Bridges Connections 2012

To my Bridges friends in particular
I miss you already! I hope we have worked out a real way to keep in touch during the winter months when there are no Bridges gatherings.

Using a combination of email to everyone and links to my Andrew’s Bridges blog, we can send messages to one and all.

This could work around the year also. I'm thinking this could become a way of connecting us all through the year as well, when people who live far away cannot come to every gathering. Also we can be connected to friends like Tim and John who now live far away. This may be a step towards using Skype at the same time to have a ”virtual” gathering.

Using Andrew’s Bridges Blog to keep in touch over the winter
We are thinking of timing our Bridges message activity around the time of month that we plan to meet in 2013—around the middle of the month.

Many of us depend on others for our access to email or the Internet. But if we have a whole week, it could work for someone in our circle of friends to support us?
You don't need to type long messages. Just something so we know you are still there.....

How we can do this
1. We will alert you with an email message that there is new material in the blog that could interest you and give you the link: Click on the link: http://andrewsbridges.blogspot.ca/

2. This link takes you to the Home page. You will see my most recent messages at the top of the page. Older messages are lower down.
You may simply browse and read information.
Or you could add comments and questions.
Just a simple greeting will cheer us to know that you are well.
Your messages may stimulate others to comment and prompt us to add to or adapt the information.

This is how to comment
·    Underneath each post, click on where it says 'comments'. (It might say 'No comments' or '1 comment', etc. depending on how many people have already commented).   
·    Enter your comment in the space provided. You have the option of making a comment to the original post, or replying to another comment that has been posted in response to the original post.    
·    Underneath your comment, you will be asked to select a profile. Choose any of the options. If you don't have any of the mentioned accounts, you can just choose 'name/url' and it will give you an option to enter your name (you can make up a nick name if you prefer or use your real name. It also gives you the option to add your own website if you want to.)    
·    Or you can just comment as an anonymous person if you wish.    
·    When you click 'publish', you will be asked to verify numbers and/or words. After you do this, your comment will be posted once reviewed by the moderator.   

Some Ideas for Discussion
To start with, I have some questions to match the time of year and some that were suggested at our last gathering. I am posting all these now, with some ideas on four of them. Perhaps you could reply to say which topics interest you most?

1. How do you like the prospect of winter which is starting early this year?
AB: I love winter and running and walking in the snow! I am thinking about the snow to come and how I will enjoy the crisp cool days. The snow makes everything fresh and new and it gives me a good feeling that things are improving and going to be better every day. Yes it is like a new beginning and the footprints in the snow are the new journey that is marked in it each step of the way. It is good to feel the soft flakes on my face. It is like feathers tickling my nose. I like that feeling a lot –even though I hate to be tickled.

2. Do you make plans for the New Year? Do you plan ahead for new things? How do you feel about change?
AB: I think it is a good idea for everyone to have this in mind because things change. Many of us don’t like to think about change but it is real so let’s plan for it, so it will be more accepted when it happens.
I want to be a good friend and keep in touch with friends near and far away. I know how good it feels to hear from my friends I want them to know I care also. I am happy to think about all the people in my life and live through them sometimes in the great stories they share. I don't need to travel far to know what is happening all over the world because part of me is already there with my friends. I am going to travel far some day but for now I am happy to be here in Guelph.
I hope to see my Aroha friends [special circle friends] near Christmas. Maybe do more poems with Beth and Judi and paint with Heidi.
In my mind I see my friends circling around me in support. I feel I might not fall between the cracks if I have my Aroha in the days ahead when my parents cannot be in my life. My Aroha will keep the intentions and values we determined together. It is wise to have a plan and start it while your parents are alive. Friends not strangers will support me when the crisis comes in the future. I will be upset when G and E go but I will have a life in place.

3. What do you most enjoy to eat? Could we share our recipe favourites?
AB: I love all my foods but I think my fish dishes are the best. How can I make them myself? I like to have a lot of green things. How can I make the new fish dishes with green vegetables?

4. What is your favourite form of exercise?
AB: I am hoping to run more and maybe in a long distance marathon. I love to run fast and furious. It will be fun to run that way again soon. I sometimes run too fast at the beginning then slow down and even stop. I need someone to remind me it was my good idea and say” so move along Andrew!”

5. What it’s like to travel—what helps with any changes in routine. How do we keep to our diets when out of our regular patterns?

6. How can we get used to communicating and using ST when away from our usual places and support people?

7. How can we encourage staff or new people to have conversations with us when they may be shy about ST? One tip at our last gathering: “At first I told them all the nice things that I was thinking”. Another tip: “Carry your communication board/device everywhere!

8. What it’s like to live in your own home. If I want to, how do I start?

9. Are any of us sensitive to things in our environment—weather (heat, humidity…), phases of moon, noise, vibrations, bright lights, pollution?

10. Are you interested in keeping learning? If so, what subjects are you interested in?
AB: People did not think I could learn when I was school age. Now I want to continue to learn and maybe get a diploma. Art history is my first choice, with some music as well. I want to learn about the environment and history too. I need my special style of learning to be recognized. I need to see and hear things over again. I think my senses are overactive and they need to slow down to take in the information.

Bridges Centre Painting

This is my painting of my dream .

My garden

This is me harvesting lavender from my garden.

My favourite flower I grew from seed.



Bridges latest newsletter

Hello everyone!

Here is the link to our latest Bridges newsletter http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/BoB-12-2012.pdf online. We also do it on paper: if you would like a paper copy, please let me know.

This bulletin, the first for ten months, includes:
--news from Tim and Betty in Nova Scotia,
--reports of how Sara and Matt spoke up for themselves and Bridges at public gatherings,
--short summaries of our last seven gatherings,
--notes on our Bridges Mural, the Song of Hope for Bridges, my article for the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, and my Andrew's Bridges blog.
--some thoughts about "growing" Bridges to reach more people who have no voice yet. As well as the awareness of our communication rights that we have been working on, we need more trained communication intermediaries to make a difference.

My New Article

I want to tell you that my article about Supported Typing and Bridges-Over-Barriers was published this week in the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies. My title is: "What everyone yearns for: really good support to communicate. The Ontario story of Bridges-Over-Barriers". The article is online at this link: http://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/46/29

Reading the article is free but you have to register and sign in. I suggest you choose to read the article in PDF format as the HTML format at present misses important punctuation and even one paragraph is missing. The only drawback is that you can't view the clip of our Bridges video from inside the PDF document. You have to get into the HTML version about 60 per cent through to get to the video link. Special thanks to Christine for preparing this clip from the original video.

I thank everyone who encouraged me to think about and compose this article. I hope very strongly that more people will understand how important it is for us to communicate and connect, to express ourselves and make choices about our lives. Please pass on this link to anyone who could help or be helped. Comments and questions are welcome.

Some new poems to share.....

A Home of My Very Own
AB 2 May 2012
Getting my own home
was a way of growing up,
a way of putting down roots,
and a way of gaining respect.
Getting my own home
was a way of feeling safe,
knowing I would never again
have to live anywhere
that was not good for me.

I want to know I am king in my castle
and no one can beat down my doors.
I want to know I am showing others
I can do this and that maybe
they can too.
I want to know
we are teaching others
about living a good life
and that having one’s own home
is a key ingredient.

A key is a way to unlock the door
to new experiences
but it is also a way
to keep out annoyances.
Things that are bothersome or
that make me feel limited
may not get past the doorway.
I will always welcome those who
who come with open hearts and minds
and a hunger for friendship and good food.
--------------
Dreaming to be free
AB 11 May 2012
Freedom to me is about living
every day with meaning and purpose.
I have reason to doubt and
reason to be discouraged.
I am the author of my story.
It can be a sad one or a happy one
with things to share about my strengths.
I am choosing the story
with a positive way of reading.
My hope is to give others hope with my stories.

I want to be an encourager.
I want to be ambitious.
I am independent and strong.
If I use my challenges to help others grow
I can use my life to be a kind of leader.
I am determined to show myself and others
I can achieve if I believe I can.
I am an achiever of big dreams
that I live out everyday
This will give me reason to live
and dream to be free.
I will then be free to be me.

Flowering Indoor Plant

Blooming Orchid Cactus in my home.

2 New Poems

I've been unwell over the past several weeks which is why I haven't been adding to the blog. I am feeling better these days and have 2 new poems that I would like to share.

Hoping for the best
I have reason to hope for the future: 
that life will be full of light 
and love and friendship.
I have reason to hope because 
it is already the truth of my life. 
I am surrounded, circled and consoled 
by my friends and loved ones.
I am already held in high regard
and given respect in ways 
unknown to autistics in the past.
I am already listened to 
for my opinion and looked to 
for friendship.
 
I have hope for a future
that is the best because 
I am on a good path 
that I can return to at times 
when I must lie down on the side.
I feel loved and I feel held
and I have reason to hope 
my life will continue along 
this way.
AB, 7 Mar 2012

The meaning in life
Life is mysterious, isn't it?
We always seek answers; 
we have so many questions.
I know you are a seeker of truth and beauty 
and I a seeker of meaning.
We can meet in the middle
and paint pictures 
with the answers we find.
I think we can have a meeting of our minds 
and a meeting of our hearts.
I like to connect with you
and I hope you do too.
AB 15 Feb 2012