…
If you have been following me since the beginning or just starting to follow me as a neurodiversity ambassador/public speaker, you might be wondering yourself one question: why does “Going the Distance” have a logo that is in the form of a traffic signal?
…
For those of you who follow me that are in the field of behavioral analysis or psychology or even psychiatry, you should know that the traffic signal represents an individual’s self-regulation. But there is more to that because I selected a logo for “Going the Distance” for a very specific purpose.
You see, there is more than just a traffic light that makes up the logo for Going the Distance. Each color of the traffic light represents a level in which an individual and/or a family is willing to go in order to achieve a goal in life. These goals can range from getting a car and driving it, moving out of the house and living on that individual’s own or even doing basic survival skills such as cooking meals, doing the laundry, keeping house or even getting a job. Each color represents as follows:
#1: Red Light
Taking a look at the red light in the “Going the Distance” logo, this light represents families and individuals that would much rather be resistant to change or achieving life goals. There are some developmentally different individuals in today’s society that clearly don’t qualify to accept any life challenges or goals. These range from those who cannot speak and/or communicate to those who just don’t have the basic functions to live independently. Those who also end up going into a group home or dayhab program also potentially qualify for this list.
The red light also qualifies towards families that have a deep fear for their loved ones because they think the individual cannot thrive towards a specific goal when they really can or are willing to do so. I’ve actually met and known several families that would much rather be in the red light on account of the family dynamic simply because they would much rather have their child live according to the needs of the family and not the individual, even if the individual may seem like he or she is ready to achieve a specific goal.
The same also goes for families who believe in medical professionals that say that their child would never amount to anything. I was one of several individuals in this community that was told that I would never achieve anything past a certain age, but I proved them wrong!!
…
#2: Yellow Light
Moving onto the Yellow Light portion of the “Going the Distance” logo, this is the light where you have a developmentally different individual or family that want to achieve a specific goal, but have a sense of anxiety and/or hesitation towards that goal. There is always that fear of wanting to achieve the goal, but what if something goes wrong? What if something were to happen?
These thoughts that developmentally different individuals and their families would have would classify as a form of caution…being not totally fearful, but still fearful nonetheless. An example would be that the individual would want to go somewhere on his or her own, but they don’t drive.
You are a parent or guardian that has the fear that something might happen or even the individual him or herself has that nagging fear of what happens if something bad were to happen? Another example would be what were to happen if the individual would want to cook his or her own meals? What if they cut themselves with the knife or what if they burn themselves on the oven? What if they don’t clean up after they are done cooking the meals?
Essentially, those in the yellow light just need a little extra support into getting the goal achieved which is the area of my own logo that I’ve been in for most of my life. You might also be in the yellow light for the rest of your life and while it is frustrating, it’s somewhat true.
…
#3: Green Light
The final light in the “Going the Distance” Logo is the light that we all want to be at, but there are some that might never make it right away or at all and that is the green light. The green light means that the individual can achieve anything that he or she sets his or her heart’s desire towards or finally achieving a specific goal in life that the individual and his or her family have been working on.
Now when it comes to the green light, most people will say they will only get to the green light if they complete college, get married and start a family or achieve a specific high-ranking position in a job or something.
That is clearly not true because getting to the green light can range from a variety of approaches as obtaining an apartment, being able to take public transportation individually or even being involved in a social event. Take a look at the green light as a representation of achieving towards completing a goal that you have been stuck in the red or yellow lights trying to achieve.
Again, there is no specific goal that is included in the green light because it can be a whole range of goals both big and small or long or short term.
…
So that is a look at a better understanding of the “Going the Distance” logo and why it is in the form of a traffic light. In conclusion, just remember that I am not trying in any way to label anyone, but rather just trying to give a visualization of how we can achieve goals and live our lives. However, we all probably don’t want to be in the red light and can only get as far as the yellow light and that’s okay. Remember that while we all want to strive to get into the green light, getting into the green light doesn’t happen overnight.
…
Catch you all later!!
Comments