Thursday, December 6, 2012

Oh the people we've met

Through our journey with autism, we've connected with some fascinating and talented people. One of those people is Scott Letine. Over the last week I've had the pleasure of trading emails and corresponding via Facebook. We've had an interesting dialog and he has asked for space on my blog.  For that reason, I am turning my blog over to Scott today. 

Scott is 25 and hails from Billerica, Massachusetts. He is diagnosed with high-functioning autism (PDD-NOS/Aspergers) and is a graduate of Merrimack College. He is currently an office intern at the Arc of Massachusetts in Waltham where he works to persuade lawmakers to pass key disability resources legislation to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. He is also a talented writer and has devoted his considerable talent toward providing insight into his hopes and dreams. 

What follows is a sampling of his poetry. Thank you for taking the time to read on. 

Just a Normal Day         
Never knowing what to say
Never knowing what to do
Always looking for clues
Just a normal day
Feeling unsure
Totally perplexed with everyday life
Always on edge never certain
I wish I could lift this curtain
Needing to constantly satisfy my need for information
Always online searching for new revelations
Going from site to site
Obtaining new insights every night
Trying to connect with people my age
Attempting to reveal my unique vision
But ending up alone and unengaged
Feeling like my needs a total revision
Just a normal day

Can’t You See
Can’t you see
I just want to have a friend
Can’t you see
I need the same connections in the end
Can’t you see
I want a good job
Can’t you see
I need to have stability and dependence and part of the general mob
Can’t you see
I want to be independent on my own
Can’t you see
I want to be able to have my own home
Can’t you see
I want the same things as everyone else
Can’t you see
I want to be appreciated for myself


The Ode to the Autistic Man
Try to understand the challenges that I face
I would like to be accepted as a human in all places
Where I will end up in life I don’t know
But I hope to be successful wherever I go
I would like to expand my social skills in life
Making new friends would be very nice
Stand proud for the autistic man
For he will find a new fan
I hope to overcome the odds I face today
Increased acceptance will lead me to a brighter day
By the age of 20, I will have made tremendous strides
I know in the future, life will continue to be an interesting ride
I have made new friends by the year
I will be given tremendous respect by my family and peers
I hope to get noted for bringing the issue of autism to the common man
So that autistic people can be accepted in this great land
Stand proud for the autistic man
For he will find a new fan
I hope to overcome the odds I face today
Increased acceptance will lead me to a brighter day

I am sure Scott would love to hear your feedback so please post here or on my Blending with Autism Facebook page. You can also contact scott directly via email at slentine2010@gmail.com

2 comments:

  1. Nice. You're teaching me (and, I would guess, some others) a lot with this beautiful blog, Janet.

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    1. Thank you. That is nice of you to say. I enjoyed reading Scott's poetry, too.

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