Sunday, August 24, 2014

Questions for Alec, an interview with Alec Frazier

As you know, I reconstructed the blogger recently to make it easier for consumers who have disabilities  to connect with the goods and services they need. 

In building the site and re-editing my story, Impact, for publishing, I've encountered some really neat people. In the coming weeks, I'll be interviewing different individuals. Some are people with disabilities, others have designed exciting new products in the field of assistive technology, still others work in disability service in some capacity.

My first interviewee is my friend and fellow Team Impact member, Alec Frazier. Alec is a seasoned disability rights advocate who owns and operates the business, Autistic Reality http://www.nothingaboutuswithoutus.net/

Alec has a number of diagnoses, including Hip Displasia, Sensory Integration Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dysgraphia and Digital Atonia, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Asperger's Syndrome. Feel free to ask any questions about these conditions. Alec will answer!

Alec is autistic and grew up in a progressive household with parents who refused to place him in a segregated educational setting and as a result was mainstreamed throughout his entire educational career.

Alec received his Associate’s from TC3, but has also taken classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Cornell. He is currently obtaining his B.A. in Political Science from the University at Buffalo as well as obtaining his M.A. in “Humanities - Interdisciplinary” with a formal Concentration in Disability Studies.

Alec works as a Community Advocate for WNY Independent Living Inc. (WNYIL), a Public Speaker and Advocate in Disability Rights Advocacy, a Student Advisory Council (SAC) Affiliate Liaison for the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®), and does Public Relations for Visions Comic Art Group.

I have to admit, my knowledge of autism is rather vague and I'm quite interested in learning more. Sadly, when asked about autism, many of us think back to stories someone has told of a child, shut off from society and imprisoned in their own world, or we flash back to that Tom Cruise/ Dustin Hoffman movie, Rainman. I don't think either is a realistic picture of autism.

In my story, Impact, I try to dispel myths about disability. It's my hope, that by interviewing Alec, we can become more aware of autism.

Alec has offered a frank discussion about his life with autism and has invited our questions.

I have a number of my own questions. Is there something you've always wanted to know about autism, but were afraid to ask?

Do you know someone with autism? Do you have questions about accessing services for someone who is autistic?

Do you have questions about independent living?

Please post your questions in my facebook community. https://www.facebook.com/dacharlesauthor

The interview will post the following Wednesday, September 4, 2014 right here.

We will accept questions until 8/30.


~nise