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Thread: I'm now a Certified Recovery/Peer Support Specialist

  1. #1
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    Default I'm now a Certified Recovery/Peer Support Specialist

    76 classroom hours over 2 weeks = Being able to seek employment working professionally with those struggling with addiction and/or mental health issues. Because Autism is classified as a mental health issue, it allows me to qualify to work in this field in which I provide support to those struggling with these issues from a position of “mutuality.” This has proven to be more effective than relying exclusively on those with superior academic credentials, some of who have let the pieces of papers that adorn their office walls go to their heads.

    We R/PSSs do have a lot of limitations placed on us, so we don’t cross the line and exceed our academic credentials and/or start playing God (You need at least a Master’s degree to do that ). An example of this is that we are not allowed to advise the peers whom we are supporting about medications in any manner. Its not our place to tell them if they should be on meds, if they should stop taking them if they don’t like the side effects, figure out how to resolve the conflict that some religions have with taking meds, etc. If they want to understand the side effects of specific meds, we can use Google to find reputable sites that will provide them with the info they need. Beyond that, we’d encourage them to seek the advice of those who are qualified to answer such questions.

    Although I’m open to working for anyone who will hire me, my ideal job would be working with the homeless because I have good reason to believe that the rate of Autism is this segment of society is going to be disproportionately hire then the general population.

    1) Autistics, including myself, are known to struggle with employment issues. In fact, there were times during my pre-diagnosis day that I thought that making enough money to pay all my household expenses was too much of a burden. So, homelessness seemed like a logical solution because it would reduce them to a much more manageable level.

    2) Many of us believe that we have a higher sensitivity to medications, thus making us more susceptible to substance abuse.

    3) Those who are experts in this field will tell you that addiction is actually a symptom of underlying issues that compel individuals to misuse these substances to deal the pain (often emotional &/or phycological) that they lack the coping skills to deal with any other way. Most Autistics struggle with these same underlying issues which I’ve learned to overcome to the best of my abilities.

    When you consider that about ¼ of all the Autistics whom I’ve discussed the subject of suicide with have acknowledge that they 1st started contemplating before becoming teenagers, myself included, crisis hotlines are a viable option for me. I’m just not sure I’d feel comfortable with supervisors scrutinizing me so much that I’m think more about not saying anything that could get me in trouble with my boss then I am with the caller who is in crisis. As far as suicide hotlines, I’m not clear about whether or not I’d need greater academic credentials to work them.

    The specific course I took though Recovery Innovations International also earned me 2 collage credits that could be used if I want to pursue higher academic credentials. They also have a couple of more courses that would be worth 17 collage credits each (Recovery Coaching & Recovery Teaching Certifications), although there is a lot of overlap between the 2. I need to confirm how this would all workout, but I think I could come away with about 2 dozen collage credits if I take all their courses.
    I’m an Autistic Self-Advocate. If you have any questions about Autism/Asperger’s, feel free to ask. I’m not offended by any question asked by anyone who has a genuine desire to understand us better.

    https://aacphoenix.com/


  2. #2

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    Hell yeah! Proud of you my man!
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    Y’all know I’m an OL Groupie but I think Jeudy is going to be worth missing out on a T, knock on wood.

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  4. #3
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    Default

    Congratulations! Sounds like a very rewarding decision, good luck moving forward!

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    Congrats, AZ!

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    Congratulations AZ

    Thanks to MasterShake for my great signature
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  10. #6

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    Congrats!!

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    Good for you. Congratulations!!!
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  14. #8
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    Nice job, buddy!

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  16. #9
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    Thanks everyone for the show of support. Sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but I just started as a test subject for a new Autism research study which required me to have a FMRI & EEG just minutes apart yesterday. Add having to put up with people on public transportation who are a bid wacky,* even when it’s not 100+ degrees, and you have the perfect recipe for turning my brain into putty.
    *If Johnathan (one of my instructors) read this, he’d ask me to restate that using “recovery language.”

    I’ve spend all day today updating my resume in advance of an appointment for this Friday with my caseworker who told me about this vocational field. She’s going to be helping me modify it to today’s professional standard due to them changing about every 5-10 years. In fact, we were told in class that instead of having 1 resume that you make as many copies of as it takes for you to get the job, today you’re supposed to customize it to suit the needs of your potential employer. So, the first resume that I’m drawing up is geared towards organizations that work with individuals with addiction and/or mental health issues. Anything that isn’t relevant to at least 1 of these areas has been removed.

    The type of resume that I’m using is called a “working resume,” with focus on what I’ve been successful at, instead of my past vocational futility. This is especially recommended for Autistics, like myself, who didn’t get diagnosed until later in life. I created 1 of these years ago and have used the 1-page version to apply for social work type job, and a 2-page version for when I’m wanting to get involved as a volunteer for a community service project. Now that I’ve finished the rough draft of my “Recovery-Peer Support” version of my resume, I now have three waiting for polishing.
    I’m an Autistic Self-Advocate. If you have any questions about Autism/Asperger’s, feel free to ask. I’m not offended by any question asked by anyone who has a genuine desire to understand us better.

    https://aacphoenix.com/

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  18. #10
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    With this in mind, I’ve posted links to online* Word versions of all 3 resumes. For those who have the time and interest, it would be very benefited for me if the “Recovery-Peer Support” could at least be proofed for spelling and grammar in advance. We were also told during the class that many companies now use computer algorithms that will count how many time key words appear in the resume. The ones with the highest count got to the top of the list for the HR humans to review. So, with this being geared towards that work with those struggling with addiction and/or mental health issue, it wouldn’t hurt if someone could figure out how to reword what I wrote to maximize the count.
    *I redacted all personal contact info for obvious reasons.

    As far as the other 2 versions, “Volunteer” & “Social Work,” I’d like to be able to take them with me to interviews to show that I have a long track record of working with people in self-improvement endeavors. As much as I’d like to use the “Volunteer” version because it gives far more detail about my people skills, most people don’t like too many details, especially when they’re not really that relevant to the subject matter. So, it would probably be in my best interest to have the “Social Work” ready as a supplement because it far more condensed and doesn’t include a lot of background that doesn’t tie into addictions and/or mental health. There’s also not nearly as much redundant information with the “Recovery-Peer Support” version.

    So, for those who might want to help me by proofing these, the 1st priority is the “Recovery-Peer Support” version because I need it by Friday. The next priority would be “Social Work,” which I won’t defiantly need until I go to my 1st interview, and “Volunteer” for future usage. I’d appreciate it if when proofing, use strike through over the error with the suggested correction type in next to it. The change both to red font so I can quickly see what the mistakes are.

    https://autismambassadorscorps.files...er-resume1.doc

    https://autismambassadorscorps.files...rt-resume2.doc

    https://autismambassadorscorps.files...ork-resume.doc
    I’m an Autistic Self-Advocate. If you have any questions about Autism/Asperger’s, feel free to ask. I’m not offended by any question asked by anyone who has a genuine desire to understand us better.

    https://aacphoenix.com/

  19. #11
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    It has been a while since I've updated this tread, mainly because things haven't gone quite according to plan, but that's OK. Not only am I on the brink of being off SSDI, the last of the public assistance that I went on when I got my Autism diagnosis back in 2009 at the age of 40, but I have become increasingly more involved in projects that are becoming increasingly productive. Covid may have knocked most of the rest of the world off kilter, but I’m reaching new heights in my quality of life and ability to make the world a better place.

    First of all, my weekly Autistic support group has had record attendance as well as a solid core of regular attender for over a year, from which I have begun training up 3 facilitators in order that we can grow our group even more. Secondly, I filled to reserve the name "Autism Ambassadors Corps" with the Arizona Corporation Commission 3 weeks ago this Sunday. From that day forward, I have 120 to officially file my paperwork to turn my personal project into a 501c (3) non-profit organization.

    This is why I’ve been posting very little the past few months, and why I’m not going to be nearly as involved with our sites fantasy competitions. Nevertheless, you’ll have fun without me.

    I’m an Autistic Self-Advocate. If you have any questions about Autism/Asperger’s, feel free to ask. I’m not offended by any question asked by anyone who has a genuine desire to understand us better.

    https://aacphoenix.com/

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  21. #12
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    That's great, man. Keep it up.
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    "You know cos I just lost my parents--both my parents died in the same year...to this day, people come up to me and say 'my dad died and that album really meant a lot to me,' which is very nourishing {pats heart} for a songwriter to hear that your songs have a utility beyond just their own solace, that it actually helps other people."

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    Cool man! Congratulations!
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