AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Shanna's charity gig set to raise the profile of Asperger's
A DUNFERMLINE teenager learning to cope with Asperger’s has organised a charity concert to raise money for the National Autistic Society.
Shanna Maxwell, 18, has been juggling her time at college with her fund-raising efforts and has her own project, called High on ASD. Since being diagnosed with Asperger’s last December and struggling with depression and anxiety, she has turned her focus to raising money and awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and hopes that the charity gig at PJ Molloy’s can help bring understanding.
“It’s been a real eye-opener about myself,” she said. “There’s been certain things I do, feel, or go through which I understand more, through those who also have Asperger’s syndrome and have contacted the project directly.
"Of course, there’s things which have left me in tears at night, and some things which have left me feeling more at peace with myself and my feelings.”
Now studying computer games and animation at college, Shanna has noticed a huge boost in her own confidence.
“I normally wouldn’t be able to handle the amount of people I have in my college class,” she said. “Now, however, I’m the class representative. I don’t know where this confidence came from, whether it is through leadership or acceptance of myself, we’ll never know.
"I feel more like I used to, before I got depression and anxiety. I don’t feel like I’m completely free from these things – if I was to stop taking my meds, the depression and anxiety would hit me hard but maybe not as hard as it would have before the project. It feels weird to say but I really feel like, well, me.”
She said: “It’s extremely important to raise awareness. The more people who understand something, the more people who are better educated, informed and create a better world. Especially with autism, people need to understand that anyone could have a form of it but no-one has noticed or diagnosed them. People need to see that there is a reason for this discomfort or misunderstanding.”
Shanna’s High on ASD project has gone from strength to strength, with her own assistant and trainees who help with filming and advertising. A music-lover herself, playing an incredible seven instruments, Shanna was keen to organise a concert for her next fund-raising challenge.
“I love writing music, I love playing it, I love hearing it,” she said. “I already play seven instruments – guitar, bass, ukulele, xylophone, mandolin, synthesiser, and piano. I hope to learn more, or at least how to improve on what I already know and love.
“I know a lot of musical people, both from school and from my old youth theatre, I knew a good local venue, the only thing that discouraged me was the magnitude of the work, time and money which would have to be devoted to this.
"Then I just thought, ‘Screw it! Go big or go home.’ "If we want to be taken seriously then we need to be willing to do something bigger than what is expected of us to do.”
Her kind-hearted crew agreed to divide the cost of putting on the show between the four of them and put aside their own money to make it possible and Shanna is now looking forward to seeing the final result.
“We have a local band called Home By Morning, one half of a local duo called Mischief Managed and four amazing singers, Katie McNulty, Melissa McDonald, Holly Roxburgh and Karen McFadden,” she said.
“We don’t have a set goal but I would quite like to raise another £100. It may be a stretch but I can only hope that through tickets and donation buckets, we will make up the pounds.”
The show takes place at 7pm on Sunday, October 25 at PJ Molloys.
Tickets cost £6 and can be bought on the door.
To donate to the project, visit www.justgiving.com/HighOnASD
SOURCE: http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/new...y_gig_set_to_raise_the_profile_of_Asperger_s/
Shanna's charity gig set to raise the profile of Asperger's
A DUNFERMLINE teenager learning to cope with Asperger’s has organised a charity concert to raise money for the National Autistic Society.
Shanna Maxwell, 18, has been juggling her time at college with her fund-raising efforts and has her own project, called High on ASD. Since being diagnosed with Asperger’s last December and struggling with depression and anxiety, she has turned her focus to raising money and awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and hopes that the charity gig at PJ Molloy’s can help bring understanding.
“It’s been a real eye-opener about myself,” she said. “There’s been certain things I do, feel, or go through which I understand more, through those who also have Asperger’s syndrome and have contacted the project directly.
"Of course, there’s things which have left me in tears at night, and some things which have left me feeling more at peace with myself and my feelings.”
Now studying computer games and animation at college, Shanna has noticed a huge boost in her own confidence.
“I normally wouldn’t be able to handle the amount of people I have in my college class,” she said. “Now, however, I’m the class representative. I don’t know where this confidence came from, whether it is through leadership or acceptance of myself, we’ll never know.
"I feel more like I used to, before I got depression and anxiety. I don’t feel like I’m completely free from these things – if I was to stop taking my meds, the depression and anxiety would hit me hard but maybe not as hard as it would have before the project. It feels weird to say but I really feel like, well, me.”
She said: “It’s extremely important to raise awareness. The more people who understand something, the more people who are better educated, informed and create a better world. Especially with autism, people need to understand that anyone could have a form of it but no-one has noticed or diagnosed them. People need to see that there is a reason for this discomfort or misunderstanding.”
Shanna’s High on ASD project has gone from strength to strength, with her own assistant and trainees who help with filming and advertising. A music-lover herself, playing an incredible seven instruments, Shanna was keen to organise a concert for her next fund-raising challenge.
“I love writing music, I love playing it, I love hearing it,” she said. “I already play seven instruments – guitar, bass, ukulele, xylophone, mandolin, synthesiser, and piano. I hope to learn more, or at least how to improve on what I already know and love.
“I know a lot of musical people, both from school and from my old youth theatre, I knew a good local venue, the only thing that discouraged me was the magnitude of the work, time and money which would have to be devoted to this.
"Then I just thought, ‘Screw it! Go big or go home.’ "If we want to be taken seriously then we need to be willing to do something bigger than what is expected of us to do.”
Her kind-hearted crew agreed to divide the cost of putting on the show between the four of them and put aside their own money to make it possible and Shanna is now looking forward to seeing the final result.
“We have a local band called Home By Morning, one half of a local duo called Mischief Managed and four amazing singers, Katie McNulty, Melissa McDonald, Holly Roxburgh and Karen McFadden,” she said.
“We don’t have a set goal but I would quite like to raise another £100. It may be a stretch but I can only hope that through tickets and donation buckets, we will make up the pounds.”
The show takes place at 7pm on Sunday, October 25 at PJ Molloys.
Tickets cost £6 and can be bought on the door.
To donate to the project, visit www.justgiving.com/HighOnASD
SOURCE: http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/new...y_gig_set_to_raise_the_profile_of_Asperger_s/
