CLEAN LANGUAGE

I want to tell you about something that has helped me. I first heard about Clean Language in early 2013 when my tutor Lea went to a course about it in Austin, Texas. When she returned she invited me to try it. Clean Language aka Symbolic Modelling was first developed to help people with mental health issues but has been found valuable in many applications to encourage clear thinking and self-confidence. What I like about Clean Language: the therapist or facilitator really listens and asks only questions that use the client person's words in phrasing questions. This encourages the person to dig down in their unconscious mind and come up with positive ideas and solutions that they can control. I find this very refreshing and empowering. 

I am in touch with world leaders in Clean Language, James Lawley and Penny Tompkins, who are based in London, England. We have conversations using Zoom programs. It feels that they are here in my livingroom, not thousands of miles away. They start by asking me "And what would you like to happen as a result of this session?" I say what's on my mind, and they ask me questions using only my words. Thus they do not put words or ideas in my mind. Nor do they put me down by rephrasing what I say in their words or ideas. I am really engaged in the conversation and I come to see and work out solutions to what might have been bothering me. So I feel in control! 

We have had five conversations and recorded both audio and video. My computer program also records my words as text. Afterwards, we may join up all my sentences in a format like a poem. They are all about the struggle between grey and green modes in my body and mind. I am including just a small part of each poem here, as they are quite long. But if you ask me, I could send the full text of one or all the poems. We also have video files which are quite large: I could send you part of a file to get an idea. We also have each poem as an audio file. With my supporters here, I am working on a short film to illustrate Clean Language which I will share with you if you like. Perhaps we’ll be able to organize some training in Ontario for Clean Language facilitators. It’s good to have different people as Clean Language questioners from the people like Judi and Jesse who support my typing.

I know we Bridges friends feel for one another. I wish with all my heart that each of you finds something that works for you like Clean Language does for me.

My green comes from my heart

AB 20 Jul 2018 (a green day)

I want to be able to get out of my grey mode:

I do not like to be grey; it feels like hell.

I am happy now and want to stay this way.

It feels good to be happy and green.

My green comes from my heart.

My heart is clean and free from all

of my worry and free from my loss.

..........

When I reach into my heart,

it is like going into a long tunnel

to get the happy feelings out.

The hopeful feelings

just before I am green again

are always in my heart.

I just need to grab them.

I have to think I am blessed.

My family and my home and good life

are my blessings;

I need to remind myself.

Then I can work at getting myself

to the green place I need to be.

I tell myself I am a good man

and Andrew John Bloomfield the third,

the runner and green man.

That’s who I am.

I feel like I can take on the world

when I voice those words

but I need to live it out.

I am trying to live it out every day.

.....

From a pit of hell

AB, 25 Aug 2018 (a very grey day)

I am in a pit of hell now

that I would like to climb out of.

This is a grey time that needs to be flushed away.

It is like I am stuck here

and I cannot make myself move.

The sky is above me and the stars

but I cannot see them when I am in the pit.

I want to see the sunshine again and blue skies.

I want to go to sleep and wake up with a clear mind.

Then I am in my green space and

feel like I can breathe again.

.......

My only strength right now

is love in my heart that

I feel needs to be released.

I want to share my feelings and ideas with others

and be someone who can help not take.

It is important to me to give.

The strength in my heart becomes bigger and stronger

and I have more to share with my friends and family.

I am so blessed to have each of them in my life:

all the people in my life are different and unique.

I find the strength I need to grab on and climb up.

I am going to keep climbing and try to get green.

My future endeavours

AB 25 Sep 2018 (faintly green)

My home helps me to feel safe and secure.

I am happy when I have

my family and friends by my side,

my green oasis in my backyard,

when I am surrounded by my paintings,

and have music in my life,

my canine companions,

and my community as well as

my communication devices.

I feel all those things in my heart.

It is a heart that can give love to everyone

and there is plenty to go around.

It gives people joy and fills my heart with joy.

I have a heart that is full;

I feel refreshed and I am happy.

I want to talk about my future endeavours,

So I can still live here in my home

where I have all the things

that help me feel safe and secure.

I need to figure out a plan

for me to be supported ongoing……

The great escape

AB 24 Oct 2018 (a good green day)

I like being green.

Green is a great place to be,

here with all of you.

When I am green

I want to forget about being grey.

It is hell.

It is a place I do not want to return to.

.....

When I am in the deep dark hole,

I am trapped and stuck and cannot get out.

A type of force is keeping me there.

It tries to control me.

It wants to be in charge of my body.

But then that force weakens

and I take that opportunity to get out.

I see a little bit of light high up in the sky

that shines down in the deep dark hole.

The light is close to my true self

that is in my heart and my head.

I run towards it.

The light weakens the force

and helps me to find my path

back up to the green mode again.

When I see the light is weakening that force,

I can feel it in me getting strength back.

The light throws down vines into the hole.

I break free and I run to the vine

and grab a hold of it.

I try to take advantage of that

to make the great escape.

.......

Words and images by Andrew Bloomfield

in response to Clean Language questions

by James Lawley and Penny Tompkins

Mid Summer 2018,

 I’m hoping to refresh my blog with regular new postings.

 For a start, I want to tell you of a book being published by one of my online friends, Gordon Gates who refers to our Bridges-Over-Barriers communication group. The book’s title is Trauma, Stigma and Autism: developing resilience and loosening the grip of shame. Gordon also has a new website on which he posts blogs:

https://www.sociophenomenal.com

New Guelph resource about Autism Spectrum Conditions

We are happy to tell everyone about a special resource we are creating at the Guelph Public Library. It is a collaboration between  GSA's Bridges-Over-Barriers and Facilitation Wellington Dufferin. At the following link is a list of the first 60 books with a note of explanation about this project. Above all we hope that our  community will come to understand and really support our people who live with ASC (Autism Spectrum Conditions) to be included and have real  choices to sustain good lives.

http://www.ont-autism.uoguelph.ca/GSA-books-FWD-GPL-2017.pdf

Just skimming the titles will give you an idea of the breadth of ASC and the welcome increase in information. 

Sensory issues have come into clearer  focus, including in planning environments that help people to thrive.  For GSA supporters and others interested in creating good homes, we  recommend At home with autism : designing housing for the spectrum / Kim Steele, Sherry Ahrentzen / Kim Steele, Sherry Ahrentzen | Policy Press | 2016.

People  with more complex needs at the severe end of the spectrum are not  always discussed with similar respect, notably people who cannot use  their voices and who are assumed to be cognitively as well as  communicatively impaired. 

While there is still a shortage of books about communication supports, the top Autism book of 2017 must be Naoki Higashida’s Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8,  translated by David Mitchell. Friends of GSA and Bridges: If there’s  only one book about Autism you can read this year, this should be it.  Happy to report that GPL already has this book as well as Naoki’s  earlier The Reason I Jump (2013).  

This is one way we are honouring the memory of Mary Johnston, a great friend and encourager of GSA and Bridges-Over-Barriers for the past 20 years.

Andrew with Gerry & Elizabeth

Guelph Services for the Autistic: Bridges-Over-Barriers

Eden Mills Arts Festival

During May, we will post updates to tell you about the Eden Mills Arts Festival the last weekend of May.

At least ten members of the Bridges Communication Group will be showing their art and often their words as well. These are some of the artists' profiles:

Kevin Vasey: “Painting is a wonderful means of expressing thoughts, feelings, emotions and creativity. Working with colours and textures is calming and satisfying. I also enjoy writing, music, books, gardening and camping.” I appreciate Heidi and the Bloomfields for arranging and setting up the art display at Eden Mills.

Sara Lyne: “I live in Simcoe, Ontario. I enjoy music a lot and especially dancing! I go to Haldimand Abilities Centre very week to participate in the Canvas and Mocktails painting class. I have been doing this for a couple of years and have accumulated a gallery of my paintings. I enjoy using a lot of colour and different flowers are my favourite things to paint. I love to paint and find it relaxing and it makes me smile! I need colour in my life. I hope you enjoy my creations and find it a pleasure to look at!“

Isaac Wong has made a painting of a flower entitled I Love You, showing his colour and autistic love; had painted in the past but in an inclusive arts group for past 5 weeks. 

Christopher:. “My name is Christopher Wrigley and I am grateful to be sharing my writing with you. I have never been a creative visual artist but I enjoy art is in all of its magnificence. Nature is our ultimate inspiration; is it not? I have chosen a rainbow for my work here today because it is a fleeting wonder just as human lives on this our glorious planet. I am now losing my sight. I thank my friend Sophia for her assistance in making adaptations and spending her precious time in working with me. I also wish to thank my friend Andrew for arranging this show of work by individuals who must depend upon the dedication of loving friends to be heard. I give you my heart in peace and greater understanding for all those of differences.”

Jillian Mothersell: expresses herself very eloquently in words. She likes colours, especially light blue, and looking at the sky when the sun is shining. 

Joey Umbrico has been painting mainly in oils in his Toronto studio for 3-4 years with his teacher Gary. 

Matt (Matthew Macdonald): “I paint because it helps me to be free. It is a freeing thing to do.”

Tim Marmura has sent an abstract painting from Antigonish NS. Tim says: I enjoy painting. I prefer making large pieces over which I have more control. Music is very important in my life. It helps me relax. It pleases me that my artwork appears on L’Arche cards.

John Morris-Dadson: “I do artwork at the SEA (Community Services Sensory Exploration Arts) Program using paint and other things like sand, seashells, stones, glass and even eggshells and seeds. I like making art that is surprising and fun to see and touch.”

Andrew Bloomfield: “My words are a painting and my paintings show my words in colour and form. As I cannot speak with my voice, I use computers to express my thoughts and feelings in prose and poetry. I have been painting seriously since 2009, usually with acrylics on canvas. First I compose my thoughts and images in poetry. Then my art mentor Heidi and I collaborate to choose and combine the colours, forms and textures for a painting. Heidi stabilizes my painting arm. This painting combines my sensitivity to Max the horse with my passion to speak up for our rights to express ourselves and make our own decisions.”

*For an online version of the Eden Mills Arts Festival brochure, follow this link:
http://www.edenmillsartsfestival.com/2017-brochure.html

New poem for a new painting about my Green Oasis

Serenity

AB 25 March 2017

The fresh smell of the morning dew 

on the new day

is ready for a fresh start.

Droplets of water are hanging on, 

just waiting to fall

to give the soil a taste of refreshment,

just enough to give a nourishing drink 

and refresh its dryness.

The buds begin to come awake 

and peek out from their slumber.

The winter has given them rest 

and restored their strength.

Now it is time to come to life again.

It’s spring!

Come awake, so we can see all your beauty!

Once the buds develop,

and the leaves and stems

come to life again,

the life in my garden

becomes a captivating green oasis

with lushness to enjoy.

The green gives a place of peace and tranquility

where everything is real.

There is no artificial plastic material in a plant:

it is real and serene.

I love it for what it is.

I sit on my swing to enjoy the birds

as they enjoy the sights of my garden

and benefit from the seeds and twigs for their homes.

Yukon loves to watch the birds play

a game of who gets to the fence first

while the wind pushes their wings together.

It is a green oasis of serene joy

as I sit and take in the sights, sounds, smells

of my beautiful garden.

This is truly serenity.

My Artist Profile-Eden Mills Festival

“My words are a painting and my paintings show my words in colour and form.”

As I cannot speak with my voice, I use computers to express my thoughts and feelings in prose and poetry. I have been painting seriously since 2009, usually with acrylics on canvas.

First I compose my thoughts and images in poetry. Then my art mentor Heidi and I collaborate to choose and combine the colours, forms and textures for a painting. Heidi stabilizes my painting arm and supports me to show what is in my mind. I wish there could be another way of stabilizing my body so I could paint what is in my mind all by myself.

My Horse and Man painting combines my sensitivity to Max the horse with my passion to “speak up” for our rights to express ourselves and make our own decisions. 

Eden Mills Arts Festival

Hello friends, I am posting to let you know about the upcoming Art Festival in Eden Mills (just outside of Guelph). For an online version of the brochure, follow this link:
http://www.edenmillsartsfestival.com/2017-brochure.html

Here is my main art piece that I will be showcasing this year

The Eden Mills 2017 brochure (I am #11):

Please spread the word and I hope to see you there!

New Video

Can I share my latest short video? HORSE AND MAN shows my work with Max the horse at Sunrise, with some scenes of other places where I have worked with horses. I also share a related poem and my new painting for the Eden Mills Arts Festival. Thanks to Jesse for support at Sunrise and for his video skills and to Heidi for being my art mentor. To watch the video, click the picture or visit the link: https://youtu.be/vvSyMyPETO4


We are making various short videos so new friends and supporters can understand how best to encourage me to do my best and realize my dreams. It's also a kind of social story to see myself in everyday activities. The day we filmed this video was actually "grey" for me but I tried my best.

My rock collection

I like to travel--just about anywhere. California for sure and to revisit New Zealand where I was born. I specially love to travel by train. But my sensory and movement differences get in the way.

My friends who do travel bring back rock samples as well as photographs and postcards. I have a special rock cabinet with the rocks labelled with their composition and the place they were picked up. I have rocks from all over Canada from the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland to Yellowknife. From outside Canada too, in various parts of the US and the Caribbean, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Russia, Korea and New Zealand.

I have just been given a collection of special rocks from northern Ontario by a geologist Lindsay Debono. Stuart is helping me to post photographs of them.

Two Videos Posted to my YouTube!

1. Two videos just posted:

Listen to Us!

The May 2016 gathering of Bridges-Over-Barriers in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. This time we were seven adults from around southern Ontario with messages also from two more distant members, Tim in Antigonish and Kevin in Petrolia. We all use supported communication as we cannot speak with our voices because of our movement and sensory differences. We meet to share news, challenges and strategies and this time exchanged ideas about how we can ensure that it is really our words that are heard. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYjEWaSBw7E

 Music for my Body, Mind and Soul

As a man who lives with complex health challenges and movement and sensory differences, I talk about how music and rhythm help me. I made this video for my friend Dr Sunyoung Kim who organized a jazz concert in Seoul, Korea on 25 January 2017, at which some of my poems, set to music, were performed. 

This video was also seen at the concert but I gave its name afterwards. 

You could view one or more of the 15 video files from the concert, including Andrew’s songs set to music, by cutting and pasting this search into your browser:

<2017 Music Therapeutic Story Concert "Autistic Poet Andrew's music story">

Link to my short film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jluvDkoePvg&feature=youtu.be

If you enjoyed the videos, you can Subscribe to  my YouTube channel 😄

Some Concert Photos

Just received these photos from my great music friend in Korea--of last week's jazz concert in Seoul that was inspired by our music relationship.

Some New Poems

I had a good conversation over the weekend, typing to talk my thoughts. Though my head felt in a fog to start with, I was able to express myself and brought out two poems that have been waiting in my head for some time. They are inspired by our work with colours as well as my relationships with different friends.

My eyes are my camera to the world

AB 28 January 2017

My eyes are my camera to the world:

I see what my senses are allowing me.

The sight is just of ways I actually see:

I need my whole body to make it focus.

When my body is in turmoil

my sight is unclear

and it is like a fog.

When I am balanced and feeling my best

my sight is clear and bright.

It takes all of the energy I have

to use my senses together.

Red, green, orange, yellow, purple and blue

are bright and happiness is felt.

Grey and black leave me with doubt.

White is clear and empty and unfinished.

It is a good day to see the bright colours and it gives me joy.

I need all of these colours to make my life choices.

I need the grey and black colours

to give me gratitude for the bright days.

It is through the ears and nose and mouth

and also my fingers

that I truly can see through my eyes.

It is a big film

taking place in my mind

before I have this sight.

This is a camera of many different lenses.

I see life as I sense and feel it.

It is a series not a one-time film.

My friends are the heartbeat of my home

AB, 28 January 2017

My friends are the heartbeat of my home.

Each one brings a different tone and rhythm;

together they make an orchestra.

I have the bold and triumphant

who bring the new ideas and loud change.

The soft and slower moving bring

a calm and soothing  tune.

I feel the song come to life as they enter my home.

Each of my friends is a gift with different tunes to sing.

It reminds me of different birds.

Sometimes are the tunes are bit fast and confusing

while others are relaxing.

It is always a nice song each day brings

with new and old friends entering my home.

It is a beautiful song to hear when we are together.

A Tribute to my Friends

I am fortunate to have some wonderful friends around the world, and to be connected to their friends as well. My friend Sunyoung KJim, whom I call Sunny, recently completed her PhD in Korea with a dissertation based on our collaboration while she lived in Guelph. She is now planning the 4th in her series of:

Music Therapeutic Concerts: Andrew's Music Story in Kimhae on January 25, 2017.  

Sunny will be a storyteller of the concert, and 7 old friends will be introduced.  

1st: Andrew Bloomfield  

2nd: Vibraphone (Vibist), Jazz Drummer Minsu Lim  

3rd: Jazz Drummer, Music Director for this concert Yeojung Heo  

4th: Jazz Guitar, Vocal Hongseok Kim  

5th: Blus Guitar, Vocal Dalim Kangheo  

6th: Jazz Bass, Contrabass Byunghun Lee  

7th: Jazz Bass Wooyoung Lee 

The musicians are all Sunny's longtime friends and associated with the Seoul Jazz Academy. They are really famous musicians and all teach at Korean universities.

Bulk Microgreens

Good afternoon friends. Here is an update on my microgreen hobby. I have now started to make it a little more large scale. These are sunflower microgreens. For those interested, there are so many various microgreens that you can grow. And they are often more nutritious than their mature adult version. I recommend trying some, you can really cut back on the produce you buy in stores!

Sunrise

Sharing a photo of me with MAX at Sunrise Equestrian. At present, I groom and feed Max organic carrots. I also muck out some stalls. Some time I would like to ride him. Max is 25 years old.

Horse and man

13 Jul 2013

The long and colourful body

is a strong and powerful force.

The mind of the gentle soul

is a clever one.

The kindness seen in the eyes

is a voice that whispers hope to me.

The touch of the body is warm

and I feel the beating of the heart.

It looks like it could walk right over you

but it is so kind it never would.

It is soft and a colour that soothes the eyes.

I am feeling the softness

and the rough tickle

at the same time.

When the brush touches the hair

it gives the horse a gentle rub.

It is rough but it gives a soothing feel.
I love the brown and white strong colours.

I see the thoughtful ideas of the horse

in its eyes and body.

It wants to run free

and be open to new things.

It needs the care of the man

to be healthy and keep safe.

A New Video

Sharing with you all a new video in my words, about my hopes for my circle of support in keeping my good life and home going into the future. Our Bridges group is mentioned. Made by film maker Josée Boulanger, it is being shown for the first time this coming weekend at a retreat for caregivers in the Ottawa area. https://vimeo.com/189787285

Two New Poems

Greetings friends. Today I have two new poems to share.  The first one shares my thoughts and feelings on the brain calm supplement I have been taking. The second one is about making decisions in my life.

Brain Calm

AB 15 Oct 2016

Today I am calm and feeling well.

It’s like I am a child again.

Everything is new.

It is clean in my head.

My head is like it used to be

when I did not have worries.

It is a clear and blue sky in my head.

It’s like I had a veil lifted from my eyes.

I could see again.

Black scarf over my face was causing me

to see things in a dark way.

Now my eyes are clear

to see the sunshine and blue skies.

The flowers push the Gaba

into my holes in my brain.

Now the brain is whole again.

It feels good all the time.

Why did we wait?

I do not have headaches.

I think and feel like a new person.

It is a good thing.

Thank you for trying.

Self-advocacy

AB 15 Oct 2016

I am my own advocate.

I speak up for myself and do what I need to.

I speak up for what is important to me.

I am Andrew John Bloomfield the Third—

I am he!

Making sure I get my good food

and no needles.

Having my own home.

Being a good host to friends.

Eating well and being a runner.

I am a student--I need to keep learning.

Having my friends and family close.

Aroha.

Trying new things so I am learning

to be a more confident man

and not afraid of change and challenges.

I am trying to be the best me.

When I began to use ST, I became my voice.

I am the luckiest and blessed man

to have good people in my life.

But perhaps not lucky-

it happens for a reason.

The people who are here are here for me

and I love them all.

Thank you for helping make this happen.

You listen to me, the people in this room.

Aroha is my rock for the future.

I have a good future

 if my Aroha follows this advice.

Listening to me
to make sure it is what I really want.

I can change my mind.

It is important that people know

it is me who does the talking

about my ideas.

Sometimes I need to ask questions.

It helps to know more before I go ahead.

Always speak up for what I want

and don’t be afraid to ask.

I need to use Supported Typing

to say what I need.

More ST is always good.

I think that all people need to be

their own advocate.

That is the only way

they will be heard and believed.

You say what you want

and let others know

what is important to you.

They need to listen

and if they do not listen

then keep telling.