Ethan Stranger Has a Dream…

Hello to everybody out there! Today I, Ethan Stranger would like to announce to the Asperger/ADHD Community (as well other disability communities) to unite as one, for our big day has, at last, come last...

What I mean is that it’s a new year & we have a new president & I feel like (as an Asperger Person) that we (The Asperger community) must take full advantage of this opportunity because big changes need to come. However, they ain’t gonna come overnight (oh no no no), for if we want change to come to those with disabilities, then we must work as one to enable our voices to be heard. Alone we (The Asperger Community) are weak, but together, we are strong, are we not? I was waiting for the perfect moment to share a post like this & I feel like the time couldn’t be more perfect, with a new President & Vice President within the White House, I feel like it’s the perfect time to rise up, and let our voices be heard by a world overpopulated with neurotypical people who don’t know of our struggles, our feelings & especially our nature, as we sometimes struggle throughout life…

I see that we’re missing more role models that are related to the autistic community, look at Greta Thunberg (Picture, Top Right), being an Active Asperger environmentalist, it took a while until others followed her message, but she finally got there in the end. However, I haven't been able to find any autistic role model that's willing to advocate for our condition out there in an unconditional way. I ask myself, could I ever do anything like that, me being a symbol for the Asperger Community? 

Many people on the spectrum have ideas that they wanna share with the world, the problem is that they have difficulty reaching their dreams for too many things hold them back, especially those soft skills that are so important for social interactions, academics, and job hunting, thus we need to find a solution to help improve this situation to better aid those Neurodivergent people in achieving greatness with proper guidance/mentorship, but if only we have the courage to demand change. 

For too long, some Neurotypical people have treated us (either Asperger or the larger disability community) like we’re outsiders or freaks of Nature (like from “Marvel’s X-Men or DC’s Doom Patrol”) and for too long our pleas for help have been ignored or not prioritized over other issues. We (The Asperger Community) need somebody to get behind, we need a symbol, we need a change & we definitely need hope for a better tomorrow...or a better reality. Well fear not, for I, Ethan Stranger, have a dream that one-day Neurotypical people will understand that we (The Asperger Community) didn’t ask to be born like this & we ask for the Neurotypical people to understand & do better among the disability community, for I have a dream for a more Asperger-related staff within both schools & workspaces, I dream for Aspergers to have the right to speak out whenever they’re being harassed & that immediate action will take place, whether it’s a bully, teacher, co-worker, boss, he or she must be held accountable and perhaps be offered sensitivity training, I have a dream for members of the Asperger Community to be able to apply for a job much easier (without going through so much paperwork & stress). I have a dream for Asperger people to achieve their dreams with the proper help & guidance & finally I have a dream that Asperger people can do whatever they want without college (because there are some Aspergers who either fail or can't afford college) therefore, there must be new & improved methods to aid them in achieving their goals in a more personalized way…

It's important to say that these changes don't only need to come from neurotypical people, but also from us, we need to learn to adapt, work on understanding different perspectives and always work on our social skills. If we do that and we’ve got the entire community as allies, there's no limit we can't reach!

Many people with Aspergers consider their disability to be a “Curse”, while others consider it to be their superpower (like Greta Thurnberg), you can read more here: https://www.shethepeople.tv/top-stories/greta-thunberg-calls-aspergers-superpower/ 

Now, in order for our (The Asperger Community) voices to be heard, we must find a platform to reach everyone out there and start forming alliances that will improve society as a whole. We need a beacon of hope for a Better Tomorrow...and a Better Reality. 

Following on the Disability Act that our President signed in 2021, I’ve made a list of 7 possible ideas that we could look into, in the hopes that at least one of them could benefit someone in the future, they are:

1. If the type of job allows it, there should be more access for people with disabilities to have access to them in a higher percentage of the workforce. Of course, they would need to work on the required skills (soft or hard) that we could need to perform efficiently on the workplace.

2. There should be more Academic Programs or Academies for Asperger People who are past their Kid & Teen ages. I see that a lot of resources go through these life stages, and that's very important, but many adults that are part of the spectrum feel left out and with little academic possibilities, especially if they have additional learning difficulties or disabilities.

3. Programs could also help in offering the proper guidance in adapting to a Neurotypical World & provide some support for older Aspergers who struggle in Job Hunting, Living independently, as well as establishing better Asperger-related Community Neighborhoods. 

4. Schools & Colleges could ramp up their inclusion programs to allow people with different conditions, like Aspergers, to interact with a wide variety of neurotypical and neurodiverse people - these interactions would definitely help increase awareness, skills, and strategies as long as they are accompanied by adequate guidance.

5. Organizations that attempt to make Autism (or any type of disability) look like it’s a type of disease should be immediately shut down and replaced with institutions that value people with any type of characteristics or conditions. We need to build bridges, not increase the gap between us.

6. I would encourage all communities to try to connect therapists to families with Asperger (or any other type of Disability), as I’ve found that it's a real struggle to try to find the right people to help them at the right time - we need specialists that really care for the people they work for, not for the money, not for the recognition, but for the individuals themselves.

7. For Aspergers who either can’t afford college or don’t feel like they belong in college, the government should provide mentors to help guide them in achieving their goals with or without college.  Bad guidance can really hurt someone that's looking to improve their future. Just look at what my college counselor wrote to me when I suggested to her to consider online courses while I was in Peru (I know she was probably trying to help, but the way I perceived her message at the time really hurt):

“I do NOT advise you taking any math course online, and unfortunately you must be enrolled in a math course to be able to take other courses. Sorry, but you can either take courses in Peru or just enjoy the time off from school while you are there.”

I would really like to see more Neurotypical people being interested in understanding the Asperger Community, a little bit of understanding can go a long way to make someone feel welcome and appreciated.

Like the Mandolarian said, This is the Way, it’s a new year & I feel like we only got “One Shot, One Chance” to unite as one (Remember, Aspergers alone...weak, Aspergers together...strong) & work for a better tomorrow for all Asperger kind, because we all deserve a chance, because if we don’t work together  (well...like Cap said, Picture, Right):

 

So remember, just because you have Aspergers (or any form of Disability) doesn’t mean you can’t do wonderful things in life (you can read more about that on my “Aspergers throughout the Ages” post). However, I do dream of a day when I (and probably others like me) can wake up to a society that doesn’t always turn us down, for we have so much to offer this world, but how can we share our offerings to the world when we struggle in finding ourselves in the first place. We’re confused & we don’t know who to trust in this world, but remember what Entrapta said (and I quote): “You don't understand what makes us strong”, so that obviously means that just because you have Aspergers (or any form of Disability) doesn't mean that’ll stop you from doing the thing you love, for we (The Asperger Community) must take action, let our voices be heard, in the hopes The World (in someway)  will hear our call & work to improve the lives of millions like me.  If Greta Thunberg can do it for climate change, so can we. But then again I ask myself, am I, Ethan Stranger, the kind of Asperger blogger who can start this kind of movement, like Greta Thurnberg did? Even if I can't, I just hope to reach someone with this message, just one person can help make the world a better place.

I always wanna share with y’all these encouraging speeches from my HS English teacher & a Childhood friend of mine, for they once told me encouraging quotes of wisdom (Picture, Above).  Now then, for the Asperger Community, get out there, put on your determination faces (like the one Entrapta has, & let your voices be heard, for it is time to assemble as one and stand our ground!

“The beautiful thing about life is - our plan for what we want and where we see ourselves is constantly changing. What's most important is to be open-minded, flexible, and most of all- RESILIENT! Go after what makes your heart sing! Keep up the exploration of life and try to stay in the present; we all want to know our purpose and where we will end up and what we will do with our lives, but what is the point of it all if we can't enjoy the wild ride that is right here and now? Make each day beautiful, knowing your purpose is to love and care for others (because you are so great at that), and the rest will fall into place, as it always does!” 

-Desi LeRoy 😊        

“Don’t overthink life, It has just started, it will surprise you. Do what you love, tons of people are struggling, but we’re the kind of people to stay Happy” - Michael N. 😊

(Ethan Stranger, Entrapta & President Morty Sign Off)