I am decompressing from EVERYTHING COVID, from People, and this day alone. It scares me on this day because I am having respiratory difficulties due to allergies. Ragweeds and Weeds are at a high in the atmosphere. This is the 1st year Ragweed is screwing with my breathing. Making MUSIC helps me as a person who is on the spectrum. Thank goodness for air purifiers. A glimpse into my world on this day.

1155  0911 2021 CRO 6

I was doing the Piano/keyboard, but not towards the end, I was talking about the slope yet nice sounding like when I was in Greenberg Elementary back in the day in Mrs. Sharon Solomon's class or in the actual music class. I arranged the different sounds together. I do this to get through what I am feeling. IT come's in cycles, just the the cycles of my siblings. I am not too sure which one I am going to get or how they are feeling on that given day. 

Eh... So I take how my day went, then mix around sounds through feelings. It helps me. I Love my Siblings. I still keep on trying.

Blooming Into Time

Ups & Downs with Siblings

Sometimes you are in a situation and you have a choice to leave or stay. And you stay. When people make a choice in the beginning to tell someone that you nor your family will ever see me about to have a malfunction. I meant it. Despite the looks from the individual who is the one who instigates and does not even realize that they are instigating (by a look). The only time I see that look is when someone within our family has symptoms and I see the look when I am in the same room. Now used on me, that is a Big Trigger. So You know what I use all my coping skills know to me that I have learned from my support people after Dx, and I choose healthy actions & reactions. Yeah! I'm good. I got no problem telling it like it is, then taking my time with my personal space. I will not let any one with in my family by birth shake me. Nope! I have worked too hard to get where I am at today. Whereas other individuals who have a Dx like me, I understand malfunctions & meltdowns are helpful at times. To day just wan't going to be one of those days. Not with Nephew around. Nope!

Tension Room

Autistic Burntout

Community Behavioral Health Centers in Philadelphia are funded by CBH; who receive their money from the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Places like PATH exist specifically to serve the low-income population of Philadelphia.  The march I attended in Harrisburg on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 was in support of increasing funding for PATH Inc., and there 8 other centers in Philadelphia. Because "we and as Pennsylvanians, and Philadelphians "Need to treat mental wellness the same as we treat physical health." The last time funds were increased was 15 years ago, with no pandemic in their foreseeable future at that time, until it happened. 

Then you had individuals who were scared in the beginning of the pandemic, then time goes on with events of our countries events in the past four years. Yes, some individual have received services where other have not. Due to waitlist everywhere. People get discouraged and they drop-out of the waiting list. because they are everywhere, and not just with the behavioral health sector of the mental health field. 

Why more funding?
-Early treatment prevents long term cost.
-Realistic increases to mental health base funds have not occurred for 15 years! The recent increase, while appreciated, is not enough (just ask any county, which surrounds a major city of the state). 
-Psych Rehab Services- "this service saves lives, and has keeps individuals out of the state hospitals."
-FACT County funded services reduce social isolation, help with social determinants of health, and offer support while someone waits for other supports!"
-Not everyone has coverage
LASTLY - FACT "The population is GROWIN, but funds are not been kept up to the vast numbers who are asking out for help." 

Also - Why Invest in Human Service Workers?

Continuity of Care.
-Sustained workforce.
The Wait list are already extremely too long.

This is Why I MARCHED, This is why I suited up and showed up. Not to be just seen but to be Heard!

Mental Health Matters

Interactions can be with funny, but not funny ha ha with the autistic populations. I think interactions are just funny to begin with like for real. This is why I am extremely careful. because of how I was treated my whole life. Today this includes with siblings, some family, and just everyone really. Social cues are a funny.

Interaction

I had A lot of Anxiety while going to the (Calm/Cool/Collective) March of Harrisburg, PA., to raise awareness about More Funding for the Mental Health Sector and if anyone wishes to fix the crime in the streets they must put the money where their mouths are…. 13 years ago no one thought that a Pandemic should ever be in the for-seeable future. I think that it is time to be the Pioneering State to take a Dam stand already. Yes, Philadelphia may win the World Series (knock-on-wood), yes that brings money to Philly too. But can it go to fix the crime by giving help to the Mental Health sector! 

Waiting Lists are everywhere especially since the funding with pays for the paychecks of staff. The pay rates have only risen a little since COVID-ERA began. But because that, Doctors, Therapists, Psychiatric Recovery Specialists, their receptionists, maintenance workers and other staff are struggling. Which is a Crack in the system for the Country, Per-State, Per-Major City and all residents of the Country are the ones at risk in most cases. 

This turned out to be a good day. Especially since I brought my Noise Muffs for the Bus, very important if you want to gain sleep to & from. I got to chat with my State Representative before People Spoke at the Podium and the News Cameras began rolling while we were on the steps. Professionals, Supporters, This is My Brave Alumnae Storytellers, Participants of CIRC’s, and other.

Harrisburg, PA. I

After the March on Harrisburg, Pa. There was No Anxiety just tiredness and so back on went the noise silencing headphones to where I could hear a muffled noises, and that is only. 
Mental Wellness must be treated the same as Physical Wellness/Health. Why, for more funding for Mental Health because it is the backbone to making Americans better especially because of all the trauma or crap or turmoil that individuals went through while the country was in lockdown, then we moved through it, then other things happened in this City of Philadelphia. With the Country Racial Uprise and tensions too. There have been just A LOT GOING ON THAT…

So with that said there is a lot going on in this globe with two wars going on. We need to nip this in the bud now. We need to Make Mental Wellness A THING for all of the generations, everywhere. 

The Last amount of major substantial funding has come from 13 years ago in the state of Pennsylvania. It is needed once again because 13 years ago a pandemic era was not seen. So Let’s get this Train Going. To fix Cities from Crime, and Drugs is to treat Mental Wellness like Physical Health! 

So 5 years ago a Pandemic started, 13 years ago was the last time for Funding. Don’t you think that it is time that we put the citizens first who voted. Seriously!

Harrisburg, PA. II

Over-sensory winding down

Sometimes we ALL need a Vacation month. So I/we ALL did in the month of August. I continued to promote on my on accord. And everyone had that month off. This is something the #AACOPhilly will continue to do EVERY AUGUST.

After August OFF, September's first "Open Studio," with the Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia. It is time to turn it out, and Level Up. The Next Steps with the Lawyer in October 2023 for nonprofit status is to come.

Progressive Changes

This is just a release of feeling after I discontinued my treatment from the Drucker Brain Injury Institute, after came other feelings but this was my initial feeling.

After Maddie

Needed to release me after all the pain & bullshit from others. How they made me feel through their unthoughtout out words then delivered to me. Oh how someone has treated me as I am to be or better yet not be to family. I do not understand individuals who are purposly unkind. When All I am doing is living & breathing.  

To the individuals who keep on doing as they do. I rise in-spite of how you treat me. Because I am taking all that you have done to me and tun it into music therefore that is a a positive tool. You may read one day here if you look at my music. 

It is not on me that an individual who is recieving treatment, and has been since before the pandemic-ERA has not come to terms with their feelings in an constructive way. I am not who I was in the past. Time and time again I have and will continue to meet your symptoms with inclusion, just as I do with others who are my friends at path.

Released

This track came about from Stimming & Reflecting on this past weekend, week, month, months and year and a half. All of the interesting happening, the exciting ones the ones where I learned my lesson on what not to do ever again. 

Helping others, and remaining to help others, is how I was taught as I was being raised as a young child to an adult. 

I am grateful for all of the people who are a part of my life at any given point of my life. I am grateful for those who are didn’t get along with as well as those I did. Everybody teaches somebody how to do something whether they know it or not.

Being a survivor, a brain injury, still being able to create by mixing together, being a photographer, being an illustrator, by doing graphic design, and promoting artist, as well as my own artwork while in the show. I’m doing the various other aspects of art that I have done in the past to present day!

Most of all I have always bumped into hurdles like when you’re in gym class, which sets me back every once in a while, but that’s OK because I will get through. Stay in my eye have been doing it my entire life. By utilizing coping capabilities to get around Neurotypical individuals who stood in my way.

Which is why I shout it internally and externally,  “ Neurodiversity is the key to understanding/getting along with ALL walks of Life.” I started originally saying that during the “This is My Brave,” show which helps to break down social barriers and stigmas around mental wellness/illness, and so one story at a time. How did I know that that story was going to blow up during the pandemic just like everybody else who had a part in every show in almost every state.

Echo in Excellence

This what I needed to do right now. Stimm. I needed to get out what I was feeling as I move into this next chapter of my life. I pray that no one individual mistakes my Trust! Because that is in the opposite of Neuroinclusion and Acceptance as far as it is with different Neuro Types. 

There is just a lot that is happening next. And I really would not like to par-take but I have to keep moving, and doing. Like a well oiled machine. Who takes off Ample amount time to allow myself to be 100% fro myself so that I can interact with others. I am able to then do so via all of my supports, and the ability to have a loving family as well as the individuals who provide peer support to me, and help me.

Neuroinclusion & Trust

After the 30th GALA or 30th Reunion, I got to see Dr. Carrie Jacobs PhD., receive the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” I got to see the youth who helped me big time back in the Day at the Youth Center since 1996. Two days have passed, and it’s a rainy day. I am in pain, and just needed some time to relax as my life is leveling up. And I have to take the Leap of FAITH.

Mix Relax & Listen

This is a song that was created after a day that included an Interview, the topic was once again Neuroinclusion & Neurodiversity.

311 Follow Your Dreams

I needed to release any left over feelings front he previous Holiday 11-23-23 in the States in the United States. 

I needed to bring myself to an ultimate calm, before the next chapter comes about. Other’ly known as “Check Yourself.” Check yourself before you proceed forward.

AACOPhilly’s Art Exhibition will be on February, 17th, 2024 at the Roberts Center, “The Glass Castle of South Street.” Inside of the Autism Research Center of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. From 13:00 to 15:30 {1 to 3:30PM].

Relaxed & Ready

Gearing Up for the 2024 Art Exhibition of the #AACOPhilly, Teaching at the Please Touch Museum, and everything else that we will be doing

Gearing Up Together

Just dropped the flyer yesterday. It got approved with some minor corrections and adding logo. Hope this will be big! Hope it will be what we say sensory friendly to the max.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The Autistic Art Coalition Of Philadelphia is holding it second Art Exhibition with SENSORY FRIENDLY CITIES will be hosting the show while inside of the Roberts Center for pediatric research at CHOP. And we have several supporters and partners!

Trying to remember what those before me did, but with a different topic at mind. When I was involved with those start-ups from my past. Both of which are still going today. I had to walk away because I went to a Americorps program which was another first in Philadelphia. Then it was off to college even though in the same city. I miss that school, and my fellow friends. One of which I brought back to teach the Basics of Animation for the #AACOPhilly. 

My family, my High Schools, Extended-Family Members also taught me how to give back with Elders, and how volunteering is a great way to give back to others. By teaching me how to give back taught me the basics of kindness, and how to have a good heart & also when volunteering with the Elderly to also learn from them too. That in it’s self taught me patience, but it feels nice internally when volunteering, especially when you look back to see the ups & downs which came with the progress too. 

I do not know who reads these things, but I hope you have a good night/mid-day/morning in this moment and the rest of your being you. Peace.

Flyer Approved for 2.17.2024

I received an email from the newer person on the planning committee.

After, Email. Humbled

Christmas Dream

707AM Christmas Chill

Now that the migraine fully subsided. 

Today was a mess while at UPENN Dental while at the Personalized Care Suite or the Compassionate Individulized Dental Care center for Persons with Disabilities. 

It started out with having the wrong time given via a person on the phone. From a Phone call from me to cancel a month prior. Only to find out that the appointment was yesterday at 1 not 3PM. Okay, well since it was the first visit I was still seen, but not in a personalized room, but in the room with all of the other chairs to compensate me showing up and not wanting to turn anyone away. 

I will give this place one more chance, and perhaps a new student. Cause Straight Away after wards. After getting up an walking out before anything was put into my mouth. There was a conversation being had by the Student and I, one that My Support Worker says should not have even taken place for a suite like this one.

But here we go again because I present in a way when going places people think oh she can handle this, meanwhile Not one person without Autism can tell me what I go through or oh you’ll be okay. 

Every sound in that room, to the color a lot of different things. How I was being spoken to, I am not going to have it. I get that I am not the doctor, but there is this thing called it is my mouth. So to tell me the patient who has to live with her mouth. I have about had it, I am Autistic not stupid so please do not treat me like I do not know what I am talking about, I am older than the Doctor I graduated HS before kid was born. I am my own advocate, so walking out was the best thing I could have done. I lost it by the time I got to the park across the street between the dorm buildings. Called my Support Worker, and she can tell word for word was eventually going to send me in a migraine and sooner than later I if spoken to another my words would not have made sense. So I called my Spouse after to let know what type of state I was in I was calmed down again from malfunctioning into tears again. I got going since the sun was going down. I made it to main hospital at UPENN went to restroom, then my long trek home on SEPTA. With music in my ears of course. I answered an email very rudely, not like me. Later on I apologized, explained my situation slightly. Since this is the Autistic community all knows that my words were not an excuse but fact.

Had A Malfunction Today

Was at a holiday party, something happened and there was confusion, shock, fear, prayers, & sadness. By the crowd.

Christmas Holiday Party Chaos

The Evening before New Year’s Eve, hanging with a Family friend. This Autistic is doing well with this company. So I needed to mix some sounds.

The Veoniss Melissa Funk

All different Lo-Fi Sounds Blended into a stimming song -Via an Autistic Female Artist

Neuroinclusion

I am the Autistic Founder and Executive Director of The Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia. I met a Life Long Artist who had a peculiar last name that ties into where I am from neighborhood wise.

I m scared about the next phase of my life. Where I am, and don’t I think it’s a Leap of Faith NEXT!

I Met A Lawler

ALL Through the House

The Autistic Art Coalition Of Philadelphia is a group that needs inside of the Mural Arts Philadelphia Tacony LAB community arts center! I just came from a few hours ago from the meeting before the big show which will be held inside of the Robert Center for an advanced pediatric research. The show has nothing to do with the Roberts center or anything for which it stands.

This is simply going to be the2nd Art Exhibition of The Autistic Art Coalition Of Philadelphia. Showcase individuals works, giving them a place to have their art to maybe be seen by other professional jobs that are geared towards Art! The world is becoming more neurodiverse, And as the world is becoming more, Neurodiverse! so why not try to give people the ability to get a job in which they like to do something like Art. That is what is right someone in a job area that is not made for them or their talents. Be the change in the world you wish to see!

The Tacony LAB Community Arts Center.m4a

This was a pretty chill Birthday. Things shifted, I sifted with family. I did not feel like an outcast. I asked the question one more time, and with help. Just like that after the Solar Eclipse things just felt differently, because I went Home. I got to see my Siblings, Nephew, Parent’s. I went upstairs, to see Joseph who didn’t want to get up. But peeps know schedules. ***I got to spend time with all of my family and I seen Harmony.

It is very important to rewrite the stars. Also, I miss this Horse! He was my buddy (Shane, when I first started working at this barn. This horse was like the out cast some what, I mean he would be dancing around while being groomed. With me he stood, heck he’d follow me around too at times. It was so neat. A few of the horses at this barn did that… Folks called it, “Joined Up. Like the Horse Joined Up with you, and followed your around. It was a surreal feeling when that happened with a new horse.

Joseph’s Mixing Music too

Twenty Horses Funk

Autistic Led - SoULed Creations started in 1995 making art & then became a local Art Curator as well as a Photographer.  Taught Photography in upstate NY by Lake Placid. DJ CC (Curtain Call) tends to record the life around her, and not only with photographs.  DJ CC is someone who is on the Autism Spectrum, and is someone who has a wide array of strengths with music, art & various mediums. Making music allows Colleen (DJ CC) to decompress when an over sensory day arises, the music make helps to soothe my emotions, anxiety, mood, & soul. In return it has done the same for others so we have been told.

Today, SoULed Creations is a small business which makes simple gift made by hand, from recycled items, Music, Photography, Paintings, Woodworking, Jewelry Making and other.

Colleen R. Ott

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