Saturday, January 20, 2018

ADA Experience


ADA Experience

ADA assignment:
You have Autism and hate the color red. For an entire day you will not eat anything red. You also will not talk or interact with anyone wearing red. If you encounter someone wearing red you need to turn your head or not talk back.

Being Autistic for a day, with aversion to red, was quite interesting, for many reasons. 1) Red is my best color and I did not realize how much red I had in my life (like my car), so avoiding my car, as a single, working mom, was quite an adventure.  2) Because I grew up on my own, with limited socialization, every once and awhile, I do something odd and seeming out of character, and I am occasionally mistaken for being autistic (after taking the Autism class, I would almost swear that my daughter Leta has visual Autism, though).  3) We live off of spaghetti, salsa, and tomatoes (luckily, I was out).

First, the car:  I figured that I would pick a day that I drive it the least.  I did not have my kids that weekend, and I figured, if I saw someone wearing red, I would only have it reflect upon me, personally.  (I do billing for a local Dr. and could not guarantee, that one of the patient’s I needed to talk to would not come in wearing red).  I go to the temple, on those weekends (which was the only time I drove the car and walking from the Drigg’s Hwy 33 in winter, was not an option).  I learned, however, over time, that the Lord has ways of helping us to overcome our prejudices or “aversions”, if we choose to follow him.  I’m not saying or suggesting that this is a “cure” for Autism- I am merely stating that in following the Lord, “He will have a humble people” (Pres. Benson, “Beware of Pride”, April 1989) and as He guides us, we naturally overcome “aversions” or other prejudices which keep us from being with  or liking other of Heavenly Father’s children, as we learn to love them.  For example, during this exercise- while driving, I thought of times I have felt an aversion towards a certain type of car (color doesn’t matter much to me), but since I drive a red car, I felt that it was appropriate to reflect on.  In short, there have been 3 times in my life where I felt an “aversion” to a car.  Each time, the Lord had me love someone, before I interacted with the prejudiced car, which made me feel the loneliness, regret, and even-shame for my feelings of pride (“that I was better than that –riding in or owing that car- or even them”).

Second, I know what it feels like to feel “odd”, “out-of-place”, or have family/friends embarrassed by my actions, which can cause some socially awkward situations.  I thought of this, especially while going to the temple, because I would not want anyone there to feel uncomfortable, awkward or an aversion from me.  I had a prayer in my heart, and it was answered.  I am so grateful for the both the experience and the ability to appreciate the sincere friendships I have and the chance to repent and change.  That no one should be alone or feel isolated, even because of their own feelings.  There are many that feel either helpless or hopeless (I think of Paul and his “...thorn in the flesh” (2 Corr. 12:7-8)), and we can help to give them hope, instruction, direction, and they can overcome, through knowing the Savior, His love, and applying His atonement.  The irony is that what we feel is our comfort zone, or our biases can actually be ways in which we shut people out of our lives.

Third, I was grateful, to be low on food, made the food aversion easier, and very appreciative for the food we have.

This was an interesting exercise, which reminded me of some wonderful experiences in early young-adulthood.  I think this exercise can be very insightful for the class, as they are in that developmental stage.

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