Hunting for work is never easy, but for individuals with disabilities, the question of “disclosure” arises. Do you tell an employer you are disabled? Do you assume certain group memberships or activities reveal the disability? What if people offering letters of reference mention the disability? Honestly, I don’t have any…
Category: Writing
All things writing related in my life.
I came to the University of Minnesota because the Department of Rhetoric was not within English and was not a “college composition” department. I wanted to study the relationship between technology and writing. I wasn’t focused on autism or disabilities in general. I wanted to study online writing spaces, work…
I’m definitely leaving any and all cognitive research related to autism behind after 2010. I’m shifting back towards creative writing and, hopefully, new media rhetoric. I’m hoping to find a university where I can work on my poetry, scripts, and novels. Research is interesting, but the public conflict isn’t. (If…
While I do write about some issues, this blog was started mainly because I would misplace notes to myself. I could shift to Google Docs or another online setting, but some people do seem to find the posts useful or interesting. I don’t go out of my way to be…
For those not familiar with my research focus, I currently study the communications skills of teens and adults with autism. My particular interest is original compositions by those diagnosed with autism. This research leads me to study language, neurology, psychology, and more. Neurolinguistics are important, for example, but I never…
This week there is a major national conference on campus, sponsored by the academic department in which I reside (in theory). However, either I missed the announcements or didn’t understand them earlier this academic year. So, while other graduate students and instructors are meeting administrators from across the nation, I…
I appreciate the power of passion — but I also recognize its limits. I can seem passionate about a few things, but the general reality is that being “excited” and “enthusiastic” is not the same as being passionate. I’m interested in the language arts, visual design, and technology. But, my…
I have too many interests, or I have too little time. Maybe both are true. When do people finish projects? The writing is piling up, a long backlog of things I hope to complete. I’m hoping this summer is all about finishing things, so I can start the next projects.…
It’s not easy to have surgery after surgery, medical adventure after medical adventure, while trying to complete my doctorate and move forward with life. Written Exams… Testing Sanity I spent the entire week taking my written exams, receiving questions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. With 24 hours to respond to…
Once I earn my degree and escape Minnesota, I am going to do every thing I can to reset myself and my path in life. Since elementary school, I have wanted to be a full-time writer. While I am interested in different forms, from reporting to dramatic writing, I always…