I’m sure you’ll relate that sometimes there is such tragedy and the only way one can live with it is find a use for it in life’s compost for compost brings richer, stronger life to those living things enriched by it. It has also been an honour to prove one can scrape up the ashes and even build something wonderful from them.

Shine on.

Donna *)

“2. How did you first get to know about Aspergers Syndrome”

I came across a daily diary by a parent of an autistic kid while looking for stuff about FAS. Then I decided to look for more stuff like that and found stuff written by autistics, many of whom were diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

“3. Do you feel that people with Aspergers Syndrome are unfairly treated”

Yes. We’re treated as if our strengths don’t matter and our weaknesses are devastating. This is true of most disabled people, not just aspies.

“4. Do you think that Aspergers syndrome should be classified as a mental disorder, learning disability or?”

I think it shouldn’t matter as much as it does what things are classified as. I also don’t understand the question, it seems to me like asking if cats should be called mammals or felines. Isn’t LD considered a mental disorder?

“5. What services that you know of are there for people with Aspergers where you are”

Not much that I know of. Mostly it seems there’s stuff for children, especially boys, about social skills, but nothing else.

“6. What support and help are you receiving”

I’m going to a disabled youth group, and once I start going to university I’ll be eligible for more services. But mostly it’s just my parents to help me.

“7. What do you find most positive about people with Aspergers Syndrome?”

Intense interests, I think. And an unconventional way of viewing things.

“8. What do you see as the negative effects of Aspergers Syndrome?”

Mostly what I see is a disconnect between the person and society’s expectations. We do have weaknesses, but not as much as people seem to think.

“9. Do you feel you can discuss with friends and family”

Oh, yes, very much. I’ve taught them what autism is.

“10. Do you have anyone with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder that is close to you?”

I volunteer with autistic kids, and one boy I’ve gotten quite close to.

How to get more traffic to a poetry page?
hmmm
guess that’s a lot of people’s question.

I think

a) poetry alone appeals only to those who KNOW they love poetry. So diversify with your site. Writing other stuff far broader than poetry alone also gets picked up by google, so that means traffic.

b) an ongoing poetry challenge is to broad, no incentive for people to rush in, no sense of beat the clock which essentially what I do in mine. So even if it takes you a week to respond well to each, then make it a monthly poetry week instead of ongoing.

c) be ‘out there’ in public somewhere, give presentations, include a poem or two, build a following who might drop by your site and come back (business cards are very useful as its hard for people to remember what site… there’s so many!).

d) have a simple, easy to remember site address.

e) create a space visually, spiritually, which feels like a comfy sofa
then what you bring in is new entertainment to that ‘living room’.
Many people say my blog is like an online home to them.
That’s what a drop by site should do.

I’m trying to get more traffic at my own poetry challenge (hat tip to you, for the idea) but so far, I’ve only gotten three responses

mine is openended….ongoing… indefinitely. and I give myself a week to write them (1 week from the date I get them) since it’s hard for me to write poems in short order sometimes…..

any suggestions on how to get more traffic?

and thanks for your challenge. I’m on it!

The Integral

My space.

“meandering zombies”

that sounds alot cooler

ignore the first one.

“lazy lizards”

please give me a challenge or two at my blog

other readers: feel free to give me challenges too! Ours is not monthly but ongoing, you can challenge us anytime.

Athena