I realise it is neither Sunday nor time for me to guest post but as I am going on holiday for three weeks from this Sunday coming, I thought I had better pop into Tribble Towers territory and say “Hi.” I was originally going to launch straight into a Doctor Who love fest, but upon thinking a bit about what I was going to write, I realised it might be an idea to introduce myself, and why I am interested in supporting this particular blog first.
My name is Maureen and on wordpress I am predominately interested in discussing fantasy and writing over at Ink Ashlings. However, I met Gemma at livejournal when I friended her after a discovery of her love for Doctor Who and all things geek culture. As I got to know her better, I also discovered that she had an autism diagnosis. My brother has high functioning autism, ADD and anxiety disorder as well as dumping syndrome. At my own livejournal, I’d often discuss my role as a carer and the issues I faced in Australian society as a result of my brother’s diagnosis and the stereotypes that abound around the place about autism and what exactly it is.
Four years ago I began to volunteer with children with autism for a local respite care service in my area. Where before, I’d always seen caring and disability as something that I could only talk about in regards to my own personal experiences, now I learnt the importance of advocating for all people with disabilities and mental illnesses, in the importance of respecting everyone as individuals, as people with the right to human dignity at all times, about assisting with tools for personal empowerment, about the importance of sharing and listening to stories. This is why I think this blog is so important.
Tribble Towers teaches, inspires, educates and draws awareness to issues in the life of an individual with an autism diagnosis with frankness and honesty. As a guest blogger, I hope to support this blog’s goals whilst also sharing my own love for novels, tv and film.
See you at this blog soon after my holiday hiatus and if you love fantasy, why don’t you join the discussion at InkAshling too 
Maureen is a passionate advocate for those with disabilities who also loves writing and all things fantasy. You can contact her at maf921@uowmail.edu.au with guest blog suggestions, concerns or requests.
Thanks for posting this, Maureen. I’ll be checking my dashboard more carefully in future, now that I know I don’t get notified if you post – hopefully I’ll eventually find the magic button that approves your entries to come through without my having to look at them first.
Autism and epilepsy really aren’t so very far apart, and very often one person will have both conditions. The brain really is like a little planet of its own, with not much known about the more unusual machinations as to the hows and whys.
Certainly you’ll find that most geeks have some level of autism, on account of our obsessive/OCD traits!
Enjoyed this post.. finding it informational and interesting. I loved the line “the importance of advocating for all people with disabilities and mental illnesses, in the importance of respecting everyone as individuals, as people with the right to human dignity at all times, about assisting with tools for personal empowerment, about the importance of sharing and listening to stories”. Sharing experiences brings about understanding.. which lends to compassion, and love. Isn’t it what we all hope for, to be loved?