Just Jordan December Issue by "JUST Jordan"

JUST JORDAN

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JUST Jordan

Fri 2 Dec IN THIS ISSUE

Merry Christmas by Jordan

Fernando

Hello everyone and welcome to my Christmas edition of “Just Jordan”. Again am elated with the response about my “JUST Jordan” group and newsletter, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart! It’s been wonderful having so many of you asking to submit articles and responding with such wonderful feedback too, thank you. I’ve continued with a similar layout so here’s hoping you are in for yet another treat! As always please do keep your feedback and messages coming, it’s a pleasure hearing from each and everyone of you! Cover Girl is little ole me having a bit of fun with some Christmas pics and opposite with my gorgeous boyfriend Ross. Once again I’ve worked very hard on this Newsletter (despite being rather ill) and I hope that you will enjoy and tell all your friends & family about “JUST Jordan”.

And finally many of you have asked after our dear old friend Matt, who is now am happy to report on the road to a full recovery, thank you all for showing such lovely concern. You will find information on my “JUST Jordan” Facebook/Twitter page and how to contact me details are also enclosed. As always I look forward to your feedback, submissions and questions for The New Year edition. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy New year. See ya,

Jordan Fernando xx

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Art Corner More Art work submitted by you my fab members.

Armistice Day Paying tribute to our Fallen Hero’s.

GOLD!!

“ “JUST Jordan” Poet – Kerry McGinn

Introducing Santa’s Grotto

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

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It marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, back in 1918. A two-minute silence is held at 11am to remember the people who have died in

The anniversary is used to remember all the people who have died in wars, not just World War One. This includes World War Two, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Armistice Day is on 11 November and is also known as Remembrance Day.

wars. There is also Remembrance Sunday every year, which falls on the second Sunday in November.

The first two-minute silence in Britain was held on 11 November 1919, when King George V asked the public to observe a silence at 11am. This was one year after the end of World War One. He made the request so "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead". Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very proud of my Mum Suzanne as she too served our country as a Royal Military Policewoman in Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armed Forces. Below you can see her paying her respects at the recent Remembrance Day in Patna with fellow veteran and dear friend Matt Wilson.

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If that wasn’t enough she was also awarded the 1962 GSM silver medal for her service in Northern Ireland. This medal is Awarded to personnel involved in an arduous campaign or well fought operation when service personnel would on occasion have to shoot at the opposition, other than purely for selfdefence. The obverse shows the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse bears the words ‘FOR CAMPAIGN SERVICE' under a crown, all surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. The popular motto for this medal grouping is "Against All Odds" whereas the accurate motto is "Against Adversity".  She also has the Queens Silver Jubilee Medal for services to our Queen and Country.

Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asHNVxSqogI

Doesn’t my Mum look so smart! She is also pictured with Matt and his lovely Son Andrew who was also in attendance at The Memorial Service in Patna. After the ceremony we took a trip over to Bo’ness to visit some of my family but especially to meet our new arrival, Arthur James, isn’t he just adorable!! Thank you Aunty Lynne for all the delicious sandwiches and cakes…yummy! A sad but poignant start to the day but a truly great day all round was had by all.

“Lest We Forget” Jordan xxxx

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Your Favourite Christmas Holiday

I recently asked on my JUST Jordan FB page, What was your favourite Christmas holiday? Thanks to everyone who replied and below are some of your submissions, apologies if I couldn’t enclose all of them.

Suzanne Fernando from Ardrossan in North Ayrshire writes : I remember us all having a really strange Christmas many moons ago when Aaron was born on the 22nd of December. Yep that’s us all in the hospital 3 days later celebrating Aaron’s birth but also Christmas Day! 3 year old Jordan was so excited when one of the nurses gave her a little present too ! Think it was a playdoh set. That’s Dad Kes holding the present in his hand. Still can’t thank the staff at Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine enough…angels the lot of them !!

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Autist Dale writes: I just returned from my Winter holiday to Tenerife. It was really warm and I had a great time! Nice to get some sunshine in Winter.

Karen Sheldrake from Wales writes : Here are a few pics of Jill and her younger Sister's first plane trip. We took them to Disneyland Paris last Christmas. Jill has always wanted to fly so we thought why not? It was a 40 minute flight from Gatwick. I think we were all nervous but the magic just grew and grew. All the staff knew she was Autistic and if she had to run to get away from the crowds they helped. In one of the pics is another girl called Grace, dressed as Anna, her younger brother was diagnosed ASD this year. Shes his carer as both their parents work. Grace is like a mentor to Jamie-Leigh, Jills younger Sister.

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Kids Zone by Jordan Fernando

More in the Kids Zone next month!

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Hobbies – Ross Brings Home 2 GOLDS !

Autist Ross brings home not 1 but 2 gold medals for British SN Judoka! Ross took up Judo as a Hobby and wasn’t even sure if he was going to like it or not, but a few years down the line and look at him now! He is now a British gold medallist & brought home another 2 GOLD Medals at the 2016 Dutch Open G-Judo Championships recently in the Netherlands. The competition, for Level 1 and 2 Special Needs judoka, saw over 30 of Europe’s top SN judoka in action on a great day’s judo. British judoka Ross Carswell (and my wonderfully awesome boyfriend) topped the medal rostrum with four wins!!

So so proud of you Ross, way to go babe!

Do you have a hobby you’d like to share with our readers in the next edition of ‘JUST Jordan’? I’d love to see you all in action so please do send me some photos and I’ll try my very best to publish as many as I can in our Special New Year issue. Submissions via Email: jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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Furry Friends I wanted to dedicate a little section to my amazing Sister Aaron whose love for animals never ceases to astound me. From a very young age she has been fascinated in all different types of animals especially the small furry kind. Aaron has cared for Gerbils from the tender age of 7, always keeping them in pairs so they never get lonely. She has learnt all there is to know about rodents from what they eat to where best to sleep and everyone of them enjoying a full and happy life right to the end. Sadly their life expectancy isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t very long usually ranging between 2-4 years, but sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even had a gerbil live till he was 6 years old! Very impressive for a small gerbil indeed. Aaron has handled snakes, tarantulas, gerbils, dogs, so many to mention and even rides horses from time to time! So here are a few pics of Aaron and her beloved pets throughout the years, way to go Aaron am so proud of you, such a cool Sister.

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What did I tell you folks, she truly is one Amazing Sister! xx

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Being A Mum!

By April Smith

Before my sons diagnosis I knew very little about autism. The first time I heard of it was the fact that Hollywood film star Sylvester Stalloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son was diagnosed with it and he was quite badly affected and I thought at the time how awful for them. By 1998 I was already a mother of 3 beautiful children but I'd always had it in my mind I would have loved the first child for the year 2000 lol but Connor came into our lives in April 1999 and changed it forever. As a baby there wasn't anything notable at the time that he had any problems apart from a bother with constipation. Things started to change when trying to wean him onto solid food and that started a chain reaction of constant hospital visits, tests, operations etc that only came to a conclusion after 15-16 yrs. Initially he couldn't keep any solid foods down and was projectile vomiting everywhere, it would take at least a couple of years for him to finally manage anything more solid than milk. Problems with his bowels weren't noticed properly till we had him at Crosshouse hospital for an appointment and could feel lots of lumps in his stomach and as it turned out his bowel had backed up so much that all the waste was right through his intestines so they had to administer enemas to empty him and after lots of trying this that and the other he was sent to the consultant Mr haddock at Yorkhill hospital. His diagnosis for autism was creeping in the background at this time as well as he was starting to show certain behaviours at playgroups and nursery and he was held back an extra year at nursery because he just wasn't emotionally ready to be in a school situation. Things got worse when he finally did start school and unfortunately the staff just didn't know how to cope with him. He made it to primary 3 before he was sent to a unit inside Dreghorn primary but that didn't work either. Eventually spark of genius came into our lives and we never looked back. Through rainbow house and other psychologists he was finally diagnosed with high functioning autism. It's been a hectic journey through the years with lots of highs and some terrible lows (toileting problems, extreme violence, strain and stress on the rest of the family, having to cope with other people's looks of consternation and my diagnosis of MS) but we are finally seeing some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Connor is now 17 and in his last year at Stanecastle School. He attends College every Friday and has just got a wee girlfriend. He still needs help with some personal things but compared to how it was it's like that was all a lifetime ago. He was chosen as a batonbearer for the 2014 commonwealth games and as a family we couldn't have been any prouder. He has his own quirky personality and can drive me nuts with his constant mum mum mum lol but I wouldn't change him

â&#x20AC;&#x153;JUST Jordanâ&#x20AC;? would like to wish Connor all the very best for the future and look forward to hearing what exciting times are ahead in the New Year. Love Jordan xxxx for the world he has been an absolute blessing.

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Being a mum contd, By Karen Sheldrake

My daughter Nell attended a pupil referral unit for some secondary education where they discovered she was dyslexic, after a long hard battle of 12 years Camhs said had they seen her earlier she would have been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome but due to Nells not wanting to talk they decided they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work with her. We were turned away and left utterly devastated!! How many other children have struggled because the so called professionals weren't aware of the signs of ASD? As Nells grew up she met a lovely young man called Daryl, he knew she lacked confidence and self esteem so invited her to a music studio in Swindon, from there the discovery of her beautiful talent began. Nell was eventually diagnosed with both Aspergers Syndrome and Dyslexia. She continued to enjoy her time singing with Daryl as their relationship continued to blossom. Despite everything she has gone through a local radio station heard her amazing voice and asked if she would go with them to london to Maida Vale Studios to do a recording track! BBC Bristol have aired her music and singing several times, she is a talented and beautiful young lady, she makes me so proud to see how far she has come! From the age of 4 Nells struggled to stay in school and was always being sent home, especially if new parents were viewing the school, she was one of the 'naughty' children and they simply sent her home it was just awful. Thankfully nowadays children are statemented early on but there is still a mountain to climb for the older ones that slipped through the net. All it takes is one day to assess, one day to take a test and listen, that one day can make a whole new lifetime! Nells said: "It just goes to show that no matter what disability you have, you will always find work, I am so happy for you Jordan and all you have achieved. Wishing you the very best of luck for the future and many successful years with JUST Jordan". Like many children Nells to was bullied terribly at school!!

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Dec 16th could be a turning point for her, fingers crossed and I'll let everyone know at JUST Jordan how it all went next month! We are all super excited and can't wait to see what the future holds! She struggled so much through life and school was a nightmare with no support so I ended up home schooling her. Now.. she has a beautiful wee family and her partner Daryl is amazing! With the right support kids on the spectrum, well lets just say.. 'the sky is the limit' Nothing should stop you reaching your goals! You can listen to one of Nells songs here: http://deathkissmedia.co.uk/lyricist-chanz-god-son-do-youhear-me/

â&#x20AC;&#x153;JUST Jordanâ&#x20AC;? would like to wish Nells all the very best for the future and look forward to hearing all about the recording visit in the New Year. Love Jordan xxxx

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Art Corner! My name is Aaron and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sister. I love to draw Anime characters or make my characters look like my friends. I often take art requests from friends and family as they seem to love my artwork too.

My name is Lena and I'm from Germany. I love to draw since I was a little child. At school we had to draw anatomical parts of human bodies last school year. That's how I found out that I love to draw human anatomy. Later, I want to be a doctor so I think the themes I draw about fit actually with being a doctor. I love to draw in a very realistic and detailed way and to use many contrasts. My drawing of an arm opposite is done with charcoal.

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Hi my name is Jill, I'm 11 from Wales. I use art as a way to communicate my emotions. I was devastated to hear that my favourite toy legi mixels was coming to an end so I've been trying to find other characters to draw and even making up my own. Mario will always be my favourite just like you Jordan! My Mum contacted lego to say that there was a rumour about mixels ending and they said it was just that - a rumour but two weeks later they then confirmed it. My Mum said large corporatations need to take on board the effect on ASD children and young people, their advertising and communication have! I've even had an email from Lego that said I could one day be part of their team. Finger's Crossed!

My name is Kerry and am proud to call the creator of “JUST Jordan” my best friend. I have loved drawing since I was a little girl, it helps me focus and relax. I thought I’d draw a picture of Jordan and I looking all Christmassy, hope you like it.

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Out & About One thing I absolutely love is the great outdoors especially down at the beach, however that wasn’t always the case! When I was growing up my ears were very sensitive to noise, water and believe it or not the wind. My parents couldn’t understand for a while why I’d take a tantrum whenever I was having a bath, down at the beach or at a funfair. Obviously over time and with help and support from the National Autistic Society and an elimination process they soon worked out why. Am sure many of you reading this can relate to what I’m saying as it is a very common trait in us Autists. How Did I overcome it I hear you ask? Well to be perfectly honest I suppose ‘time & perseverance’ did but my Mum would slowly over the years introduce the things I didn’t like until I guess I just learnt to cope and get used to it. I’m extremely thankful to my parents for never giving up and always thriving to help me cope and develope with Asperger’s Syndrome. As the years went by I learnt to swim whereas before I hated even the slightest trickle of water near my ears, I now go swimming with my best friend Kerry and have even learnt to dive to the bottom of the pool. During our recent holiday to Blackpool I was a bit apprehensive about the noises and crowds but to my surprise I was too busy enjoying myself to even notice, infact I was mesmerised with the illuminations and the Tower all lit up at night. It really was magical. It was noisy and busy at times and I did need quiet time to myself but we managed. As for the wind, well I have a fantastic Super Mario Winter Hat that covers my ears and keeps me toasty warm at the same time so am able to go out for lovely long walks along the harbour and down on the beach.

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“Christmas Messages” From all the 3tfm Volunteers & Management team we'd like to thank Jordan for the excellent feature on 3tfm earlier this year and wish all the Just Jordan readers a terrific festive season and healthy 2017" x

We’d like to say a huge well done to Jordan words just can’t describe how very proud we are of you our darling daughter. Here’s to another successful year in 2017 for “JUST Jordan” Merry Christmas One & All. Love you to the moon and back. Mum & Dad xxxxx

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Hansel Enterprising Minds wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! What a great year it has been! Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see what JUST Jordan has in store for 2017!

We know that Christmas can be a very stressful time for families and people with autism. Keeping routines and structures in place at this time of year is extremely difficult. There is a lot change in the activities that people take part and planning is key. The following article may be helpful â&#x20AC;&#x201C; http://www.autism.org.uk/christmas We at the One Stop Shop wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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Our regular JUST Jordan poem submitted by Autist Kerry McGinn 19, Stevenston, North Ayrshire.

What I love about Christmas When it comes to Christmas It’s the parties and presents that most people think of But what it’s really about is giving to others And being with the people you love When I get giddy about it some people look at me And ask “What is it about Christmas that excites me?” “Well all of it” I tell them, so now I’m going to tell you Why Christmas makes me dance with Glee I love the decorations like the tinsel Baubles and Lights And when we switch them on Oh how they shine so bright Both old and new And I can’t help but dance to some of them And I bet you probably would too I also love looking out the window To see if there’s any snow I Know it’s rare to see But we might be lucky this year, Who Knows? I know for some people as they get older That excitement fades which I find quite Tragic But for me it won’t matter how much older I get Because to me Christmas will Always be magic

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Review Time Look out for special reviews next month on Film, Cartoon, Music & Anime right here in “JUST Jordan”

Jess Glynne - Take Me Home Tour Monday 21st November, The SSE Hydro, Glasgow My name is Dale and I went to see Jess Glynne on Monday 21st November in Glasgow. I love her music and think it is great. My favourite song is Hold My Hand, which was released in 2015. The concert was at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow so I planned my route beforehand, getting the train to Glasgow then to the Exhibition Centre. The support was Wretch 32, and he was brilliant. Jess Glynne came on at 8.20pm ad sang for an hour and a half. Some songs she sang were Don’t be so hard on yourself, Rather Be and Hold my Hand. The stageset was perfect, with dancers and her band. She spoke to the audience about her parents supporting her and Glasgow being the loudest crowd on her tour! My favourite bit was when she came out to see the crowd but I was too far away! She also did a cover of Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse, and Déjà vu by Beyonce which was good. The concert finished about 9.50pm and the Hydro was easy to get out and didn’t take too long! Rating: 5/5

Pokemon Sun & Moon Game Review By Aidan MacDonald I’d like to begin by thanking Just Jordan for this opportunity. I've just cleared the final obstacle in a typical Pokémon game - the Elite Four, and the Champion, but this is no typical Pokémon game, because Sun and Moon are an amazingly-done pair of refreshing instalments to the muchloved series, bringing more than just the usual set of 80-odd new Pokémon, but a whole new set of features that are sure to return in future games. Let’s get the main question out of the way first – Despite what the Metro newspaper’s said in advertising, Sun and Moon are nothing like Pokémon Go. Instead, they’re new instalments in the “main” series that began with Red and Blue, much like X, Black, and Ruby. The gameplay is still fundamentally the same, there's an overworld where the player character travels through the Pokémon world (in this case, the Alola region, based on Hawaii), and of course, the battles, where trainers battle with their Pokémon to win prize money and gain experience points to learn new moves and evolve into stronger forms. This time, however, moving around is slightly different. The 360° movement from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire returns, but those looking to move about in traditional 4-direction movement are a tad out of luck - Sun and Moon do away with it and instead allocate the 3DS's D-Pad to Poké Rides, which replace the traditional system of using certain moves to access new

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areas in the overworld, and also replace the need for certain mainstay items such as the bike and dowsing machine. For those players who prefer training a battle-ready team of six as opposed to only using 4 and reserving team space for overworld-friendly monsters (e.g. Gyarados's Surf and Charizard's Fly techniques), this is a welcome change. The story is also brand-new. Without going too much into detail, the story of Sun and Moon strikes a perfect balance between the lighthearted "simply go out and catch 'em all!" of the Game Boy titles, and the darker, more serious tone of more recent titles such as X/Y and Black/White. What I can say is that for those hoping to bring in their super-powered Mega-Evolved Pokémon from X/Y/OR/AS, you’ll have to wait until after beating the game, as most of the spotlight is taken by the all-new Z-Moves mechanic, which allows a Pokémon’s attack to “evolve” into a more powerful move once per battle. Just a word of warning, however – even when you think you don’t need them, stock up on at least 30 Ultra Balls if you can. For those who play video games just for music, Sun and Moon offer something unique, too. The opening segments are bright and cheery, with later areas in the game featuring music that may get some players pumped for excitement, with the battle themes (be them against wild Pokémon, fellow trainers, or even the special Pokémon on the covers of Sun and Moon - Solgaleo and Lunala, respectively), also fitting very well into the various situations at hand the player will find themselves in. For those who've been playing since Day 1 when Red and Blue came out for the very first time on Game Boy, the final boss theme will leave you both surprised and impressed. Speaking of bosses, the difficulty in the new games can vary depending on the individual player's taste, but the challenge is a step up from earlier titles on the 3DS. As someone who's played through different games in the series, I'll personally say that the last few moments in the game are just as challenging as the Black and White games on DS, but for the new player, rest assured, you won't be as stumped as most players were when they reached the Indigo Plateau in Red and Blue. Lastly, the new features in the game set Sun and Moon apart from every other game in the series. The Gym system that's been in use from Red/Blue right up until X/Y is now replaced by the Island Challenges - a series of trials that, instead of a continuous series of battles against fellow trainers, you instead do various tasks depending on the trial, but they all culminate in a battle against a Totem Pokémon, which as the name implies, is a Pokémon slightly larger than normal (you can't catch them sadly), and they may call in some help, leading to a two-against-one fight. Once all the trials on one island are completed, you can battle against that island's Kahuna in a Grand Trial, achieving victory in this will grant access to the next island, and so on until all four islands are completed, granting access to the Pokémon League (veteran players reading this, yes, the Elite Four are still here, so not everything's changed!). It may only be four islands in the game, but they pack so much content that it's safe to say that Sun and Moon are much bigger games than X & Y or Black & White – 3 of the islands are where most of the action takes place, with much of the 4th island (aside from its Ground-type Grand Trial) being saved for after the credits. The number of new Pokémon included is bigger than what X & Y offered, too, and this time certain classic Pokémon are given new looks, moves and features. Pikachu's evolved form Raichu now has psychic powers, Grass/Psychic-type palm tree Exeggutor is now a dragon, and the fiery Ninetales and earth-dwelling Sandslash are both Ice Pokémon this time around, adding a whole new layer to potentially competitive teams for those players who'd rather win 'em all instead of catch 'em all! Final thoughts: Sun and Moon may look like mere stop-gaps in a franchise that doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon, but they are so much more than that – they have the ability Mold Breaker, doing away with what’s been standard for 20 years and standing among the very best of the Nintendo 3DS’s near-endless catalogue of games. If you have a 3DS with you, do yourself a favour and grab the game as soon as you can (you can download it right now on the eShop!) - being the very best like no-one ever was is a lot more fun than it has been for a while! Rating: 5/5

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That church from where I’m standing Autist Peter Street is a lovely gentleman I met through JUST Jordan, he is married to Sandra and has 2 beautiful daughters, currently resides in Manchester and writes a blog all about his highs and lows of being a writer and poet. Peter is a National and International poet with six poetry collections to date, he travels all over the world writing new and wonderful poems and asked if he could feature in “JUST Jordan”. Peter it is an absolute honour to feature one of your amazing poems in our special Christmas edition and I look forward to hearing all about your new adventures in the New Year. He launched his last collection: Listening To The Dark (Penniless Press) at the Albuquerque Literature Festival. Natterjack Press has just published his memoir: Rite Of Passage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdZL_-Gd-oU&feature=youtu.be

Peter is interested in Ecology and is a qualified Arborist. He is a member of The British Wildflower Society and The Society Of Authors. You can read more about Peter and his poems on his blog page here: https://pwp1948.com/ Here is a poem I really enjoyed about his time spent out in Iceland on a European scouting jamboree to Hallgrim’s Church, Reykjavik with other people on the Autistic Spectrum.

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That church from where I’m standing: here bottom of the hill between green and yellow houses south side of Reykjavik I’m sure is the space-ship. Miss Clarkson let me draw in her maths class in ’59 while all other kids were busy working on fractions. It has a stair case on the outside like the one I pretended to climb sit, close my eyes and wait for the count down

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Chloe’s Update

Like many Chloe is a fussy eater, already I can visualise many of you nodding in agreement and thinking oh yes been there.

It’s extremely common for people on the spectrum to be rather fussy with their food and Chloe was no exception. We will never really understand what causes fussy eating in people with autism and how to intervene to expand their food choices, but what my Mum looked into when I was young was things like, what caused anxiety, inflexibility and sensory issues. She just worked her way through those issues whilst constantly trying me with new foods, sometimes successful but more often than not unsuccessful. Infact was more likely to try new foods with my Godfather Stefano or favourite teacher at school. Margaret Ann would also look into making sure Chloe wasn't allergic to any foods with particular colours or flavours. Every parent finds their own way that works for their child, it's just an elimination process that can often take a long time. As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum most do tend to rule out any medical issues that are(n’t) behind their child’s fussy eating, but also to remember to keep one basic rule in mind, and that is to avoid making food a source of conflict within your family. If your child pushes that plate away in disgust after 5 minutes, don't make a song and dance about it, just take the plate away calmly and try them again with it another day. It worked for me. When I was little we used to do he blindfold test, I found this fun and often exciting as Mum made it a game for me including other children too.

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Every child had to touch an item of food on their plate and guess what it was, the winner won a prize. Then we'd move on to smell and finally taste, each test with a prize for the winner who guessed correctly. This is one time that it’s okay to play with your food! Margaret Ann found it important to give Chloe as many choices as possible so she would feel in control of her meals and slowly it's made a huge difference where Chloe is now enjoying foods like pizza and spaghetti. Chloe’s Mum Margaret Ann would like to emphasise on a couple of points when giving your child new foods to try. Don’t give up, stay calm and praise your child for at least trying.

Please do keep your requests coming in and I’ll do my best to feature them in next months edition of JUST Jordan. To submit your entries please send to : Jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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By Sue Abramowski - Lancaster , New York

I recently acquired a position at my local autism agency as a direct service provider at their after school program. I work one day a week, as I have two other jobs, but this is enough to know that the agency I work for is a great one with a philosophy I can get behind. One of the main reasons this is the case is because I'm on the spectrum myself.

The agency's motto is â&#x20AC;&#x153;celebrating you.â&#x20AC;?

Rather than seeking a cure for autism or its cause, it zones in on embracing autistics for who they were created to be. The organization values the people they serve and their many gifts and talents. It has several programs, including the Asperger's group I attend.

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I've been wanting to work for this agency for as long as I've been a part of the group, and I was over the moon once I received the call after my two interviews. I can now say I'm on both sides of the “fence,” so to speak; not only do I work to help autistics, but I also have it in common with the people we serve. This gives me a unique perspective and a sense of empathy for the people with whom I work. I serve as a bridge in a sense. Now let's get to the position!

I work in a room of about 6-8 kids on Monday afternoons. I've met most of those with whom I will be working, and they're so nice and sweet. I think I’ve been paired with a fun bunch! My fellow staff members are amazing as well. I feel like I've found my niche, and like I'm a member of the team. I'm honoured to say I'm part of a community who appreciates others not unlike myself. I've been an advocate ever since I received my diagnosis two years ago at age 31. It feels great to be reaching out to other autists and making an impact on their lives. If we all work together, we can spread acceptance!

Autism Services, Inc. is an organization devoted to providing supports and services to people with autism spectrum disorders so that they may live happy, fulfilling lives. http://www.autism-services-inc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Autism-Services-Inc-of-Western-New-York-201079896569161/

Do you have a happy and fulfilling job as an Autist then I’d love to hear from you at JUST Jordan. You can contact me jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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How are you?

by Heather Clift, 18 from Irvine

I'm not going to lie, I and many I know are not the best at answering questions like this one in the title. "How are you?" and "Are you ok?" seem like questions too simple to invoke the thought processes that they do. However, even things that appear to be clear and simple are often full of complexity and we ourselves, tend to look deeper into words like this for something more intricate and complicated. There is a comfort in these questions in that we can tell that people care about us, that we are valued and I don't think that should ever be underestimated! However when we try to answer them we can sometimes become confused and lost with how we really feel. While the majority of the time it can be as easy as, "I'm fine, how are you?" I think there is a much deeper level of uncertainty within ourselves. How we are, at one specific moment of time is immeasurable, there are too many opportunities to overthink sometimes and we can end up convincing ourselves that while ok is what we want to feel, we actually feel worse. The mind can wander to find obscure things or even obvious things that we assure ourselves need to be panicked about, and soon we can feel overwhelmed by how not ok we really feel. Now the real problem here isn't that we feel this way, because it's always ok to be stressed and/or worried about things in our lives, it's a given in life and there are people around us who are there for us to help us through these stresses. No this isn't the problem at all. The problem is that our society today has made it now difficult and less acceptable to be open about these things. Struggling to cope is seen as a weakness by many and if you aren't ok then that's not something you should be allowed to feel. The need to suppress our emotions because of social norms is more overwhelming than it's ever been, but at the same time, the number of people not coping and needing to show it is also at a higher level than it's ever been before. More than ever today I think it's so important that we know that being, not ok, is actually ok. Encouraging people to be open about their emotions rather than hiding them is more necessary today than we think. I urge everyone to maybe think next time they ask someone, "how are you?" and I urge those that are asked to think to. Try and say what you feel, don't let it go and don't just say "I'm ok", whether you have many worries or something silly like if you opened the curtains earlier try and say it, because the less we bottle ourselves up and the more open we can be around the people that care, the stronger our relationships are and the stronger we become.

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Dear Jordan…… Ask me anything and I’ll be as frank with my views as Coleen is on Loose Women!! I can be your straightest-talking agony aunt, giving advice on relationships, bullying, early diagnosis and any life problems you may have…..xx

Huge thanks to everyone who submitted questions for “Dear Jordan”

“Dear Jordan: Could a difficult pregnancy or birth have been a cause of my daughters autism? There is still a lot of research to be carried out in relation to the causes of autism. Many believe that there is no single cause for autism. There is strong evidence suggesting that physical factors can be one factor causing autism, although not the singe cause. There is evidence to suggest that genetic factors are responsible for some forms of autism. If you have on-going concerns, you should talk to your child’s consultant who I am sure would be happy to explore this further with you. You can also find more information on the National Autistic Society website using this link – http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/causes.aspx You can also find further explanation on Scottish autism’s website by following this link – http://www.scottishautism.org/about-autism/about-autism/causes-autism

Thanks, Love Jordan xx

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“Dear Jordan: Could Asperger's Syndrome be inherited?

This question is very similar to the previous question in our ask Jordan section. Tony Attwood has written a really good book in relation to Asperger’s syndrome called The complete guide to Asperger’s syndrome. You may want to buy this as it is very good explaining more about Asperger’s syndrome. Hope this helps. Love Jordan xx

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Dear Jordan: Could Asperger's Syndrome be inherited? This question is very similar to the previous question in our ask Jordan section. Tony Attwood has written a really good book in relation to Asperger’s syndrome called The complete guide to Asperger’s syndrome. You may want to buy this as it is very good explaining more about Asperger’s syndrome. Hope this helps. Love Jordan xx

Dear Jordan: Is there a specific area of the brain that is Dysfunctional? This is a very tricky question for me to answer so I will leave that to the experts! What I do know is that there are many talented people with autism. If you are interested in autism in more detail there are a number of online forums that you may find helpful to explore, one of which is “network autism” which is an online forum for professionals and others who are interested in autism. You can join using the following link and to register it is simply asking you to input your email address. The link for network autism is – http://network.autism.org.uk/

Hope this helps. Love Jordan xx

Dear Jordan: Can Asperger's Syndrome occur with another disorder?

Yes Asperger’s syndrome can occur alongside other conditions but it is important to recognise each individuals specific needs and what this means for them. Dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, Fragile X, Down’s syndrome and Hyperlexia are among some of the conditions that can be diagnosed alongside autism. For further information, please see the following links –

Dyslexia Ayrshire is a volunteer based service in Ayrshire. You can find more details on their website.

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http://www.dyslexia-ayrshire.co.uk/

ADHD alliance Ayrshire is a support group for parents /carer’s of a child with ADHD. You can copy and paste this link into googlehttp://www.townheadsurgery.co.uk/documents/ADHDAllianceAyrshireleaflet2015.pdf?authent_user=nas.org.uk% 5CFiona%20Bain&authent_user_sig=16c7edc2fbb197bd94e7c3d4521373ab&authent_session=54bc49cfc14694a8b 3db67b6f1b7c7c3&authent_session_sig=e6864c191d4f0bea8ba161e427b86e8a

RNIB – Ayrshire. The Ayrshire and Arran Joint Sensory project is run in partnership with Action on Hearing Loss Scotland, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, East Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and local voluntary organisations. Contact the project team on 01563 526 011 or email ayrshireproject@rnib.org.uk

Fragile X Sandra Thom is a Support and development worker who deals with enquiries about children and adults with fragile X whose families live in Scotland only. You can contact her on 07825050072 or sandra@fragilex.org.uk

Downs Syndrome – Ayrshire offers a local support group supporting families and individuals in Ayrshire through fellowship, friendship and support. The contact for this service is Claire Hume and she can be contacted onahume100@yahoo.com or 01294 835 224 Hope this helps.

Love Jordan xx

POLL: What would you like to read about in “JUST Jordan”? Let us know by contacting us via email: jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE. If you would like to submit an article, picture, ask a question or offer support in next month’s newsletter please contact me via email: jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk or suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On in Ayrshire Ayrshire Home Educators Group Christmas Meal 10s and Over Monday, December 12 at 12 PM - 2 PM Monkton Lodge Brewers Fayre A 77, KA9 2 Prestwick Christmas meal out for 10s and over at Monkton Lodge . The children will have a table to themselves over to one side of the restaurant and adults will be over the other side. Adults are welcome to just have a snack/coffee or eat from the festive/normal menu. . Numbers need to be confirmed a week beforehand. https://www.facebook.com/events/1789694094612301/

***Ayrshire Home Ed CHRISTMAS BASH!*** Saturday, December 17 at 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Bonnyton Community Centre KA1 2 Kilmarnock Come and celebrate the festive season with home ed friends old and new! Open to all home educating families in Ayrshire and beyond. There will be music, dancing and games for the kids. Please bring along some food to share, whatever you can manage. This event will be what we make it so if you have any suggestions, lighting, speakers or anything at all please comment on the thread! There will be a small cost per family on the door to cover the hall fee, it looks like it will be ÂŁ4 given the level of interest. Dust off your dancing shoes, it's time for a festive boogie! **Please don't bring anything to eat that has nuts in it as a few kids in the community have serious allergies - thank you!** https://www.facebook.com/events/221524331611497/

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Christmas Eve Family Carol Service Hosted by Powerhouse Community Church - Kilbirnie Saturday, December 24 at 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Powerhouse Community Church - Kilbirnie Bridgend Community centre, Kilbirnie https://www.facebook.com/events/251619771919478/

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Saturday, December 17 at 11 AM - 3 PM Belleisle Conservatory Belleisle Park, KA7 4DW Ayr

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Glasgow Santa Dash Sunday, December 11 at 10 AM - 12 PM George Square George Square, G1 1 Glasgow https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18872

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Irvine Harbour's Festival of Light 4pm Wednesday 30th November - 10pm Saturday 3rd December 2016 Irvine Harbourside and Scottish Maritime Museum, 6 Gottries Road, Irvine KA12 8QE The Irvine Harbourside is going to be lit up with fireworks this St Andrews Day. There will be hundreds of specially created origami boats and butterflies by international artists Aether & Hemera on the FREE illumination Trail along the River Irvine. There is also going to be an aerial acrobatics and a light show in and around the Linthouse at the Scottish Maritime Museum but you will need to purchase tickets for these events. Please click on the links below for further information.

Illumination Festival: www.illumination.co.uk Event page (Fb): https://www.facebook.com/events/1062473027204093/?ti=cl

Copyright of Jordan Fernando Jfernando_1997@hotmail.co.uk suzfernando@yahoo.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/213071952427706/ @JustJordan2016 https://issuu.com/justjordan19/docs/justjordan.docx__2_ Disclaimer: All articles and information in this newsletter are of the writers own personal experiences and opinions.