Listen now to the taped interview of 8 year old Gina Marie Incandella and her mother Michelle.

A Story of Hope

AWN Interview ~ Gina Marie Incandela

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon The Speed of Dark  is a near-future science fiction novel by American author Elizabeth Moon.

I am part of a wonderful new non-for-profit called Aspiritech. They employ Aspies like me in software testing and similar computer-based fields. I am currently training to be a software tester (not earning $ for that), and I think I might be the first and only female employed there right now. But none of their employees are getting much work because clients are needed and advertising costs money.

Aspiritech is in the running for the Chase Community Giving sweepstakes. The top 200 win at least $20,000! We are doing very well but we continue to need votes. This is through Facebook. Please vote today (and pass along this message for others to place their votes as well) and give this one-of-a-kind organization a chance to grow, expand, and help Aspie adults like me with meaningful employment! Thanks.

Aspiritech's voting page on Chase Community Giving:  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/262556543-aspiritech-nfp

Oh, I actually don't like "weighing in" on food conversations. I also don't like controversy. I know this is all ripe for debating. Regarding GFCF (Gluten-Free Casein-Free) and autism causation....

I'm not suggesting a causation. I am suggesting a connection. I am suggesting that if diet affects neurology then addressing dietary/digestive imbalances can have an effect on the neurological/sensory/inflammatory issues associated with autism. An effect. Not cure.

I hope the above is clear enough that instead of arguing that I'm somehow camped out on DAN blogs, I'm thinking about something that is only just starting to be recognized in the biomedical community, and integrated into various specialties, looking at the relationship to various conditions/diseases/states of being.

Anecdotally

I cannot eat dairy. I once found some amazing almond cheese. I ate LOADS of it. This resulted in bad diarrhea. Checked ingredients and discovered it had casein in it. Other foods with casein (the protein in milk) also affect me badly - cramps, pain, bad poops. Evil.

"Lesh" (2007) 6 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas

"Circle Dance" (2005)

"Despair" (1997) 8 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas

Oh boy. No one likes rejection. How many NTs just dismiss the stricken-with-horror-and-sadness hysterics, since "No One Likes Rejection"? Everyone feels that way is a wonderful technique for ignoring that my distorted thinking is completely hindering my ability to find a job. Dismissing distorted thinking feels like .. invalidation of the worst sort. Invalidation that distorts things even more. OK not only do I feel like crap for being rejected and I feel invalid for even applying, my overblown reaction is also invalid, and therefore I am invalid. Wow. I know that's unhealthy. Maybe I'm unfairly picking on NTs.

With so many people out of work, the competition for even menial jobs is high. I was thinking I would try for jobs working with autistic people. I have no experience doing that, especially with kids, on or off spectrum. So that hurts less than being rejected from Random Office Job.

thank you for this space.

and hello!

I'm 33, diagnosed with AS in 2009. Not sure that's all that's going on, but the more I hang out at my local AS group and read -- especially the increasing amount of stuff on *women* and ASDs, I am definitely dwelling somewhere on the spectrum.

I also have diagnosed Central Auditory Processing Disorder. Mainly, I can't filter out background noise, trouble distinguishing between certain words especially when the person is talking quickly, and I seem to have "below average" sequencing memory.

That's all I know so far with all that. I'm exploring more.

I'm Canadian, and recently married someone I met on a group discussion forum over 3 years ago. I recently immigrated to the US and got my green card this month! I'm adjusting to the big changes all of this involves, but not quickly or all that well. I feel a great deal of stress and I am currently working on advocating more for myself and getting supports in place.