Thursday 20 May 2010

Asperger Comments

Here are a selection of comments I have made on the "Autism isn't infectious but ignorance is website" on Facebook..

One way that my Asperger's has helped me is that I don't get bored like NT's do, and many of them as a result turn to booze or gambling. This is often because they don't have many hobbies or interests. I have my obsessions or special interests, which prevents me from getting bored. In fact, it is very rare I do ever get bored.

Sometimes when in a public place, if people are talking about something which interests me, this has happened recently as I am tracing my Grandmother's family tree, I am tempted to butt in and start talking myself, even if I do not know them, and giving a monologue or an opinion on the subject. However, I steel myself not to. I think Sensory stimuli plays a part in this.

When people with Autism or Asperger's are being assessed for care needs, or provisions, it is usually in their own homes, which they know, which they are familiar with, which is often quiet and peaceful, and in conditions more conducive to Autism or AS. So therefore, an assessor will probably think that little or no care needs are required, and therefore turn the application down. An assessor needs to see how people with Autism and AS will fare in public situations which stress them out and mentally overload them.

It would have been hell to have had Autism or Asperger's Syndrome in 1910 or 1810 or anytime before. It wouldn't have been a perfect ten! However, in one respect, I feel I am fortunate in that I don't have Kanner's Autism, because as difficult as my life is, and the numerous problems I have, at least I can verbally tell people how Asperger’s Syndrome affects me and what it is like to have it. Some with Kanner’s Autism have the symptoms but can’t verbally let you know.

I sometimes think that technology of some kind would be useful to make people aware of Autism and Asperger's Syndrome: To make the invisible become visible. Surely we can do more to educate the public than wearing T-shirts saying "I am not bad, I am Autistic".

If I ever am on a bus or a train, I listen to my MP3 player and have small earphones. Nothing odd in that you might think. I never go anywhere without my MP3 player because it blocks noise out. You might ask "You say you can't stand noise and yet you listen to your MP3 player or the radio?". Well, I am only listening to one sound, whereas when I am out in public, I am bombarded by sound.

As you will know, I have got Asperger's Syndrome, but I don't go around everyday telling everybody I meet that I have got it. I want to passionately raise awareness of it, and of Autism, and I believe that Autism and AS get nowhere near the support, provisions and understanding they need and deserve, but I am not just Kevin Phillips a man with Asperger’s Syndrome, but Kevin Phillips, a human being, who like everybody else, is trying to make his way in the world.

I don't like it when I am in a pub and there is nobody in and no atmosphere. Conversely, I don't like it when you are being jostled, can't get served, can't sit down and can't hear what you or anybody else is saying. I never have been particularly a fan of nightclubs. I am fine socialising with a small group of people ...around me, but I usually avoid family functions and parties because I can't cope with large groups of people around me, mentally, emotionally and sensory. I am happier and more comfortable in a big library or the archives deparment of my library than at a party.

When some people ignore, shun, ostracise or insult or poke fun at disabled people, Autism, Asperger, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, GLDers or whatever, they don't realise or have the insight or reasoning to understand is that it could have been them who was in that position or a family member... they are usually the ...types that who are so far up their own arse they would make a circle. Some bigots are supposed to be intelligent. In whose eyes? They aren't in mine.

People with Autism/AS rarely fit into this world, but at times, I almost think that they are too good for this corrupt, two-faced and inconsistent world anyway.


1 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

You don't waste your life, Kevin, you are a great mouthpiece for people with Aspergers and you offer so much support with your website and this blog and its great the way you're always putting the world to rights on Facebook. You fight for what is good and just in life, and that is commendable.
ps. Thanks for introducing me to the world of blogging.

13 October 2012 at 09:49  

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