We’ve reached the eighth fantastic issue of Autitude and we couldn’t have got here without you! Autitude is shaped by what matters most to you and showcases a wide range of skills and talents. Keep your fantastic contributions coming. Whether it’s a poem, a written reflection, a cartoon, a blog, photography or example of another creative pursuit, we would love to hear about it. If you have something you would like to share, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. To make sure you are updated when the latest edition is released please sign up here – thank you! 4. Click & Connect Updates. 7. Reasonable Adjustment – A series by Lea B. 1 . Poem by C.". 17. Poem by Ellice Step%anie Murray 1'. Artitude! Featurin* more o+ our readers creations. ,-. Fore.er I Write interview. ,2. Calum talks Morrisons( -3. Will Quantum Of Solace lea.e Andrew Moodie shaken or stirred6 -4. Gordon Barlow takes on The Open Uni.ersity. -7. Spectrum Superstars( Click & Connect Click and Connect allows the autistic community and their families in Scotland to stay connected through the pandemic and beyond. These groups aim to reduce feelings of loneliness & isolation by providing an opportunity to connect with others online. Mindful Autism Support Group Our Mindful Autism Support Group is for autistic individuals and family members of autistic people in Scotland. Run by Jonny Drury, the group will take place every Thursday afternoon, at 1pm – 2.30pm, until 30th September. Each session will run via Zoom and is free to join. Virtual Art Group Do you want to explore your creative side? Join our online Art Group taking place every Wednesday, at 5pm - 6.30pm, until 29th September. The Art Group is open to autistic people and their families and aims to bring people together for creative expression in an informal and safe environment. It offers the chance for a mindful break from the day’s worries and can help to reduce stress. Virtual Choir Group Our Virtual Choir takes place every Thursday, at 5pm until 6pm, until 23rd of September. This group is for autistic people and their families in Scotland, and all ages and abilities are welcome! Numbers will be limited to a maximum of 15 people so sign up quick! We will learn a range of songs over the sessions. The songs will be chosen by you and you will be able to submit your favourite song or a song that means something to you when you register for the group. Find out more about the groups and sign up for a session here. Do you have an interest in autism-friendly inclusive education? Then you mi*ht 1ant to attend an upcomin* li.e 1ebinar. 9Can you teach me as / am? - Autism acceptance in our education systems9 will be jointly deli.ered by $cottish Autism’s "eputy CEO Charlene 8ait and Adam <arris= )ounder o+>As / Am >on>9th $eptember ,3,1= 1, noon until -.33pm. /+ you are unable to join the li.e e.ent= no need to miss out= you can 1atc% the presentations at your con.enience using our 5n "emand Option. )ind out more and buy your place +or £,? %ere. 7. "o*:o:"rama @o.ember ,319. Bradley Ado*BC 0hen will 1e *o +or a 1alk? Lea [humanBC As soon as / ha.e +inished crying a+ter <enrik and eating this c%ocolate - yes, 1e will go. BradleyC 8oo bad. <ey= did / e.er tell you that once / 1as considered +or *uide dog trainin*= years ago? LeaC <umour meD BradleyC !a1-swear! / just +ell out at the part where they suddenly open an umbrella to your +ace. / started to Euote a 1eather +orecast instead of standin* still. LeaC D BradleyC $orry= / thought this 1ould cheer you up but now / see the error of my 1ays= you are cryin* e.en more. $illy me! <ey= did / e.er tell you / 1as once considered to become an airport ba*-searchie do*gie6 LeaC 5:FAGC let9s go +or that 1alk now. BradleyC 7reat! $o you are +eeling better. LeaC No, / just don9t 1ant my talking dog to become as unhappy as / am. BradleyC 8hat is not possible. /9m not interested in married collea*ues. 5ooooo%= nooo= please= don9t cry= miss! /t 1as just a stupid joke! 0hat / meant 1as that / ne.er had collea*ues, so how could / kno1= right6 / only had litter mates but that seemed much less complicated. /t 1as only about decidin* who 1as to sleep on 1hose belly= 1%o gets t%e most milk and other nutrition= who gets cleaned +irst... Gou know. LeaC /dyllic. Come on Brad= get your toy and out t%e door. 0e will *o +or a 1alk and pretend +or +i.e minutes that you are a non-talkin* do*. BradleyC 5kay= sure. 0ill you eat t%at piece o+ chocolate6 9Cause /D LeaC ...No. /t is not +or you. Come on Mr "og, pick up the pace. / only cry in parks, not in the street. BradleyC $o= you and <enrik 1on9t ha.e lunch breaks toget%er again6 LeaC Nope= / don9t think so. 0e don9t talk= you know. /t is not his +ault= he of+ered me to remain +riendly co:1orkers. BradleyC Gou mean= ri*ht a+ter you con+essed lo.e to him. LeaC Geah. BradleyC ... LeaC 0hat6 0hat does t%at +ace mean6 BradleyC Oh nothin*= not%ing. /9m just carryin* this ball to t%e park as a*reed= hmm, yeah... That man has ner.es, my( LeaC D BradleyC / meantC this-toy:%as-cur.es. But... come to think o+ it= his .erbal eHpression 1as a bit +o**y that day. LeaC As they could ha.e been since the 12'3s, possibly. BradleyC Gea%= yea%= but what on earth t%at 9/ am a happily married man9 meant i+ be+ore that +or months, you kno1= %e 1as telling you about people9s need to c%ange t%eir li.es, and that sad +ace you 1atched= and t%e sighs and so on and so +orth... LeaC / ha.e no idea. Maybe he 1as si*hin* because he had to listen to me... <ey= let9s buy some more chocolate here( BradleyC / don9t support. 8his is hard +or the protecti.e me to 1atch you eating a diet like this, 1eek in 1eek out= you know. On another note... can / get a piece i+ you still buy it6 LeaC No. BradleyC Marshmallows?... LeaC No. And +urther 9no'-s +or candies= +udge and strawberry laces too. 8hose are +or me. $1eets are bad +or dogs. /t can get you sick, pal. BradleyCC $ure. "o you still lo.e <enrik? LeaC Ges. 5+ course. 0hy do you ask6 "id you spot any di.orce papers6 BradleyCC No, no= and / cannot read any1ay. / just thou*ht... 1e could buy him chocolate and then he 1ould perhaps change his mind6 LeaC About 1hat6 Me6 BradleyCC "oh: yeeeees! LeaC No 1ay. <umans don9t do li+e like that. BradleyCC <umans are 1ay too complicated. LeaC 8%ank you. BradleyC Gou are my +a.ourite thou*h. / really lo.e you. <ey= did you hear the jokeC a *uide do* and a cat are 1aitin* at a crossin* place and when the li*ht c%anges the cat says... LeaC GeeeeeI! Brad= you *o to the park alone= /9m going home. BradleyC Alri*ht= / just... LeaC 0hat is it6 )latmate. BradleyC / had this idea o+ undergoing seein* eye-dog trainin*= joining <enrik daily= +indin* out what9s *oin* on in %is li+e and then reportin* back to you. !iece this to*ether. $a.e the romance! / can9t stand the thought of the t1o o+ you ending here. LeaC That is... absolutely sweet o+ you. But now / am not e.en sure <enrik and / e.er 9started9. !lus, i+ you become his ser.ice dog, then 1e 1on9t be able to chat like this a*ain. 0e 1ouldn9t be able to do anything since you 1ould be 1orkin* +or him and e.erybody 1ould know that you are on duty. Think, Brad. BradleyC Geah... / knew there 1as a catch. Bu*gers. But then= why not6 /t cannot be that di++icult. / can already 1alk ahead in a strai*ht line when / +ollo1 a shopping ba* in the street. $ay yes, Lea. LeaC 5%= really6 And what about learnin* hand *estures and ot%er subtle si*ns or o.erwriting will when your captain measured a situation wrongly6 BradleyC Na%= /’m already doing that se.eral times a 1eek; when you decide to turn of+ t%e alarm in t%e mornin*= thinking why go to 1ork to an o++ice where <enrik is happily employed= /9m jumpin* on your chest as long as it takes to get you out o+ the bed. $mart= ri*ht6 LeaC 8hank you .ery much. 8hat is= indeed= use+ul. But still... BradleyC Okay= okay= here9s plan B( LeaC Lord= *i.e me stren*th... BradleyC / will become your emotional support dog. LeaC Gou mean... +or my autism6 BradleyC Could be +or that= yeah. And also +or your bra.e but unsuccess+ul lo.e con+ession= terrible new boss and intense nostalgia. / will make you happy and 1ell-balanced. LeaC Gou9re already makin* me happy but / will consider your of+er. Gou know that it is a lot o+ training thou*%= right6 BradleyC $ure thin*. No problem. A Mars-bar6... Ne.er mind. Uhm... 0e could write about this whole beauti+ul one-party lo.e story. LeaC 0hat do you recommend= wise canine6 BradleyC @ew Gork Times, of course! 9Ms L.