I haven't blogged in almost a year, and during that time, I've been neck-deep in grad school. What an intense experience this has been! It seems that so much happens in a week. And because I'm learning so much in such a short amount of time, I feel like I'm changing constantly. Some things become more clear and some become clouded with more questions.
Most of this year has been spent trying to figure out what I want to focus on. That has finally been settled. I am earning an MS in Human Development and Social Policy with a Disability Certificate. What does that mean, do you ask? It means that when I graduate, I will be qualified to work for government or non-profit organizations, especially those that focus on services for people with disabilities. My graduate project is unique and intensely exciting for me. I'll be the assistant editor on a book about aging and autism (Published by JKP in London), and I'll also be the co-author of the introductory chapter. In preparation for this chapter, I am currently researching the history of autism definitions and diagnostics, and putting these paradigm shifts in a historical context to explore the implications for society and the future of individuals and families touched by the disorder. It has been 70 years since the first diagnosis given by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943. Autism was considered a psychosis back then, and was often blamed on emotionally distant parenting. It's interesting to think of how much things have changed.
Researching autism has been interesting for me on a personal level. It seems only natural for me to question the elements that came together to bring autism into my family, and to consider the community around us and how it has influenced our situation. I am so grateful for all of the people who have supported us and loved us. I'm grateful for the people who have embraced Jessica without fear and without hesitation. Everyone with autism in their family should be so blessed.
I'm pensive to the point of rambling, and blogging in an attempt to make sense of even a portion of what is in my mind. I feel like a pixel--a small part of a huge picture in history. It's so interesting to me that we can feel things so intensely and be so aware of the immediacy of our situations and simultaneously see how little we are. But, the little changes we make in our own lives and in the lives of those around us add up. My little changes are part of the big changes that are happening. My understanding will add a tiny drop to this book that will be the first of its kind, and may influence thoughts on autism for the next few years as Jessica's cohort ages out of school and transitions into adulthood. This book may have some influence on social policy and community inclusion as she outlives me and relies on others to support and keep her healthy and engaged. At least, that is what I hope for. I want to make a difference. I want to make life better for Jessica and everyone like her.
Life Keeps Rolling On
Showing posts with label University of Utah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Utah. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Lessons from the U, #2
One of the classes I took this semester is titled "Minority Families." It's been a difficult class to take, largely because I don't believe the color of people's skin matters. I think diversity is beautiful, and in my ethnocentricity (ie: self-centeredness) I believe that most people think the way I do, especially in that regard. This class has pointed out to me the racial atrocities of US history that set the stage for lingering racism that we may or may not be aware of. It's a serious subject, and I've been appalled to learn more about the U.S. Laws and policies that have blatantly discriminated against people who don't have white skin or have a drop of "black" blood. It's sickening and I'm ashamed of that vein of American history.
However, I like my class. The professor is funny in that quiet, subtle, sarcastic way, and his wonderful Spanish accent (something that he is self-conscious about, but I love) keeps me engaged. He reminds me of my brother, Jeff. He's built like my brother, has some of his mannerisms, and many of their features are similar even though my professor is of mixed heritage. (Incidentally, the glimpses we've had of his heritage and experiences are so interesting that I wish he would just take a class period and talk about his life.) Any reminders of my brother make me feel comfortable, so my professor has had that going for him from the beginning.
Because I like him, I like the class. Amazing how much a professor can influence your thoughts about the subject he's teaching. All those things I learned about how important it is to be a supportive elementary school teacher still apply on the college level.
He's made some interesting predictions that Jason and I have talked about at length. So, here are some conversation starters for you, from my Minority Families professor.
By 2030, people with white skin will be in the minority (in other words, the majority of people in the U.S. will have brown skin.) My response to this--yay! Though my pasty skin will be more rare, I think back to all of the girls I went to school with who put their lives at risk to turn brown, and I hope this change in the gene pool will help us pasty people avoid tanning beds. :)
My professor says we should "teach our boys how to be women." Gender roles are being redefined. He claims that the majority of men will be stay at home dads in the future. 58% of the population at the U are women. Women have more job opportunities than men, whether in blue collar work or white collar work. We may get paid less than men, but that is partly because we change jobs more often, work part-time more often, and start our careers later because we stay home more often during child bearing years. (I'll be starting my career at age 42-45, and Jason will be eligible for retirement about ten years later.)
The nuclear family is not necessarily the ideal. (I disagree with parts of this one.) Alternate family construction will become more accepted as time goes on, and people will pool their resources with roommates and extended family. Households will have many different constructions as we cope with financial hardship. I agree with the coping mechanisms theory. To a large extent, most of us already look to family, friends, and neighbors to help us raise our children through daycare, occasional babysitting, or through going to our church for help during hard economic times. Many of us consider those people family--we feel a sense of kinship. Kids need as many adult mentors in their lives as they can get. Does that mean we shouldn't think of the nuclear family as ideal?
Discuss....
However, I like my class. The professor is funny in that quiet, subtle, sarcastic way, and his wonderful Spanish accent (something that he is self-conscious about, but I love) keeps me engaged. He reminds me of my brother, Jeff. He's built like my brother, has some of his mannerisms, and many of their features are similar even though my professor is of mixed heritage. (Incidentally, the glimpses we've had of his heritage and experiences are so interesting that I wish he would just take a class period and talk about his life.) Any reminders of my brother make me feel comfortable, so my professor has had that going for him from the beginning.
Because I like him, I like the class. Amazing how much a professor can influence your thoughts about the subject he's teaching. All those things I learned about how important it is to be a supportive elementary school teacher still apply on the college level.
He's made some interesting predictions that Jason and I have talked about at length. So, here are some conversation starters for you, from my Minority Families professor.
By 2030, people with white skin will be in the minority (in other words, the majority of people in the U.S. will have brown skin.) My response to this--yay! Though my pasty skin will be more rare, I think back to all of the girls I went to school with who put their lives at risk to turn brown, and I hope this change in the gene pool will help us pasty people avoid tanning beds. :)
My professor says we should "teach our boys how to be women." Gender roles are being redefined. He claims that the majority of men will be stay at home dads in the future. 58% of the population at the U are women. Women have more job opportunities than men, whether in blue collar work or white collar work. We may get paid less than men, but that is partly because we change jobs more often, work part-time more often, and start our careers later because we stay home more often during child bearing years. (I'll be starting my career at age 42-45, and Jason will be eligible for retirement about ten years later.)
The nuclear family is not necessarily the ideal. (I disagree with parts of this one.) Alternate family construction will become more accepted as time goes on, and people will pool their resources with roommates and extended family. Households will have many different constructions as we cope with financial hardship. I agree with the coping mechanisms theory. To a large extent, most of us already look to family, friends, and neighbors to help us raise our children through daycare, occasional babysitting, or through going to our church for help during hard economic times. Many of us consider those people family--we feel a sense of kinship. Kids need as many adult mentors in their lives as they can get. Does that mean we shouldn't think of the nuclear family as ideal?
Discuss....
Friday, October 12, 2012
Some things I've learned this semester
My intention from the beginning of the school year was to post once a week about the things I've learned. I've been a bit busier with homework than I thought... Now, there are so many things on my mind--so many things I've learned and observed and thought about and felt--that I don't know where to begin. I don't usually like waxing political, but I'm gonna (and if you're paying attention, you'll notice that I'm "conservative" in some areas and "liberal" in others). If you comment and I don't like it, I won't allow it to post. Not interested in an argument, I just want to express the things I've been concerned about for the past few weeks, based on the things I've learned. If you're willing to have a civil conversation, bring it on.
Been taking an economics class this semester. Very enlightening. Low interest rates induced by the Fed are supposed to be a short term solution, a stimulus for the economy to get people to buy stuff and invest in property, but it's gone on too long. We're encouraged to save for our retirements, but people's retirement plans are tanking. Retirees are supposed to be able to live on the interest from their accounts, at least for a few years, but right now, some people can't fill their gas tanks for a year with the interest they're supposed to live on. People who prepared for their retirements years ago and did everything right are being punished now. And have you noticed that the stock market isn't doing so hot. Again. The signs all point at us heading for a recession. Heading for one. What's been going on so far? Did we ever come out of the last one?
The middle class has been redefined to top out at $250,000 a year (I wish) and in the President's speech to the DNC, he made it very clear that we should be shooting for the middle class, not for anything higher. His plans certainly discourage wealth. The top 30% wealthy in the country already pay 70% of the nation's taxes, and yet they are told they're not paying their fair share and they're practically demonized every time our "leader" opens his mouth.
Frankly, I wonder if even the middle class is obtainable. Poverty levels are calculated by outdated criteria, so those who are struggling the most right now are probably considered middle class even though they can't make ends meet without some form of credit. The cost of living continues to rise while wages don't (which essentially means we've all taken a pay cut in the last few years), so even those who are lucky enough to still have a job are struggling more than they were a few years ago, whether they claim to feel it or not. I've personally engaged in most of the "poverty coping mechanisms" people use before they give in and apply for welfare. (Which we wouldn't qualify for--we make too much money....) Debt is too easy to get and too hard to pay off, as shown by payday loan establishments that pop up virtually unchecked, country wide. They thought the housing crisis was hard to deal with. This is a worse problem, it just doesn't get media attention because the amounts on the loans aren't as big. But when you make $1500 a month and spend $800 of that for housing, a $100 loan is a big deal.
It seems that people who try to do things right are punished in our country. Those who try to pay off their debts and get past patches of late payments instead of declaring bankruptcy are still plagued by debt-to-income ratios and low credit scores, which are figured into every credit--or job, or lease--application for at least the same length of time as a bankruptcy. The bad scores lead to high interest rates (like 28% even when the Fed's rate is closer to 1%), which leave a greater potential for minimum payments, over limit charges, and late fees-which only make the problem worse. I already talked about the low interest rates and what that is doing to people who are trying to live on their savings. Moms who try to stay home and take care of their children have to deal with meager financial futures as well as lack of funds in the moment--there is no financial reward for raising your own children. In Utah alone, the waiting list for services for people with disabilities is 20 years long. Jessi will be my age by the time she qualifies for any assistance. Cultures that promote familism and internal support are looked down on and even referred to as "minority" cultures while the typical "individualistic", "American" culture has the wrong idea about welfare--no one should have to rely on the government, and social programs should only be available to those who need them. (Incidentally, individualism encourages reliance on the government because they don't rely on family and friends instead.) Those who live in the US illegally and try to become citizens are tested on things that most US citizens don't know, and it is often easier for someone who is here illegally to get a job, buy a house, and get an education than it is for those who try to obey the law. In the meantime, authorities look the other way when it's convenient, and round up "illegals" when that's convenient. They're overwhelmed when the laws can't be applied, yet they're too afraid to change the law and make it possible to become a completely law abiding citizen. The government regulates and restricts us into a corner, then they wonder why so many people lie and disobey the law. And those who tell the truth can have their lives stripped from them if they catch an authority figure on a bad day.
Our country's in trouble. I wish I knew how to fix it and I feel completely helpless to do so. Such a tiny voice in an overwhelming cacophony. That's one thing they haven't taught me in college--how to fix it. But, boy howdy, do they excel at pointing out what's wrong.
Been taking an economics class this semester. Very enlightening. Low interest rates induced by the Fed are supposed to be a short term solution, a stimulus for the economy to get people to buy stuff and invest in property, but it's gone on too long. We're encouraged to save for our retirements, but people's retirement plans are tanking. Retirees are supposed to be able to live on the interest from their accounts, at least for a few years, but right now, some people can't fill their gas tanks for a year with the interest they're supposed to live on. People who prepared for their retirements years ago and did everything right are being punished now. And have you noticed that the stock market isn't doing so hot. Again. The signs all point at us heading for a recession. Heading for one. What's been going on so far? Did we ever come out of the last one?
The middle class has been redefined to top out at $250,000 a year (I wish) and in the President's speech to the DNC, he made it very clear that we should be shooting for the middle class, not for anything higher. His plans certainly discourage wealth. The top 30% wealthy in the country already pay 70% of the nation's taxes, and yet they are told they're not paying their fair share and they're practically demonized every time our "leader" opens his mouth.
Frankly, I wonder if even the middle class is obtainable. Poverty levels are calculated by outdated criteria, so those who are struggling the most right now are probably considered middle class even though they can't make ends meet without some form of credit. The cost of living continues to rise while wages don't (which essentially means we've all taken a pay cut in the last few years), so even those who are lucky enough to still have a job are struggling more than they were a few years ago, whether they claim to feel it or not. I've personally engaged in most of the "poverty coping mechanisms" people use before they give in and apply for welfare. (Which we wouldn't qualify for--we make too much money....) Debt is too easy to get and too hard to pay off, as shown by payday loan establishments that pop up virtually unchecked, country wide. They thought the housing crisis was hard to deal with. This is a worse problem, it just doesn't get media attention because the amounts on the loans aren't as big. But when you make $1500 a month and spend $800 of that for housing, a $100 loan is a big deal.
It seems that people who try to do things right are punished in our country. Those who try to pay off their debts and get past patches of late payments instead of declaring bankruptcy are still plagued by debt-to-income ratios and low credit scores, which are figured into every credit--or job, or lease--application for at least the same length of time as a bankruptcy. The bad scores lead to high interest rates (like 28% even when the Fed's rate is closer to 1%), which leave a greater potential for minimum payments, over limit charges, and late fees-which only make the problem worse. I already talked about the low interest rates and what that is doing to people who are trying to live on their savings. Moms who try to stay home and take care of their children have to deal with meager financial futures as well as lack of funds in the moment--there is no financial reward for raising your own children. In Utah alone, the waiting list for services for people with disabilities is 20 years long. Jessi will be my age by the time she qualifies for any assistance. Cultures that promote familism and internal support are looked down on and even referred to as "minority" cultures while the typical "individualistic", "American" culture has the wrong idea about welfare--no one should have to rely on the government, and social programs should only be available to those who need them. (Incidentally, individualism encourages reliance on the government because they don't rely on family and friends instead.) Those who live in the US illegally and try to become citizens are tested on things that most US citizens don't know, and it is often easier for someone who is here illegally to get a job, buy a house, and get an education than it is for those who try to obey the law. In the meantime, authorities look the other way when it's convenient, and round up "illegals" when that's convenient. They're overwhelmed when the laws can't be applied, yet they're too afraid to change the law and make it possible to become a completely law abiding citizen. The government regulates and restricts us into a corner, then they wonder why so many people lie and disobey the law. And those who tell the truth can have their lives stripped from them if they catch an authority figure on a bad day.
Our country's in trouble. I wish I knew how to fix it and I feel completely helpless to do so. Such a tiny voice in an overwhelming cacophony. That's one thing they haven't taught me in college--how to fix it. But, boy howdy, do they excel at pointing out what's wrong.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Non-traditional student
Finally, I'm officially considered non-traditional. :)
Here are ten reasons why I'll make a better student than I did when I was twenty years old.
1. I am more comfortable with myself.
2. I don't care what the other students in the class think of me.
3. I am not afraid of asking questions.
4. I am not afraid of looking stupid or foolish.
5. I see the professors as equals and therefore, I'm not afraid of them either.
6. I understand money and value every dollar I borrow and spend.
7. I like learning and realize I don't know much.
8. I feel like I'm not only getting this degree for myself, but I'm getting it for my family.
9. I am more organized.
10. I don't procrastinate.
I was really nervous about today--my first day of classes--but I'm not so nervous anymore. I feel encouraged and empowered and excited! Absolutely loving this new chapter in my life!
Here are ten reasons why I'll make a better student than I did when I was twenty years old.
1. I am more comfortable with myself.
2. I don't care what the other students in the class think of me.
3. I am not afraid of asking questions.
4. I am not afraid of looking stupid or foolish.
5. I see the professors as equals and therefore, I'm not afraid of them either.
6. I understand money and value every dollar I borrow and spend.
7. I like learning and realize I don't know much.
8. I feel like I'm not only getting this degree for myself, but I'm getting it for my family.
9. I am more organized.
10. I don't procrastinate.
I was really nervous about today--my first day of classes--but I'm not so nervous anymore. I feel encouraged and empowered and excited! Absolutely loving this new chapter in my life!
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