With the beginning of May today, it's been roughly one year since receiving my diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. I suppose it's been hit or miss, because in some ways, it's helped a lot, but I'm still left with more questions than answers.
While it has helped me cope with some of my ticks, I can't seem to get past the fact that there's a good possibility I'll be underemployed or unemployed regardless of the effort I put into anything at all. I busted my ass to get my education and I'm still at square one because there are literally no opportunities for 'gainful' or 'meaningful' employment where I live.
Something else happened to me recently that I feel has sent me over the edge as far as my faith in society goes. You see, I drive a golf cart to get to some places I would have a hell of a time walking to from where I'm living. Don't worry, I never drove it on highways, just local roads with a 20 mph speed limit or less. I had been doing this for months in my neighborhood without so much as a single whisper.
Well, a few weeks ago I was stopped by a policeman because my city has an ordinance against this sort of thing, and now my mother in law has to go before the city council to have them grant me an exemption I should have already had in the first place due to mine and my wife's disabilities. The policeman who stopped me said to her that he never would have stopped me had he known my situation, but it doesn't change much of anything at this point.
My reason for bringing up something as personal is this is simple: Folks who are disabled in any way do their damndest to live what is considered a 'normal life'. Yet, despite the effort we do put in, we are seen as little more than a burden, a hindrance, and anyone with a disabled relative, child or parent knows just where that leads. Many of us end up isolated with almost no way of sustaining any quality of life at all.
To put it another way, I'm sick and tired of being kept from participating in society in any way, shape or form. I have done no wrong...except for being different, that is.
See you around,
Homer