This came up on my personal Facebook the other day with it trying to turn this post in a “Then vs Now” function. I missed it because it to be posted on the same day in 2017…
I wanted to post me doomscrolling on my phone feeling a false-nostalgia. I guess I could do it manually posting with a hashtag of #ThenVsNow
Without going into much detail, a then-student in 2017, who knew someone in management in my then day program (that was also their professor) at the time had organized a “Buddies” group at SNHU, which surprisingly is an actual campus despite having an online learning platform. In fact the on campus was growing tremendously pre-pandemic as it borders Hooksett and the fringe of Manchester, in fact you can see SNHU at Exit 10 on 93 – something that was never seen from the highway before.
This, like many other experiences as much as my skepticism was in my mind, the hopeful side of me was hoping to meet people who would’ve been much younger than me to be something more than just buddies. In fact I written a similar title either here or my personal blog (of which the database was screwed up locking me out from viewing any posts.)
I’d rather write small posts from each of the times I went for nearly 2 years before I felt this wasn’t the right place either. The problem was more of when the student graduated, would the other buddy be abandoned?
For it’s time, it was a community organized event with the students that had experiences with people like me. It’s a departure from the Best Buddies which is a rigorous organization. But in fairness, I think there should be more than one type to what can work. The problems that can run into a community organized event is you’re betting on the SNHU buddy member that will stay in touch with you and hope you don’t fade into “busy” and a “post college life” or even bigger things like getting married or even having kids. I finally found one buddy who ghosted me (and she was such a cool-chick) to find out a month ago she’s married with two kids.. and she’s nearly 11 years younger than moi.
This has been mentioned in the prompt of continuous improvement to the IDD system in my annual contract, they are choosing to ignore what they expect us to be anyways in the community? Remember “autism acceptance”, knowing that these things are superficial is part of that list.
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