An Amazing Transformation

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Today is the most wonderful day I can imagine. I did not think I would ever be in the position to be educating the teachers and students at my high school. It is the best way I can think of to prove my intelligence. I am proud to be on the stage with the students I mentor to let the people in the school know that we have many things to tell them if they take the time to truly listen to our typing.

It is the most amazing transformation for me to have the audience filled with teachers that think students with autism have intelligence. The most important part is the thinking of students is positive. I was amazed to see the helpfulness of the theater class that helped us yesterday. One young man put much effort into helping Harvey get things just right. It gives me much hope for the next generation of positive thinking citizens.

Today we will present our stories at the school assembly. The kids will see the movie trailer and hear the stories of communication from the students I mentor. It is important that kids understand those who communicate in alternative modes have lots of intelligent things to say; it is trapped in their bright minds waiting to be set free.

Today gives my mind freedom from the painful memories of being trapped at school. Today is my day to be the educator. I think I need to take it to the school system with Larry. Soon our message will be on the curriculum, I hope. Larry will be teaching poetry and I will teach the language of self advocacy. I hope all schools continue to go in the space of positive thinking. It will create a better World for everyone.

-Tracy

TASH Is On My Mind

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Tracy & Larry are supporters of TASH, an organization that advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with the most significant disabilities and support needs. For more information about TASH, please visit www.TASH.org.

It is fitting that TASH is in my mind today because it is coming full circle in the time of right thinking for the people who did not understand that we have intelligence in our heads. I presented the movie idea in 2008. It is great to be where I am today. I had promised myself I would try to keep hope in my spirit for the next generation of kids to have the life they chose not the life of being trapped in the world of no communication.

It is nice to be looked at in the community in the positive light like I have noticed lately. I am greeted by people like I am important not just to be polite.

It is new to me to have people treat me like I have some advice to give that is worthwhile. I met a mother of a boy who has autism. I hope I have given her hope for the future. I know having communication helped my mother and I in wondrous ways. The support my mother gives is giving me great hope for our future.

I hope families go to AMC theaters in droves in April. You will have the sensory friendly AMC theaters to make your experience the best it can be.

Please help TASH continue the work of helping people navigate the World. I look forward to meeting more families during April which is the TASH Dash to the finish line of non-discrimination.

By Tracy Thresher, Advocate

Keeping Telling Your Story

Friday, March 18th, 2011

It is nice to know there are people working hard to minimize cuts to Developmental Services in Vermont. I was at the State Standing Committee yesterday. People gave much thought to tough choices. Parents, self-advocates and professionals all know that budget cuts hurt recipients of services. No matter how you cut the budget recipients feel the painful impact.

My day support is crucial to my life. Giving up even one hour means I might not get things done that I need to do. In thirty hours per week I type all the important communications I have to get out of my head. I also get in my time exercising, banking and tending to other errands. I go to meetings like the State Standing Committee, the State Autism Advisory Board, the Washington County Mental Health and State Communication Task Forces. These hours have the impact of positive thinking I need to keep my life in balance. Without the hours of positive support I tend to become wild, like I cannot think right.

The most important thing self advocates and their families can do is keep telling your story to the decision makers. I hope to show people the way of saving money is preventing crises. The way to do this is not to stop people from choosing the life of being productive members of their communities. We plead our freedom to continue. It is the way to better futures for communities. I hope legislators know the inhumanity of keeping people from living the life of freedom. We demand better.

-Tracy

Response To Young Fan With Autism

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Question from 10 year-old boy with autism:

“I know that there are disabilities you have because of autism, but are there any abilities you have that are better because of autism?”

I think things are more clear to me due to autism thinking my way through life’s political climate for people with autism is my strength and purpose in life. You have both ability and disability that makes you the person you are that is your knowledge of water colors moving in the universe making your purpose in life clear.

-Tracy

Thank You AMC and Autism Society!

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

It is the best time of my life to be in the public eye along with my partner in positive thinking Larry. I never thought in my wildest dream that we could move the World to change their thinking in the way we have. It is important to have the support of the Autism Society to help us get our message in the mind of all people. I thank the Autism Society for helping our message be heard.

It is critically important to adults with autism to have patient support people to be productive and successful in their lives. Adult services in my life have enabled me to find my voice in the World. I have typed my dreams to my team to get in the community and go to the legislators in Vermont to plead my case for supporting adult services. The help I get from Washington County Mental Health is my way to being successful. This is true for my friend Larry too. The Howard Center helps him be the man he wants to be. Please tell your legislators our message or your own story. Thank you.

-Tracy