division.

"We're excited to be here in the Edson community, to partner and to learn about what makes sense for this community. In terms of building opportunity and working within the partnerships that are already in place, Edson is already doing some really good work building that capacity," said Nicholas.

Funded by Autism Speaks Canada, the group's focus was to talk about the needs of the community. Participation was part of a research study, approached by the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board.

Autism Alberta and the U of C travel to various rural and remote communities around Alberta and British Columbia to discuss the strengths in terms of services and resources for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

"What are areas to develop? What are areas where services are coming together in different ways to create different opportunities for people to thrive in their own community? When these are identified, we can move onto a plan of action," said Nicholas.

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Introducing the Adult Independent Residence (AIR)

John Seigner

Background

AIR is based on needs and objectives identified by an umbrella committee of parents of ASD individuals in the Calgary area called the Aspires Housing Group. The families want an autonomous living unit with strong community and social integration and group amenities. Most of these higher functioning individuals do not qualify for provincial disability funding and their families represent a wide range of financial circumstances. A summary document with an action plan is currently being developed by a subgroup focusing solely on establishing a sustainable independent community residence for high functioning adults with ASD.

Description

A multi-unit residence is envisioned that will provide independent units for ASD residents, integrated with market rent units for the general population, that will provide social and community engagement for highly independent ASD individuals who might otherwise be isolated and non-social. There is a possibility of building an entirely new structure, but doing so in Calgary usually requires going out of the inner core which is where optimal services such as transit are located. It is more likely that AIR will renovate an existing structure such as motel, condo, and student dormitory or seniors residence. If an existing structure is identified, it will require evaluation by an advisory panel including a builder, architect, engineer, and property manager as needed.

To provide the weekly support required for the ASD tenants and to foster community interaction, a concierge will receive free rent in the residence. The cost of the concierge unit will be included in the capital cost of the building. The revenue from the market rental units will provide a sustainable financial basis for ongoing support to the ASD tenants. The exact expectations of the concierge will be specified in the terms of their occupancy agreement but they will include areas where ASD tenants require light support, e.g., medical, financial, vocational/employment, nutritional, social needs.

Size and Amenities

It is anticipated that a ratio of one concierge apartment to five ASD tenants will be successful, but this ratio will be determined and fine-tuned in a pilot project. For example, in a pilot project of a 24 unit building, there will be 11 ASD residents and 1 concierge unit, leaving 12 for market rentals. To facilitate social interaction among all the residents it is important that plans include common facilities such as a meeting room, kitchen, and lounge area with entertainment equipment, and laundry facilities. The common area kitchen might include a dining room, for which residents could subscribe to a meal plan. A mix of bachelor, one bedroom and two bedroom units will be determined by studying market demand and the support needs of the tenants. For example, those needing more care might require a two bedroom unit to accommodate a supportive roommate in addition to the light support provided by the concierge. The concierge unit will be a two bedroom unit to be suitable for either an individual or a family.

Location

Ideally the building will be located with access to public transportation as well as being walking distance from banking, retail, food services, library, community centre, and medical services. Although it is likely that relatively few of the ASD residents will have cars, parking spaces will be required for all the market rental units, the concierge unit, and a few of the ASD residents. While families of the ASD residents will want to be within close proximity, location should be determined by the needs and desires of the residents since the families will not be in the picture forever. Consideration can also be given for aging in place, and in fact senior’s housing developments may be potential partners in the future.

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