Asperger's Syndrome/ Autism Thread

[disneyboy20022]

Also I just remembered that I read in a Parade Magazine that Owen Wilson the actor also has Asperger Syndrome as well.

[Mason_Ireton]

Wow, I knew bout Bill Gates had Aspergers, but Owen Willson?! didn't expect that.

[Prudence]

Well, no one suspects that I have it. I can usually tell in an instant if someone else does.

[Mason_Ireton]

Did I spill the beans to you or did you figured it out from the start? Took moi the day I found out bout your Aspergers.

[Prudence]

I had it guessed in part, but I actually told you before you told me. Huh. I've never done that before, at least not since I was in grade school and didn't know any better.

[Mason_Ireton]

Kids say the darnest thing don't they? *chuckles* I didn't know any better bout spreading my Asperger's either but I knew that the teachers were giving me extra attenion which in turn kinda became annoying.

[ajmrowland]

I didn't know this thread existed!

I've gone and searched for some stuff to help some of you guys understand what people with Aspergers, such as myself, go through on a daily basis and found this.

A study made by Attwood and Gray.

"Figure 1: Discovery criteria for aspie by Attwood and Gray

A. A qualitative advantage in social interaction, as manifested by a majority of the following:

peer relationships characterized by absolute loyalty and impeccable dependability
free of sexist, "age-ist", or culturalist biases; ability to regard others at "face value"
speaking one’s mind irrespective of social context or adherence to personal beliefs
ability to pursue personal theory or perspective despite conflicting evidence
seeking an audience or friends capable of: enthusiasm for unique interests and topics;
consideration of details; spending time discussing a topic that may not be of primary interest
listening without continual judgement or assumption
interested primarily in significant contributions to conversation; preferring to avoid
"ritualistic small talk" or socially trivial statements and superficial conversation.
seeking sincere, positive, genuine friends with an unassuming sense of humour

B Fluent in "Aspergerese", a social language characterized by at least three of the following:

a determination to seek the truth
conversation free of hidden meaning or agenda
advanced vocabulary and interest in words
fascination with word-based humour, such as puns
advanced use of pictorial metaphor

C. Cognitive skills characterized by at least four of the following:

strong preference for detail over gestalt
original, often unique perspective in problem solving
exceptional memory and/or recall of details often forgotten or disregarded by others,
for example: names, dates, schedules, routines
avid perseverance in gathering and cataloguing information on a topic of interest
persistence of thought
encyclopaedic or "CD ROM" knowledge of one or more topics
knowledge of routines and a focused desire to maintain order and accuracy
clarity of values/decision making unaltered by political or financial factors

D. Additional possible features:

acute sensitivity to specific sensory experiences and stimuli, for example:
hearing, touch, vision, and/or smell

strength in individual sports and games, particularly those involving
endurance or visual accuracy, including rowing, swimming, bowling, chess

"social unsung hero" with trusting optimism: frequent victim of social
weaknesses of others, while steadfast in the belief of the possibility of genuine friendship

increased probability over general population of attending university after high school
often take care of others outside the range of typical development"

Sounds a lot like me: stubbornly opinionated, thoughtful, desperate for friendship and positive reinforcement and all that.

I don't really believe most of the "official" studies because they're too one-note.

[disneyboy20022]

and also as Liane Holidy Willey has said and I have even met her a couple of times....its not a cookie cutter diagnosis meaning one guide is not going to help people understand every person who has Asperger Syndrome......I know one thing I wouldn't live through again is Public School.....in the 90s.....when some people and some still do....think its a bunch of hogwash and you need to buck up and get your mind into shape

My theory on this as having Asperger's myself as well is:

The Brain is an organ....just like your pancreas....now do you tell your pancreas to buck up and make more insulin and quit taking pills...no you don't.....and thats the same with the Brain.....it's an organ....given its more complex than anyone knows....but alas its an organ...and some people don't feel they need medicine which is fine too....but if you need medicine for it take it....but don't let other people say if they don't need it you don't need it attitude because that might be nice for them but thats them...each person has to attend to their own symptons in a way they see fit..

btw here is the website of Liane Holliday Willey...

http://www.aspie.com/

[zackisthewalrus]

I didn't know this thread existed as well.

My sister does therapy with a 13 year old autistic girl. She's been doing therapy with her for 3 years, and they've grown to be great pals. She always expresses what she wants in actions. She can't speak, but moans and cries. I've been around her a few times, and I find it very interesting how she communicates.

[disneyboy20022]

I didn't know this thread existed as well.

My sister does therapy with a 13 year old autistic girl. She's been doing therapy with her for 3 years, and they've grown to be great pals. She always expresses what she wants in actions. She can't speak, but moans and cries. I've been around her a few times, and I find it very interesting how she communicates.

Yeah..im thinking she does not have Asperger Syndrome Autism....but has a type of Autism.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome#History

There are many type of autisms....




When I was little and showed signs of autism the one reason my parents or anyone back in the early 90s late 80s is because....I talked too much.....and back then you didn't associate Autism with speaking verbally....but when I was 9 I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome because my mom had heard about on the news....and back when I was diagnosed when you Yahooed the term Asperger Syndrome....you litteraly just had 3 results.....of course that was before Google was around.....so yes at one time you Yahooed your name.....anyway now wither you yahoo it google it you can find a lot about it......although I did tell someone online once I had it and they thought I was insulting them with a filthy curse word phrase

[ajmrowland]

What I really don't like is the idea of not having common sense. I have plenty of it, it's slow sometimes, but I also have lots of other sense and mental abilities that more than make up for it. For evidence of such ways of thinking, check out that Kingdom Hearts thread on this site. That also shows creativity, which is also rumored not to occur in Aspies.

Also, I'm way smarter than a lot of people(I'm looking at you, dudes who openly make presidential assassination threats on youtube ).

[disneyboy20022]

oh I agree and sometimes though we have too much common sense....like correcting the teacher at school if they did a math problem wrong....I've done that..

But like I've said....each Diagnosis Of Aspies is differ...its not a cookie cutter diagnosis....Just because you have common sense doesn't mean that all people diagnosed has the same common sense that you do....and some are creative in some ways more than others....

[ajmrowland]

I corrected my 2nd grade teacher once when she was reading us a "Magic School Bus" book. She said "Mrs. Frizzle", and I said it was "Ms."

[ajmrowland]

Are there any Aspies here who have gotten their Driver's License?

[Big Disney Fan]

I don't know, but I've been told that people who have Asperger's usually tend to be much safer drivers than normal people, usually because they are a lot more conscious of their surroundings.

[ajmrowland]

Im just saying people worry about my attention span.

[Jungleprince_55]

I know I haven't been around here in awhile, but I also have Asperger's Syndrome.

I was diagnosed years ago, but up until recently I kinda just tried to ignore the fact that I even had it because it only seemed to generate negative reactions whenever I told anyone about it. alot of people are still very unaware of what AS actually is and how it affects people.

I've recenly been lurking on wrongplanet.net.

[ajmrowland]

Ive been there. I recommend you start googling it, and watching Adam and Templ Grandin(movies) can really put a spin on it.

[Mason_Ireton]

I've told a close friend bout my learning disabilty and she totaly accepted it and was interested in the subject, apparently she couldn't tell I had Asperger/Autism till she noticed I had trouble helpin her with the math work and graspin her views on poltics.

[disneyboy20022]

Are there any Aspies here who have gotten their Driver's License?

I am one.....I am going to be 23 in a week from tomorow (March 10th) and havnt gotten a license...and the reason is rather odd to some people...I have no desire to drive.....or get my license....I've seen too many of my ex friends get a license and then they get in 4 wrecks and brag about it.....and when I turned 16 I didn't feel ready to get my license or pursue that.....right now I am considering it....but still on the fence about it....someone said one time as a what if they asked me if I had a choice between someone giving me a bunch of movies (dvd or Blu Ray) like 2000 of them or give me a mustang I automatically said....I'll take the movies....my theory has been...i'd rather have a bunch of movies or video games than a car that you have repair or even drive....but I might get my permit soon....and I might now...idk....All I know is I have to know when the time for me is right and I feel comfortable getting my license.....Im seriously thinking about just getting my permit and then in 6 months to a year upgrade to a license....