Zoey Giesberg, FACT Intern & Future MSW One of the common features of people on the autistic spectrum is a strict adherence to routine. There is a pattern to the day and to activities and all is well when following it. Throw in a wench by changing something up and suddenly life starts to crumble apart and there will be chaos. I wouldn’t say change isn’t welcome, but it’s confusing and stressful in a way most people would experience it.…
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Zoey Giesberg, FACT Intern & Future MSW A new year means a fresh start. Whether you celebrate it on January 1st or another date as per culture or religion, it’s a time of reflecting back on the actions of the previous year and vowing to make things better in the upcoming one. It’s the reason New Year’s resolutions revolve around trying to improve oneself and set new benchmarks to meet. So my New Year’s resolution is to become more comfortable and…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director I’d like to introduce to you F.A.C.T. boardmember Fran Goldfarb – my colleague and dear friend. Soon Fran will term out of her position as board member. Please take a moment to read her story joining the FACT community. Take it easy, but take it ~Woodie guthrie It is with very mixed feelings that we bid farewell to retiring board member, Fran Goldfarb. Fran has been with the agency from its birth. Fran was the Family…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist for 10+ years I heard a saying recently – “the only way to get out of your head is to get into your body”. This is one of those ideas that can be applied to anyone. But I find that it works especially well for those on the spectrum. Sometimes the mind can get stuck on a thought or a movie quote. The more the thought loops and spins, it’s like a snowball rolling down a hill,…
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A donation to FACT can go a long way. It can help to sponsor young adults in our transitional program, it can help a little girl attend social skills sessions, it can even help a family get the therapy they need to make 2015 their best year yet. But in a rough economy, you may feel that donating is not in the picture… or is it!? We have 5 ways for you to give to FACT without you spending a…
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Zoey Giesberg, FACT Intern & Future MSW Holidays and celebrations have always come with some baggage for me. I would start uncontrollably sobbing whenever a birthday cake with lit candles was brought out at parties and fights with siblings would always happen at any family gathering when I was a child. I have thankfully stopped being terrified at birthday cake candles (now made ironic by my undying love of scented candles), but family gatherings still make me tense up and…
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Linda Andron-Ostrow, CEO Normally, I’d like to share with you a positive holiday message to wrap up the year. However, this year, I have learned about an unfortunate story of isolation and autism. When you read about Neli, it is my hope that you will share my utter concern and will join the Autistic Self Advocacy Network action to support him. I will also share with you the story of Carly, who is an excellent example of breaking through isolation. I…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist for 10+ years This Thanksgiving season, I want to focus on ways we can be thankful for autism, which although a challenging condition at times, is also a wonderful and fascinating part of our world. So I am thankful that autism exists. I am thankful that we have different people in this world; that we are not all the same. I am thankful for brains that operate differently, in interesting and puzzling ways. I am thankful for…
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Zoey Giesberg, FACT Intern & Future MSW There are many things people don’t seem to believe about me when I first meet them. Let me break it down into the most common comments I receive: 1.You’re born and raised in Los Angeles? No way! (Because an educated white girl and being a native Angeleno is apparently not possible?) 2.You’re 27? No way! You look so much younger! 3.You’re autistic? No way! You don’t seem like it at all! This last…
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Mikal Britt, Behaviorist for 10+ years Teaching social skills is challenging because of all the subtleties and grey zones; because social skills are all about nuance and abstract assumptions which are sometimes difficult to explain or verbalize. For example, I worked with a client about hugging. More specifically, not hugging. Because he wanted to hug everyone, teachers and students alike, male and female. He was not a threatening person. In fact, quite the opposite; he is charming and charismatic and…
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