Comments on: Jackpot! http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/ A sit down and chat session with Ian Wetherbee about FC, autism, sports, politics or religion. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:55:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Jackpot! by: ian http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-393 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:51:36 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-393 Hi Stephen, Thanks for reading my blog. I was surprised to learn that you saw me at youth conferences, though it is hard to miss me, I guess. I really loved those conferences, especially the Memphis and Phoenix ones. Mostly I liked hanging with the kids in our youth group, especially the girls. Everytime I see Bernie, he shows me that poem. He's a great friend to have. He always makes me feel significant. That's when I don't feel socially inadequate or awkward. To get to know me better takes patience, I guess, because I type my thoughts so slowly in real time, though I can pick up what's said to me in real time. Some day when Dad's there to facilitate, we should have a good chat. My advice about working with autistic kids is to never get fooled by their crazy looking behavior. They are very smart, probably. They can't help it when they do unusual things. They also tune out other people when few expectations are made of them. Ian Hi Stephen,
Thanks for reading my blog. I was surprised to learn that you saw me at youth conferences, though it is hard to miss me, I guess. I really loved those conferences, especially the Memphis and Phoenix ones. Mostly I liked hanging with the kids in our youth group, especially the girls.
Everytime I see Bernie, he shows me that poem. He’s a great friend to have. He always makes me feel significant. That’s when I don’t feel socially inadequate or awkward. To get to know me better takes patience, I guess, because I type my thoughts so slowly in real time, though I can pick up what’s said to me in real time. Some day when Dad’s there to facilitate, we should have a good chat.
My advice about working with autistic kids is to never get fooled by their crazy looking behavior. They are very smart, probably. They can’t help it when they do unusual things. They also tune out other people when few expectations are made of them.

Ian

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: ian http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-392 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:50:49 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-392 Hi Stephanie, Thanks for reading my blog. My story is mighty sweet now to think about because it tells about a miracle. I always had a good life, but being able to communicate made my life much more happy, though a lot more challenging. Of course I know your name! You are a really fun person to be around. See you on Sunday. Ian Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for reading my blog. My story is mighty sweet now to think about because it tells about a miracle. I always had a good life, but being able to communicate made my life much more happy, though a lot more challenging.
Of course I know your name! You are a really fun person to be around. See you on Sunday.

Ian

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: Stephanie Bowers http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-391 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:32:58 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-391 Your story is so bittersweet . . . tears of frustration & joy. Ian, I hope to get to know you better. Your Sister in Christ, Stephanie. p.s. I'm not sure if you know my name, but you know my face. I sometimes sit in front of you & your family @ church w/my nieces, Mallorie, Madison & Emma. Your story is so bittersweet . . . tears of frustration & joy. Ian, I hope to get to know you better. Your Sister in Christ, Stephanie. p.s. I’m not sure if you know my name, but you know my face. I sometimes sit in front of you & your family @ church w/my nieces, Mallorie, Madison & Emma.

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: Stephen Stull (II) http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-390 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:09:59 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-390 Ian, A short explanation as to how I came to this site...I am looking for work, and one opportunity I found is to tutor two children with autism. I have yet to meet them, but as I was thinking about it, I thought of you and decided to see if there was anything you had written online. I am almost ashamed to say that it took that to get me to pursue finding out more about you, but it did. I have often felt I would like to get to know you, but didn't know how and my time in Huntington has been so little, that I haven't pursued it. My own social fear and awkwardness often prevail against my best intentions, unfortunately. (I think this lettter is going to turn into a much longer one that I initially anticipated.) Anyway...I will say this now before I forget...I have only read a couple of your blog entries, but intend to read whateveer I can find online that you have written or has been written about you, if anything like that is there. I have heard very little of your story and this blog entry was very informative for me. I am glad to know a bit more of your story, and even better that it is from YOUR perspective. (I haven't though any of this through well and I hope nothing comes out to be offensive, rude, insensitive, or whatever. That is not my intent.) I remember always seeing you and your dad at state and national youth conventions, and recognized you immediately when we came to Huntington for my dad to "try out" as the pastor. Another time that you came up unexpectedly was in Japan. I was borrowing Bernie Barton's bible for something and found a paper in the pages of a poem or something you had written for him. I had forgotten that they would have any connection to you or to Huntington, and seeing that just really caught me off gaurd, as did the thoughts in the writing. I know I have forgotten several things that had come to mind and I wanted to say as I was reading and writing in this blog, (that happens to me a lot...thoughts can escape me very quickly...frustrating) but i will close with this. I would like to know how I can interact better with you (from your perspective) when I do get to see you. If you can think of anything let me know and I will do my best. I know I could learn a lot from you. Your friend, Stephen Ian,
A short explanation as to how I came to this site…I am looking for work, and one opportunity I found is to tutor two children with autism. I have yet to meet them, but as I was thinking about it, I thought of you and decided to see if there was anything you had written online. I am almost ashamed to say that it took that to get me to pursue finding out more about you, but it did. I have often felt I would like to get to know you, but didn’t know how and my time in Huntington has been so little, that I haven’t pursued it. My own social fear and awkwardness often prevail against my best intentions, unfortunately. (I think this lettter is going to turn into a much longer one that I initially anticipated.)
Anyway…I will say this now before I forget…I have only read a couple of your blog entries, but intend to read whateveer I can find online that you have written or has been written about you, if anything like that is there.
I have heard very little of your story and this blog entry was very informative for me. I am glad to know a bit more of your story, and even better that it is from YOUR perspective. (I haven’t though any of this through well and I hope nothing comes out to be offensive, rude, insensitive, or whatever. That is not my intent.)
I remember always seeing you and your dad at state and national youth conventions, and recognized you immediately when we came to Huntington for my dad to “try out” as the pastor. Another time that you came up unexpectedly was in Japan. I was borrowing Bernie Barton’s bible for something and found a paper in the pages of a poem or something you had written for him. I had forgotten that they would have any connection to you or to Huntington, and seeing that just really caught me off gaurd, as did the thoughts in the writing.
I know I have forgotten several things that had come to mind and I wanted to say as I was reading and writing in this blog, (that happens to me a lot…thoughts can escape me very quickly…frustrating) but i will close with this.
I would like to know how I can interact better with you (from your perspective) when I do get to see you. If you can think of anything let me know and I will do my best.
I know I could learn a lot from you.
Your friend,
Stephen

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: ian http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-373 Wed, 16 May 2007 23:48:08 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-373 That's a great question. I meant that I love my family, that I wish that I had a girl friend, that I like to watch sports events, that politically I am a conservative and that I really enjoy a good conversation, even when I can only listen. I also mean that I get mad at other people and at myself.. How I react under stress is not normal. Lots of things that I do are not normal, some of them in a good way, like speed reading. These things are, I believe, neurological in nature and might color my thoughts as well, but I think that my actual ability to think is the same as everyone elses. Wouldn't I like to not be autistic? Yes. Am I happy with my current thought life? Yes. My autism doesn't define who I am. It's my inner thoughts that define who I am. Ian That’s a great question. I meant that I love my family, that I wish that I had a girl friend, that I like to watch sports events, that politically I am a conservative and that I really enjoy a good conversation, even when I can only listen. I also mean that I get mad at other people and at myself.. How I react under stress is not normal. Lots of things that I do are not normal, some of them in a good way, like speed reading. These things are, I believe, neurological in nature and might color my thoughts as well, but I think that my actual ability to think is the same as everyone elses. Wouldn’t I like to not be autistic? Yes. Am I happy with my current thought life? Yes. My autism doesn’t define who I am. It’s my inner thoughts that define who I am.

Ian

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: Solaesta http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-372 Wed, 16 May 2007 03:32:16 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-372 Hi Ian, that was a very interesting post, thanks. I noticed that you said, "Inside, I feel and think the same way that everyone else does." Does that mean you do not believe any aspects of your thinking might be unusual due to autistic-style neurology? Hi Ian, that was a very interesting post, thanks.

I noticed that you said, “Inside, I feel and think the same way that everyone else does.”

Does that mean you do not believe any aspects of your thinking might be unusual due to autistic-style neurology?

]]> Comment on Jackpot! by: Special Education » Special Education May 14, 2007 6:07 pm http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-371 Mon, 14 May 2007 22:12:37 +0000 http://ianwetherbee.com/wetherblog/index.php/2007/05/14/jackpot/#comment-371 [...] Jackpot! The journey leading me from a special education class to the college classroom began when Sue noticed the significance of my pointing to the words on my picture board and her touch on my chin was also a major step. … [...] […] Jackpot! The journey leading me from a special education class to the college classroom began when Sue noticed the significance of my pointing to the words on my picture board and her touch on my chin was also a major step. … […]

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