As we approach the New Year, some of us may feel a lot of pressure to finish all the things that we wanted to accomplish in 2012. As the days get shorter, it can feel like we have less and less time to meet all those deadlines, both external and self-imposed. Between all of our seasonal responsibilities to ourselves and others, it is no wonder that the holiday season is a particularly stressful and anxiety-filled time of year.

In our rush to check things off our list, we often forget the practical reason for the holidays. As the days get shorter, colder and grayer and as the availability of fresh seasonal produce becomes more sparse, it is natural for us to feel a certain seasonal slowing--an affective glooming, if you will. It is no wonder that we, as a society, decided at this time of year to brighten things up with festive decorations, to indulge in rich and comforting foods, and to gather together with loved ones. 

Given the historical longevity of the yuletide festivities, it seems clear that our ancestors are telling us to take this time of year to slow down, indulge and care for ourselves, both physically and emotionally. Ironically, so many of us pick this very time of year to do the exact opposite and force ourselves to speed up when everything around us is telling us to slow down.

Perhaps this year,  at least some of us will heed the wisdom of our ancestors and take the time to restore our bodies and spirits by enjoying the lights, foods and warmth that are right in front of us, if for nothing else than to be better able to tackle the demands of the year ahead.

Please see the NYT article below on the deleterious effects of continual stress. 
 http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/dont-let-stress-get-in-the-way-of-life/

College campuses are now seeing more students with special needs, including autism and other cognitive and developmental disabilities. While these students may have once been dismissed as "not college bound," recent research and early intervention for students with special needs means that a college degree is becoming more attainable  for students with disabilities.

While some colleges are making more special education resources available to these students, such as a private room for examinations, a university-appointed note taker, and/or weekly meetings with a counselor, most colleges are still struggling to meet the growing need for specialized educational and social assistance for these students. 

Likewise, once these students graduate and attempt to enter the workforce, finding appropriately stimulating, and fitting employment can be quite a challenge. A recent NYT article which describes a company that specializes in employing individuals who have specialized abilities, may indicate that at least some companies are making room for individuals with varying skills, who's characteristics may deviate widely from the typical employee profile. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/magazine/the-autism-advantage.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0

This article follows a business owner, Thorkil Sonne, who noticed that  while "many companies struggle to find workers who can perform specific, often tedious tasks, like date entry or software testing; some autistic people would be exceptionally good at those tasks". What is surprising is that more companies aren't noticing similar trends, and not utilizing individuals with similar specialized abilities.

It is important to note that not all individuals with autism would be employable by such companies. In fact, this particular company only hires one in six of the individuals that they assess. Additionally, in order to aid with adjustment, Mr. Sonne's company pairs each employee with autism  with a neurotypical couch who helps the employees navigate their emotional well-being and aid with any social issues that may come up during the day--a service is that, alas, is not typical for your average company. While this type of employment surely does not fit every person's skill set or personality,  it is indeed wise to recognize that utilizing an individual's specialized skill, even when that skill presents in the absence of others, may be advantageous and profitable to certain employers.