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    Kristen.NewCreation and FreeinChrist

Autism Advocate - New Zealand

Nov 16, 2020
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Hello everyone

My name is Josh. I'm 20 and was formally diagnosed with autism around the age of 17. Up until 17 there was a lot of difficulty deciding if I had autism or not or if I had a mental illness instead. Different disorders were brought up. In the end, after seeing a lot of psychiatrists, one of them diagnosed me formally with autism. Specifically High-Functioning Autism (Asperger's Syndrome Disorder).

I have had a very rough life so far but I won't go into detail on that. Instead, I have some very positive news to share!

I have been offered to possibly do a presentation about autism to a District Health Board here in New Zealand. All expenses are paid and I get a speaker's fee. This is a major opportunity I won't be passing up. My goal is to become a Consumer Panelist for an organization that represents Autism here in New Zealand. Basically, I'm aiming to become an Autistic Advisor with that organization.

One of my friends is a list MP (Previously an MP) who helped me with my petition to parliament for autism and disability friendly supermarkets. Basically, that means all supermarkets have a few hours a week where lights are dimmed, non-crowded, and just sensory friendly overall which also benefits the elderly. I am now aware that some Countdown Supermarkets here in New Zealand do sensory hours. Before I did this petition, there were others who wanted autism friendly supermarkets and one supermarket supervisor I believe implemented this in her supermarket which was great. A year later when the list MP put it up on his page, a lady seemed to kind of give credit to Autism NZ which yeah, maybe they also wanted it, but they didn't take it to parliament. I did. Kinda annoyed me with that comment.

I've had a troubled life and I have met some very cool people from police recruits, ex-army soldiers, managers of child protection services, to high up government officials including the Children's Commissioner for New Zealand and the CEO of Oranga Tamariki (Child Protection Services). My story has shocked and inspired many and I believe everything that has happened to me is all part of God's plan.
 

Sabertooth

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My goal is to become a Consumer Panelist for an organization that represents Autism here in New Zealand. Basically, I'm aiming to become an Autistic Advisor with that organization.
What organization is that? (I regularly meet Kiwis on other forums...)
 
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