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7649 EMBRACING UNIQUENESS: LEARNING TO LIVE A BALANCED LIFE IN A NON-AUTISTIC WORLD

Saturday, July 11, 2015: 10:15 AM-11:30 AM

Room Number: 104 (Colorado Convention Center)

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How does a person whose thinking is dynamically different from that of most of the world survive? By finding a balance between who they are and meeting societal expectations. Hear one woman’s story and get suggestions for how others with autism can find their own balance. Regardless of whether an individual with autism is able to participate in the competitive workplace, there are going to be times when interactions with other human beings are necessary or even desirable. However, such interactions can be difficult for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Speaker Julie Dickey has managed to find a good balance between her need for solitude as a person with autism and the basic human need to fulfill a purpose and have a place in a social world. Through this session she will share her journey as she sought to find a balance that works for her. She will offer suggestions for individuals with autism to help them find a balance that works for them. This session may also be helpful for caregivers or educators who want to help individuals with autism find a balance as well.

Using examples from her own life, the speaker will begin by discussing pitfalls that can be encountered by individuals with autism when trying to function in a non-autistic world. Some topics to be discussed include bullying, low self-worth, and how inability to meet the expectations of others can make building coping skills difficult. The speaker will also discuss how her earlier experiences contributed to her ability to become a more balanced individual.

The second part of the session will introduce the need to find a balanced life which allows the individual with autism to embrace who she is while still functioning in the world. The speaker will discuss how receiving a diagnosis at the age of 29 helped set her on the path of finding her personal balance and becoming a self-advocate who has learned to make the best use of limited resources.

In the final part of the session, the speaker will discuss problems with and provide suggestions for how to meet the need to be as full a participant in the non-autistic world as possible. The needs to be discussed are establishing a sense of purpose, establishing a personal social community, and being of service to others. Some options discussed will include how to find and develop new hobbies, volunteering, participating in religious communities, social skills training and finding acceptance in a social group.

The speaker for this session has learned to find a balance between being herself as a person with autism and living in a non-autistic world. Other individuals can find that balance as well. Such a balance is important if individuals with autism are to live a full life in a non-autistic world.

Learning Objectives:

Explain why there is a need for a balance between autism and living life in the non-autistic world
Describe three difficulties that arise for someone with autism that can interfere with being able to maintain a balance in a non-autistic world
Identify three accomplishments which are necessary for maintaining a balanced life

Content Area: Personal Perspectives

Presenter:

Julie A. Dickey
Self Advocate
N/A

Julie was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as an adult in 2004. In the process of seeking services, Julie has become a skilled self-advocate. She seeks to share her experiences of finding a balance in a non-autistic world with others by speaking and writing.

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