Hi Everyone,
I, Michael Lettman, would like to share my feelings and involvements for World Autism Awareness Month as I've been grateful to the month of April for being a special month for the autistic community + having a special day within that special month, which is on April 2.
During National Autism Acceptance Month, I like to search for any kind of open chances and opportunities that I can do for autism awareness, which shall fill me up with great anticipation. If I can do more research and find some upcoming work for my advocating project then I'll have what it is takes to increase my skills as an autistic advocate that can help many people on the Autism Spectrum become accepted for who they are, understand them for who they are, and be loved for who they are.
World Autism Awareness Month (2021/Coronavirus Pandemic)
Even though the COVID-19 Pandemic had ruined my chances to attend special in-person events, I've found & enjoyed attending nice remote events & lots of meetings with many groups of advocates. I've managed to have found excellent opportunities to do for Autism Awareness Month of 2021 such as a brand-new logo update, short videos for organizations' anniversaries, several interviews, attending events remotely, and doing an excellent presentation about the Creator of Pokemon. All of which I've been very grateful to have gotten involved in for a special month of many people on the autism spectrum.
April 2: I was happy to do a short video for honoring World Autism Awareness Day and even attended an event to watch an autism documentary that I've watched before which was "Autism in Love". After Dylan Watton from AHRC NYC had wrote an article about me on AHRC NYC's Website (in March 2021), he placed other versions of that article on a few social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram which became like a debut for Michael Lettman upon those kind of Social Media platforms. Instagram Platform - https://www.instagram.com/p/CNK6TI0M8aa/
NOTE: Even after those debuted Twitter and Instagram posts, it is still uncertain when I'll ever try out Social Media platforms to expand my project a little since I'm not ready to become too busy with it and my schedule can be very busy-ish but I'll be pondering until further notice.
April 5: I was honored to do a special short video to inform my viewers that I'll search for opportunities to be a big part in Autism Awareness Month. I've attended an event to hear many perspectives from a few KCC Community Members that are parents of people on the spectrum and they all gave very respectful words as I can remember + I never thought that one of my classmates named Vincent was a special guest for that event. Vincent had done very well in going over the questions and speaking with the parents from his perspective which shows that he's a good advocate. Several days ago, a few staff members from AHRC was working on a short video for an Autism Awareness Month video from The Arc New York organization and I was one of three advocates that were asked to be part of that video by giving a short speech as an Autism Advocate. As of April 5, the video came out great and after watching it, I was honored to see Michael C, Kristin T, and me giving our part for Autism Acceptance, please visit the "Organizations" section to see the video itself.
April 6: I was happy to do a short video for the Sprout organization in honor of their 42nd anniversary. I've attended an event to hear from a guest speaker named Dr. Stephen Shore who's a professor at Adelphi University and is also a person on the Autism Spectrum and after he shared a panel about his life, I've asked him a few questions which he gladly answered from his perspective. After several weeks of meeting with Grace Combs from DRNY and her wonderful graphic interns (Cassidy and Michelle) along with a whole lot of tough decision makings, my project has been updated with a brand new logo (+ icon).
April 7: I've attended an event to hear the perspectives from current KCC students on the spectrum and despite unforgivable interruptions by rude toxic people when a KCC student was speaking, those people were gladly removed and we've continued on with our event as we shouldn't let anything or anyone get in the way of autism accepting. Through the SANYS organization, I've attended a talent show (by Friedberg JCC's Special Advocacy Coalition, SPEAC) to show my skills as an advocate by sharing one of my interview videos which turned out great as everyone enjoyed seeing me as an interviewer.
April 12: I've posted a short video for the AUCD organization (Association of University Centers on Disabilities) in honor of their 50th anniversary. Thanks to someone that I've been working with named Marieta Austin from the Uniting Disabled Individuals organization, I've worked on a presentation on the Creator of Pokemon, Satoshi Tajiri for passing weeks. Up until this day that I get to present it to others that I've invited to my event in honor of Autism Acceptance. Since my presentation was recorded, Marieta was kind enough to sent it to me so I could prepare it to be viewed on My Project's Channel. That way, my viewers gets to enjoy what I've done for The Creator of Pokemon in honor of World Autism Acceptance Month.
April 17: I got to give the same presentation on the Creator of Pokemon, Satoshi Tajiri to a self-advocacy group of safety pursuiters in one of their meetings and they've enjoyed it + I've answered a few questions for a few them as I'm sure that not a lot of people are aware of the Creator of Pokemon being on the autism spectrum.
April 19: I've posted a video for a self-advocacy community group known as SPEAC (Special Advocacy Coalition) in honor of their 4th anniversary. I've attended one of their meetings where I've met advocates that I've never met and advocates that I've known for the SANYS organization.
National Autism Acceptance Month (2023)
I probably didn't get to do much opportunities for Autism Awareness Month of 2023 but I still got to do some advocating work during that special month.
April 4 (Disability Awareness Employment Events): Other than winning 2 gift cards from 2 out of 3 raffles, it resulted in receiving some resume tips for my career path.
April 8 (Autism Employment Presentation): Thanks to Marieta Austin (& Director Edwardo), a small presentation about Autism Employment turned out good at a small group meeting via Zoom.
April 10 (A Small Interview for Project): Thanks to Director Edwardo, attending a 10-minute interview for discussing my project turned out good.
April 14 (Another "BAN" from the Pokemon anime): As of the debut of Gen IX's anime series, another "BAN" has started (yet again for me) after the viewing of JN136, in order to take the time in getting to know more about said anime series from research.
April 17 (Another PSY2400 guest role): Once again from Professor Carpenter, attended her evening PSY2400 class & answered questions for her students like an advocate.
World Autism Awareness Month (2024)
I declare that the autistic community's special month in the year of 2024 has granted me with excellent activities to do for my advocating work whether remote or in-person!
April 2 (Autism Awareness Walk + A Read Aloud): It was thanks to Professor Joanna Maulbeck that I got to do a read aloud for the young students of KBCC's Child Development Center & we all had a wonderful time especially Professor Susan Carpenter who had also participated. For World Autism Acceptance Day of 2024, KBCC's Students Unlimited Club started up an outdoors walk for many advocates to participate in. However, it got disrupted due to weather conditions, so we've had our walk indoors around our campus. Not only we still had a great time, we've shown ourselves that we can still proceed with our goals no matter what may interfere.
April 3 (Financial Empowerment Day): By CUNY LEADS, I attended 2 workshops/presentations led by New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) & Liberated Success Inc. Not only did I had a great time, I've gotten so intrigued that I ended up asking many questions regarding some of the topics that they discussed + I even asked about something that concerns me regarding my own career path. I also got to socialize with a few advocates, even 2 parents (1 mother raising an autistic son & 1 other mother raising an autistic daughter) & I'm impressed with both their kids being college students at Kingsborough Community College (without being in the college program that I've attended).
April 4 (Career/Employment Resource Fair): By CUNY LEADS, I visited a resource fair where I've interacted with many organizations that can be very helpful to individuals with many kinds of disabilities (not just those on the autism spectrum) + I got to see someone who I've once interviewed on My Project's Channel.
April 5 (CUNY Neurodiversity Conference = Remote): Despite experiencing the shaking from that 4.8 magnitude earthquake (which left me very concerned), I still enjoyed attending Part 1 of CUNY Neurodiversity Conference (which was online). I don't think it was much but I did get intrigued by a few advocates that participated & I've socialized a little from typing in their chats.
April 8 (Solar Eclipse/A Talent Show by KBCC's Students Unlimited Club): Didn't do much from joining the group viewing the start of the solar eclipse (outside of our campus) but attending a talent show was good enough to view others performing their talents (like singing, dancing, & poetry). I've decided to go with singing from experiences with karaoke activities & attended other talent shows (via zoom). I had a good time from singing 1 of the songs that I've enjoyed from my past = "My Shiny Teeth & Me", sung by Chris Kirkpatrick, as Chip Skylark on "The Fairly Odd Parents", written & created by Butch Hartman.
April 9 (Dr. Stephen Shore's Symposium + A Read Aloud): Once again, I got to do a read aloud for the young students of KBCC's Child Development Center, thanks to Professor Susan Carpenter providing a spot for me alongside with Professor Julia Morris. I was requested to read/sing my own "Brush your Teeth" book/song for the young students, which apparently was an amazing request. After doing so, they really like it enough to not mind me reading/singing it one more time, with the young students singing along with me, did we all had a fun time together. Attending Dr. Stephen Shore's Autism Awareness Symposium might've led to me learning a little about how those on the autism spectrum go through tiny problems through sensory or sensitivity, which may have an affect with their memories + I liked learning about the 4 A's of Autism (Action, Appreciation, Awareness, Acceptance). Dr. Shore was very kind to share some experience from his career path with me + he's an excellent example of how working somewhere based on our interests can allow us to be happy with our career paths. I can be happy for all his hard work leading him to become a professor in special education at Adelphi University, please enjoy visiting his successful website = drstephenshore.com
April 10 (National Siblings Day): After giving my kind greetings to my own siblings that I'm very close with, I attended an event at AHRC NYC's Main Office where I got some good info on their many programs (beside the programs that I'm aware of), which they've been running for a long time to aid those of the disability community. I've enjoyed socializing with advocates that'd attended + some are even siblings of individuals with disabilities, it makes me feel wonderful that the disability community (which includes those on the autism spectrum) really have siblings that truly cares for them (like myself).
April 11 (Praise Heather Lifland/An In-Person event at Baruch College): Never EVER expected to be awoken very early to be requested into coming by my old high school (P373K) to receive unbelievable news about the official passing of my beloved former high school teacher, Ms. Heather Lifland. Which is why I immediately had to do a tribute video for her & vow to do more with the project ("Living with Autism by Michael Lettman") that she motivated me to start in the 1st place. Afterwards (while slowly beginning to recover from unexpected news), I attended a learning session (led by CUNY LEADS) at Baruch College, where I observed alumni students answering questions based on what they've learning & experiencing on their own career paths. Afterwards, they've tried out something (I'm not able to clearly describe) involving going table to table for interacting with visiting organizations, which I'm guessing are the kinds that aid individuals with their career paths (in their very own ways).
April 14 to April 18 (All set to enjoy "Pokemon Horizons: The Series"): As of the day marking the 1st-ever anniversary of the premiere of "Pocket Monsters (2023)" (the Generation IX series of the Pokemon anime), I was ready to give into watching the series, starting with its Japanese sub from HZ001 to HZ046, which took up to 5 days during the week (before the day that HZ047 would air) + I also gave into its English dub, courtesy of Netflix.
April 19 (CUNY Neurodiversity Conference = In-Person): I definitely enjoyed attending Part 2 of CUNY Neurodiversity Conference (which was In-Person) at LaGuardia Community College + it was an honor to be a co-presenter for Professor Susan Carpenter as we've held a session based on music, altruism, & wellness. During our session, Professor Carpenter really described much about how music can be so well in our lives & I think it'll take me a while how altruism can get involved with the lives of the autistic community, I was also impressed by an individual of both the autistic & blind community, who've done good deeds at a senior center. We even did some sing alongs with "You are my sunshine" & "I like the flowers". It was also an honor for my "Brush your Teeth" Song/Book to be part of the session as I've got to sing it more than once & we even did a sing along with my song more than once. By the end of our session, I've managed to socialize a little more with other advocates (including those who've enjoyed my song). At 1 session presented by Tech Kids Unlimited, I've managed to express my honest-filled comments on what the autistic community could go through on their career paths (which can be very struggling) & I'm proud with everyone agreeing that I've been making good points about it. At 1 session presented by Michael Macedo, it pleases me to see another advocate on the autism spectrum (named Michael) sharing his work with many attendants + it fascinates me to hear the kind of nature-filled life that he has lived in the state of Rhode Island where he works in an organization known as Social Sparks (especially after some struggling he had gone through on his career path). At 1 session presented by Jennifer Feldman from Specialisterne USA, am I intrigued with how Jennifer's organization really focuses on the career paths of the autistic & neurodivergent communities, like hearing how 1 individual had been enjoying his job at a TD Bank & how another individual managed to start his own business after what he's been through on his career path.
April 24 (CUNY's Early Childhood Career Fair of 2024): I've visited a career fair (held by CUNY's Early Childhood Career Development Center) where I've interacted with many childcare organizations & I always enjoy seeing nice people being part of staff (within childcare centers) that works with children. After describing my eligibility (at every table), I've been handing my resume to organizations that may have eligible positions available for my career path. As of experiencing that career fair, I'll look forward to hearing back from childcare organizations that might ponder about hiring an individual on the autism spectrum. However, part of me is feeling ashamed for giving into attending that event since it increased my concerns about a future quandary of possibly earning more than 1 job offer & must unfortunately turn down unchosen job offers in order to keep 1 chosen job opportunity. Speaking to many supporters (& even the staff of CUNY's Early Childhood Career Development Center), allowed me to learn that others are willing to seek multiple job opportunities in order to find the right kinds of interest for their career paths, therefore I must take the risk of facing a very tough challenge, which lies ahead on my own career path.
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