A Personal perspective by Alex
Asperger syndrome is one of the most widely misunderstood "syndromes"
there is. Firstly it is by no means a dysfunction of the personality or
any kind of mental illness. It is purely a characteristic autism.
Everyone is on the autistic spectrum and we all have our characteristics
uniquely.
It’s as simple as saying everyone has a different favourite colour,
same as everyone has different points of autism, some people can be affected
socially, such as Bill Gates and Marilyn Monroe, where they are nervous
or hyper aware of their social surroundings, I myself have the same issue.
Another characteristic is the imagination is greatly increased, we are
able to picture and focus our imaginations to almost any task, it depends
on the individual such as creative arts, computing, plumbing, sport, and
even creative writing, it can truly be anything, but widely beneficial,
Beethoven and Vivienne Westwood have this characteristic where they prize
completing and creating work above anything else.
The only book that should be read on Asperger syndrome is probably the
one you write yourself, because it’s impossible to know everything
about autism because we all are on the spectrum in some way and always
in a different way.
I myself will often work for hours on end with unbroken focus but forget
to eat. My friend with autism will sit and say nothing for hours but when
asked, he will relay what everyone said and did while he was in the room.
Most people confuse people with autism "awareness" with photographic
memory, all we do is focus ourselves on something a little harder than
we would on something else, I myself find it difficult to recall exact
conversations, only the emotions I felt when I was in it, but I can remember
exactly captions from my favourite films, quotes from favourite novels,
or names of my favourite characters or icons.
I think one of the main problems is, when people become aware of someone who has Asperger syndrome, they start thinking, okay they have social difficulties let’s put them under the spotlight, or ignore them entirely, and people start expecting us to act like outsiders, be a bit louder or quieter when really its other people making us feel like outsiders, it’s the labelling of the syndrome that causes the most damage because once people put you in a category they expect you to fulfil all the "symptoms" that people have posted all over the internet and written about in novels my advice is, let the individual define their own symptoms and don’t label, let us decide if we as the individual are socially uncomfortable, or if we feel we see things differently other from people, because there’s nothing more intimidating than reading a book that tells you about all your short comings just because a doctor has given you the label of Asperger!
To be honest there’s nothing wrong with anyone who has Asperger.
Yes we may see things differently, like things with a little more passion,
or talk a little more honestly, but we are very talented people. Marilyn
Monroe is one of the most multi-talented Aspergers in history ranging
from modelling to acting, and people say Aspergers are narrow minded?
We are probably the most open people there are.
I think of all the speculation of Asperger syndrome being a social phobia comes from us not connecting right away. I know it takes me a little longer than others around me to feel comfortable around people, some people I didn’t speak to for months, and then I did, and now were inseparable, and people should stop drawing such attention to the "syndrome" and focus more on what the individual wants to say and do, because everyone has a voice, and it may take them a little longer to speak up but we need to make sure we are listening when they do.
I feel, most of the time, that I have to mask my personality to please
others. That maybe people wouldn’t want to know me if they knew
I have an autism. I get so tired of hiding myself, I am who I am, and
you should show all of yourself to the world.
I don’t think it matters what syndromes I have or what colour my
skin is, as long as I'm doing what I love I’m happy, and I think
that’s relevant of everyone. I had the most difficult time in school
because everyone told me that Asperger will basically cripple me for the
rest of my life, that I would have no friends and will never get a job
because of my "social difficulties".
I’m now 17, living independently for a year, with 2 volunteer jobs
and a full time course at City College with a vast circle of friends and
couldn’t be happier.
Alex Connatty
Alex read this at The Garage on their fundraising Slam Night evening for AEA. Everyone was affected by his words.
