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delta_mikeThis interview with Ari Ne'eman was good reading on the subject of providing support for people with Autism-spectrum conditions. For a chap of 22 years, he's surprisingly articulate, and rather good at explaining things in ways that my brain can synthesize rapidly.
In particular, I read the line, There are a lot of social rules that we don’t understand, and tremendous consequences inflicted on us for violating them, and nodded knowingly.
The reference to Temple Grandin was also great -- I'd stumbled across her book, Animals in Translation, a few years ago, and devoured it. It was fascinating, and helped me understand myself.
This is because I have traits in common with some people on the Autism spectrum: I think visually; I'm sensitive to bright lights, and sound, and -- as anyone who's ever tickled me -- probably touch, too. I have a highly systemizing mind. I was generally poor at handling social interaction -- I understood computers better than people. Bullying in school was a problem.
Somehow, somewhere along the way -- perhaps through brute force trial and error -- I've developed a better model of people, meaning that I'm now typically as good as most neurotypical people at understanding and inferring other people's mental state. I have social skills!
But they took a long time to develop -- towards the end of undergraduate degree and beyond -- meaning that I now feel that I missed out on a huge range of social opportunities I didn't understand.
I've never been diagnosed with an Autism-spectrum disorder, and thinking about the concept now, I'd be worried about acquiring that particular label. I wouldn't even call it a disorder; merely a specialization.
But it's only just occurred to me after all the discussions here that I can reasonably describe myself as 'not neurotypical', too.
In particular, I read the line, There are a lot of social rules that we don’t understand, and tremendous consequences inflicted on us for violating them, and nodded knowingly.
The reference to Temple Grandin was also great -- I'd stumbled across her book, Animals in Translation, a few years ago, and devoured it. It was fascinating, and helped me understand myself.
This is because I have traits in common with some people on the Autism spectrum: I think visually; I'm sensitive to bright lights, and sound, and -- as anyone who's ever tickled me -- probably touch, too. I have a highly systemizing mind. I was generally poor at handling social interaction -- I understood computers better than people. Bullying in school was a problem.
Somehow, somewhere along the way -- perhaps through brute force trial and error -- I've developed a better model of people, meaning that I'm now typically as good as most neurotypical people at understanding and inferring other people's mental state. I have social skills!
But they took a long time to develop -- towards the end of undergraduate degree and beyond -- meaning that I now feel that I missed out on a huge range of social opportunities I didn't understand.
I've never been diagnosed with an Autism-spectrum disorder, and thinking about the concept now, I'd be worried about acquiring that particular label. I wouldn't even call it a disorder; merely a specialization.
But it's only just occurred to me after all the discussions here that I can reasonably describe myself as 'not neurotypical', too.
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Date: 2010-10-27 07:19 pm (UTC)Though with ASD, it will always be only an intellectual understanding, not the same ingrained, instinctual one.
I've never been diagnosed with an Autism-spectrum disorder, and thinking about the concept now, I'd be worried about acquiring that particular label. I wouldn't even call it a disorder; merely a specialization.
It's both costy and... distressing to be diagnosed as an adult. If you have the skills to function normally now, then does it even matter? Odds are, it really is just something you have in common with people on the spectrum, rather than that you actually have it.
Aaand late reply is late. I had this bookmarked to reply to, I was just being slow. :P
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Date: 2010-11-03 12:42 pm (UTC)I think you're right that they are merely traits I have in common. In various ways I have aged slowly -- mostly mentally, though given people tend to underestimate my age, possibly physically, too.
In particular, I believe the mental faculties that deal with social interaction have developed much later in me than might be typical -- resulting in AS-typical behaviours.
However, as various LARPers and others can attest, they're now present. And it does now feel somewhat instinctual; it doesn't require a lot of effort to try to piece together how someone's feeling. But I don't know if this is atypical for those with AS qualities; it's quite possible that it might just be practice.
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Date: 2010-11-03 10:43 pm (UTC)Heh, well that could be good old 'guy' syndrome. :)
Seriously though... if they weren't so present before and are now, it could have something to do with your younger years. Obviously without knowing anything about your childhood/teenage years I can't really comment further, but it could be as simple as an 'environmental' issue. It's all speculation though, surely alls that matters is that you function normally now? :)