People With Autism Show Disability Cab Be Ability
Jonathan Monfiletto
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
The Utica College Autism Awareness Club held its monthly meeting on Tuesday night and featured guest speakers discussing their experiences with the unusual interests and talents of autism.
A.J. O'Hagan, club president, opened the event by talking about the unusual fixations he had during his childhood as a person with autism. He said one of his main interests was in ceiling fans - he enjoyed watching the fan spin while the light was on.
He also liked to look at streetlights and see the different shapes and colors of the lights. He said he used to measure distance in car rides by looking at the different lights of different areas.
Nick Bonacci, a student at Mohawk Valley Community College and a person with autism, spoke about his talent with art. Bonacci said he likes to draw, take photographs and work with clay and other materials.
In regards to photography, Bonacci said he likes to take pictures then manipulate them in programs like Photoshop and turn them into something different, such as a piece of artwork.
Connor Brennan, a sixth-grader at Holland Patent Central School with Asberger's Syndrome, spoke about the blog about autism he started with his mother. They originally wanted to write a book, but realized they did not have enough time, he said.
He said the blog already has 500 hits and 14 subscribers. He took time to read an entry from his blog in which he wondered about what exactly is normal and why people with disabilities are treated differently.
"I guess if you see something different, you might not like it," Brennan said.
Jennifer and Chris Morelle talked about Chris's unusual interests, which include timers and hourglasses, along with vacuums, power cords and garage doors. He also has gained an interest in yarn though he could not explain why.
Chris shared with the audience some of his advice for thinking and living positively.
"If all of us do what we're supposed to do, you will have a very happy life," he said. "You should always do what you're supposed to do and follow your heart."
A.J. O'Hagan, club president, opened the event by talking about the unusual fixations he had during his childhood as a person with autism. He said one of his main interests was in ceiling fans - he enjoyed watching the fan spin while the light was on.
He also liked to look at streetlights and see the different shapes and colors of the lights. He said he used to measure distance in car rides by looking at the different lights of different areas.
Nick Bonacci, a student at Mohawk Valley Community College and a person with autism, spoke about his talent with art. Bonacci said he likes to draw, take photographs and work with clay and other materials.
In regards to photography, Bonacci said he likes to take pictures then manipulate them in programs like Photoshop and turn them into something different, such as a piece of artwork.
Connor Brennan, a sixth-grader at Holland Patent Central School with Asberger's Syndrome, spoke about the blog about autism he started with his mother. They originally wanted to write a book, but realized they did not have enough time, he said.
He said the blog already has 500 hits and 14 subscribers. He took time to read an entry from his blog in which he wondered about what exactly is normal and why people with disabilities are treated differently.
"I guess if you see something different, you might not like it," Brennan said.
Jennifer and Chris Morelle talked about Chris's unusual interests, which include timers and hourglasses, along with vacuums, power cords and garage doors. He also has gained an interest in yarn though he could not explain why.
Chris shared with the audience some of his advice for thinking and living positively.
"If all of us do what we're supposed to do, you will have a very happy life," he said. "You should always do what you're supposed to do and follow your heart."
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