The Renaissance Program at 139 Cornell Street in Kingston gives Ulster-Greene ARC clients a new opportunity to develop various artistic talents and life skills through a hands-on and personalized approach to learning. Recreation and enrichment classes are dedicated to exploration and discovery where clients tailor a  personal program unique to their own desires and needs. Along with the opportunity to study art and music, the Renaissance Program also teaches life skills in a mock apartment where clients learn independent living and cooking.

See the images from the new Art Studio above, (also known as the Imhotep Room) and a selection of artwork, in the Autism section, created by Renaissance students.

There is also a clay and ceramics studio with brand new firing kiln and instruction beginning the first week of June.

Where Simple is not so Simple

The Fellowship for Autism Assistance and Research (FAAR), an Ulster-Greene ARC committee for specialized services presented  a seminar by William Stillman on 5/18/09. The event was sponsored by Life Services at Ugarc, Hudson Valley Autism Society, and supported by WDST 1001.

The seminar was a complete success. Stillman's style is captivating and his message is tantalizingly simple yet seriously complicated.He is asking all to "presume intellect" in dealing with another human beings, particularly those who carry letters before or after their names signifying not their academic degrees but their DSM-IV diagnosis. The simplicity of his message is obvious, but the complexity surfaces when you attempt to adhere to it. Only then you encounter multiple thick layers of resistance. Some of that resistance is in our inability to let go of concepts that were central to institutionalization. Other issues confronted are embeded in our Darwinian need of categorizing and separating. Yet some other layers are inherent in our systems of social welfare.  So should we ignore the message?

Absolutely not, because it works!!

Stillman's presentation was an unsolicited affirmation of what we are doing at the Renaissance program at UGARC. In one month's time, transitioning 3 nonverbal individuals on the spectrum  form a different setup to the Renaissance program we are delightfully surprised everyday by how they respond to an approach that places communication, respect, meaning, and choices as non-negotiable tenets of the program. In this short time  and even before the transition is competed ( transition being the most challenging endeavor for spectrum people), we are witnessing the emergence of the great personalities, capabilities, and the souls of pioneer participants.

Mr. Stillman's impassioned presentation affirmed our approach, strengthened our resolve, and energized all participants toward  a relentless advocacy for the complicatingly simple idea of "presume intellect".

 
Sudi Kash, Ph.D.

Director of Behavioral Health Services
Ulster-Greene ARC
139 Cornell Street
Kingston, NY, 12401
(845)338- 1234 x.732
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Over 100 people attended "Demystifying Autism"

A fantastic experience

William Stillman promised in the beginning of the conference that everyone present would leave the conference with a fundamentally new perspective. He kept his promise and fundamentally touched our understanding of ourselves, Neurotypicals and Autistic persons. We learned to see the world from the perspective of people who live within the Autistic world. We discovered the Autism in each of ourselves.  We especially learned that a lot of our assumptions are dead wrong. William Stillman gave us tools to reflect on our actions and interactions. He proved over and over that Autistic people are inherently gentle and excuisitely sensitive. Hopefully William allows us to repeat his seven golden rules

Stillmans 7 Golden Rules

1. Presume intellect
2. People have good reasons for doing what they are doing.
3. People do the very best they can do
4. I need to feel safe and in control
5. I can't stand anything unpredictable
6. There is safety in sameness
7. When I know what to expect of the environment I may better adopt to it.

William Stillman let us experience directly what it can mean to have to live up to expectations that are not understood because they have not been explained. He showed vivedly that experiences the world of some autistic people for less than two minutes feels like a nightmare. He left no taboo standing and described what we see often see as behaviours as attempts to communicate or as communication.

William showed us that we should recognise compulsions as passion and that when we do so the persons with Autism can really shine. He is a witness to that.

Willam showed us that the team that is there to help the Autistic person often needs to be directed and guided much more than the autistic person him or herself. he gave us strong tools to work with so we can get to the answers we need to help ourselves and the Autistic persons around us. And yes his golden rules apply for everyone Autistic, Neurotypical or anything else.

Most specially and personally he shared his deep painful personal history that left me with tears in the eyes. And when I told him that, he had tears too. Yes Autistic people are inherently gentle and excuisitely sensitive.

Thank you William Stillman and a big thank you all who organised the conference.

We will stay in touch