Mike: Make McLean County Autism Friendly

By Mike Matejka

WJBC Forum

April is autism awareness month.   A new initiative is being launched in our community, with the ambitious goal to make McLean County an Autism Friendly Community.

Autism is a very unique disability.  There is no physical characteristic of people with autism.  Some have multiple disabilities.  Some individuals on the autism spectrum are very quiet, shy and reticent.  Others are very talkative.   Some individuals are extremely intelligent.  That’s why it’s called an autism spectrum – there is a wide variety of abilities and disabilities.

What does it mean to be autism friendly?  It most especially means being sensitive and not pre-judging an individual.   Someone who doesn’t make eye contact might not be threatening, they might have autism.  Someone who nervously flaps their hands or repeats a particular body movement might be more than nervous, they might have autism.  Someone who comes in for a job interview and seems very shy and difficult to connect might make a great worker, but their autism makes it difficult for them to relay what they CAN do.

The diagnostic numbers continue to grow.  The Center for Disease Control now says that one in 45 U.S. school children are on the autism spectrum.  Just four years ago, the number from the same agency was one in 88.  It will take scientific work to explain this rise in diagnosis, but the numbers continue to rise.

So what can we do to make McLean County an Autism Friendly community?   Number one, learn about autism.  Many people still stereotype people on the autism spectrum as either someone rocking in the corner or as a savant.  There are many communication, speech and social difficulties that come under the autism label.   Learn about that variety.  Be open to people with autism – sometimes a little patience goes a long way.  Underneath that social hesitancy is often a very delightful individual.  People with autism often are very insightful, as they see the world around them very literally and will speak honestly.  Their perceptions can aid us all.

My adult daughter is a very intelligent individual with autism.  She once made a fascinating comparison to Alice in Wonderland. Alice falls into the rabbit hole into a world that lacks logic, totally confusing Alice. My daughter noted that is how she feels every day. Because she has trouble with nuances of speech, inflection and body language, she is often confused by what others communicate.  But if you take the time to communicate clearly, you’ll find a very thoughtful young woman.  Let’s make McLean County Autism Friendly.  Welcoming and getting to know this population can enrich us all.

Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Normal. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.

Deaf Community Rallies Behind CornBelters Coach

Randy Reinhardt

The Pantagraph

The conversation moves quickly down the right-field line 10 minutes after the Saturday evening baseball game is completed.

Yet other than the occasional sound of hearty laughter, there is silence.

The center of attention is the man in uniform standing on the playing surface. The others huddle around him in the first few rows of the Corn Crib's section 101.

The man is Tommy Barksdale, former CornBelters' player-turned-coach and ambassador. The group of seven has adopted No. 8 as their own.

The hard-of-hearing Barksdale has embraced and become a unifying force in Bloomington-Normal's deaf community.

"It's just a bunch of friends," Barksdale said. "Two of them work at the (Lincoln) community college we stayed at. I saw them signing. They came over to talk to me and introduced me to a bunch of their friends from around town."

Barksdale considers himself "hard of hearing" because he is able to hear when wearing his Cochlear implant. He communicates with his deaf friends through sign language.

"It's nice to know there is a deaf community that supports me and watches my games and afterwards has a conversation with me," said Barksdale. "It's nice to be part of both worlds. I love it. They love it.

"They do mock me sometimes. We all have our jokes. Sometimes I mock them back. It's a family. That's why we can do that."

Barksdale landed in Normal after Belters' manager Brooks Carey received a call from an old friend, former Toronto Blue Jays manager Tim Johnson.

"TJ called me from the California Winter League and said 'Will you sign this kid I have out here?' " recalled Carey, whose team continues its pursuit of the Frontier League's West Division championship Tuesday against Evansville in a 6:35 p.m. game at the Corn Crib.

"About a week later I was talking to TJ and he said 'I forgot to tell you he played for (deaf ex-major leaguer) Curtis Pride at Gallaudet (College) and he's deaf.' I said OK, this is even better."

Barksdale made Normal's season-opening roster but saw little playing time. Hitless in seven at-bats, Barksdale was nearly released several times when other personnel needs arose, according to Carey.

On one occasion he planned to release Barksdale, he had several Belters' veterans accompany Barksdale into his office to provide emotional support.

"Three of them got tears in their eyes. I said 'I don't have any choice,' " Carey said. "I walk out the door and Tommy is sitting in center field in the dark, and Pat (McKenna) is down there with his arm around him.

"They told me Tommy just wants to enjoy the field before he has to go home. I said, 'Never mind, get him back up here.' "

When Barksdale actually was cut from the active roster on July 13, Carey and team president Steve Malliet found a way to keep Barksdale in uniform.

"I told Steve I would make him a coach if we can find a little extra money around," said Carey. "Steve was all for it. The reason Tommy is here is Malliet."

Although Barksdale still considers himself a player, he jumped at the opportunity to serve as bench coach and occasionally coach first base.

"I can't leave the team. These guys are like my family," he said. "I want to support them being a bench coach and learn the game as much as I can. But I'm not going to give up. I'm going to come back next year, play somewhere and give it all I got."

Carey does have to remind Barksdale about the changes his new role has brought.

"The kid is an inspiration to everybody here. He can be a little pain in the neck though," said the third-year Normal manager with a big smile. "He still wants to take BP (batting practice) and do everything the rest of the players are doing. But he has a job now down in the batting cage. He's got to throw BP.

"(Assistant coach Dave) Garcia is out there throwing BP, and here comes Tommy into the batter's box. Are you a coach or are you a player?"

Carey has seen Barksdale treated no differently than anyone on the team.

"He's been a great asset to the organization," Carey said. "I don't think it's a disability. I think it's a positive in his life. He's turned it into a positive."

Arlene: Special Olympics Changing Lives and Attitudes for More Than 47 Years

Arlene Hosea

WJBC Forum

What began as a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities is now a “global movement that has been changing lives and attitudes for more than 47 years.”

 Eunice Kennedy Shiver had a vision and a goal.  The vision was a summer day camp in her back yard for young people with disabilities.  Her goal was to “learn what these children could do in sports and other activities, and not dwell on what they could not do.”

 That vision and goal continue to remain the purpose and the passion within Special Olympics Illinois today.  Our state and community are embedded in the history of Special Olympics.  The first Special Olympics Games where held in 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Judge James Knecht and Ron Ross were there in 1968 with a group of boys from the Lincoln Development Center, connecting this community to the history of the first games.  In addition, the Special Olympics Illinois main office is located in Normal. 

 When I joined the Special Olympics Board of Directors several years ago, I began to learn more about Special Olympics.  We have 22,000 athletes in Traditional (children and adults) and 20,000 Young Athletes (ages 2-7), all fostering inclusion and acceptance.  In this community we have very strong programs with SOAR and Unit 5.  Unit 5 is leading the way with Project Unify matching individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, fostering Youth Activation, Unified Sports and Spread the Word to End the Word (R Word Campaign). 

 The athletes are the heart, soul and spirit of Special Olympics Illinois.  Athletes serve on the Board of Directors and in addition, they also serve as Global Messengers and speak to organizations, agencies and get to introduce people like the First Lady Michelle Obama at Special Olympic World Games 2015!  If you have not heard a Global Messenger speak, you are missing a very powerful presentation.  Each messenger has their own personal story and passion, it will move you.  You can learn more about Special Olympics Illinois by looking at their website or contacting them. 

 As a community and as a state, we have a great history in Special Olympics and thousands of athletes statewide to be very proud of.  I hope my community will continue to stand with Special Olympics Illinois today and tomorrow.

 The Special Olympics oath completes the story:

 “Let me win.  But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

 I thank the athletes for being brave, being humble and for fostering inclusion and acceptance.  Let us all learn from you. 

'100 Caring Adults' Aimed at Encouraging Returning Students

For the third year in a row, The Bloomington Junior High School Promise Council will be sponsoring "100 Caring Adults." This movement will bring at least 100 adults to the junior high on the first day of school to line the sidewalks and show community support for the returning students.

The 2015 100 Caring Adults event will take place at 7:45 a.m. on the first day of school, Thursday, Aug. 20, at Bloomington Junior High School, 901 Colton Ave.

It is a great opportunity for your associates, employees and others to impact the lives of young people in our community by just showing up. Bloomington Junior High serves about 1200 students as the only junior high school for Bloomington District 87. The Promise Council is a collection of caring adults committed to supporting students through:

* Providing more adult mentors for students

* Increasing opportunities for parental engagement

* Meeting physical needs of students when they stand in the way of academic achievement

Events like 100 Caring Adults help to fulfil the Promise Council aims by introducing potential adult mentors to the school and increasing opportunities for parental engagement. In addition, it strengthens the fabric of our community by sending a message to our 6th, 7th and 8th graders that they matter to the community and we are all engaged in wanting to see them succeed.

Ample parking for this event is available at the Towanda Plaza on the corner of Empire and Towanda near the Bloomington Post Office. It is a short walk to the school from the plaza. There will also be a bus available to shuttle participants from the plaza to the Junior High at 7:30 a.m. Plan to arrive a few minutes early in order to park and catch the shuttle.

 Business and organizations are encouraged to wear colors, work specific shirts or other items that represent their brand or organization. Non-corporate supporters are encouraged to wear school colors (purple and white) to show their support. 

You can register as an individual or register your company or organization’s participation by following this link www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D48A8A923A0FF2-100caring/10549093 to the 100 Caring Adults sign up page. Please register by Monday, August 17th. For more information you can contact Cheree’ Johnson at (309) 268-3504 or by email: cheree.johnson@advocatehealth.com or Mary Litwiller at promisecouncil.bjhs@gmail.com.

Marlee Matlin Headlines March 24 ISU Dinner

Oscar-winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin is guest for the March Disability Awareness Cultural Dinner at 5 p.m. March 24, in the Brown Ballroom of Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium.

Matlin, who won an Academy Award in her 1986 turn in Children of a Lesser God, is an advocate for American Sign Language and co-author of non-fiction and juvenile fiction. The former Chicagoan lost her hearing at eighteen months of age, and faced addiction challenges in her early teens.

On July 26, 2010, Matlin signed a speech at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. She is actively involved in Easter Seals (where she was appointed an honorary board member), the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet.

Her semi-autobiographical series of young adult books focus on Megan and her challenges and accomplishments as a deaf girl. Her biography is I'll Scream Later. Matlin teaches sign language through her iPhone/iPad app Marlee Signs, available through the iTunes App Store.

As a means to celebrate and educate on diversity, ISU University Housing Services began coordinating Cultural Dinners in the early 1980’s. The tradition of these dinners continues today and is meant to expose students to "the rich cultural diversity of our society as well as expand their knowledge of the world in which we live."

Originally held in residence hall conference rooms, they are now held in larger university banquet rooms to accommodate the increasing interest in our programs. The interest has been sparked by greater access offered over the years to national opinion leaders and performers at the top of their craft.

Cultural Dinners are open to the ISU community (student, faculty, and staff) as well as the Bloomington-Normal community. They generally draw up to 600 people. Cultural Dinners take place once or twice a semester and include an address from a keynote speaker, a meal, and entertainment specific to the culture being celebrated.

The planning and execution for these events is done, not only by University Housing Services professional staff, but also by students in order to encourage the development of leadership skills.

Ticket information for the March 24 dinner will be available soon at http://www.housing.ilstu.edu/current-residents/cultural-dinners/tickets.shtml.

Marc Making Fosters Artistic Skills of Differently Abled

Culture, arts, and even prejudice transcend racial, religious, or ethnic lines. The developmentally disabled also face challenges, obstacles, and ignorance, but an upcoming Bloomington exhibition will help differently abled artists make their cultural mark on the Twin Cities.

The Marc Making exhibition at the Jan Brandt Gallery, 1106 East Bell St., opens with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. January 24. Proceeds from the exhibition will benefit artists with developmental disabilities.

Marcfirst was started in 1955 by a group of families of children with disabilities in order to provide support to each other and to their children during a period in American history when children with disabilities were often excluded from the public school system. On November 18, 1955, the original non-profit corporation was incorporated as the McLean County Association for Mentally Retarded Children, which was later changed to Marc Center in 1980 and to Marcfirst in 2007.

Marcfirst has created Marc Making to offer a creative self-employment opportunity to artists making work with developmental disabilities. Marc Making 'goes beyond making great artwork as a means of self-expression by giving artists the additional support to explore ways to be involved in our local fine arts community and to generate income from their work."

The Jan Brandt Gallery

According to Marcfirst, "it has been shown that participating in art activities increases an individual's self-esteem by allowing for expression, peer recognition, and creative thinking. It also offers additional occupational, cognitive and emotional goals to a wide range of skill sets and disabilities. The Marc Making program encourages individuals with disabilities to create and learn about art while learning how to run a business."

Proceeds from purchased artworks go directly to artists with developmental disabilities and the Marc Making program. The program also can use pre-stretched canvases, drawing pads, drawing paper, acrylic paint, brushes, pencils, pens, and most other art supplies. Any instructional books or videos demonstrating techniques also are useful.

Also crucial are individuals affiliated with an accessible art studio, gallery, university program, or museum that can invite artists to tour and learn more about the business side of being a self-employed artist. Art students or professional artists can donate a few hours to teach prospective artists.

Initial funding for the program was made possible from the Bloomington Normal Daybreak Rotary.

For information, call (309) 451-8888 or (309) 451-8888, ext.258.