ISU Blog Post #6

http://www.aspennj.org/pdf/information/asd-articles/a-letter-from-an-adult-male-with-as.pdf

This is a heartfelt and very emotional letter in the perspective of someone with Asperger syndrome. It exemplifies how difficult it is to live with the disorder since you have no control over many neurological aspects in your life. Richard Rowe, the writer of the letter wishes very strongly that he could converse with people about normal things, for example, the weather. John's father in my ISU novel, portrays the emotions Richard is describing in the letter. He wants to be normal but it is truly not in his control and all he can do is try to learn and grow as a person. Also, the writer feels misunderstood in a sense. This is portrayed in the novel "Dear John" because John's father feels misunderstood when John lashes out at him, prior to knowing about his disorder. John ends up feeling as if he took his father for granted after his passing.

ISU Blogpost #5

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/20/health/autism-adults/

This article is discussing how autism is more often found in adults and how regardless of their age, need a lot of support to help grow and learn. Throughout the novel "Dear John" John's father was not aware of the fact that he had this disorder, therefore making it challenging to be cared for. The article also discusses how adults with this disorder are more prone to anxiety and depression. This is relevant to my ISU novel because John's dad has always dealt with extreme anxiety when being forced into socializing with anyone other than discussing his hobby of collecting coins. These problems occurred with his own son also which had detrimental affects on John's life growing up, since he had no one at home to talk to, considering it was just him and his father.

ISU Blogpost #4

http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Exceptional%20Learners/Autism/Articles/Inclusion%20of%20Students%20with%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders/

This article is discussing the issue in which not enough attention is being given to children in classrooms with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These children are not getting enough attention they need to help them operate near grade level. The major component in this article is about inclusion, and including those with ASD and accepting all of their needs since it is a great weakness for them to inherit social skills. Also, they deserve for the school system to provide them with reliable and helpful paraprofessional support. However, with no extreme cost.

War Artifact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpBlMmGhNF0

 The song "Imagine" by John Lennon poses many similarities to the topic of war. Throughout the song he is singing about how the world should stop making war and start making peace. When he says "Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people, living life in peace" is talking about how if there were peace among all countries and religions, there wouldn't be a need to kill. Everyone would have the ability to live in peace. "Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world" is describing how with peace there would be equality all around the world, which should be acknowledged. Overall, this song outlines how important it is to make peace as apposed to starting war.

ISU blog post

http://www.medicinenet.com/autism_and_communication/page2.htm#how_does_autism_impact_the_family

I chose this article because of the relation it has to the social issue in my novel. This article is discussing basic facts about autism spectrum disorder. The impact on family part poses a similarity to the impact that the disorder had on John in the novel "Dear John." John was unaware of his father's disorder for majority of his life and likewise for his father. Savannah, John's love interest, informs John that his father has this disorder. John and his father have always had a very weak relationship for all of John's life and his father was extremely anti-social. John's dad always enjoyed collecting coins and could only talk about that one thing he was passionate about. This has had major impacts on John growing up because his father was a single parent, so he was distant from him and he had no siblings either. It caused great emotional and social stress on John and his father as John was growing up, because whenever John would want to get close to his father and converse about something not related to coins, he would just get shut down. This is due to the fact that social interaction is a weak aspect for people suffering from autism spectrum disorder. John was unaware of this and he blamed his father for their weak relationship.

Sniper News Report

            June 1st, 1922  

                   Civil War Tears Family Ties

                                War Between Brothers

                                 

On a June night, the battle between the Republicans and The Free Staters continued as the conflict occurred between two brothers. This took place in Dublin during nightfall. The sniper posts himself on a rooftop where is the place that all the catastrophe occurs.

The conflict begins as the sniper see's an armoured car at which he fires his riffle at the old woman and the informer that were in sight.

A plan to take down his enemy occurs to him which he executes soon after he has been shot in the arm by the opposing side. The sniper quickly tries healing his wound and is prepared to take down his enemy.

Now that the opposing side thought the sniper was dead he quickly aimed and shot the Free Stater with his revolver, defeating his enemy.

Soon after the sniper curiously goes across the street to see who he kills, only to be staring into the eyes of his own brother. This was not only a Civil War but a war between a family.

Autism Slam Poetry

In this poem I am speaking in the point of view of someone with autism because a character in my ISU novel has autism.



They will never fully understand why I am so quiet,
Outspoken without speaking at all.

Small talk is the only talk I know,
I can never seem to want to let a conversation flow.
They call it a complex developmental disability,
Yet they don't understand my ability.

To deeply love the one thing I am good at,
Without being good at too much.

People don't understand me,
They think I can't feel.
Just because I don't show my emotions,
Doesn't mean I'm not real.

A myth, I tell you,
I am just like the rest.