During the movies, in between clips of each child we also see the time that Elaine takes with all the kids to make the musical. We see her describing Autism as a neurological disorder in which the brain functions differently. Some who have Autism can be non verbal, some highly verbal, some may have difficulty in controlling their impulses and colors, sights, and sounds can be too intense to handle. The brain does not compute in the same way as others, things around them can be too overwhelming and this is when we have children retreating to their own world. When all of the children meet to work on the musical they act out problems or things that have happened in their life. We see Wyatt describe the bullies that hurt him. They ask him horrible things about seeing their “dicks” and give him the middle finger. They treat Wyatt and other kids like him as outcasts. But through drama, fun play and singing, this Miracle project helps to teach these kids the right behavior and what they should never have to put up with.
They begin writing the story, the play, the children being the inspiration and the writers. They use their life stories for inspiration. Elaine writes down their actions and words and then creates a script from there. She focuses on a lot of positive reinforcement and eye contact, helping each child to utilize their strengths. Teaching each child how to support each other and themselves is important not only for the project but for their lives. Elaine was able to do this project through funding and they end up finding and using a real theater for the final performance. But before the final show draws near, we see a side of the parents that is not only frustrating but makes you feel sad. Adam’s performance was not cut from the play but there was not enough time during rehearsal for him to, at that time, do all of his talents. His mother, Rosanne, freaked out and started yelled at other parents/ staff that her son’s cello playing is what defines him, it is what he has. She grabs him to make him leave and she is the reason that he ends up having an outburst. You feel bad for Adam because you want his mother to stop being so protective and let him be.
During the play rehearsal, we find the parents discussing Autism in the Parent Room. Roseanne describes society as a tribe, in which they all have to do better. All other kids who have Autism are a part of the tribe, and how other children with Autism act, reflects on other children, on Roseanne’s son. But Lexi’s mom gets rather upset and this is the crucial moment in the movie that breaks my heart. She says that it is about human value. She wants the world to value her child, to welcome her and they simply don’t and she can’t make them. Until they are valued, until Lexi, Adam, Henry, Wyatt, and Neal are valued no one is going to find a cure, no one is going to change the medicines, the doctors and schools won’t change either. All that these parents can do is love their children. Lexi’s mom then says “ I hope that she dies before I do” not because she doesn’t care but because she doesn’t want Lexi to be vulnerable or to live without her, without help. Their future is so uncertain, no one knows if they will be ok, that is the worst part.
The ending of the movie is the play, their ultimate debut of talent and personality that shine unlike anything they have done before. There are a few updates as to what each child is doing in life and fun little facts about them. This amazing play and project however only received funding for one more year. I wonder why this is? Maybe because our world has yet to see Autism as these parents and children see it. As a part of their life.
Learning to better the Future
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Autism The Musical Part 1
Autism the Musical:
I first learned of this movie when I attended one of the classes for Asperger’s. The movie was done in 1997 and it follows 5 families, with additional other children and families, who have children with Autism. The range or level of severity of Autism within each child differs but what mattered was the life of each child. One mom, Elaine, forms a group/project called the Miracle Project which is a place for children with Autism, their siblings, and parents can go to feel welcome, loved, and most of all take part in a musical that Elaine wanted to create.
“In 1980, one in 10,00 children were diagnosed as Autistic and today it is 1 in every 150.”
The four children on which this movie is centered are Adam, Henry, Lexi, Neal, and Wyatt.
Neal was adopted at the age of 23 months from Russia. When he was younger he has a lot of tantrums and never slept more than two to three hours at a time. He is now, during the time of the movie, 12 years old and his mother Elaine is the creator and director of the Miracle Project. His mom and his father divorced when he was eight or so and Elaine finally met someone new, Jeff. Jeff and Elaine are both Jewish and want to get married. However, Jeff’s family don’t understand Neal and his Autism, they just want him “to be a good boy”. Neal has impulses that he can’t control, the outbursts are hard not just for others but for him as well. He is working so hard to do things that others take for granted, to just be a part of this world.
Lexi is fourteen years old and an amazing singer. When she was 21 months old, her mother started noticing things that were troubling such as not responding to her name, so she decided to do some research. After seeking help, she was only told that her daughter had something “organic”. Believing and wanting more help, she noticed more about Lexi such as her rocking, shutting her eyes and covering her ears to loud noises. Around her 3rd birthday she wasn’t hitting developmental stages, such as not talking, not potty training, and starting to lose eye contact. Finally someone gave her some answers and confirmed that Lexi did indeed have Autism. Her mother had always believed that Autism meant children “stood in a corner banging their head against the wall”. Her father broke the situation down as stages, the first being denial, then there is the fix it stage, then comes the sadness and depression (your kid has autism-forever, the end), then comes the acceptance stage, where you focus on what you need to do to help your child. But her father believed that in order for things to be ok, she needed to be different, “it’s not up to us to judge the quality of her life”, and every day is a challenge.
Lexi also has Echolalia, meaning she can repeat back what is said to her but she has a hard time generating her own speech. Lexi said that Autism means that something is damaged.
Henry is another child followed in the film, who is middle school aged. When he was two years old he started to show an unusual interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, becoming obsessed with them. Henry has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning Autism where he is very intelligent in specific areas such as dinosaurs and reptiles but socially lacks skills and withdraws into his own world and talks to himself. His father, believes that there are many theories as to what causes Autism but no one has identified anything particularly to help.
Adam is eleven or twelve years old and is in a regular classroom with the aid of Veatrice, his one on one helper who started with him when he was three. Adam has Autism and he is going to be entering middle school soon. He plays well with others but has a slight girl obsession and ironically enough they like him back. The people in his life love him and believe that “if he wasn’t Autistic, imagine the possibilities”. One outlet that Adam has is his music, his like of classical music and he plays the cello. Adam has many brothers and sisters but his father and mother have been through several struggles. His mother believed that Autism is like a locked room, and if you can crack the door open for even five minutes then that child is learning something new or developing for five minutes. “There is nothing he can’t do, I just have to find a way to teach it to him”.
Wyatt is an interesting character and probably the child that I was most interesting in from watching the movie. He came out in the beginning and said that he believed “100% of the kids are retarded” in his classroom. He is in a specialized class and he hates being there. Wyatt longs to be in a regular class but knows that the horrible bullying that he experiences will not subside no matter where he goes. He says that “bullies are mean and when they grow up they get meaner”. Wyatt has a section of the movie that really speaks to me, he discusses going into his own world. He talks about how kids he knows go into their own world sometimes and he wonders how they are supposed to make friends if they are always in their own space. But when asked when he, Wyatt, goes into his own world he replies, that when he is by himself, he likes being able to have someone to talk to, to have a friend, and to have someone to be there and care for him. Unfortunately he has a mixture of problems because he cannot hold his own in mainstream but is to high functioning for the other classes. When his parents meets with a lawyer to discuss how to help Wyatt they are confronted with the cost of over 50,000 to get schools to do the right things, to educate their son in a way in which he can learn. Schools aren’t helping him, they are not addressing his needs and no one has answers or solutions.
I first learned of this movie when I attended one of the classes for Asperger’s. The movie was done in 1997 and it follows 5 families, with additional other children and families, who have children with Autism. The range or level of severity of Autism within each child differs but what mattered was the life of each child. One mom, Elaine, forms a group/project called the Miracle Project which is a place for children with Autism, their siblings, and parents can go to feel welcome, loved, and most of all take part in a musical that Elaine wanted to create.
“In 1980, one in 10,00 children were diagnosed as Autistic and today it is 1 in every 150.”
The four children on which this movie is centered are Adam, Henry, Lexi, Neal, and Wyatt.
Neal was adopted at the age of 23 months from Russia. When he was younger he has a lot of tantrums and never slept more than two to three hours at a time. He is now, during the time of the movie, 12 years old and his mother Elaine is the creator and director of the Miracle Project. His mom and his father divorced when he was eight or so and Elaine finally met someone new, Jeff. Jeff and Elaine are both Jewish and want to get married. However, Jeff’s family don’t understand Neal and his Autism, they just want him “to be a good boy”. Neal has impulses that he can’t control, the outbursts are hard not just for others but for him as well. He is working so hard to do things that others take for granted, to just be a part of this world.
Lexi is fourteen years old and an amazing singer. When she was 21 months old, her mother started noticing things that were troubling such as not responding to her name, so she decided to do some research. After seeking help, she was only told that her daughter had something “organic”. Believing and wanting more help, she noticed more about Lexi such as her rocking, shutting her eyes and covering her ears to loud noises. Around her 3rd birthday she wasn’t hitting developmental stages, such as not talking, not potty training, and starting to lose eye contact. Finally someone gave her some answers and confirmed that Lexi did indeed have Autism. Her mother had always believed that Autism meant children “stood in a corner banging their head against the wall”. Her father broke the situation down as stages, the first being denial, then there is the fix it stage, then comes the sadness and depression (your kid has autism-forever, the end), then comes the acceptance stage, where you focus on what you need to do to help your child. But her father believed that in order for things to be ok, she needed to be different, “it’s not up to us to judge the quality of her life”, and every day is a challenge.
Lexi also has Echolalia, meaning she can repeat back what is said to her but she has a hard time generating her own speech. Lexi said that Autism means that something is damaged.
Henry is another child followed in the film, who is middle school aged. When he was two years old he started to show an unusual interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, becoming obsessed with them. Henry has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning Autism where he is very intelligent in specific areas such as dinosaurs and reptiles but socially lacks skills and withdraws into his own world and talks to himself. His father, believes that there are many theories as to what causes Autism but no one has identified anything particularly to help.
Adam is eleven or twelve years old and is in a regular classroom with the aid of Veatrice, his one on one helper who started with him when he was three. Adam has Autism and he is going to be entering middle school soon. He plays well with others but has a slight girl obsession and ironically enough they like him back. The people in his life love him and believe that “if he wasn’t Autistic, imagine the possibilities”. One outlet that Adam has is his music, his like of classical music and he plays the cello. Adam has many brothers and sisters but his father and mother have been through several struggles. His mother believed that Autism is like a locked room, and if you can crack the door open for even five minutes then that child is learning something new or developing for five minutes. “There is nothing he can’t do, I just have to find a way to teach it to him”.
Wyatt is an interesting character and probably the child that I was most interesting in from watching the movie. He came out in the beginning and said that he believed “100% of the kids are retarded” in his classroom. He is in a specialized class and he hates being there. Wyatt longs to be in a regular class but knows that the horrible bullying that he experiences will not subside no matter where he goes. He says that “bullies are mean and when they grow up they get meaner”. Wyatt has a section of the movie that really speaks to me, he discusses going into his own world. He talks about how kids he knows go into their own world sometimes and he wonders how they are supposed to make friends if they are always in their own space. But when asked when he, Wyatt, goes into his own world he replies, that when he is by himself, he likes being able to have someone to talk to, to have a friend, and to have someone to be there and care for him. Unfortunately he has a mixture of problems because he cannot hold his own in mainstream but is to high functioning for the other classes. When his parents meets with a lawyer to discuss how to help Wyatt they are confronted with the cost of over 50,000 to get schools to do the right things, to educate their son in a way in which he can learn. Schools aren’t helping him, they are not addressing his needs and no one has answers or solutions.
A Special Boy Comes to Visit
An interesting visit
Boy X came to visit our class today and I was thoroughly excited and engaged. He is in sixth grade and he is 12 years old. He came to our class to discuss not only his life but how he deals with having Asperger’s Syndrome. He began by discussing being home schooled. The pros for him are the abilities to learn a lot and at his own pace, to research what he likes and use various media such as computers, as well as if he cannot do something there is always a substitution. The cons for X are that he has his life controlled, there are no snow days, in addition he misses school and a lot of things but not so much the people. He views his AS as a neurological difference that people should celebrate it is not a handicap. He has had positive experiences and has great friends, because he has the ability to be many different type of people. He has many sides or personalities to him such as his musical or yugeo, some are mature, some immature, and some are just right. He likes to act a lot, pretending is fun.
He drew a circle on the board explaining and describing his “wheel of obsession”. In a circle, clockwise, he writes: like it-develop interest- draw it-do it a lot- talk about it- loose interest- find something else and then we return back to like it. This wheel describes what happens in X’s head with things in his life. He is very twitchy and shaky as well as very good at changing subjects. He discussed that when he doesn’t like something he can sometimes scream, cry, even dramatize and manipulate things. He has a hard time with social relationships, knowing that is ok or acceptable to do and say. He learns lessons with every choice that he makes, like how he feels with things and situations.
There was a serious situation with X at his school and he was removed thereafter. This, although needed to be done, he still misses certain people. He is less stressed now being home schooled. His favorite subject is Science and Math, logical subjects but dislikes Language Arts even though he is good at it because of the spelling. He does not like to do worksheets and loves to learn and experiment. Does not like gym because he not only thinks he is bad at it but hates the competitiveness of other students. When he loses at something, like a game in gym, he feels bad and others often blame him, making X feel worse. His brain works in various was, sometimes it is very fast, and sometimes it is very slow. When he is doing harder things like math it works fast at first then slows down. He related this to running through mud. He said that you run really fast at first and then slow down when you get caught. He is good with similes and metaphors but not understanding them or jokes from other people.
When asked to describe Asperger’s he said that there are many pros and cons. There are many famous people who have AS and one in 150 people have it. His brain works a little slower for things that require a lot of thinking but are simple things that everyone thinks are easy. His brain works faster than anyone else. He finds it hard to relate to others and feels and is often targeted by other kids. He was tricked to do inappropriate things. His advice for educators was to give kids with AS extra help, to put all your strength into it, until the thing you’re working on is done. He did not want other kids to know he has AS because they might treat him different and he could become a target. He says he is already a nerd and it would only make it worse. He can become very argumentative and describes his head like a bomb, it is very explosive. The last thing that was discussed what X would change, he would make it so that he did not have AS. But he rethinks this because of other famous people with AS, he would change how he is with others, being more “socially perfect”. These insights are what educators, students, and human beings need to see in order to better understand all who may have AS.
Boy X came to visit our class today and I was thoroughly excited and engaged. He is in sixth grade and he is 12 years old. He came to our class to discuss not only his life but how he deals with having Asperger’s Syndrome. He began by discussing being home schooled. The pros for him are the abilities to learn a lot and at his own pace, to research what he likes and use various media such as computers, as well as if he cannot do something there is always a substitution. The cons for X are that he has his life controlled, there are no snow days, in addition he misses school and a lot of things but not so much the people. He views his AS as a neurological difference that people should celebrate it is not a handicap. He has had positive experiences and has great friends, because he has the ability to be many different type of people. He has many sides or personalities to him such as his musical or yugeo, some are mature, some immature, and some are just right. He likes to act a lot, pretending is fun.
He drew a circle on the board explaining and describing his “wheel of obsession”. In a circle, clockwise, he writes: like it-develop interest- draw it-do it a lot- talk about it- loose interest- find something else and then we return back to like it. This wheel describes what happens in X’s head with things in his life. He is very twitchy and shaky as well as very good at changing subjects. He discussed that when he doesn’t like something he can sometimes scream, cry, even dramatize and manipulate things. He has a hard time with social relationships, knowing that is ok or acceptable to do and say. He learns lessons with every choice that he makes, like how he feels with things and situations.
There was a serious situation with X at his school and he was removed thereafter. This, although needed to be done, he still misses certain people. He is less stressed now being home schooled. His favorite subject is Science and Math, logical subjects but dislikes Language Arts even though he is good at it because of the spelling. He does not like to do worksheets and loves to learn and experiment. Does not like gym because he not only thinks he is bad at it but hates the competitiveness of other students. When he loses at something, like a game in gym, he feels bad and others often blame him, making X feel worse. His brain works in various was, sometimes it is very fast, and sometimes it is very slow. When he is doing harder things like math it works fast at first then slows down. He related this to running through mud. He said that you run really fast at first and then slow down when you get caught. He is good with similes and metaphors but not understanding them or jokes from other people.
When asked to describe Asperger’s he said that there are many pros and cons. There are many famous people who have AS and one in 150 people have it. His brain works a little slower for things that require a lot of thinking but are simple things that everyone thinks are easy. His brain works faster than anyone else. He finds it hard to relate to others and feels and is often targeted by other kids. He was tricked to do inappropriate things. His advice for educators was to give kids with AS extra help, to put all your strength into it, until the thing you’re working on is done. He did not want other kids to know he has AS because they might treat him different and he could become a target. He says he is already a nerd and it would only make it worse. He can become very argumentative and describes his head like a bomb, it is very explosive. The last thing that was discussed what X would change, he would make it so that he did not have AS. But he rethinks this because of other famous people with AS, he would change how he is with others, being more “socially perfect”. These insights are what educators, students, and human beings need to see in order to better understand all who may have AS.
Autism Conference with Heidi Bowden
Autism by Heidi Bowden:
Strategies for Working with People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
After having such a positive experience with Cynthia Lord’s presentation, I had high hopes for learning more about Autism from Heidi Bowden. This presenter has a daughter Addy who has Autism. She discussed many tools that can be used to help children at home and in the classroom who have Autism. Some visual tools she discussed was a schedule of their day, something they can see and touch themselves. She also talked about pictures and written words, using the internet at home, as well as errand or mood strips to show them what they will be doing and how they feel. She conveyed many different techniques on how to get through to these children.
Heidi wanted to show the room that helping children to accomplish something, rewarded them and encouraging them is the best interaction then can have. She also discussed that all children learn differently and you don’t know how they will function with each tool, services, or other activities. Heidi explained that many schools have expectations of children with disorders or disabilities and we need to break through those to look at each individual child. Children with Autism don’t do things on purpose; they simply can not help it. Patience is something that is very valuable. She also explained that working with parents and school administration is one way to help the child and yourself to cope and overcome each situation. Every child will like something different and so you must work to the child, reinforce good behavior and help eliminate the bad. Heidi explained that the most important tool is consistency. Take one day at a time and take baby steps. The most important thing I gained from Heidi is to “seize the moment”. Do all you can to help someone and that is the greatest tool and gift you can give to them.
Strategies for Working with People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
After having such a positive experience with Cynthia Lord’s presentation, I had high hopes for learning more about Autism from Heidi Bowden. This presenter has a daughter Addy who has Autism. She discussed many tools that can be used to help children at home and in the classroom who have Autism. Some visual tools she discussed was a schedule of their day, something they can see and touch themselves. She also talked about pictures and written words, using the internet at home, as well as errand or mood strips to show them what they will be doing and how they feel. She conveyed many different techniques on how to get through to these children.
Heidi wanted to show the room that helping children to accomplish something, rewarded them and encouraging them is the best interaction then can have. She also discussed that all children learn differently and you don’t know how they will function with each tool, services, or other activities. Heidi explained that many schools have expectations of children with disorders or disabilities and we need to break through those to look at each individual child. Children with Autism don’t do things on purpose; they simply can not help it. Patience is something that is very valuable. She also explained that working with parents and school administration is one way to help the child and yourself to cope and overcome each situation. Every child will like something different and so you must work to the child, reinforce good behavior and help eliminate the bad. Heidi explained that the most important tool is consistency. Take one day at a time and take baby steps. The most important thing I gained from Heidi is to “seize the moment”. Do all you can to help someone and that is the greatest tool and gift you can give to them.
Autism Conference with Cynthia Lord
Rules by Cynthia Lord:
A Look into Autism
When sitting, waiting for Cynthia Lord to begin her presentation, I thought that it would be just another presentation that I would have to sit through. But by the time Cynthia was finished, I had a deeper understanding and respect for people who not only have Autism but their families as well. As she began, she explained her book, Rules, and the story behind the story. Her book was inspired by her own life, her son Gregory who has Autism, and her daughter Julia who does not. She explained that with this life, having a child who has Autism, she realized that there would be doors that would be opened and doors that would be closed for her son.
There are many things about Autism that I learned, such as hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. This means that they are both extremely affected and sensitive to something or they can not feel it at all. But Cynthia explained that there were techniques that helped her and stories along the way with her son and daughter. She explained that her son hated wearing his mittens, and she decided not to fight with him and let him go without wearing them. However when she felt his hands they were like ice and he did not even notice. There are many things that her son was affected and unaffected by. Cynthia also explained that the world around her and her family was a major influence. Things that people say can be extremely hurtful to not just her son, but to her daughter who has to live with him. Cynthia explained that there are core challenges with Autism, language, behavior, and social skills. She discussed that Autism is a spectrum disorder it ranges in diversity.
Every child has a different combination of strengths and challenges and it is difficult to talk in generalities. She also explained that it is sometimes hard to find support and it does not just affect the child who has the disorder, it affects the entire family. But through her book, she gave people an insight into her life as well as hope and inspiration for other families facing the same battle. She discussed the different pressures put upon her and her daughter. Siblings do end up picking her a lot of slack for their sibling with Autism.
Rules was developed by a question from her daughter, “How come there aren’t books about families with Autism?” Every story starts with an idea and grows from there. Writing and later publishing a book is a lot of work. Cynthia Lord gave so many children and families hope when they thought that there was no one out there who felt the same way. She also gave me a deeper understanding of Autism. The line that I left her presentation with was, “talk is priceless”. Meaning that you should value everything you have because there are people out there who would give anything to have the simplest pleasures, you take for granted.
A Look into Autism
When sitting, waiting for Cynthia Lord to begin her presentation, I thought that it would be just another presentation that I would have to sit through. But by the time Cynthia was finished, I had a deeper understanding and respect for people who not only have Autism but their families as well. As she began, she explained her book, Rules, and the story behind the story. Her book was inspired by her own life, her son Gregory who has Autism, and her daughter Julia who does not. She explained that with this life, having a child who has Autism, she realized that there would be doors that would be opened and doors that would be closed for her son.
There are many things about Autism that I learned, such as hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. This means that they are both extremely affected and sensitive to something or they can not feel it at all. But Cynthia explained that there were techniques that helped her and stories along the way with her son and daughter. She explained that her son hated wearing his mittens, and she decided not to fight with him and let him go without wearing them. However when she felt his hands they were like ice and he did not even notice. There are many things that her son was affected and unaffected by. Cynthia also explained that the world around her and her family was a major influence. Things that people say can be extremely hurtful to not just her son, but to her daughter who has to live with him. Cynthia explained that there are core challenges with Autism, language, behavior, and social skills. She discussed that Autism is a spectrum disorder it ranges in diversity.
Every child has a different combination of strengths and challenges and it is difficult to talk in generalities. She also explained that it is sometimes hard to find support and it does not just affect the child who has the disorder, it affects the entire family. But through her book, she gave people an insight into her life as well as hope and inspiration for other families facing the same battle. She discussed the different pressures put upon her and her daughter. Siblings do end up picking her a lot of slack for their sibling with Autism.
Rules was developed by a question from her daughter, “How come there aren’t books about families with Autism?” Every story starts with an idea and grows from there. Writing and later publishing a book is a lot of work. Cynthia Lord gave so many children and families hope when they thought that there was no one out there who felt the same way. She also gave me a deeper understanding of Autism. The line that I left her presentation with was, “talk is priceless”. Meaning that you should value everything you have because there are people out there who would give anything to have the simplest pleasures, you take for granted.
"look me in the eye"- John Elder Robinson
One of the books that I chose to read was entitled, “look me in the eye” by John Elder Robinson. This story is one of John’s life, his trials and triumphs of living and dealing with Asperger’s. His struggles are seen most predominantly in relation to other people, in trying to fit into a world that simply doesn’t accept him. The book takes us through his life, piece by piece with his memories of what he has gone through. As a young child, John tries to make friends in all the wrong ways, highlighting his struggle with social skills. More than trying to live and deal daily with problems, his home life is more than hard. He learns to be self-reliant with little to no help from family and having no friends.
He deals with abuse and neglect as well as the aftermath, the emotional toll that these actions took on him. He acts out by pulling “pranks” on people because of the hurt and rejection that others had shown him all of his life. But these actions turn into incidents that are more than pranks, they are events that could have gotten him in serious trouble. Other situations that put John in a frustrating predicament is his expression of emotions. He has a hard time controlling his facial expressions and this creates problems for those who do not know him, who think he may be being rude or disrespectful instead of realizing he sees the situations in a different light. His entire life, however more so in school, was marked by being labeled. In his childhood they knew little to nothing about Asperger’s and therefore there was little to no help for him. It is not until the end of high school where he can put his talents and abilities, as he is good with mechanical things, to use in the work force.
He learns through experience, good and bad, trying to find himself and where he belongs in this world. He tries to figure himself out in a sense by learning his abilities, his strengths and weaknesses. But it is a long road for John as he doesn’t learn about himself fully until he is in his 40’s. He is finally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. This brings not only relief but a confirmation that he is different and it is ok. He never knew that he had a problem he just assumed that he was different from other children his age. He comes to see that society, in relation to an individual, need to be more accepting, to help those who are different not cast them out. Giving a reason and meaning to his life up until that point, he realizes that his social hardships and the problems with making friends were not really his fault but the result of a neurological disorder. He ultimately find his place in life, right where he is, is right where he belongs, a hard-working loving caring individual with a family who care and love him back.
This book was really interesting. I don’t know if I would read this again or recommend it in relation to the other books I have read, but it offers an interesting insight into a life of not just an individual but an adult with Asperger’s. I do believe that his experience, one that we all hate to see happen, that he was a young child dealing with his undiagnosed Asperger’s with no help from anyone in his life. He was pushed through school and life by not only the people around him but by the choices he made. These choices, whether good or bad, have made him who he is and John is not apologizing for being the man he is today. He owns who he is whether that involves the name Asperger’s or not, he is a strong person who inspired a lot of hope in readers that although life is filled with struggles it is those struggles that help us to appreciate the joyful moments and truly live.
Asperger’s was seen in a unique way in this book, and I believe he was reliving and dealing with his life all over again through the written story. I think this book offers readers familiar or not with Asperger’s a chance to see things from a new perspective, and this enables more people to become understanding promoting education on those who are deemed “different” everyday.
He deals with abuse and neglect as well as the aftermath, the emotional toll that these actions took on him. He acts out by pulling “pranks” on people because of the hurt and rejection that others had shown him all of his life. But these actions turn into incidents that are more than pranks, they are events that could have gotten him in serious trouble. Other situations that put John in a frustrating predicament is his expression of emotions. He has a hard time controlling his facial expressions and this creates problems for those who do not know him, who think he may be being rude or disrespectful instead of realizing he sees the situations in a different light. His entire life, however more so in school, was marked by being labeled. In his childhood they knew little to nothing about Asperger’s and therefore there was little to no help for him. It is not until the end of high school where he can put his talents and abilities, as he is good with mechanical things, to use in the work force.
He learns through experience, good and bad, trying to find himself and where he belongs in this world. He tries to figure himself out in a sense by learning his abilities, his strengths and weaknesses. But it is a long road for John as he doesn’t learn about himself fully until he is in his 40’s. He is finally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. This brings not only relief but a confirmation that he is different and it is ok. He never knew that he had a problem he just assumed that he was different from other children his age. He comes to see that society, in relation to an individual, need to be more accepting, to help those who are different not cast them out. Giving a reason and meaning to his life up until that point, he realizes that his social hardships and the problems with making friends were not really his fault but the result of a neurological disorder. He ultimately find his place in life, right where he is, is right where he belongs, a hard-working loving caring individual with a family who care and love him back.
This book was really interesting. I don’t know if I would read this again or recommend it in relation to the other books I have read, but it offers an interesting insight into a life of not just an individual but an adult with Asperger’s. I do believe that his experience, one that we all hate to see happen, that he was a young child dealing with his undiagnosed Asperger’s with no help from anyone in his life. He was pushed through school and life by not only the people around him but by the choices he made. These choices, whether good or bad, have made him who he is and John is not apologizing for being the man he is today. He owns who he is whether that involves the name Asperger’s or not, he is a strong person who inspired a lot of hope in readers that although life is filled with struggles it is those struggles that help us to appreciate the joyful moments and truly live.
Asperger’s was seen in a unique way in this book, and I believe he was reliving and dealing with his life all over again through the written story. I think this book offers readers familiar or not with Asperger’s a chance to see things from a new perspective, and this enables more people to become understanding promoting education on those who are deemed “different” everyday.
AS Interview Part 2
6A.) Did he transition out of high school into the “real world”?
- Well, he wanted me to write a check then and there when he was accepted to UTI’s Motorcycle Maintenance Institute. I thought it would be valuable for him to work first so he understood the value of his education. This worked very well for him. He was a carpenter for Farmington Construction and then he told me when he was ready to go to school and be willing to study.
6B.) Is AS different for girls and boys?
-All I have read is that is more prevalent in boys.
7.) How do you feel about the education and knowledge in our society of AS?
- It stinks.
8.) How do you feel about our current educational system in relation to students with different abilities? (AS, learning disabilities, emotional, mental, etc.)
-Some are better than others, however with all the new cuts to education I am sure it is this population of students that will suffer.
8A.) Do you think society labels AS wrong?/Do you think society sees AS as something that hinders people from doing things- educationally, socially, etc.?
-Absolutely, high function AS is not really any different than anyone else, just different strategies.
9.) What does AS NOW mean to you?
-It is part of my life, I don’t know any different.
10.) If you could educate people on your son’s experiences or on AS- what would you say?
- Believe in the person, not the diagnosis. Teach them young to advocate for themselves and to find someone to trust to advocate for them. Public school system is brutal to parents if they do not understand the diagnosis or the student. Shame on them.
11.) Is there anything else you want to include about you or your son?
-He is a great man and I am so proud of what he has become. Although, he still needs to call me to translate what he doesn’t understand. I am his sounding board, however he is completely self sufficient.
- Well, he wanted me to write a check then and there when he was accepted to UTI’s Motorcycle Maintenance Institute. I thought it would be valuable for him to work first so he understood the value of his education. This worked very well for him. He was a carpenter for Farmington Construction and then he told me when he was ready to go to school and be willing to study.
6B.) Is AS different for girls and boys?
-All I have read is that is more prevalent in boys.
7.) How do you feel about the education and knowledge in our society of AS?
- It stinks.
8.) How do you feel about our current educational system in relation to students with different abilities? (AS, learning disabilities, emotional, mental, etc.)
-Some are better than others, however with all the new cuts to education I am sure it is this population of students that will suffer.
8A.) Do you think society labels AS wrong?/Do you think society sees AS as something that hinders people from doing things- educationally, socially, etc.?
-Absolutely, high function AS is not really any different than anyone else, just different strategies.
9.) What does AS NOW mean to you?
-It is part of my life, I don’t know any different.
10.) If you could educate people on your son’s experiences or on AS- what would you say?
- Believe in the person, not the diagnosis. Teach them young to advocate for themselves and to find someone to trust to advocate for them. Public school system is brutal to parents if they do not understand the diagnosis or the student. Shame on them.
11.) Is there anything else you want to include about you or your son?
-He is a great man and I am so proud of what he has become. Although, he still needs to call me to translate what he doesn’t understand. I am his sounding board, however he is completely self sufficient.
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