My 2020 in Review

My year in review: getting an apartment with my middle brother as my roommate; finishing a second term of service as a VISTA for UMKC’s Propel program; finishing the KUMC Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) certificate program; reforming and organizing the Kansas City League of Autistics, an advocacy organization that had not been active for over two years; walking almost every day I’m not working and losing at least ten pounds; adopting a kitten from KC Pet Project; finishing several of my short stories and submitting one to six different fiction magazines, with five rejecting me and one I haven’t heard back from; working on a novel everyday for at least three months hoping this time to actually finish it by the end of May next year and submit it to publishers; taking back my old job for the time being bagging at the grocery store while also being trained and working as a backup cashier until I find a more permanent job; getting in touch with old friends from high school; supporting people I care about who have been laid off during shutdowns; and that’s not to mention Biden winning the electoral vote and the discovery of a Coronavirus vaccine. My New Year’s Resolution (not that I have to wait until the new year to do this): finish my novel, finish several more short stories and get them accepted by magazines, and sell my crafts on Etsy. A new challenge lies ahead.

2Jed Shredwards and Lejohn-art Caldwell-roddy

Autism Acceptance Month 2020

Well, even if it is quarantine season for me and many others across the country, it is still Autism Acceptance Month for me and the actually autistic community and allies starting tomorrow, Autism Awareness Month for those who believe the false prophets of Autism Speaks and similar organizations, a time wear those pushing for Autism Acceptance wear gold, red, taupe, orange, green, and purple for acceptance-since the chemical symbol for gold Au is the first two letters of the work "Autistic," and wear those promoting "Awareness" wear blue due to Autism Speaks still mostly blue puzzle piece symbol (the puzzle piece being abhorred by proud autistics) made on the rapidly discredited idea that their are four boys with autism for every girl, a belief that has robbed many women, girls, and non-binary autistic individuals a chance at services and a better life, leading to anorexia, bilumnia, and suicide of many women, girls, and non-binary folks, some who I have known personally. So enough if the only places I can go are gorcery stores, take-out restaurants, my mom's house, and the Mission Hills courthouse to clear a traffic ticket, I will, as I have done for the last five years, abstain from wearing blue except for the rainbow infinity autistic symbol, and wear gold, red, taupe, orange, green, and purple to promote an antidote and alternative to the thinkinng that leads a disproportionate number of autistic and disabled individuals in poverty, unemployment, prisons-despite a being less likely then non-disabled people to commit crimes, whether at home or not. Happy Autism Acceptance Month!

My Past Year in Review

As the first month is almost out, I remember what was brought by last year, namely, a new job, renewing my contract as a VISTA worker for the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Propel Program, selling several of my crafts, making a new friend from the autistic community in my area, and coming up with my new novel series, which I am rather fond of. I hope this year to finally start an Etsy account, finish some of my stories, and sell them to magazines, maybe even finish my first book of stories.