Autism Awareness Month Roundup

Hello,

I've been quite busy this Autism Awareness Month.

Among other things, I took part in an Aspie panel for the Howard County (Maryland) Asperger's Support Group - mostly for parents of Aspies. The idea here was to help the parents understand what it can be like to be an Aspie.

Also, I gave guest posts at Multiples and More and Acting Balanced in honor of the occasion.

Last night, I took part in a Blog Talk Radio discussion on day-to-day issues facing Aspies.

What do you plan to do next year for Autism Awareness Month?

Admitting Ignorance Is No Crime

Looking for my precise bus stop at a general bus depot in Seattle, no transit employees around:

Conversation abbreviated to pertinent part...

"Pardon me sir, can you help me find the stop for XYZ Bus?"

"It may be a bit far to walk..."

"That's OK, I don't mind walking a bit. If you know precisely where it is, please tell me."

"Well, you walk about thirty blocks that way..."

"Obviously, you don't know where the XYZ Bus stop at this depot is. I'm sorry to have disturbed you, sir. Have a great day." (Walk away.)

Yelling after me: "Then why did you ask me in the first place?"

Because unfortunately I can neither read minds, nor predict the future, nor even detect someone who actually has the information I'm looking for. At this point, I'll settle for someone who, if they don't know the answer, will at least be up front about it.

Takeaway: Not knowing the answer to a random stranger's question is OK. Wasting their time when you don't know the answer isn't. (Not to mention they'll find out anyway!)

Baggage

Recently I visited Seattle (joining Emily, who was working there that week).

After getting off the plane at Sea-Tac, I made my way toward the light rail station while pulling a small suitcase and carrying a laptop case and another bag.

A couple of young men came up to me and asked if I was local - sounding like they needed help finding something.

Life is interesting sometimes....

The Good Guys Won!

Today:

150 years ago, rebel Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, starting the American Civil War.

50 years ago, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to go into space, beginning a new and ominous chapter in the Cold War.

30 years ago, the first Space Shuttle, Columbia, was launched by U.S. astronauts John Young (the 9th person - and for that matter the 9th American - to walk on the Moon) and Robert Crippen.