Autism was entered into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also known as DSM in 1980 and under the name “Infantile Autism”. In the 43 years since being initially added to the DSM, the diagnosis has changed names a few times and now is included as part of the conditions that fall under neurodiversity. Like all neurodiversity topics and diagnosis once upon a time they were confined to a set of characteristics, gender, and age ranges that defined the diagnosis. Many still believe those initial parameters and the stigmas. With stigmas come misconceptions, bias and discrimination making it harder for autistic and neurodivergent adults to feel comfortable sharing their stories and being openly who they are.  
 
Yesterday started Autism Acceptance Week, I would like to share some ways on how you can better accept and support your loved ones and community members every day of the year. 
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1.  For a lot of autistics of all age groups autism is a part of their identity, not just a condition they have. For that reason, I am using autistic vs people with autism for wording. This is a personal preference and will vary person by person, and it is advised you please ask the preferred method of addressing this topic. 
2. Please understand that autism doesn’t have a “look” and that it is not a bad thing to be autistic. 
3. Autism does not invalidate needs, boundaries, or feelings. These key things are valid for ALL people whether you agree with them or not. 
4. One form of acceptance is making sure your presence can be a safe space to unwind from intense emotions without judgement on how they do so.
5. Have flexibility in how you communicate, as some autistics are non-verbal or have selective mutism, being open and willing to communicate in a variety of ways is important for inclusion and acceptance.
6. Outside the box creativity, thinking, and productivity methods are assets to your life, autistics and neurodivergents are a wonderful source of both. Stimming is beautiful and natural.
7. Stimming comes in many shapes and forms, drawn out by different reasons for each person. Learn more about stimming in the attached images.   ​

By accepting autistic individuals as they are and celebrating their strengths, talents, and contributions to society, you are creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.  
 
There are many more ways to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week, I have attached articles, and a link to a list of books written by autistic authors below to help you on your acceptance journey and encourage you to support autistic adults in hopes to broaden your inclusivity and acceptance. 
 
Here is an article called “Coming Out as Autistic: A Coming Out Kind of Conversation” written by Psychologist and a late diagnosed AuDHD woman named Dr.Neff. 
 
Here is an article called “Unlock Creativity By Making Space For Neurodiversity In The Workplace” written by Allaya Cooks-Campbell. 
 
Here is a Good Reads list of books in a variety of genres written by autistic authors. 
 
Some food for thought questions for you: 
What can I personally do to educate myself in this area to move from awareness to acceptance? 
How can I support someone I know or someone I don’t know that is neurodivergent or autistic? ​

From NADSP’s launch of their inaugural Advocacy Symposium:
“On March 9-10, 2022 National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals will embark on its first-ever national advocacy event to bring the direct support professional (DSP) perspective to the forefront of Congress and the Administration during a time of unprecedented workforce challenges. Hardships from the pandemic and recent legislation has provided new insights and opportunities for the direct support workforce that supports people with disabilities.
The NADSP recognizes the previous absence and critical importance of lifting the voices of DSPs to federal policy-makers, so that public policy can be informed by the people who are on the front-lines of supporting people with disabilities to live, work and thrive in the community. In February 2022, the NADSP [provided] direct support professionals with materials to prepare for legislative meetings. This [led] up to a 1.5-day virtual Symposium that [culminated] with virtual meetings with Congressional leaders and staff to educate and advocate on NADSP’s public policy priorities for 2022.”


Together with two DSPs from peer organizations who are also members of NH’s Private Provider Network (PPN), Kristi Reynolds & I had the great pleasure of speaking via Zoom with staff members of New Hampshire’s Congresspeople: Senators Jeanne Shaheen & Maggie Hassan and Representatives Annie Kuster & Chris Pappas. Peers of ours from the Maine Association for Community Service Providers (MACSP), led by OHI Maine CEO of the past 42 years Bonnie-Jean Brooks, held similar meetings with Maine’s Congresspeople. Our meetings went well and were largely met with enthusiastic support – most especially from our Senators. As you will note below, the two pieces of legislation NADSP members were speaking about during this Hill Day were authored or co-sponsored by NH/ME Senators.


Almost 400 NADSP member organizations spoke with Senators & Representatives in 42 states across the United States as part of this Hill Day. We all requested the same support from Congress:


· #1: Support the Creation of a Standardized Occupational Classification (SOC) Code for DSPs by cosponsoring and urging swift passage of the “Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act” ([Hassan authored, Collins co-sponsored] S. 1437 /H.R. 4779).
· #2: Support the Direct Care Workforce by Cosponsoring the “Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act” ([Hassan co-sponsored] S.2344), or “Direct Creation, Advancement and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act” (H.R. 2999).
· #3: Support an increase of $150 Billion to Support the Expansion and Enhancement of Medicaid Home & Community Based Services.

​As representatives of the DSP workforce, we all explained to the Congress people he main challenges we currently face:

· There is no official Standard Occupational Code or formal recognition of the DSP profession – this is a profession which has a great deal in common with roles such as CNA, HHA, PCA, & LPN but includes additional areas of expertise beyond those roles which are not as of yet recognized – and without recognition as a profession on a federal level, advocacy for better & standardized wages is limited

· Lack of clear DSP career pathway – this is something which Great Bay Services’ own Training Committee is working on, but without the funding to connect career steps with increased wages, these pathways are limited in impact
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· Lots of demands and a high level of skills required but with little training/supports – again, our Training Committee is working on this internally, but federal support is needed

· Low wages, long hours, few benefits, little advancement – our addition of a Human Resources Administrator to our staff last year emphasizes our commitment to maximizing benefits, and our Training Committee is doing what it can, but again – federal support is needed

​· The legislation mentioned above will help us all across the country better tackle these challenges

Hi, my name is Chrissy Swenson and I’m the new Communications & Outreach Coordinator at Great Bay Services. You may already know me as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Great Bay, a role I’ve filled for the past 4 years while also honing my communications & marketing skills in other roles for other employers. I’ve worked as a salesclerk, a buyer, a marketing director, a web editor, a social media manager, and more. At Great Bay Services I’ve worked one-on-one as well as with small groups as a DSP, and have gotten to know a number of our New Hampshire clients, staff, and community members through that work. You may be wondering if we’ve met before – I’d be hard to miss!

A funny thing about our nonprofit is how much time we spend supporting other nonprofits.  Volunteering with our members allows them to be active in the community, learn about other organizations, give back and even get some job experience.

In fact, volunteerism is such a large part of our program, we created a position for a Senior Direct Support Professional only to coordinate volunteer opportunities in Sanford.  Cory Long works with other nonprofits in our community to find organizations and positions that are most mutually beneficial.

As Great Bay Services believes in fostering our members' independence, Cory works with our members and Sanford Program Director Jon Stimmell to find the interests of our clients and help them reach their goals.

In the past month, our members:

• Set up chairs for meetings at Acton Church 
• Assisted at the Acton food pantry
• Sorted food, broke down boxes, unloaded trucks and restocked shelves at the food pantry in Alfred 
• Cleaned up playgrounds and trails around Sanford
• Delivered meals for a regular Meals on Wheels route
• Mucked out stalls, swept, and performed other small chores at Moon Run Farm in Berwick. The members also feed, pat and groom the horses.
• Made dog toys and blankets for  Grammy Rose Rescue in Acton

Starting in October we are adding a few more sites, like preparing food boxes for Curtis Lake Church and serving a buffet breakfast at Seeds of Hope center for teens.

Of course volunteering is its own reward, but our members are also taking the next steps, learning job skills.  Many of these opportunities are weekly commitments, so our clients can work towards individual goals and get experience working on a schedule.  We will also be working on translating our new skills on to resumes and job applications with the members.

Cory, Jon and all our staff at both Great Bay locations work closely with each of our member to help them achieve each of their goals.  

A lot has changed in 67 years. Great Bay Services was founded in 1954 by a group of parents who refused to send their children with disabilities to the state institutions. Today, we are still on the forefront of innovative and progressive programs for adults with disabilities.  
 
To reflect the evolution of Great Bay Services, we unveiled a new logo, designed by Eileen Berezni.  It incorporates the same elements of the soaring seagull and the waves of Great Bay.  But rather than separating the pieces, the new logo unites the bird, waves and name in the same image. 
 
We wanted to emphasize our longevity, our mission, and our name.  We are part of the community, not separate.  Rather than the seagull above Great Bay, the new logo shows that we are merged with the whole.
 
The new logo also updated the color scheme, while still using the cool blue and green tones that have always represented Great Bay Services.
 
Our organization is constantly developing.  We wanted a logo that people didn’t associate with the old Great Bay Services, sheltered in Newington.  We operate all along the greater seacoast area from Hampton, NH to Portland, ME.  We serve not only our members, but their families, their employers, and other area nonprofits where our clients volunteer. We are part of the community, enriching the community – we are Great Bay.
 
Tote bags featuring the new logo will be available for $15 by contacting 603-842-5344.  The bags were printed by Spectrum Designs, a New York based company which employs adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

- Elizabeth Worboys Burr, Director of Mission Advancement

Your children are always your children. Whether they are four years old or forty, you worry about them and care for them.  For parents of children with disabilities, they can be life-long caregivers.  Great Bay Services has always been proud to be a part of our members' Circles of Support.  In this past year, more than ever, we have seen the overwhelming love and support that our members receive from their parents, families and guardians.

It is important that people also care for the caregivers.  Below are some resources that may be valuable:

​Caregiver Action Network the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age.  www.caregiveraction.org 

The Family Caregiver Alliance offers strategies and support for your well-being as a caregiver. www.caregiver.org

The Administration for Community Living was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers

We also find that as parents age, we see siblings as the caregivers of adults with disabilities.  

The role of a sibling in the life of a person with an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) is as complex as it is meaningful. Siblings can be friends, confidants, and caregivers.   The Sibling Leadership Network can help.  siblingleadership.org

The Arc recognizes that siblings play an important role in the lives of their brother or sister with I/DD. It is crucial that siblings are supported to be the best advocate they can be. To achieve this goal, they must have access to information and resources to help them make informed decisions – whatever their involvement. thearc.org/get-involved/siblings/

And of course at Great Bay Services, we are always here to support you.  Many of our staff are themselves parents, siblings and guardians of individuals with disabilities.  Being a caregiver is the hardest job.  You're not alone.

- Elizabeth Worboys Burr, Director of Mission Advancement

Food.  Nothing brings people together like a meal.  Cooking is a vital skill for independence.  It comes as no surprise that cooking has always been a staple at Great Bay Services, as we strive to promote independence in our members, and integrate them in to the larger community.

At one time, Great Bay Services acted as a more sheltered program, unlike the community-based programs of today.  We maintained our own cafeteria for the clients - and by the clients.  Our staff worked side-by-side with clients prepping for meals every day.

For several years, we also worked in partnership with Cross Roads House, the homeless shelter in Portsmouth.  The shelter operates a commercial kitchen and provides three meals a day to their residents.  Our clients volunteered in the kitchen, supporting a great nonprofit and building good job skills.

Even after our move to Dover, and opening the Sanford office, cooking continued at GBS.  Through a partnership with St John's, we would cook regularly in their kitchen.  Our Sanford members grew their own vegetables at the Sanford Community Garden before using them in delicious and healthy meals. 

Recipes are usually around a theme like holidays or seasons.   Staff taught health and nutrition along with the cooking classes - with the occasional treat thrown in.  A fun job perk of working at GBS was getting to try all the recipes our members created.

The last activity we did was a cooking class.  The Dover members created a snack together on March 13, 2020 - the final day before GBS shut down community support programs for the pandemic.  

Even now, we're still cooking.  Our online Zoom cooking classes are immensely popular with members.  

Of course we also have members who do prep work in professional kitchens at area restaurants, in addition to helping with other jobs that keep restaurants organized, clean and safe.

With this long-time connection to food, it was a natural fit for Great Bay to create a cooking-based event for our 2021 fundraiser.  We're excited to team up with Chef Justin Walker of Walkers Maine for an online cooking demonstration on May 21.

Join us at 7:00pm, tickets are just $30 per household and available here.  All proceeds support all our important programs - including cooking - for local adults with disabilities.

- Elizabeth Worboys Burr, Director of Mission Advancement

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