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Aspergers as Gift
George Dvorsky |
A great aspect of futurism these days is just how multi-disciplinary it is. The recent Convergence08 UnConference was a case in point. This event brought together a diverse array of thinkers with interests spanning the fields of synthetic biology, cognitive science, AI, nanotechnology, political science, economics, cosmology and more. For futurists and transhumanists alike, there’s virtually no topic that’s off limit—you just need to geek-up the conversation accordingly.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/27 at 04:01 PM
There is the worst: An autist adapted to the normal people. It is a grief. I know from me.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/27 at 05:50 PM
While I 100% agree with "Asperger’s Syndrome has produced some of the finest minds humanity has ever known." the word gift is something I feel over used and wrongly use, or not all children a gift, those of us on the autism spectrum have some wonderful unique under resourced talents, our quirky differences often keeping us on the edge of society.
"The way I see it: Apart from being on the autism spectrum I have many co morbid / associated conditions… in fact a whole list, not sure anyone has it right, including myself. Often our labels can get over complicated... and near impossible to know which bit is which, with many overlaps, but any label does not change who we are. I have my own simplified version - The center as I see it, is us - the Autism heart, differently minded part... which to an extent feel many NTs just do not quite get or understand. So often the most important thing the centre, gets neglected, so its no wonder we are often a little off balance.
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Surrounding the center are a web with many chaotic paths, often disjointed and ineffective, as these neuro associated conditions, co morbid mental disorders (or misunderstood difference), environmental factors are all blamed and continue to circle around the most important part of us. I feel its time other started with the centre - the Autism Heart, forget the labels. Because if our hearts were balanced and allowed, as I see it. A lot of these existing links in the web, may start to fade... I feel many of the labels are often caused by others misinterpretation, dealing with small aspects of the whole person, often neglecting or not understanding our centers from when we are born." [Alyson Bradley - August 2008]
After years of confusion, I have accepted and found my true identity, I have Aspergers and many associated conditions and like everyone else certain factors have changed the way I view life. But one of the main misconceptions from people not on the autism spectrum is to think we are all the same we are not, and in fact we are as diverse and different on the autism spectrum as those that are not.
Many of us are intense all or nothing sort of people which can be too much for people. And I feel there lies the answer for many of us, well has been with me... people seem to like one part of me, what they consider the "norn" and the other side which many of them feel the need to use, drain my resources and move on..... I have always been the one I guess who has dared to be that little bit different, the one others would rather talk about, but with each rejection, let down its like I feel I have built a shell, but we do have feelings and not sure mine have every fully been met... will they ever be, accepting and understanding myself has helped, but feel all adults need to learn and teach children about diversity and difference in the world and be more excepting..
Aspergers Parallel Planet - www/asplanet.info
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/27 at 05:57 PM
Bravo! I could not have written it better myself!
From an Aspie
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/27 at 07:37 PM
Speaking as someone who has Asperger's, I often am treated more as having a disibility first and a higher aptitude for math and science second. But I am proud to be an Aspie and if I ever find the genes for Asperger's syndrome I will ensure that they survive for the benefit of future generations.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/28 at 02:26 PM
I am mother of a 11 years old boy with Asperger's syndrome.
I am not looking for a cure for my son, because I know his qualities and his difficulties. I try to help him with his problems and I am fighting for society to accept him as the great boy he is.
There is no place for a boy like him in society at the moment. To be participating in society on an equal footing with others, you have to be flexibel, social and could fit in to the group. All three things which are difficult for a person with Asperger.
Things are going too fast. The teaching in primary schools are in classes with too many students. There is too much noise, teaching is unstructured and students have to take responsibility for their own learning. There is no time to explain students something they do not understand. If you dont get it the first time you are lost.
Children who fall outside are in danger of being bullied, get depression and eventually they might commit suicide?
You should see this movie, based on a true story:
http://www.benx.be/eng/trailer.asp
But you are right, Asperger’s Syndrome has produced some of the finest minds humanity has ever known.
Why dont society appriciate this, and make room for them??
Inge
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/30 at 04:28 AM
While I heartily applaud the sentiment behind this article, part of it worries me.
I manage to combine Aspergers with being as dumb as a housebrick. I officially have an IQ of 120 but struggle to do things most people my age take for granted - manage my own money, keep my house clean, remember to eat.
I worry that if Asperger's is considered not so terrible after all because some people who have it are exceptionally gifted... what of those of us who aren't?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/02 at 06:54 PM
Smoke, that's disorganized, it's not dumb. I don't mean to downplay your struggle (I know that one!) but I hate to see someone thinking that s/he's "dumb" when it's something else.
And yes, I worry about that, too - kids and adults being unable to get help because they're intelligent and communicative, but having trouble with pragmatics. There's a crack there that a lot of people are falling through.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/03 at 10:34 AM
Great topic and great posts! I could write books about this if I could write at the speed of light, which I'm always trying to do anyway. I've been trying all my life (60+ years) to come to terms with myself and others over the way I seem to be on the margins of everything seeing what few others see and missing what everyone else takes for granted.
This term "Asperger's" is a label, but it's not big enough. Our natural human neurochemical variances and wiring differences are so great that no two people grouped under that term are necessarily similar. It seems to me the label is about what people are NOT, instead of reaching as far as what they ARE. Instead, why not embrace the fantastic potential of the variations and build bridges and connections to others?
The evolution of our collective genome is a huge experiment in probability space, reaching its tendrils out into the universe using our intelligences of every possible kind. This is a vastly exciting process, and the emergence of awareness of these wonders of cognition we see now among us is teaching us our incredible potential.
I think people who obtain successful results that mystify others are perceived all too easily by those others as threats. That's where the 'disease' label gets slapped over the "Asperger's" label. The problem is not Asperger's, or autism -- I believe it lies in the very human failure to explore our marvelous variety and extend ourselves to each other with courage, humility, and warmth. I did all the socially-impaired things for a long time, but when I finally worked out how to be with people, things got immensely better.
Let's all help each other.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/07 at 04:51 PM
As a Asperger's man who has had horrific experience in the past and still face constant bullying, I feel that at least we Aspies are not dumb when it comes to who is more in control. As a professional artist, I feel that we need to pool our resource and educate the pubglic of their ignorant & bigoted attitude must change by embarasing them it to their failing to respect difference. That makes the world go round and keeps the peace. I am a recent victim of a violent attack because of my difference I am still called spaz by fully grown adults not kids. As an artist as a tradition we write manifestos for a brighter future, here is an issue we can agree: Neural Diversity not disability.
Posted by Alyson Bradley on 12/07 at 06:02 PM
I so agree with you Mark, and feel sad that so many others in there attempt to understand us forget the continue struggles we often have to live with, others often try and conform us from birth, can you imagine me treating my NT child as an aspie there would be an outcry, but for some unknown reason the majority feel they have the right to change what so often they them selfs do not understand.....
A small part of one of the many articles I have written, i the hope others will read and slowly begin to understand our world:
"Alienation, Isolation, Retreat- as a child these words often felt like the air I breathed… Sometimes I cannot help but wonder do I even breath the same air, my know reality from yours often seems poles apart. After a life time of thinking I was like you a neuro typical “norm” that’s if that exists, I do know we are all born as unique individuals and no 2 people are the same. So why do others notice, then the comments, then the stares – we do not quite fit and so are alienated, we become isolated, not knowing how to connect, we retreat into our own world, a safe space.
Let me explain some more, as a small child we know no difference, I can remember just standing and staring at the world, fascinated by its wonder, noticing the details others miss. Inside I could escape see and dream in my terms, but on the outside felt so awkward, embarrassed just for being there, for being me. People insist on looking, my small frame twisted, eyes fixed firmly on the ground. My face burning like on fire, I became a tangled mess. As my mind cried out in an desperate attempt to move, speak but I was frozen in time. I so badly needed, wanted to hide, disappear, engulfed in dark clouds.
No one seem to understand my quirky ways, apart from always moving my hands about to the extent of flapping like movements, fidget continually, nail picking, nervous movements like shaking my legs. And as for speech a silent mumble mostly, so preferred not to speak, I guess as every child does I had an inner beauty. But all others saw was a gawky thin timid child, the national health glasses and there ugly pink rims or second hand pass me downs, only added to the finish product, a total disaster in regards to school....... www.asplanet.info - Aspergers Parallel Pl,anet a community that really understands and cares....Alienation, Isolation, Retreat- as a child these words often felt like the air I breathed…
Sometimes I cannot help but wonder do I even breath the same air, my know reality from yours often seems poles apart. After a life time of thinking I was like you a neuro typical “norm” that’s if that exists, I do know we are all born as unique individuals and no 2 people are the same. So why do others notice, then the comments, then the stares – we do not quite fit and so are alienated, we become isolated, not knowing how to connect, we retreat into our own world, a safe space.
Let me explain some more, as a small child we know no difference, I can remember just standing and staring at the world, fascinated by its wonder, noticing the details others miss. Inside I could escape see and dream in my terms, but on the outside felt so awkward, embarrassed just for being there, for being me. People insist on looking, my small frame twisted, eyes fixed firmly on the ground. My face burning like on fire, I became a tangled mess. As my mind cried out in an desperate attempt to move, speak but I was frozen in time. I so badly needed, wanted to hide, disappear, engulfed in dark clouds.
No one seem to understand my quirky ways, apart from always moving my hands about to the extent of flapping like movements, fidget continually, nail picking, nervous movements like shaking my legs. And as for speech a silent mumble mostly, so preferred not to speak, I guess as every child does I had an inner beauty. But all others saw was a gawky thin timid child, the national health glasses and there ugly pink rims or second hand pass me downs, only added to the finish product, a total disaster in regards to school.......... www.asplanet.info - Aspergers Parallel Planet, a com
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