Happy New Year!

The ladies of RFID would like to wish all our friends a happy new years. We hope that in the coming yearyou will help us fill the forum with links to resources in your local area so that those in need of assistance will have a quick place to go to for access to information.

Feeling a Powerful Sadness: Explaining What Neurodiversity Means to the Ladies of RFID

Thelma's pure-dee blue right now. It ain't the post Christmas letdown, neither, that's for sure. Been wandering the interwebz a lookin for good conversations and the opportunity to be uplifted.

Ain't a whole lot of upliftin goin on out there, but there remains plenty of misunderstandings, for sure. Plenty of folks sad. Plenty of em pickin fights. Plenty of em bein asshats, is what I am sayin. Damn shame. Some folks are so miserable they wanna bring folks down with em, ya know what I mean? Some are just sad and hurtin.

Seems to me that folks use neurodiversity differently, and most seem to use it with scorn and derision. Now, we ain't called our site or our forum neurodiversity. We've called it Respect for Infinite Diversity, in part cuz we sure do love our star trek and think Spock and the whole idea of infinite diversity in infinite combinations is a lovely thing. Now, truth be told, it's our Kim who's the biggest Star Trek geek of the bunch, but we can hang along for the ride. What's not to love about a bald guy in a jump suit or a klingon who'll go klingon on ya? An Kirk, well, (pause) he (pause) is (stress) a (pause) dream. Him and Spock together. Thelma goes googly-eyed is what I am sayin. Of course, I done got completely sidetracked, but can ya blame an old gal who was feelin blue? I feel so much better, just for the little detour I took there.

Anyways, we all think that there are folks out there who are misrepresentin the hell out of the concept of neurodiversity into a do-nothing philosophy that would leave folks sittin in their piss an stink. They take the whole idea of acceptance and twist it into somethin vile an evil. I reckon they do these things cuz they are unhappy and don't want others to be happy and cuz they cain't see any other way of bein. When ya are at the bottom, down there in the dumps, it sure as hell can be a stretch of the imagination to see any other way of bein or understand how someone else in the same situation can not feel the same way.

We respect people. Lord knows, our hearts break when we see them hurtin, and we wanna be of service.

Ifn ya are blue, we wanna cheer ya up. We want ya to know ya matter. Even Roger and his poopin and Mitchell and his hatin. Lordy, even Best. Be nice if they'd leave some of the crazy behind, but that might be askin too much of some of them.

So, just in case folks who read us are against their whole idea of neurodiversity, I reckon we better explain what we mean ifn we use the term neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity Accordin to the Ladies of Respect for Infinite Diversity:

1. People, all people, are valuable and deserve to be respected. Now, that don't mean we don't call a dumbass a dumbass, but godamighty, we do it with respect for the innate value of the dumbass at hand.

 Don't mean we tolerate abusers, though, or think folks got the right to do whatever pleases em. Ain't about that kind of thing. Ain't about toleratin folks who spread hate. Who hurt others. Who victimize others.

2. People, all people, should have equal rights and equal protection by law.

3. People, all people, should have equal access to society, to all public places.

4. People, all people, should have access to the treatments and services that will help them participate as fully accepted members of society.

5. People, all people, should not be discriminated against, nor belittled, begrudged, abused, tormented because they are different. Ya can, however, tell a dumbass he's a dumbass as long as ya provide evidence.

6. People, all people, deserve to have their humanity recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated.

That's what neurodiversity means to the ladies of RFID. It means we care, it means we accept, it means we bust our bodacious bosoms and ample arses ta make the world a better place. We widen our circle of friends and we offer moral support and love an appreciation ta those out there who want a soft place to be.

If folks like Mitchell wanna take that as a joke, then the person ya gotta be feelin bad for is Mitchell. If some parents out there wanna take that to mean that mamas like Kim and Kathleen are sittin on the sidelines doin nothin to help their children function better, then they are the ones ya gotta be feelin bad for.

Listen, hatin yourself aint necessary. Thinkin ya are of no value when ya are aint necessary. Bein unhappy and alone aint necessary, neither. Nor is bein surrounded by a bunch of folks whose only goal is to beat up on others. It aint gotta be that way.

Ya can stay down at the bottom that says ya aint gonna get nothin better cuz ya dont deserve it, or ya an grab onto us, sweetlins, an choose a different path. We'll be here. We aint goin nowhere. Nosirree. We gots your back and then some.

*Thelma's been back through this to iron out some of my grammar and make it easier for folks to ken my meanin. Give a holler if ya think it helped any. *

Happy Holidays

We hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday. If we can be of any help, we hope you will reach out. If you have any information on resources on your area for those who are disabled or disadvantaged, I hope that you will join our forum and share the information.
:-) www.infinitediversity.proboards.com

Teaching Tolerance Is NOT the Answer

Liane Kupferberg Carter has an interesting post at Huffington entitled "Those Kids." It, like the one by Mike Elk, has not really generated discussion and very few comments at Huffington Post. That's not a real surprise considering there's no hint of vaccines to be found around them. What is a surprise is that after 4 days they are still up on the Living page and accessible, while Stagliano's abysmal piece on Offit as the pope was barely up at all --and yet still has comments trickling in. Of course, it's devolved to four or five dedicated people, a couple on each of the vaccine.


Carter writes about her experiences with youth who volunteer for the weekend sports program for children with disabilities. She writes about her frustration with the lack of real commitment that happens, the inability for many of these youth to see these children as equals instead of a requirement, a necessary check-off. She writes about tolerance and laments that what she wants for her son is acceptance.

Tolerance is inadequate at best. Tolerance is unacceptable. Tolerance is still inequality.

Acceptance and appreciation of people, their innate value, that is and should be the goal.

Where I would quibble some with Carter's piece is at the end where she writes: "Can one really teach empathy? I'm not sure."

Empathy can be taught, better be taught. Half the problem with acceptance of those with differences is that such a poor job of being empathetic is taught by society in general. When bullies are applauded, where domination of the strong over the week is celebrated, how are those who are different or quirky or challenged going to happen?

Coupled with teaching empathy and acceptance must be a zero tolerance policy towards the bullying and belittling of those who are different. Empathy comes with understanding, and so our children and society at large must be taught to understand innate differences, to understand where others are coming from, what guides and shapes their behaviors.

It is a huge job ahead of us, but respect for infinite diversity is the only way to get past the tolerance problem and to true acceptance.

You've got resource information from where you live, and we need it!

I have all fifty states and several countries up at the Infinite Diversity forum now. Please, please, please help us by joining and sharing links and information to resources available where you live. That's all I'm asking: join the forum and add the information you already have so that someone who doesn't have it can find it easier.




Thank you.

Mission Statement and Informal Commitment

Mission Statement for our “not for any other reason but to help" group Respect for Infinite Diversity:


1) Nationwide (worldwide?) organization: using the blog, the forum and the group as a clearinghouse and overarching structure for the grassroots, all-volunteer organization.

2) Local chapters created and run by volunteers to provide direct assistance and support groups to local disabled individuals and their families.

3) Buddy program for disabled individuals so that they have access to someone willing to listen and help advocate for them.

4) Clearinghouse of resources available at the local, state, national, and international levels.

5) Employment mentoring.

6) Employment advocacy: working with local businesses to help make accommodations that benefit both the disabled and the business.

7) Networking program with people in business, science, education, and medicine who can provide information and advice.

Our commitment:

To work unceasingly to promote equal rights, equal treatment, and equal respect for all people.

To help where we can, when we can, how we can.

To stand against harmful therapies and treatments, to fight the woo.

To call out the dumbasses, but to do it with love.

To eat cake. With gusto.

To take over the world. Narf.

We need your help

The four of us have some big work ahead of us. Work that we have been talking about doing for quite some time. We are very happy to finally be starting it. Right now we are trying to fill our forum up with as much information that we can. So, we are asking you to help us out here. Do you have some state or country information-on getting services. Do you understand insurance forms-and could write a post explaining what some of them are? Have you received services in a particular place and wish that there were things that you knew before you applied?What are some of the roadblocks you have encountered when looking for a job. What would help you to get to where you want to go.

I think that we all have experiences that we could share-things that would help other people going through some of the same things. So please, come on by our forum and tell us what you know. Tell us what you need. Lets do this.

Centralized email address instead/Forum also has PM

The ladies of RFID decided that in order to make sure any emails are dealt with promptly, that we'd do a collective one we all access: respectforinfinitediversity@gmail.com.

Now, if you wish to speak privately to one of us, we're happy to do that, and mine is wombles@sbcglobal.net. Thelma and Louise's are posted at their blog; turns out they have a tendency to forget to check them and that'd be a horrible shame.

We've got the forum up at http://www.infinitediversity.proboards.com/. You can also PM us there.

Now, ya'll join the forum and help us start filling in the state and international resources! :-)

A Beginning: Explanation and Call to Action

While we wait for Kathleen and Louise to get on board here, I'm going to give an introduction to what this blog and the forum we want to add, with the same name, is going to be about.

Kathleen and I started Raising Autism, and added in three lovely women as fellow administrators several months ago, and it started pretty good, but then fizzled, partly I think because most of the members are already friends on facebook and didn't need the forum setting.
We could try to launch what we want to do from that setting, but the name doesn't fit what we want to do. Kathleen and I, in cahoots with our dear friends Thelma and Louise, envision ultimately a nonprofit organization that helps disabled individuals and their families. Really helps. Provides grants to those in need. Helps individuals find assistance in their area. Provides a crisis hotline kind of thing for emergency problems and mentors and buddies for those who need someone to talk to. Advice and assistance for job interviews and a sort of job-buddy who can help the individual work through problems faced on the job.

All that and more, and ultimately local chapters run by individuals who want to make an actual impact in people's daily lives. Now. For reals, not some hypothetical future.

So, we're going to work on that here. We're going to ask your help in creating a national online network that helps those in need. We're not advertising. We're not going to fundraise for the unofficial organization. We're going to do what we did with Nightstorm: we're going to use chip-in.

My promise to you: I want to help and I will not make a dime from doing so.

I won't recommend products and I won't take advertising. Ever.

If, when we get to where we need to make this a non-profit, and we need to raise funds for it (the fee depends on how much money you raise), then we'll do the chip-in for that. I have a feeling, though, that we can get around this for quite awhile.

We need a forum, most likely, so that we can set up categories and place information and contact stuff in that's fairly easy to deal with. I'm comfortable with proboards, but if you don't like that and know of a better one, let me know below.

We'll add meebo. That will be Thelma's job.

We'll also publish our email addresses at some point (mine's accessible already) that way you can get in touch privately if you need an immediate and private ear.

We need your ideas, as well.

The information you have on services in your local area. We'll set up a state by state set of folders so people can add information there.

This isn't just about the autism community. It's about all of us, wherever we are, whatever our issues and helping. Letting people know that others care and can and will be there in a time of need.

There's been enough despair. Enough fear. Enough rejection.

So let's roll up our sleeves, put our heads together and make a real difference in people's lives.