It's been just about a month since my last entry, and I have much to report! Having now completed my Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, I am turning to the business of being employed. I needed an office space for A.S.C.O.T. Coaching, my Asperger's college coaching business, and was fortunate enough to be offered one a few months ago. My friend/colleague Nicole has her own business as well (for working with individuals with special needs), so we talked it over and decided to share this office and use it for each of our respective business needs.
Well, we got the keys at the beginning of September, and have spent the last month moving in and trying to get everything up and running. Now that we have a computer, bookcase, lamps, our respective degrees hanging on the wall, and all sorts of miscellaneous office equipment, I finally feel ready to be open for business. I hope to have an office-warming party soon, to formally welcome everyone and get the word out about the office.
Publication-wise, an article that I wrote--"I’m Gonna Let It Shine: How This Little Light Grew Into a Fiery Self-Advocate"--was just published in the Fall 2011 issue of AHA-NY's "On the Spectrum" newsletter. In addition, my mom wrote a short piece about my appearing at the United Nations earlier this year, and it was also published in this newsletter. Woo!
Last week, I went down to Atlantic City for Autism New Jersey's annual conference. I was asked a few months ago to speak on the self-advocate panel, along with two other adults on the spectrum, and I agreed to do so. For past conferences, I have tended to write notes on index cards to refer to, rather than fully writing out my speech. This time, however, I decided to go ahead and write it out.
Unfortunately, the panel was not videotaped, but I thought some folks might be interested to read my speech, so I'm posting it here on my blog. It's in .pdf format, so just click HERE to read it.
Also, I recently received a phone call, on my land line, with an inquiry about the book I am working on, The Naughty Autie. The caller said he belonged to an Asperger's Syndrome support group at which I had been a guest speaker, and he wanted to know if the book was available for purchase in bookstores.
I was so amazed to have gotten a call like this, and I feel as though it is a sign from the universe: a sign to get my damn book published already! So, I'm now preparing to send my book proposal to a publisher that has expressed interest in it previously. We'll see what happens!
Finally, if you're in the New York City area, I will be performing a monologue on the second day of ARS SPECTRA, a salute to artists on the autism spectrum. The event runs from Thursday, October 27th to Sunday, October 30th, and is being held at the Soho Gallery for Digital Art, 138 Sullivan Street, New York, NY. Click HERE to view the public event invite on Facebook, which has many more details and info for ordering tickets. Hope to see you there!
Showing posts with label college coaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college coaching. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, September 20, 2010
A.S.C.O.T Coaching, LLC
I am very pleased and excited to announce that the A.S.C.O.T Coaching, LLC section of AmyGravino.com is now up and available for browsing! If you or someone you know is interested in college coaching services for students with Asperger's Syndrome, or any of the consulting or public speaking services I have to offer, please feel free to check out my site and pass it along! Click the banner below to go to the A.S.C.O.T Coaching, LLC main page. Thank you!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Introducing: AmyGravino.com!
Hello, loyal readers of my blog! I am most pleased and proud to present you all with my brand-new, fully-functional website: AmyGravino.com!.
AmyGravino.com is your one-stop shop for everything and anything relating to moi. It has my bio, my C.V., pieces of my writing, articles I've written, video and audio clips from media appearances that I've made, and more. The page for ASCOT, my college coaching LLC, is still under construction (which is fitting because I'm still trying to hammer out the details of setting up the LLC), but everything else is finished.
I am trying to attract people looking for college coaching or consulting services, or anyone looking for an autism/Asperger's Syndrome-related public speaker, and I knew I needed to have all of my information in one place, hence the creation of this shiny new site.
Now, I know I am no website designer, and it certainly doesn't look as good as if a professional did it. But, I worked very hard on creating all of the pages and putting stuff together, so I hope that you will all enjoy perusing it. If you have any (constructive) feedback to offer, then please, by all means, do let me know. And if you like what you see, please feel free to spread the word of AmyGravino.com as far and as wide as you like.
Also, I have added a new feature to my blog here: the "Share" button. It can be found on all of my current and previous blog entries, and its function is to make it easier for you to share my posts with whomever you think might want to read them! So please do use this feature at your convenience. Thank you!
AmyGravino.com is your one-stop shop for everything and anything relating to moi. It has my bio, my C.V., pieces of my writing, articles I've written, video and audio clips from media appearances that I've made, and more. The page for ASCOT, my college coaching LLC, is still under construction (which is fitting because I'm still trying to hammer out the details of setting up the LLC), but everything else is finished.
I am trying to attract people looking for college coaching or consulting services, or anyone looking for an autism/Asperger's Syndrome-related public speaker, and I knew I needed to have all of my information in one place, hence the creation of this shiny new site.
Now, I know I am no website designer, and it certainly doesn't look as good as if a professional did it. But, I worked very hard on creating all of the pages and putting stuff together, so I hope that you will all enjoy perusing it. If you have any (constructive) feedback to offer, then please, by all means, do let me know. And if you like what you see, please feel free to spread the word of AmyGravino.com as far and as wide as you like.
Also, I have added a new feature to my blog here: the "Share" button. It can be found on all of my current and previous blog entries, and its function is to make it easier for you to share my posts with whomever you think might want to read them! So please do use this feature at your convenience. Thank you!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Masters Thesis and Much More
Oh, good heavens, I've done it again. I have let time get away from me and neglected to update this blog. My apologies, faithful blog readers!
So where do I begin? Well, on November 13th, I participated in a National Town Hall Meeting put together by AFAA (Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism). Linda Walder Fiddle had asked me if I would be willing to participate as a self-advocate, and I readily agreed. The meeting was held at a central location in Chicago, but there were about 15 satellite locations all across the country, one of which was in Newark, which I attended.
The meeting was unlike any other that I'd been to, devoted entirely to issues faced by adults on the spectrum and their families and caregivers. In the very beginning, we were given keypads, which we were told would be used for voting purposes throughout the day. The first poll taken had to do with demographics, and the questions were the same as they'd been on the registration form we had to fill out.
One question asked what your relationship to autism was, and one of the choices was "Individual on the Spectrum." I chose that option, of course, and waited anxiously to see what the results would be, as after each question we were shown the percentages for each answer, from all the votes cast in at all the satellite sites.
It was no surprise that the biggest groups of attendees were parents and professionals, and the percentages reflected such. The percentage of attendees on the spectrum? 7%. That's seven percent, out of the just over 1,000 participants at all of the meetings nationwide. It's...not really a terrific number, to be honest. I am very glad that there was a spectrumite presence at all to begin with, but it just seems rather low, and I hope that the number will increase greatly at future meetings.
There were three categories that we discussed: Housing, Employment, and Community Life. Each category had a list of issues within it that we talked about with the people at our table, and a transcriber would write down the things we said on a laptop. At the end, a vote was taken as to which issue should have the highest priority on a national agenda (from a scale of "Not Important to Include" to "Must Include"). We were also able to suggest an issue that wasn't on the list and possibly get it added so it could be voted on.
In the Community Life category, I was dismayed not to see any mention of "helping adults on the spectrum develop and maintain healthy interpersonal and sexual relationships," and so I voiced this to our group. Imagine my surprise and delight to see that it wound up being added to the list of issues! When the vote was taken, 71% of the attendees chose the issue as "Important to Include" or "Must Include" for a national agenda!
I don't know for sure that it is because of me that it was added to the list, but it seemed too strange of a coincidence for it to be otherwise. I was even more excited when the issues were weighed against each other (so people voted for which one was most important for a national agenda). "Helping adults on the spectrum develop and maintain healthy interpersonal and sexual relationships" came in at #4 out of the five issues. This didn't bother me so much as what was selected for #1: "Educate first responders about the challenging behavior that might arise in dangerous situations involving adults with autism so that they are prepared to handle these occasions in the safest and most effective manner."
Given that most of the participants in the meeting were parents/family members or service providers, I suppose it isn't too surprising that that's what was picked. But I highly doubt that individuals on the spectrum themselves would have chosen that as number one. It also smacks of "about us" instead of "with us"; that is, that the priority is still "determining what to do about us" instead of "talking with us about what we want and need." I'm not saying that this is what the people there thought or felt, but it is the feeling I get when I see such an issue chosen as a "top priority" for a national agenda.
Aside from that, though, the meeting was very productive, and I was glad to have attended. I do hope that the number of people on the spectrum will go up at future meetings, because that representation is so crucial for those not on the spectrum to understand where we're coming from. One of the warm-up questions we had to answer to get acquainted with our tablemates was, "Why did you come to this meeting?" My answer was, "To be a voice for those who don't have one." Going by the attendance figures, there were sadly quite a few. I just hope that I did them proud.
It's been a little over a month now since I defended my Masters thesis. Yes, I did indeed finally reach that point! I worked tirelessly on my proposal, trying to tweak and modify my study to make it as good as it could be. I came to the campus armed with homemade food for my committee (roasted, marinated bell peppers; a cold antipasto platter; an herb-leek tart; and brownies). Any nerves I'd started to feel as I set up my presentation abated as I stood there facing my professors, waiting to begin, because I knew at that moment that I was as ready as I would ever be.
The final verdict: Approved, with Major Revisions. What does this mean? Well, I'm going to have to make some significant changes to my study. The committee made some excellent suggestions, and so my thesis chair and I are going to try to use those to make the study stronger. I'll have to defend my proposal again, probably at the end of this month or the beginning of February. I don't particularly mind this, but I just want to be on good footing when that time gets here.
Another exciting development that's occurred is that I have been approached to act as an AS college coach for a few individuals who have Asperger's syndrome. Dr. Shana Nichols, co-author of Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum, wrote to me to tell me of two young women that she is working with, and asked if I would be interested in working with them in my capacity as a certified AS college coach. I was beyond thrilled to be asked, and so of course, I said yes.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating: I want to be an Asperger's syndrome college coach when I graduate. I know that most colleges and universities don't even have such a position, and so I don't doubt that I will have to create it myself where I may end up being employed. For the time being, though, coaching privately seems like an excellent way to gain experience, the sort of experience that might help me get my foot in the door at a college or university. Most importantly, however, getting to do this will allow me to achieve my ultimate goal, which is to help people on the spectrum.
(And since this is my blog, I'm going to indulge in a little shameless self-promotion now: If you, or a family member, or client are in need of an Asperger's syndrome college coach, I am available for hire! My rates are flexible and can be modified based on individual financial need. For more information, please contact me privately at AGrav3230@aol.com, or contact my business manager, Nicole Turon-Diaz, at learningbydesign@verizon.net.)
Finally, in book-related news, I've decided to send a proposal for The Naughty Autie to Future Horizons, as the woman there, Kelly Gilpin, has previously expressed interest in it. It's high-time that I did something, though, and if I don't publish my book this year, I feel as though I will have missed the boat altogether.
In addition, the book, coupled with my Masters thesis study and a third documentary that I've been approached to appear in (it's called Desire and is also directed by Keri Bowers, the woman who did ARTS and co-directed Normal People Scare Me, and is going to be about people on the autism spectrum and relationships and sexuality), will really create a more complete picture of what it is I represent and what I aim to do to promote a better, brighter future for adults on the autism spectrum.
Well, I think that's about all I've got for now. I'm nervous with anticipation because this week I should be hearing from the Autism Society of America, to whom I submitted a proposal for their annual conference that's going to be in Texas this July. So look for more details about that in my next entry!
So where do I begin? Well, on November 13th, I participated in a National Town Hall Meeting put together by AFAA (Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism). Linda Walder Fiddle had asked me if I would be willing to participate as a self-advocate, and I readily agreed. The meeting was held at a central location in Chicago, but there were about 15 satellite locations all across the country, one of which was in Newark, which I attended.
The meeting was unlike any other that I'd been to, devoted entirely to issues faced by adults on the spectrum and their families and caregivers. In the very beginning, we were given keypads, which we were told would be used for voting purposes throughout the day. The first poll taken had to do with demographics, and the questions were the same as they'd been on the registration form we had to fill out.
One question asked what your relationship to autism was, and one of the choices was "Individual on the Spectrum." I chose that option, of course, and waited anxiously to see what the results would be, as after each question we were shown the percentages for each answer, from all the votes cast in at all the satellite sites.
It was no surprise that the biggest groups of attendees were parents and professionals, and the percentages reflected such. The percentage of attendees on the spectrum? 7%. That's seven percent, out of the just over 1,000 participants at all of the meetings nationwide. It's...not really a terrific number, to be honest. I am very glad that there was a spectrumite presence at all to begin with, but it just seems rather low, and I hope that the number will increase greatly at future meetings.
There were three categories that we discussed: Housing, Employment, and Community Life. Each category had a list of issues within it that we talked about with the people at our table, and a transcriber would write down the things we said on a laptop. At the end, a vote was taken as to which issue should have the highest priority on a national agenda (from a scale of "Not Important to Include" to "Must Include"). We were also able to suggest an issue that wasn't on the list and possibly get it added so it could be voted on.
In the Community Life category, I was dismayed not to see any mention of "helping adults on the spectrum develop and maintain healthy interpersonal and sexual relationships," and so I voiced this to our group. Imagine my surprise and delight to see that it wound up being added to the list of issues! When the vote was taken, 71% of the attendees chose the issue as "Important to Include" or "Must Include" for a national agenda!
I don't know for sure that it is because of me that it was added to the list, but it seemed too strange of a coincidence for it to be otherwise. I was even more excited when the issues were weighed against each other (so people voted for which one was most important for a national agenda). "Helping adults on the spectrum develop and maintain healthy interpersonal and sexual relationships" came in at #4 out of the five issues. This didn't bother me so much as what was selected for #1: "Educate first responders about the challenging behavior that might arise in dangerous situations involving adults with autism so that they are prepared to handle these occasions in the safest and most effective manner."
Given that most of the participants in the meeting were parents/family members or service providers, I suppose it isn't too surprising that that's what was picked. But I highly doubt that individuals on the spectrum themselves would have chosen that as number one. It also smacks of "about us" instead of "with us"; that is, that the priority is still "determining what to do about us" instead of "talking with us about what we want and need." I'm not saying that this is what the people there thought or felt, but it is the feeling I get when I see such an issue chosen as a "top priority" for a national agenda.
Aside from that, though, the meeting was very productive, and I was glad to have attended. I do hope that the number of people on the spectrum will go up at future meetings, because that representation is so crucial for those not on the spectrum to understand where we're coming from. One of the warm-up questions we had to answer to get acquainted with our tablemates was, "Why did you come to this meeting?" My answer was, "To be a voice for those who don't have one." Going by the attendance figures, there were sadly quite a few. I just hope that I did them proud.
It's been a little over a month now since I defended my Masters thesis. Yes, I did indeed finally reach that point! I worked tirelessly on my proposal, trying to tweak and modify my study to make it as good as it could be. I came to the campus armed with homemade food for my committee (roasted, marinated bell peppers; a cold antipasto platter; an herb-leek tart; and brownies). Any nerves I'd started to feel as I set up my presentation abated as I stood there facing my professors, waiting to begin, because I knew at that moment that I was as ready as I would ever be.
The final verdict: Approved, with Major Revisions. What does this mean? Well, I'm going to have to make some significant changes to my study. The committee made some excellent suggestions, and so my thesis chair and I are going to try to use those to make the study stronger. I'll have to defend my proposal again, probably at the end of this month or the beginning of February. I don't particularly mind this, but I just want to be on good footing when that time gets here.
Another exciting development that's occurred is that I have been approached to act as an AS college coach for a few individuals who have Asperger's syndrome. Dr. Shana Nichols, co-author of Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum, wrote to me to tell me of two young women that she is working with, and asked if I would be interested in working with them in my capacity as a certified AS college coach. I was beyond thrilled to be asked, and so of course, I said yes.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating: I want to be an Asperger's syndrome college coach when I graduate. I know that most colleges and universities don't even have such a position, and so I don't doubt that I will have to create it myself where I may end up being employed. For the time being, though, coaching privately seems like an excellent way to gain experience, the sort of experience that might help me get my foot in the door at a college or university. Most importantly, however, getting to do this will allow me to achieve my ultimate goal, which is to help people on the spectrum.
(And since this is my blog, I'm going to indulge in a little shameless self-promotion now: If you, or a family member, or client are in need of an Asperger's syndrome college coach, I am available for hire! My rates are flexible and can be modified based on individual financial need. For more information, please contact me privately at AGrav3230@aol.com, or contact my business manager, Nicole Turon-Diaz, at learningbydesign@verizon.net.)
Finally, in book-related news, I've decided to send a proposal for The Naughty Autie to Future Horizons, as the woman there, Kelly Gilpin, has previously expressed interest in it. It's high-time that I did something, though, and if I don't publish my book this year, I feel as though I will have missed the boat altogether.
In addition, the book, coupled with my Masters thesis study and a third documentary that I've been approached to appear in (it's called Desire and is also directed by Keri Bowers, the woman who did ARTS and co-directed Normal People Scare Me, and is going to be about people on the autism spectrum and relationships and sexuality), will really create a more complete picture of what it is I represent and what I aim to do to promote a better, brighter future for adults on the autism spectrum.
Well, I think that's about all I've got for now. I'm nervous with anticipation because this week I should be hearing from the Autism Society of America, to whom I submitted a proposal for their annual conference that's going to be in Texas this July. So look for more details about that in my next entry!
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