I have often said, “The more I know, the more I realize I don’t know!” There are several things that can make us suddenly aware of how little we know. Many years ago, a diagnosis of autism in one of my family members launched me into an exploration of the autism spectrum, including research, therapies, prognosis, programs, diets, etc. This became the basis of my 18-year career, first at The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding, and in the last 2-1/2 years, with Social Incites, LLC.

I began re-examining diet last year during the process of being diagnosed with microscopic colitis, and as most of you know, I had a “crash course” in shingles over the last few months, even as I have learned about asthma and food allergies with my son Noah, who was diagnosed about the same time.

Along the way I’ve learned more about cooking, sewing, writing, childcare, parenting, IEP’s, employment options, relationships, dementia (still helping my in-laws regularly, now researching nursing homes), and perhaps most importantly, about myself. I continue to discover new gifts and enjoy exploring ways to further develop and use them to bless others. I also learn more about my personal challenges, and along with acknowledging them, look for strategies to compensate for or overcome them.

Over the last few months, I have been thrilled to explore more fully what God’s plan is for his people on earth, and more specifically, what He has called and equipped me to do. I have been reading great books on the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, worship, making disciples, becoming less materialistic, sharing with those in need, developing a more meaningful and intimate prayer life, and sharing Christ with others. I have been involved in Bible Studies, growing in knowledge and understanding, forming beautiful relationships with other women who are striving to be more Christlike, and stepping out into the community—even the homeless shelter—to share the gifts I have been given. Never have I been more aware of how little I know, and how much more there is to learn, but I am very excited to be on this journey!

All of the knowledge, wisdom, and experience I have gained on this earth is nothing compared to the knowledge that although I am a sinner, I have been saved by grace, through Christ’s death on the cross. I have been given the Spirit to guide me and give me words to say, and power to share Him and help meet the needs of those He brings into my life. And someday, I will be with Him for eternity!

Do you know this beautiful truth for your own life? Do you want to know more? I hope you’ll keep learning, and feel free to contact me if I can help!

I want to continue to use my gifts to meet your needs. I know that you likely have questions about autism, social understanding and insight, employment, relationships, relevant resources, etc. I want to continue to inform and encourage you, and hope that you will contact me so that I can continue to learn from you! But I have become increasingly convinced that nothing has any meaning apart from the perfect plan of our Heavenly Father. I want to walk in step with the Spirit, responding to His prompting as I write, coach, plan, work, make connections with employers and prospective employees, parent, and interact with you and anyone else God chooses to bring into my life.

I do not have a plan. I do not have a volume of future Social Incites™ articles written, ready to send. But I know God has a plan, and I am excited to be used by Him to continue this process of learning, and hopefully being a blessing to you along the way!

Philippians 1:9-11

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

When I was eleven years old, I went on an overnight camping experience with my 5th grade class. As our school bus bumped its way north along the highway, we sang the traditional folk song, “Today is Monday.” If you’re familiar with the song, you know that it goes through each day of the week, and associates one thing with each day. (If you’re not familiar with it, I’ve included a link to more information). “Monday string beans, Tuesday spaghetti, Wednesday soup…all you hungry children, come and eat it up!”

I’m guessing most of us would be bored if we did the same thing so predictably on any given day of the week, at least for a long period of time. The reality for most of us, however, is that although we grasp for some predictability in our lives, typically “life happens,” throwing off our “best laid plans…”which “often go awry.”

Even as eleven-year-olds, my classmates and I were acutely aware of the unpredictability of life. Our city had suffered a significant tornado just a few days previously, and several of our classmates were unable to accompany us because they were trapped in their neighborhoods by downed trees, power lines, and other debris.

This past weekend, my family and I planned a short stint on our boat, looking forward to exploring the waterways, enjoying the sunshine, and sleeping on our boat for a few days. Overall, we achieved our goal, but not exactly the way we planned. We weathered two significant storms, and ended the adventure by towing fellow boaters stranded in a disabled vessel that was spewing smoke from its ancient motor.

Today is Wednesday. For six years, I sent out a Social Incites™ every Monday. For the last couple of months, Monday has often turned to Tuesday, and then Wednesday, and Thursday, when I have finally given up on plans to send out a weekly email. I am learning to be gentle with myself when I am unable to meet my own standards. And I am learning to stay calm when my best-laid plans go awry due to busyness, health, or weather. Life is too short to stress over every plan, regardless of how efficient or excellent it might be.

If you are living or working with individuals with autism, you know how firmly they tend to hold to plans, schedules, routines, and traditions. It can be unsettling for them to have to change course, and sometimes, those changes can lead to a total “meltdown” or “shutdown.” While it can be tempting to structure the environment to avoid most change (and the accompanying unpleasant responses), it typically is more valuable to equip them with an understanding of how and why things change, and what they can do to stay calm and to adapt to whatever is next.

The reality is that Wednesday won’t always be soup. It might be sandwiches, leftovers, or an unexpected Social Incites™ article. Whatever it may be, like hungry children, let’s all “come and eat it up!”

What is “front and center” in your life right now? In West Michigan, another school year recently came to a close, and graduations and accompanying celebrations were prevalent, adding to joy and significant change for countless families. Students and teachers have traded assignments and tests for leisure, socializing, or other forms of work. Some people are especially focused on their jobs or their family, as those things are “front and center” in their life right now. Other people find that financial struggles, health issues, and/or relationship changes or problems consume most of their time and attention, grabbing the “front and center” position, at least for a time.
 
Many of you know that I was “sidelined” by shingles at the end of April. My health has been “front and center,” both literally and figuratively, as I have dealt with blisters and intense lingering pain on my left eye, forehead, and scalp. (In fact, you may have noticed that I stepped away from Social Incites™ and my weekly article for the last month after suffering a relapse, the first articles I’ve missed since 2009.)
 
The term “front and center” is often used to refer to a venue with a stage, with the seats closest to the stage (“front and center”) being the most desirable for patrons. Yet they are obviously not the only seats! Like most of you, there are other things in my life in addition to that which is currently “front and center.” In other words, “life goes on!” While struggling with shingles, I celebrated my son’s graduation from high school, helped two students find and begin new jobs, began working (along with my husband and son) with 13 new students, transported my mother-in-law to medical appointments, played with my four-year-old, provided supervision to my daughter as she planned and implemented a successful garage sale, planted flowers and trimmed trees in the yard, attended church and taught Children’s Worship, etc.
 
Whether the things in our life that are “front and center” were chosen or forced on us, usually there are other things (people, activities, situations, etc.) we need to address as well. I have found it helpful to have an attitude of thankfulness, either because of or in spite of the things that are “front and center,” while balancing the need to take care of myself with the need to deliberately keep living life. While I was not willingly including blisters and pain in my list of blessings, I have continually been thankful for things I’ve been able to do, people who have helped, encouraged, or prayed for me, even slight improvements in symptoms, joys and opportunities celebrated by people around me, etc. Being thankful helps to put things in perspective and boosts positivity, which in turn can lead to improved health! (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950)
 
Maybe you’re thankful for the thing that is “front and center” in your life, or maybe you’re struggling to find something to be thankful for in spite of it. Either way, I encourage you to deliberately give thanks! (I Thessalonians 5:18) On my own, I cannot face any of the things that need my attention, nor can I give thanks for the difficulties I endure, but I continue to find that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). My prayer is that you, too, would look to the provider of all good things to graciously sustain you with all of life—that which is "front and center," and everything else!

We've likely all heard the expression, "You've gone too far." Generally it's spoken when we have crossed an invisible social line from "acceptable" to "unacceptable." Good-natured teasing develops a hurtful edge. A fun prank destroys property or injures a person's sense of self-worth. Criticism, perhaps intended to be constructive, borders on bullying or abuse and ends up tearing down relationships or self-esteem. Probing questions become too personal or intrusive. A gesture or comment is misconstrued, or wasn't anticipated or desired, and is viewed as harassment.

Many people can sense when they have gone "too far." The responses they get, either internally or externally, signal that it's time to stop, or even to backtrack if possible. They begin to right the wrongs, and to heal the hurts that resulted from their words or actions. Ideally, they learn from experience and watch their future words and actions more closely to ensure that the invisible line between "far" and "too far" is not crossed again (at least not in the same way).

If you know about autism spectrum disorders (ASD), you are aware that it can be difficult for individuals with this diagnosis (as well as many others without the diagnosis) to "sense" the line between "far" and "too far," to identify the need to stop their words or actions, or to repair the situation once it has deteriorated.

How do we teach this? While it may be tempting to develop an exhaustive list of "do's" and "do not's" for individuals to follow, the nature of social situations creates a relatively unpredictable playing field; one that is not particularly conducive to a black and white list of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. We know that there should be some absolutes--rules that are always followed, with consequences for disobedience. However, not all things can be stated as rules, and not all rules are intended to be followed absolutely. When I was in high school, we were not allowed to throw snow balls on school property. The school administration wisely indicated that injuries and/or out-of-control crowd situations could result if the rules were not followed. One day, as I was leaving school, I quickly crafted a snowball and aimed it at an oncoming target, and successfully hit it squarely in the forehead! I suppose the most amazing aspect of this wasn't that I was able to hit something smaller than the side of a building (my aim was never very good), or that I--always a good student and rule-follower--would break the school rules, but that I didn't get in trouble for going "too far." You see, I "sensed" that the rules could be bent in this situation, and that what typically would cause problems for me would not be an issue in this situation. And fortunately, I was right! (Keep reading to find out why!)

So, if we sometimes need to "sense" the social line of acceptability rather than always constructing it out of specific rules rigidly followed, how do we convey that to those with ASD? We know that an inability to avoid going "too far" damages or ruins relationships, leads students to punishment or expulsion, entices boyfriends and girlfriends (or those who wish to carry that title) toward undesirable or dangerous situations, and often, propels people of all ages into the hands of the legal system.

The best resource I've found which deals specifically with this dilemma is Kari Dunn Buron's A 5 is Against the Law. If you're familiar with her previous book, The Incredible 5-Point Scale, then you know the value (and effectiveness) of teaching this scale to individuals to help them monitor and adjust their emotions and behaviors across a wide variety of environments and situations. Chapters in this newer book include, "What is a 5-Point Scale?" and a great one on social understanding, "Different People See and THINK About Things Differently." While much of the book's content can be applied to a variety of scenarios, the author also provides valuable specific information such as "When a Kiss or Glance Becomes a Crime." (She has since written, Social Behavior and Self-Management: 5-Point Scales for Adolescents and Adults, another helpful resource.)

As we continue to teach social insight and understanding, our goal is to have fewer incidents of "crossing the line" or "going too far"--on BOTH sides of the social equation!

P.S. My long-ago snowball hit a member of the school administration--our vice-principal--right in the middle of his forehead. At approximately 6 feet, 5 inches tall, he was a formidable opponent. However, he was also a long-time family friend, AND he broke the rules first by throwing a snowball at me (although he missed)! We were both shocked when my hastily launched missile hit its target, but I knew as well as he did that given the circumstances, he would have a hard time justifying punishment for me! In an interesting twist of life events, he is now the president of the college where one of my sons is a student. We have never discussed the snowball incident, but I still greatly admire and respect him, even as I am aware of his playful side.

I’ll spare you the selfie I took this morning, but suffice it to say I look like I just emerged from a boxing ring—not the winner! A week ago (the day after my 46th birthday) I was hit with excruciating headaches. A few days later a blistery rash showed up on my forehead, scalp, and eyelid, and I was diagnosed with shingles. My first thought was, “I guess I really am old! Happy birthday to me!” My next thought was, “How am I going to do my work? I’m too busy as a mom and professional to be sidelined by shingles!” Not willing to be totally defeated, today I am typing this, bowed low over my computer, with my left eye hideously swollen shut. My face is deformed with blisters and swollen glands the size of boulders. The bridge of my nose has decided to take over half of my eyeball’s territory. Why do I share the gruesome details with you? Not for sympathy (OK, a little goes a long ways…), but because I’m guessing you can relate. I, too, am human. And all the planning in the world can’t account for the unexpected things that derail our plans and leave us sidelined, sometimes short-term, and occasionally for longer periods of time. I was going to run my first 5K this weekend. I was going to enjoy the festivities in downtown Holland (Michigan) as our community and busloads of tourists gather to celebrate “Tulip Time.” I was going to help two students find new jobs. Instead, I’ve spent the last several days on the couch, popping pills and icing my massive eye socket with frozen peas and corn.

Can you relate? I’m sure you’ve suffered from the flu, or maybe something worse like cancer. You may have had a broken bone, or an illness like fibromyalgia or lyme disease, or suffered a stroke or heart attack. Those can definitely take us “out of the game” and send us to the sidelines. Physical ailments are not the only things that can derail us. Consider these:

-       Financial problems can cause us to change financial course, and alter many of the comforts we’ve come to know and love. I am acquainted with many people who are homeless. It’s not what they expected, but they’re forced to deal with the reality of building their lives again from the bottom up.

-       Relationship problems can cause us to step away from work, school, or other goals, either physically or emotionally. Broken friendships, divorce, problems with children or parents can all consume our time and energy, leaving us sidelined for a time.

-       Loss of a loved one, loss of security, loss of a dream, or some other loss can take us “out of the game” and send us to the sidelines while we search for a “new normal.”

-       Struggles faced by our loved ones can also leave us sidelined from our usual priorities. When a child, sibling, parent, or grandparent, or perhaps even a close friend, is suffering, often we step away from our own lives to tend and care for their needs.

There are many things that can send us to the sidelines, away from the track we were on to reach our goals. Is being sidelined always a negative thing? While it may feel like it in the moment, as most of us don’t choose to be sidelined, I think it can serve a very positive purpose.

While I will never be accused of being a sports enthusiast, it is my understanding that players are typically sidelined for one of three reasons:

-       As a penalty, which came as a result of choices that were against the rules

-       As a much-needed rest after playing faithfully, giving players a chance to rehydrate and get refreshed before heading back into the game

-       As a preventative or restorative measure when a player is suffering from an illness or has sustained an injury.

As I see it, being sidelined is typically for the good of the individual, with the hope that over time, he or she will be ready to head back into the game of life to continue to work toward their goals. I must admit that two weeks ago, I prayed a sincere prayer that God would grant me rest. I felt totally overwhelmed with a son changing college plans last-minute, another son being diagnosed with asthma and the need to find a new home for my beloved cat, another son heading to Israel, a steady workload of students, a lawn bursting forth with spring and needing weeding and mulching, etc. Life was good, but I couldn’t figure out how to get some extra sleep or restoration for my weary soul. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that it takes some drastic measures to slow me down and give me rest. A nasty case of shingles, while I would not have chosen that (and would never wish it on anyone!) has led to long nights of sleep, rest during the day, time to listen to music and interact with my children, time to think and plan for students and other upcoming activities, and time to be tended to by my four-year-old, who loves to play doctor. And while I haven’t been thrilled to hear that I am a likely candidate to suffer long term effects of this bout with shingles, and may have to endure future episodes, I, like the apostle Paul, am learning “to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

I’m praying that each of you will find your strength in Him, whether you’re fully immersed in the activities of life, or whether you are currently also sidelined. May He grant your “daily bread”—all that you need, each and every day, to fulfill His calling, until the day He calls you home to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

Two weeks ago I wrote an article entitled, “Living More Deliberately.” Today I’d like to look specifically at the importance of deliberately protecting our children. In addition to April being “Autism Acceptance Month,” it is also “National Child Abuse Prevention Month,” so as we finish out the month of April, I’d also like to address that topic.  It’s a difficult, uncomfortable topic, yet the cost of avoiding it is devastating; statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18. I don’t know statistics for the occurrence of sexual abuse in children with autism, yet their characteristic difficulty reading social cues, understanding intent, and communicating effectively with others makes them a very vulnerable target. Click here for a great web site with perspectives related to autism and sexual abuse.
 
While the facts are staggering and disturbing, the reality is that every one of us can contribute to the solution to this problem! Deliberate choices can help create an environment where child sexual abuse cannot happen. These include:

1.     Educate yourself about the problem. It’s important to know who the perpetrators are (they’re not typically “strangers,” but are often trusted family members or friends), how the problem occurs (often in one-adult/one-child situations), and the signs and symptoms that a child has been abused (often there’s a change in behavior, emotional regulation, health, toileting habits, etc.) I encourage you to spend a few minutes at the Darkness to Light web site for more information.
 
2.     Be aware of your surroundings, and let others know that you are informed and deliberate about preventing child sexual abuse. Do you work with children? Do you have—and adhere to—a child safety policy? Do you make sure that people working with your child follow procedures that will ensure the safety of the children in their care? Do you avoid—and help others avoid—situations where a child is left alone with an adult? Do you know the parents and siblings of the children whose homes are open to your child? Do you know who’s at that home when your child is there?
 
3.     Be one of the fewer than 30% of parents who talk to your children about the importance of making choices that will keep them safe. Tell children, “Secrets can be dangerous. It’s best not to keep secrets from adults.” Teach them about their bodies, and that it’s not okay for anyone (even trusted parents, friends, teachers, or siblings) to talk to them or touch them in a sexual way. Teach them not to give out personal information over the Internet, and check up on them through deliberate monitoring.
 
4.     Make yourself available to children, interacting appropriately and safely, watching for signs of problems, listening carefully, and letting them know you respect and believe them when concerns are raised. And know who to contact if you believe that a child—yours or someone else’s—is being or has been abused.
 
If you have a heart for children who have been abused and neglected, and a few extra hours per week, you might want to do what I’ve done in the past—become a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate). More information is available at http://www.casaforchildren.org. Although this program is specific to The United States, readers in other parts of the world may have additional ways of supporting and advocating for children in your community. 

I hope you’ll join me in deliberately protecting our children!

About a year and a half ago, my children and I welcomed into our home a beautiful grey and white kitten we named, “Jazz.” My husband didn’t exactly welcome her, although he has allowed her to live with us in relative peace in the intervening months. Jazz has moments where she displays an acute interest in human interaction; namely when food is involved, although she also loves to secure a place on a warm lap for an evening of relaxation. If I go to the bathroom, I find her pressed against the outside of the door when I am finished, wanting to know where I am, and waiting for me to appear again. She tolerates all of us, although she has extensive and seemingly unprovoked “sass” for my oldest boys, and endless patience and long-suffering for my youngest. However, interaction works best on her terms. She knows when she is willing to tolerate us, and the rest of the time, she chooses to observe from what appears to be a disinterested distance. Those of us who love her dearly are able to appreciate her warm affection and even her “quirky” behaviors, as we accept, “That’s Jazz!” However, my husband is less appreciative of her antics, and is quick to utter, “That Stinkin’ Cat!” when she succeeds in snatching a loaf of bread (or a bag of brown sugar or potato chips) from the cupboard and runs with it to the basement to consume her bounty in peace, or when she jumps down from her perch on (or in) the kitchen sink (as though she had been innocently grooming herself on the floor the whole time) when he walks into the room. She has even been known to snatch food off our plates at the table when we turn our backs for two seconds!

Whether or not you are a cat lover, you might be wondering what this anecdote has to do with anything. As we celebrate “Autism Acceptance Month,” the resource, All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, by Kathy Hoopman, may be enlightening and entertaining for you or someone you know who has connections to autism. The description of the book reads as follows: “All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome takes a playful look at Asperger Syndrome (AS), drawing inspiration from the feline world in a way that will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with AS. Delightful color photographs of cats bring to life familiar characteristics such as sensitive hearing, scampering at the first sign of being stroked and particular eating habits. Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes the difficulties and joys of raising a child who is different and leaves the reader with a sense of the dignity, individuality and potential of people with AS. This engaging book is an ideal, gentle introduction to the world of AS.”

Just as I am thankful for my cat and the joy that she brings into my life, I am also thankful for people with autism and the joy, friendship, and insight they have brought into my life over the past 20 years. (And I’m thankful that my husband Steve has much better relationships with people with autism than he does with Jazz!)

Best wishes as you continue to promote insight, acceptance, and appreciation for people who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder!

As many of you know, April has been designated “Autism Awareness Month,” or perhaps even better, “Autism Acceptance Month.” Personally, I have seen and experienced many reasons to not just be aware of autism, or to accept it, but to celebrate the people who have this diagnosis. There are many ways that a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes people to “live more deliberately.” Here are just a few examples:

- In choosing gifts for an individual with ASD, parents, grandparents, and siblings often validate a special interest, or select a gift that will encourage valuable strengths or address challenges rather than following the latest fad or craze of age peers.

- With a child with ASD in the classroom, teachers look for new ways to teach and to manage classroom dynamics, rather than relying on past techniques and experiences.

- Individuals with ASD try to observe others and ask questions in order to understand the world around them and to participate in it successfully.

- Siblings, parents, grandparents, spouses, teachers, therapists, and colleagues attempt to avoid sarcasm, dual meanings, and implied communication, focusing instead on communicating in a direct and meaningful way.

- Parents may examine their family's diet, considering how foods possibly contribute to autistic behaviors.

- Caregivers structure schedules and outings to promote success for children and young adults with ASD.

- People use the Social Response Pyramid™ and other resources to provide necessary social information for individuals with ASD.

How about you? Has being involved with individuals with ASD (or having been diagnosed yourself) caused you to live more deliberately? I'd love to hear your examples!  

Best wishes as you promote success--your own and that of others--through deliberate living!

I have some possessions in my home which simply don't have their own space. Papers have accumulated in piles because they don't quite seem to fit the files I set up long ago, and are too important to be thrown away or shredded. My storage room still contains boxes from my last move, with items that I haven't taken time to put away or to set out to use or to decorate our home. Although I've tucked these papers and objects into less-obvious places in my house, they are accumulating in a state of semi-controlled chaos until I have time to assign a specific space to each one or find a way to utilize them. I've written before about some of the benefits of chaos (there are a few). However, this particular chaos is unproductive and unsightly. Each item eventually needs its own space.

Sometimes we create "a space" for an item. A drawer, file folder, closet shelf, or hidden nook becomes the home for an item so that it is out of sight, but can be found or accessed as needed. When we create "a space" for something, we seclude it in its own location where it is out of sight or out of the way until needed. Other times we create "space" for an item. We move living room furniture to accommodate a new sofa, re-arrange a china cabinet to include another figurine or dish, or change a wall grouping to incorporate a new picture or piece of artwork. When we create "space" for something, we incorporate the item into a particular setting so that it can be used or enjoyed as we go about our daily lives.

What about people? Do we create "a space" for some and create "space" for others? Do we relegate some middle school or high school peers (or work colleagues or family members) to the fringes of our social interactions, while including others in our discussions and outings? Do we put a disruptive child in a corner of the classroom while we provide instruction to the rest of the class in the center of the room? Do we install a wheelchair ramp or a hearing aid system in our places of worship so that we can point to the "spaces" we're creating for those with disabilities, while neglecting to create "space" for them by sitting with them during the service, inviting them to our homes, or ensuring that they can also join our small group discussion or coffee times? Do we cook special foods for a person on a limited diet, while we continue to enjoy the forbidden foods in their presence?

I'm learning to re-think the accommodations I make for the people around me. Some are simply "token efforts" designed to make me feel as though I'm doing the right thing by creating "a space" for them. But I'm neglecting to incorporate them--their strengths as well as their challenges--into my daily life. In other words, I'm not creating "space" for them.

What about you? What about your home, school, place of employment, community, or place of worship? Have you done a good job of creating "a space" for some individuals around you, without ensuring that there is meaningful "space" for them? Doing so implies (whether or not it's intentional) that they are not important enough to be included in the types of interactions we reserve for others. Why are we quick to relegate some people to "a space" while we incorporate others into our own space? Sometimes it's because of past experience, or opinions we've formed from prejudicial comments others have said. Sometimes it's because of a lack of understanding or personal experience with those who are "different." Sometimes it's simply because it's easier, since it doesn't require creativity, effort, trying new ways of doing things, or the exercising of hospitality.

A commitment to promoting social insight and understanding necessitates the deliberate creation (and regular maintenance) of "space" for those around us! It means exercising hospitality and inclusion, whether we are playing, parenting, teaching, working, worshiping, or simply going about our daily lives.

A special thanks to those of you who so graciously excel in creating space for others. You are a true inspiration to me!

Current statistics (from the Centers for Disease Control, March 2014) state that one in every 68 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Years ago autism was associated with low verbal and mental ability and stereotyped behaviors, but the diagnosis now also encompasses many who are very intelligent, may have average or exceptional verbal ability, and have numerous other strengths. People with autism (or Asperger's Syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder/PDD) traditionally struggle with social interactions. There is much that everyone can do to help them, through understanding and a willingness to provide missing social information. To find out more about ASD and available resources and programming, go to www.socialincites.com.  
 
The month of April is designated each year as “Autism Awareness Month.” Thursday, April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, with a special emphasis this year on employment, a topic that is near and dear to our hearts as employment coaches and job developers. We encourage you to learn more by reading this article.
 
There are many ways to promote autism awareness:
 
1. Send the preceding announcement to at least one or two other people, media sources, etc. (consider school or employee newsletters, radio stations, newspapers, friends, relatives, web sites, etc.)
2. Organize a "Wear Jeans to Work Day" or other fundraiser with proceeds going to an autism-related organization.
3. Give a copy of my booklet ASD to Z: Basic Information, Support, and Hope for People Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders to a co-worker, neighbor, teacher, or relative, or leave one in your local library, health food store, or other location.
4. Provide an evening of respite for parents with a child with ASD.
5. Donate a book about ASD to your local library.
6. Write a note to a person with ASD, stating what you appreciate most about him or her.
7. Read a book about autism. We’ve provided some suggestions on our web site.
8. Take time to talk to someone about autism, and be sure to mention the positive aspects of the diagnosis!
9. Schedule an autism presentation for your school or other organization.
10. Hire a person with autism! Many are loyal, hard-working, and detail-oriented.
11. Your ideas…There are countless ways to make this world a better place through people with ASD and for people with ASD (and all of us)! We hope you’ll share some of those on our Facebook page!
 
During the next month, we will highlight various aspects of people with autism in our Social Incites™ weekly email and on our Facebook page. We will also be giving away some autism-related resources, so be sure to watch for your chance to win.
 
Thank you for the work you are doing to provide valuable insights on autism in your home and around your community. Together, we can make a significant impact!