What do you think about when you hear the word autism?You might think of the movie rainman or think of someone you know who has it. Autism is a spectrum disorder meaning there are varying degrees of challenges that a person may identify with. On the upside there are many well known people who have made great strides in success . I think that their success came from their autism. Temple Grandin, and Albert Einstein are a couple of great minds who have had much success.
Temple Grandin is an American professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and a consultant to the livestock industry on the humane treatment of animals. She also invented the “Hug Box” device to calm those on the autism spectrum. And also is an autism spokeswoman and author.
Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect.
Both are autistic.
Although not every person who is on the spectrum rises to great fame or success, it necessary to see these great achievements, and to think differently of what is possible instead of what is not.
A well know quote is “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.-Stephen Shore
This means that there is such a range of differences and challenges between each person with this condition that no two are exactly alike. One person can be very high functioning yet another can be non verbal . There are complete opposite ends of this spectrum the same as another other type of spectrum. In spite of these opposites, each person is extremely unique or gifted.
For me, autism feels like I am exposed to a radio and the noise level is always turned up several notches above a tolerable level. This comparison is exactly the same for anything I smell, taste, or touch. I constantly live in an increased state of awareness and sensitivity. Mostly to do with my surroundings and particularly with noises. Living in an increased state like this puts my nervous system into high alert. People often tell me I look scared when really I am not. I am just in a state of being highly alert to my environment. Sudden loud noises are very irritating . A loud ambulance or airplane whirling past are a shock to me. When this happens, my nervous system and already alert brain are working overtime absorbing the shock and trying to bring my whole system back into a state of calm.
Autism for me feels like like a vortex. Once you’re in, you’re in for good. It is like going into another reality but when you are still present with everyone else. It is going into an inner world. I think that because so many of us on the spectrum have adapted to our inner worlds so well, is the reason we are such good inventors, creators and so intelligent. I have never liked large crowds or a lot of noise. My nervous system cannot adapt well to these kinds of environments. And to make matters worse, I cannot hear if someone is speaking to me when I am in these kinds of situations. Just the other day a lady made a comment to me and I could not understand what she said. Instead of asking her to repeat herself yet again ( I had already asked her once and my brain still could not decipher it) I just smiled and nodded in agreement. Even though I had no idea what she said.
These types of experiences for someone who is autistic are very confusing at the time they happen. It can feel as If I am partly deaf. Even though my hearing is completely normal when tested. My mind is so overwhelmed that I cannot decipher or understand it. My brain is too busy trying to keep up with what is happening around me and regulate my over sensitivities of the noisy crowded location and then throw in someone who wants to have a conversation. That seems to be the very last straw. Sometimes in these situations I wear masks. For me wearing a mask helps me cope in a situation where I feel very overwhelmed, confused and cannot concentrate. I pretend like I am fine because I want to fit in. It is how I cope and normalize with what is happening outside of myself.
These are the kinds of experiences I face everyday.
spectrum expressions 