Comments on: My Experience with AANE: So Far, Not Good http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/ Reports from Life on the Spectrum Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:12:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jennifer http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/comment-page-1/#comment-46137 Jennifer Tue, 19 May 2009 18:47:12 +0000 http://www.aspergerjourneys.com/?p=2270#comment-46137 Rachel, I think that you could do it- as a one woman band, and try to get support and recognition for Aspies (I couldn't- I just am not cut out for that sort of job.) Whatever you decide to do, take good care of yourself and I wish you luck with whatever you decide. You're right by the way, they should have an Aspie-friendly policy of how to communicate with Aspies. I doubt that they really do. Rachel,
I think that you could do it- as a one woman band, and try to get support and recognition for Aspies (I couldn’t- I just am not cut out for that sort of job.)

Whatever you decide to do, take good care of yourself and I wish you luck with whatever you decide.

You’re right by the way, they should have an Aspie-friendly policy of how to communicate with Aspies. I doubt that they really do.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/comment-page-1/#comment-43283 Rachel Fri, 15 May 2009 14:12:57 +0000 http://www.aspergerjourneys.com/?p=2270#comment-43283 Hi Erin, Thanks so much for your words. This morning, I'm left wondering what to do. I've been at this kind of fork in the road with organizations before. They almost always have lives of their own, and it's very hard for an individual to move an organization in a direction different from the one in which it's headed. If this organization is focusing its resources on the greater Boston area, I'm not certain that I can have any influence. On the other hand, I wonder whether I shouldn't try and stand my ground on this one. After all, if I can't stand my ground with an AS organization, where can I? Perhaps I should let the director of adult services know what happened, if only to give her the information before moving on. Do I sound like a typical Aspie here, or what? ;-) Hi Erin,

Thanks so much for your words.

This morning, I’m left wondering what to do. I’ve been at this kind of fork in the road with organizations before. They almost always have lives of their own, and it’s very hard for an individual to move an organization in a direction different from the one in which it’s headed. If this organization is focusing its resources on the greater Boston area, I’m not certain that I can have any influence.

On the other hand, I wonder whether I shouldn’t try and stand my ground on this one. After all, if I can’t stand my ground with an AS organization, where can I? Perhaps I should let the director of adult services know what happened, if only to give her the information before moving on.

Do I sound like a typical Aspie here, or what? ;-)

]]> By: Erin http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/comment-page-1/#comment-42774 Erin Fri, 15 May 2009 00:18:19 +0000 http://www.aspergerjourneys.com/?p=2270#comment-42774 Sweet - it'd be great for you to take your own show on the road. Or you could try a different organization. Maybe Future Horizons. They have conferences all over the US, so they reach a lot of people. For the record, I'd be just as frosted by the lack of response and the tone of the emails you received. Sounds like someone is afraid of being one-upped by you. Wow, an actual Aspie speaker and writer on the circuit in VT! Stamp her out! Oy. You have a lot to offer. Your words are a lifeline to many online. It'd be great if you could expand that lifeline, especially locally....there are probably many people who could benefit, both young and old. Aspies in VT, NH and ME are people too. I don't know why they should be left out simply because they are farther from Boston that AANE feels they can justify. New England is comprised of 6 states, not one city and its limited radius. Sweet – it’d be great for you to take your own show on the road. Or you could try a different organization. Maybe Future Horizons. They have conferences all over the US, so they reach a lot of people. For the record, I’d be just as frosted by the lack of response and the tone of the emails you received. Sounds like someone is afraid of being one-upped by you. Wow, an actual Aspie speaker and writer on the circuit in VT! Stamp her out! Oy. You have a lot to offer. Your words are a lifeline to many online. It’d be great if you could expand that lifeline, especially locally….there are probably many people who could benefit, both young and old. Aspies in VT, NH and ME are people too. I don’t know why they should be left out simply because they are farther from Boston that AANE feels they can justify. New England is comprised of 6 states, not one city and its limited radius.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/comment-page-1/#comment-42695 Rachel Thu, 14 May 2009 22:04:13 +0000 http://www.aspergerjourneys.com/?p=2270#comment-42695 Thanks for the info about Jamie Freed. She is still there, but I'm feeling sufficiently burned at the moment that it's hard to think about re-engaging. It takes me awhile to recover my sense of dignity when I experience these kinds of things. And it's true, they seem to have a lot of good things happening in the Boston area. I wouldn't mind if they were called the "Asperger's Association of Boston," but saying that they serve New England seems a bit of a stretch. I guess I should take into account that we're probably talking about the Bostonian's view of New England, in which everything past Worcestor is unpeopled wilderness. It that case, it makes an odd kind of sense. ;-) Thanks for the info about Jamie Freed. She is still there, but I’m feeling sufficiently burned at the moment that it’s hard to think about re-engaging. It takes me awhile to recover my sense of dignity when I experience these kinds of things.

And it’s true, they seem to have a lot of good things happening in the Boston area. I wouldn’t mind if they were called the “Asperger’s Association of Boston,” but saying that they serve New England seems a bit of a stretch. I guess I should take into account that we’re probably talking about the Bostonian’s view of New England, in which everything past Worcestor is unpeopled wilderness. It that case, it makes an odd kind of sense. ;-)

]]> By: Kate http://www.journeyswithautism.com/2009/05/14/my-experience-with-aane/comment-page-1/#comment-42644 Kate Thu, 14 May 2009 20:49:03 +0000 http://www.aspergerjourneys.com/?p=2270#comment-42644 My experiences with AANE have been mostly good; there are many helpful and sincere people in that org but you need to know where to look. I believe Jamie Freed is is or was director of adult services and was very kind and helpful to me; someone , I forget who, tried to help me find a place to live and other such things, well, at least they sent me emails discussing it....I sent them some things I wrote and they put it in a newsletter I think....Can't remember. Nothing amazing in terms of experiences with them, but nothing negative either. I did have a negative experience with an AANE ran support group, but in fairness to them, the woman running it really had nothing to do with AANE even though she was using their name. I've been to their offices before and am very impressed w/ the number of support groups they have in the Boston area. However this woman should not have blown you off like she did or been so rude. My experiences with AANE have been mostly good; there are many helpful and sincere people in that org but you need to know where to look. I believe Jamie Freed is is or was director of adult services and was very kind and helpful to me; someone , I forget who, tried to help me find a place to live and other such things, well, at least they sent me emails discussing it….I sent them some things I wrote and they put it in a newsletter I think….Can’t remember. Nothing amazing in terms of experiences with them, but nothing negative either. I did have a negative experience with an AANE ran support group, but in fairness to them, the woman running it really had nothing to do with AANE even though she was using their name. I’ve been to their offices before and am very impressed w/ the number of support groups they have in the Boston area. However this woman should not have blown you off like she did or been so rude.

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