Tone Policing Martin Luther King Jr, in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, complained that he was gravely disappointed with the white moderate who was interested more in order than in justice, condemning this form of silencing. This is what is meant by tone policing. Have you ever told someone that you will listen to them if …
Category: Asperger’s Syndrome.
Life is a masquerade—a personal story
Autism and masks a personal story It is Hallowe'en, a time for wearing masks and I have a confession to make. I have always worn a mask. Wanting to fit in I become a mirror of those around me, I mimic mannerisms, I copy phrases used by others in similar circumstances, after meeting someone I …
Stimming: Self-stimulating behaviour and me
Stimming Stimming is a repetitive behaviour done mostly by people with autism, but not exclusively. It is short for self-stimulating behaviour and is stereotypical in people with autism. It is a repetitive behaviour which helps calm us down while at the same time probably irritating the hell out of you. It is characterised by flapping …
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Giving up my hold on darkness
There is not always a light at the end of the tunnel There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. That was the well meaning advice I have been given as I experienced dark times following an accident twelve and a half years ago. Being in a dark place wasn't my choosing, I …
Home is not the building you live in: Home is where you are understood.
Home is not the building you live in: Home is where you are understood. Recently my wife and I visited the historic city of York. While we were there we looked at the new home of Anne, a former member of our congregation at Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, and had our lunch there. (That is …
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An autistic mind goes on a world tour, without leaving church
An autistic mind goes on a world tour, without leaving church Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Sunday 12 August 2018 My right hand still hurts four hours* to be given an enthusiastic handshake during the peace today. Being on the Autistic Spectrum means I am sensitive to some stimuli, mine are light and touch. The handshake …
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A weekend in Derbyshire
Holy Trinity Church Huddersfield, Friday 15th to Sunday 17th June 2018 It is Fathers' Day, but I am tired out by having been on the Church Family Weekend. Around 100 of us made the trip down to the Midlands, to the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire, for a time of learning, worship, fellowship and …
Company Policies That Keep Neurodiverse Employees Out of the Workplace – Neurodivergent Consulting
I saw this recently, and thought that some of it was relevant to churches as well as businesses, especially the bit about enforced fun. Balaam Neurodiversity seems like the new HR buzzword, and for a good reason. Neurodivergent employees are eagerly entering the workplace, bringing along fresh perspectives and valuable skills.Employers … Source: Company Policies …
A Farewell
Toby's last service Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, 3 June 2018 Sometimes a blog is hard to write. This is one of them. It should have been easy. All I needed to do was say that this was Toby's final service with us, say what the service as about and wish him well in his new …
Sacked
Sacked My old blog balaam.wibsite.com can no longer be accessed. Using the Wayback Machine I am trying to save whatever can be saved, There are no images available for these old blogs. This blog is from 31 May 2012 Yesterday I got the news I was dreading, I have been dismissed from where I work. …
Making an ass of myself 