Semester #3B

Description: 

Imagine going trick-or-treating and receiving more than just candy. I had the opportunity to volunteer for an inclusive disability resource fair that doubled as a Halloween fun fest. This event, hosted by Advanced Behavior Analysis, brought together local organizations to help families connect with local supports. The booths ranged from scholarships, mental health therapies, advocacy, transitional supports, therapy dog training, hangout groups, and assistive technology.

I was assigned as a floater, helping other booths as needed and standing near the exit to answer questions or say farewells. During my breaks, I visited booths and inquired about their services. Each booth was stocked with candy, stickers, or sensory fidgets for the trick-or-treaters. I, however, was trick-or-treating for information and pamphlets to add to my collections. While the booths provided a wide range of resources, most booths had select services for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Reflection: 

I aim to provide clinical therapy (and possibly diagnoses) by majoring in social work. Attending such events is an important part of my journey towards reaching my goals. Social work is all about empowering people, be they individuals or communities. To empower others, I need to be familiar with local resources. If my client desires to build friendships, I'll refer them to The Motley Squad, an inclusive hangout group for neurodiverse people. If a client needs access to affordable and functional utensils, I can refer them to Utah Valley University. There, they 3D print functional tools for individuals with tremors, all for less than 5 dollars. What if a client is graduating from high school and could use support in their transition to adulthood? Turn is an excellent organization for transitional needs that helps prepare youth with conditions like ASD for college life and work. The list of resources goes on and on, and I could write a 10-page essay about what I learned here. 

I made my excitement about resources evident, but why do I feel that way? Well, there are a lot of reasons. First, knowing about these resources feels empowering for my clients and myself. The increase in my capacity to connect individuals to support feels empowering, and the individuals benefiting from the resources become empowered, too. It's incredible that such resources exist and can meaningfully improve the quality of a person's life. 

If you ever want to learn about the resources available to the neurodivergent community and their families, please feel welcome to ask! Otherwise, I recommend attending Advanced Behavior Analysis' annual resource fair every October.