Autism Awareness Month

As April roles around it is once again Autism Awareness month. In 2010 what does this actually mean? From my perspective it is a way to inform, educate and demystify the realities of what autism is AND what it's not! There has been a tremendous amount of confusion over the years of how autism is defined. Many see it as it is portrayed in popular culture with such films as "Rain Man" or hearing celebrities like Jenny McCarthy who claims that autism can be cured.

The reality is that autism is a spectrum and there is no one single definition. It is in constant flux and that has been clearly seen by the medical communities stance that the diagnosis of aspergers will no longer be a criteria in the new Diagnostic Statistical Manual. It will be brought into the fold of autism spectrum disorder.

More recently we are seeing a radical change in how autism is viewed. Very much on the heals of the Disability Civil Rights Movements people with autism (particularly those with high functioning autism and aspergers) have stated that there is true value in neurodiversity & that difference is not a disability - just difference!

This new approach will have a significant impact on the cultural ramifications of autism and disability as a whole. This harkens back to the basic socio-cultural model of disability and the struggle for equality.

As the second decade of the 21st Century is upon us it maybe time to see that the human expierence is broad and that the concept of "normalcy" or acceptable can be redefined.

Healthcare

I am watching the news with great ferver like many American are today! We are at a watershed momment where a healthcare bill is about to be passed and change the landscape for millions of Americans. As a person with a disability who has had some contentious days with insurance companies trying to gain health insurance even though I have a pre-existing conditions. After the healthcare bill is signed into law millions of people with disabilities lives will be completley transformed in ways that are not even concieved as of yet. This is a great day in American life!

Temple Grandin

I just finished watching the HBO film "Temple Grandin". It was my second time seeing the film because I saw it last week at the priemer in New York City. I worked on the film as a technical advisor and was hopeful that the film would do justice to this iconic member of the disability community. I tried my best to offer Claire Danes and the producers any advice I could. This was a tour deforce by Ms. Danes and the filmakers making a truly astonishing film. As I wached the film in the comfort of my home I was really able to soak in what this film really means and why its impact is vital in the year of the 20th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. In the film Temple Grandin states "different, but not less" and from my vantage point that is so cruucial to not understand just people with autism but the disability community as a whole. If we as a society are truly going to embrace diversity we must heed the credo "different, but not less" The value of difference is beautiful but does not make us any less a valued member of society. I am hopeful that this film will be a watershed momment for Hollywood to see that there are many stories to be told of people with disabilities that are entertaining, interesting & very much part of the fabric of the human expierence.

The Special Olympics Inclusive Workforce Town hall

I spent the past few days in Washington, DC because I was invited to speak at The Special Olympics Inclusive Workforce Town Hall. This event was the first of its kind with the emphasis on job creation, career development and the understanding that there needs to be a hard look at what needs to be done on this issue. It was quite interesting that in much of the State of the Union the President discussed the need for jobs and why it is vital to put Americans to work. For people with disabilities nothing can be further from the truth. As we enter the second decade of the 21st Century and the second decade of the Americans with Disabilities Act the disability community must take action to see that they are part of the economic recovery of the American economy. It goes beyond just job creation but really looking towards both an entreprenurial spirit and the see people with disabilities as a vital part of the future of American business. American business needs to rethink the value proposition of potential employers and see that diversity will be a key to future growth.

The Knowledge Worker and The Future of Employment for Persons with Disabilities

Management guru Peter Drucker understood years before the proliferation of the digital age that knowledge workers would be an integral part of the global economy. Everyone from private industry, government and the non for profit world are beginning to understand the inherent value of the knowledge worker. Traditional 9 to 5 work enviornments are retooling to meet the demands and creative needs of this 21st century concept.One of the most important aspects of this concept is to find the individuals strentgth and match that to where they would find the most success. For people with disabilities there talents have often been masked by the fact that some have seen there disability first rather than there ability. In the new economy of the knowledge worker I think we will hopefully see a seismic shift in this thinking and open up new opportunties for people with disabilities to be employed and find success in this new enviornment. I am attending a Workforce Town Hall Conference in Washington, DC sponsored by The Special Olympics and Best Buddies International. I believe this is a push in the right direction as we enter the second decade of the American with Disabilities Act and first new decade of the 21st century.

A New Year, A New Decade

It is a new year, a new decade and renewed purpose. The American with Disabilities act is entering its second decade and we must revaluate the impact of this piece of lesligation not only from a legal standpoint but really take a long hard look at how such a law has made an impact on areas of employment, education, transporatation and general quality of life. As I state to both my clients and students " The Disability Community is the only minority anyone can join at anytime!" In my estimation disability is part of the human expierence and must be seen through this lens. If we as a society are going to make forward progress tehn we must be truly inclusive to all its members. The Disability Community is certainly a shining example of what diversity means in the 21st Century.

This year I want to focus further on employment issues but see how this issue plays into the larger corporate strategy of an organization and as Peter Drucker said plsy to peoples strengths.