Enlightening Others
One of my friends with autism has accepted her situation, and is making plans to use her insights to help other people. This teenager who is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome said, “I think that I accept that I am on the spectrum.” She is making arrangements with a teacher at her school to give a talk to other students about this compelling topic. This young lady feels as if she has a unique perspective that will enlighten her fellow students. She said, “I understand the view points of others on the spectrum of autism.”
Listen Now:
or
When I asked this young lady what she wished other people could understand about autism, she replied that she would like for people to “know the signs of autism spectrum, and to look for ways to help people with autism.” She added that she wished people would not “always be picky about the repetitive motor-mannerisms.”
This same young lady sent an e-mail update that illustrates her ability to help other people understand more about the complexities of autism. She wrote, “There was a time once when I visited my grandma for lunch. I was introduced to someone else who lives in the building and has a grandson with Aspergers. This lady said that he visited every Thursday but didn’t want to come to have lunch in the dining room on the top floor of the building. I instantly had an idea of why that case may be, and I said ‘Maybe it is something different in his schedule and he doesn’t like the change.’ Then while Grandma and I were waiting to have our orders taken, I had to explain what I meant. I told her that people on the spectrum of autism don’t tolerate change well and like to stick to routines. As I see it, we really like sticking to familiarity.”
It seems to me that this youngster not only has unique insights into autism, but she also articulates her perspectives clearly. When I mentioned that observation to my teenaged friend, she said she just wants to let other people know what is going on inside her head. And, as you can tell from the following e-mail message, she also feels compelled to talk to people she knows who are diagnosed with autism. “I always think of the other people I know with autism and do what I can to let them know that someone understands them.” I give thanks for this thoughtful, enlightened, and gifted young lady.
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Social Insights A high school student who is diagnosed with autism sends...
- Building on Strengths It can be challenging in some cases, but when we...
- Building on Strengths A teen who describes himself as being “someone with autism”...
- Inside Autism A friend with autism who is a high school student...
- Girl Talk A pre-teen diagnosed with autism was having some trouble making...