Learning from people on the Autism Spectrum

Too often I believe people on the Autism Spectrum are the forgotten about and most isolated in society. Rather than trying to understand and learn from these people, society instead wants to put them onto medication and not fully utilise their true potential, abilities or talents. Not all persons on the Autism Spectrum are geniuses and more importantly, not all are good at mathematics or science. I know from my own personal experience that being on the Autism Spectrum allows me to focus more on the detail. Whereas society in general tends to look over or not focus on the minute problems that exist. As a person on the Autism Spectrum having Asperger Syndrome, I have a mind set for errors.

In Australia, we live in a society that tends to have too much choice and we often do not realise just how lucky we are! We can drive our car in our city or around our country, we can enter a supermarket and purchase food items and other necessities. However, society does not always want to open its mind to understanding the bigger picture and the attributes or contributions of others. When you see a person on the Autism Spectrum, try to understand them and take the time to listen. You may not be overly interested in some of their special interests, but by becoming involved in their special interest you may even find yourself expanding your own knowledge on a particular subject. Tell our schools to include persons with Autism and more importantly inform potential employers of the advantages of employing a person on the Autism Spectrum. There is so much more to be gained.

When you talk to a person on the Autism Spectrum whether they be child or adult, you find out many varied and interesting special interests. You can learn from a 8 year Autistic boy about physics, you may even hear about experiments or other subjects never known about before. Schools need to come on board and stop alienating people on the Autism Spectrum because children do not fit into the mainstream education. Change has to occur and it has to happen fast!

Stepping into the land of the giants

Today I attended the Asperger Services Australia bbq. At the bbq, I met a young Aspie. I cannot remember his exact age but I would have it a guess that he was around 13 or 14 years of age. What amazes me is that he and some of the younger children who had phenomenal memories and information. One of these children, could tell me a whole lot of information about mathematics and even explain information that may perhaps be shared by a university professor. Who knows? I heard the story about an adult on the Autism Spectrum who had a fantastic memory and who drove trucks around for his job. Quite simply he was doing a job that did not correspond to his level of knowledge.

I can remember back to my younger years when I was the odd boy. I spoke non stop about my special interests and told repeatedly or more or less politely nudged to stop talking about them. I look at children today and I wonder why society is resorting to medication as a measure of dealing with a so called problem. Why are we not harnessing and nurturing the people on the Autism Spectrum and not learning from them? I really do not understand this.

For many families, the biggest problem or concern is the transition into adulthood for a person on the Autism Spectrum. As I mentioned in a previous post, Dr Kate Sofronoff calls this the scaffolding. This scaffolding exists in the school but disappears into adulthood. If more and more future adults are losing this scaffolding, do you ever think to yourself what does become of them? Well children with Autism become adults with Autism. There is no scaffolding but more so often a lack of awareness and support. For many entering adulthood as a person on the Autism Spectrum is like stepping into the land of the giants. The world is a confusing and often overwhelming place. Where do I fit in? Why does this person behave the way they do? Why are people not open, honest and upfront? Why does an NT family member of friend want to squeeze me when I greet them? There are so many changes which take place once an Asperger person enters adulthood, let alone dealing with emotion. Perhaps others can relate to the land of the giants and what I am talking about?

The one thing I hate about being Aspie

The one thing I hate about being Aspie is when I suffer heightened levels of anxiety. This is really annoying as it affects my functioning. I don't know why but some days I get into moods where I find it really hard to motivate myself. Just day to day motivation is virtually impossible. I find usually after excessive over stimulation, that my mind tries to shutdown on me. It is like I am in meltdown and I have feelings of self doubt and see myself as a failure.

Over the past month, I have really been pushing myself and my parents beyond belief to get this book finished. I wonder will the book sell? Will it help people? Will people understand me better? I often also think why was my childhood so bad and why did I endure so much bullying just for being different? I couldn't help the way I was and at times I largely did not know what I was doing. I did not always understand when I was annoying people. I felt my brain was hijacked by some other thought process beyond my control. Having Asperger Syndrome can be especially difficult at times. People don't always see and can help. I live in a city which does not understand Asperger Syndrome in general. I can walk or drive my car to some other destination or feel totally overwhelmed and unable to function. I just wonder why I am like I am and why my brain is the way it is. I think of other Asperger adults, I know I am not alone. They too deal with Asperger Syndrome in their own way and yet they sometimes are often hard to contact when you need to talk to them.

I think now I have finished the book. It is time to relax before I begin to write another book. I just feel sometimes that my brain is inside out and I feel like finding out what is not working properly and wishing I could correct it.

The Unconventional Aspie

The unconventional Aspie knows no bounds
Although we often have sensory issues to light and sounds
We live in our own world and need some space
This does not mean we want to be separate from the human race

Our lives are spent in a jigsaw puzzle not knowing the piece which is supposed to fit
But when given a chance to be heard and understood we can then better sit
We all have our individual road to follow
But we don't really look for pity or sorrow

We have our different means of wiring
But to the world we may not be all aspiring
Some of us just carry out our own unique struggles
While for most of us Aspies we do not fit into the conventional worlds jigsaw puzzles

Although we appear the same to the human race
Our true identity is more than just what exacts within our face
We may not fit into the jigsaw puzzle as the exact piece
But this does not mean that our lives as Aspies need to cease

We are just the same as you are too
Although we exist in numbers less than few
So we don't want the world to change to be all one way
But if you could try to understand then this will liven our day

The unconventional Aspie has a right to be
But all we ask is for others to see
There is a person behind the mask
So just be accepting and patient is all we ask.

Asperger Advocacy update

I have been currently busy. Currently I am working on getting my book manuscript completed in order to send to Dr Tony Attwood for him to write the Foreword to the book. I intend to have this completed within the next few weeks. Apart from this, I also have a presentation at CRS (Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service) at the Mt Cootha Summit Restaurant in Brisbane. I will also be attending a workshop at the University of Queensland Library, "A Harrassment Free Workplace". This presentation should be very interesting to also attend.

On Saturday, I will be attending an experiment conducted on behalf of the University of Queensland concerning drivers and testing parts of the brain for performance. This will be a bit of a challenge and something aside from my current work on Asperger Advocacy.

As the book is close to completion, it is my hope that it will help adults on the Autism Spectrum find employment and obtain more recognition within the wider community. As the book has not yet been published, I am not able to inform people about what is discussed in the book. The book will hopefully be a true reflection and an account of what things need to change in order to make the transition into employment much easier for adults on the Autism Spectrum.

I also have some other meetings coming up in terms of Asperger Syndrome awareness. I will also be visiting the University of Queensland PACE Library which I understand is in Wooloongabba and at the former Bogga Road Gaol site.

Please stay tuned for my interview with Arman who is an adult with Asperger Syndrome in the United States.

Adults on the Autism Spectrum Unite

As I connect with more adults on the Autism Spectrum, I have recently come into contact with another adult on the Autism Spectrum. His name is Arman Khodaei. Arman has been working tirelessly to produce a lot of very informative you tube videos. These videos are very informative and Arman's work in the United States and in general is invaluable.

When I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 1998, I felt alone. I believed at the time as I imagine most if not all adults felt. Am I the only person who has this? Does anyone else share or experience the same hardships etc? Over time more and more adults are becoming known and we are coming forward with our stories and experiences. It would be good if one day a global conference could occur for adults on the Autism Spectrum so that we can know we are not alone. There are many other adults who also raise awareness but for the silent majority, those of us who speak out and provide advocacy are helping to break down the barriers. Our videos, blogs, books and other insights provide people with a glimpse into our own lives.

As adults we are all different. Alex Plank has created the "Wrong Planet" website, and Chris Mitchell has helped assist with "Autism Works". My own advocacy is also helping to make it possible for future Aspies and of course the help of other adults to make awareness more possible. I have never met Dr Temple Grandin nor have I met some of the other high profile adults. I hope one day to visit the United States and meet the adults over there. I am of course one person and I need the money to fund such a trip.

Aspies have benefited greatly from the use of Skype, Facebook, Twitter etc to connect with each other from around the globe. I hope that this continues and that other adults can come out of the wilderness of feeling isolated, depressed and/or lonely.

I would encourage anyone to also visit Arman's youtube link by double clicking on the title of this post "Adults on the Autism Spectrum Unite".

Meeting old John

When I lived in Armidale I came across old John. Old John was an elderly Austrian/Italian man in his early 70's. He was formerly a school teacher and a very learned gentleman. Not only had Old John been a school teacher but I can remember him telling me of his war experiences. He often described his early life having lived through the war, being placed in a Nazi Concentration Camp, and being tied up by his thumbs with piano wire. I met John and his Jewish wife while a student in Armidale towards the latter years of my time spent there. As I was so lonely and unable to fit into anything, it was suggested by my parents that I join the Masonic Lodge. The Masonic Lodge was recommended as it was a means of having other people help you. Despite being interviewed for membership into the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales, I was to find out that Old John was a Freemason. As I took an active interest in Astronomy and helped form an astronomical society, I met John at one of the Astronomical meetings. He spoke very poor English and knew a lot about history, science and philosophy. When I assisted with the Astronomical Society of New England, John also helped out as well. It was later that I found out that John was also Master of a Masonic Lodge. When I joined Freemasonry, I was interviewed by two Freemasons and they knew I had Asperger Syndrome. I also visited the lodge prior to my own initiation and saw the Masons dressed up in their black suits. While in Armidale, I enjoyed being in the Masonic Lodge as it was somewhere I could be excepted and I could further explore a deeper sense of thinking. As then as now, I found it difficult to be understood by people. Back then I even had a beard which I wore for a year as I really didn't know who I was as a person and I could also hide behind it. I tried so hard to fit into something where I could get on with people. Despite the Masons being much older than me, I felt that I could belong in something with other people. I visited Masonic Lodges in Guyra, and Uralla as well as Armidale.

Old John was Lodge Master when I first was initiated and raised into Freemasonry. He helped me learn the degree cards and assisted with my proficiency. I would often go to to his house and he would help me learn what was required of me. More importantly he also told me about his earlier life. He described the time when he first came to Australia and worked in the Snowy River Project, how he worked as a layman in Sydney, and more importantly his life in Europe. Sadly, in my final years of being in Armidale, Old John became sick. He often got short tempered in bouts of illness and when I last met him he was rather angry for despite being depressed, I was unable to help him in his time of loneliness. While in Brisbane, I rang a member of the Masonic Lodge only to be told coldly that "John died". I kept in touch with his wife up until a couple of years ago when she was 93 but as far as I know, she is deceased now. Both John and his wife were the only real supportive people in Armidale. I often visited them for a cup of tea and a piece of cake. John also had a distinguished Masonic career having obtained the 33 degree in Freemasonry. I no longer am connected with the Masonic Lodge. I enjoyed being in Freemasonry in Armidale but now I have moved on as I do not really fit into it or feel understood in Queensland or Freemasonry in general. It helped me when I was in Armidale in the times of extreme loneliness and needing somewhere to belong. I wish Old John had of lived a few more years as I never really got to know him well. He was a deep thinker and it was good to be around someone who was not interested in just getting drunk like an average university student but instead liked to think more.

Whatever you do don't dip your knife into the honey jar!

As an adult I have encountered many interesting and now that I look back on them rather funny stories concerning my many accommodation experiences. As a student in Armidale, Australia, one such experience was sharing a house with a married couple. It was here that I made the ultimate mistake of dipping my butter knife into the honey jar and I can remember the repercussions to this day. Armidale is a town half way between Brisbane and Sydney and it was here that I lived for 4 years of my life. As I had to settle into accommodation before re-commencing my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New England, I needed to find somewhere to live. I constantly moved around Armidale like a game of musical chairs but more so musical houses. I went from house to house and it was in the "Honey Jar" house that I was asked to leave for the simple reason of when having breakfast one morning, I dipped my buttered knife into the honey jar. I was only in this house for 3 weeks which in itself was historic for it was the longest time to settle in before being asked to leave for unbeknown reasons to me. Don't get me wrong, I paid my rent and was conscientious but people had to find an excuse to get rid of me as I never seemed to fit in anywhere.

The "Honey Jar" house was occupied by a couple. The husband was a male masseuse and his wife a school teacher. I could often hear them in the house giggling like to Hyenas and furthermore having no choice but to put up with neurosis. If you used the toilet for instance at night, they did not like it to be flushed at night and more importantly as the husband was a light sleeper etc. Their house was clean but they were just neurotic to say the least. Also you could not park your car on their lawn and more importantly you felt like you had to tip toe all the time as if you were the magic fairy ensuring you wouldn't touch the honey jar in the cupboard.

My many accommodation requirements were many while in Armidale. I can remember the elderly lady I boarded with her had two dogs (A Blue Heeler and a Rot wheeler) and a cat. She believed she was from the landed English gentry often pretending to fit the description also. Her biggest mistake was letting her cat lick the contents of her breakfast bowl while it sat in her lap. Also the Blue Heeler was so fat that it struggled to walk properly. As the accommodation was supposed to be a board arrangement, this lady cooked rather lazy meals and on one occasion, she neglected the cooking food, only to serve it burned and inedible. Also when I returned from a university lecture, I cooked some noodles on the stove with her coming into the kitchen paranoid in seeing smoke coming out of the chimney. She also insisted that when items were washed such as spoons or forks, that the utensils had to be placed to dry facing down beside the sink. If you had to frequent the bathroom at night also, you had to walk past the doorway where this elderly lady slept with her two dogs and cat in the room.

In one house in Armidale, the land lady had a husband that she had a restraining order on, apparently fall through the ceiling to supposedly spy on her in case he suspected her cheating. The children were also corrupted with one of the children being manipulated by the husband. It was all very sad and unfortunate and the child stole one of my frozen ice creams denying he took it when confronted. I was to also be woken up by the drunken boarder who never paid a cent in rent and who was drunk as a skunk. This person also stole my bicycle and whatever money he could get his hands on. Such were my experiences in the town of Armidale while a university student.

Aspies find living with other people very difficult. In my case, I can remember feeling annoyed when parties were on and I could not sleep. In one flat, I was never even asked or invited to attend the party and yet I had no choice but to try and sleep through it. On a trip to Sydney to visit family there, I encountered the trio conspiracy. Three girls conspired to get rid of me in the flat and I knew it was happening but just went to Sydney anyhow. Upon returning to Armidale, the conspiracy was a reality. I found a complaint made against me for simply being a male, and of course the university could do nothing about it. I just had to accept the line of least resistance and move. On another occasion I shared a 4 bedroom flat with this male stand over merchant. He tried all he could to drive other people out and played music up until 2am in the morning. What was worst was the person responsible wore ear phones with the other music playing. You couldn't do much apart from trying to stand your ground and to insist upon your rights. My final stay was in a granny flat with the home owners reluctant to take the rent money I gave them. Maybe I shouldn't have paid them the rent at all. People can be so weird and screwed up with their own insecurities.

I can also remember driving my father's Datsun C20 Van between Armidale and Brisbane. It broke down on the road once at Stanthorpe. Also I had the early morning starts at Coles Supermarket. I had to get up at 4am in Armidale during winter. For anyone who lived in Armidale, winter is no fun. Ice and frost everywhere and sometimes even snow. I almost cracked the car windscreen which was frosted over by thinking that pouring hot water from the kettle could thaw the windscreen. I later learned that this procedure could actually cause the windscreen to crack. Furthermore, the choke got a workout and the starter motor a wearout. Despite the several attempts to start the old car, the choke just wasn't up to it. I kept persisiting and probably woke the whole town of Armidale by my continual attempts to start the car engine with my final attempts being successful. This was after something like 30 attempts.

I also undertook some volunteer work experience in the local federal member of parliament's electorate office but found the member's secretary to be unhelpful. The only thing I managed to do was sit in the front of a computer for 30 minutes trying to get some software program to work and never being thanked afterward.

Anthony Julian fellow friend and Aspie is featured in the video which I also think is light humored and funny and for your viewing pleasure.

Writing a book

As some people are aware I have just finished completing the book I have written. This book is currently being edited before I submit it to Dr Tony Attwood before the end of the year for Tony to write a Foreword. Writing a book can be both somewhat healing and challenging, but I need to write down my thoughts. It took me roughly a week to write close to 35 000 words and more importantly, there were a lot of past memories revisited when writing these words. When I meet with Dr Attwood (Tony as I have known him well and he diagnosed me in 1998) it is hoped that the book will reveal the struggles of a person with Asperger Syndrome and some effective measures in overcoming the issues adults on the Autistic Spectrum confront. I cannot say too much about the book at the moment but in due course, I hope that people will read it, try to relate to it and more importantly for necessary action to take place to overcome a serious problem in terms of Asperger Syndrome in adults.

My father has been very helpful in editing the book also which I thank him for. As you can imagine putting pen to paper is not an easy task, let alone mention the tears, the successes and the accomplishments a long the way which I have endured. I am fortunate having learned touch typing at an early age. This has helped me to write words much quicker and more importantly get my thoughts onto paper at a speedy rate.

I need to emphasise that the Asperger Syndrome advocacy is not about me. I term Dr Attwood as our roving ambassador who travels the world convey the message for the world at large to understand people with Asperger Syndrome more. Dr Attwood needs to be commended for his travels and for now being a Professor in his understanding and promoting awareness of Asperger Syndrome. To us Aspies, we know Professor Attwood as Tony. He knows what it is like for us as Aspies to exist in a world which is often overwhelming and hard for us to navigate. Slowly the darkness and wilderness of being misunderstood is being illuminated and I hope and pray that my book will also promote more awareness. This will be my first official publication apart from my life's experience appearing in "Aquamarine Blue - Personal Stories of College Students with Autism" edited by Dr Dawn Prince Hughes.

Australia is lacking in the area of male adults on the spectrum and hopefully in time, my advocacy work will help ensure that Aspies as we like to call ourselves will start to come out of the wilderness. It would be good to see more adults employed also and hopefully will happen soon as well.

Dealing with disappointment

In our lives we sometimes may confront disappointment. Maybe somebody does not want to be our friend, a date may not work out, or a career goal or job application may be unsuccessful. We can tend to feel deflated and let down by this situation and feel annoyed or upset. What then can we do to deal with the situation?

As an Aspie I tend to find I take criticism or set back very personally. I often feel like I am a failure and despite what I think and feel, my mind tends to focus on the negative more so than the positive or positives. As an Aspie, my life has been a serious of achievements and some disappointments. The important thing which needs to be taken into consideration is that the use of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) can be but one means of overcoming negative thoughts. Just after I was diagnosed as having Asperger Syndrome by Dr Tony Attwood, Tony informed me of CBT and how it can help me to overcome negative thought patterns. To date CBT has worked but sometimes setbacks can be very hurtful. I find dating for instance too difficult as I find myself continually hurt and disappointed by the process. I also tend to experience things not working out the way I would like them to if I try to obtain expectations or other goals.

Often I hear from some people that I am negative but in all honestly they fail to grasp the fact that life is not easy and they should take a walk in somebody else's shoes before they make their criticism known. Personally speaking as an older adult, the lack of early intervention tends to present problems and difficulties later in life. It is hard to shirk the 'war service' or emotional scarring which you endured within the school system to where you were bullied or treated poorly within secondary school.

I find the only way to deal with disappointment is to try to not take it personally. See if it possible to learn from it and perhaps do not set goals which are unrealistic or expectations which are not achievable. When I spoke with Dr Kate Sofronoff, she mentioned how as Aspies we need to deal with disappointment and to not take disappointment personally. It is hard for Aspies to navigate the world around us and it is hard for other people not on the spectrum to always understand us. We need as Aspies to have our own coping strategies to deal with stress, anxiety and disappointment etc.

For anyone interested some of the disappointments I have endured in life include:

1. Failing first year university for not having the academic ability.
2. Trying to make friends and fit in and fail to be understood by other people.
3. Experiencing an engagement end because of an immigration situation.
4. Be knocked back at trying to undertake a PhD
5. Be unsuccessful within job promotion and career advancement.
6. Find several attempts at getting a book published knocked back.
7. Being bullied earlier in life and told I had no brains nor ability
8. Submitting job applications, addressing selection criteria and not succeeding at job interviews.

My successes

1. Being fortunate to have traveled overseas
2. Being good at writing
3. Having a job
4. Having support family and friends notably my parents
5. Owning a car
6. Having a roof over my head.
7. Having good health
8. Having good friends.

Often we may focus too much on disappointments but we also need to look at the positives in our lives. For some reason our minds are trained to be more negative but CBT can help change this.

Employing adults on the Autism Spectrum

There are many benefits to employing adults on the Autism Spectrum but to begin with some very important measures are required to make adult employment a reality. For adults with Asperger Syndrome they have many attributes in employment, we are diligent, reliable, focused on attention to detail, conscientious and often require very little supervision.

What then is required to make employment possible and easier for adults on the Autism Spectrum? Before beginning to answer this question it is important to begin with the necessary requirements. Firstly adults with Autism require the support of employment agencies specifically focused on the Autism Spectrum. Such agencies need to firstly assist adults by providing job coaches or employment consultants. It is the responsibility of the consultant or job coach to firstly meet with the Asperger adult to establish where their strengths and abilities lie and what type of employment they may be suitable for. There are many areas where adults on the Autism Spectrum can work and these include the following; Libraries, Vet Clinics, Archives, Art Galleries, Parking Attendants. There are many books which are available which indicate employment opportunities for adults on the Autism Spectrum. What I can highlight specifically though are the employers Autism Works, Specialisterne and Aspiritech. A simple Google search can provide you with more information on these employers and the progress currently underway in employing adults with Autism.

The community in general is not yet fully aware of the positive benefits in employing adults on the Autism Spectrum but to begin with employment agencies do need to be created. As I have indicated the important function of the employment agency is to provide the following support. Firstly a job coach or employment consultant needs to work with the Asperger Adult. Secondly the Employment agency needs to approach and canvass potential employers, provide assistance with interview attendance, with the aim of providing awareness and indicating the advantages of hiring an Asperger person. Finally, managers and supervisors need to be trained and awareness of the Autism Spectrum so that they are aware of potential strengths and strong points.

Australia is currently lagging in this area and it is my hope that this will soon change. Currently little support is available with only limited job placement and training within employment for the very few adults who are employed. Australia also needs to come on board with either Specialisterne or Autism Works before it can closely fall into line with the United Kingdom, Denmark and the United States. As I speak, nothing as yet exists in Australia and again it is my hope that Brisbane, will soon have a similar replication so that adults with employment can find meaningful employment.

Adults on the Autism Spectrum have varying levels of productivity and it is the responsibility of the employment consultant or job coach to work with the Asperger adult. Often Asperger adults encounter difficulties with poor executive function and more importantly the necessary social skills required to adapt and survive within a work environment. There are many strong points however in that Asperger adults including myself are loyal, conscientious, have strong attention to detail and are reliable. Of course there are many other important and positive attributes that adults bring with them.

In conclusion, I argue that more employment agencies need to be created to assist adults on the Autism Spectrum with employment. I believe this has to happen as soon as possible before positive change can begin. I would encourage you in the meantime to either look at Specialisterne or Autism Works within the links on my blog to be provided important updates on developments which they are implementing.

The NT Male Ego

I am not sure that I speak on behalf of all Aspies here but one thing I do come up against is the NT Male Ego. The NT Male Ego is the way a neuro typical male feels that he needs to compete with you because he feels threatened that you are going to out do him or put his nose out of joint so to speak. I really find such a process tiring and I have no time for it. I have come up personally against the NT Male Ego when I have worked very hard and religiously to try and do my best when investing my energies into certain activities or organisations. In trying to make things better, I find myself having to deal with the NT Male Ego when this other person tries their best to discredit me on all accounts and put me down where or whenever possible.

I am not out for personal glory or self satisfaction, nor do I believe that having to put down potential rivalry is necessary. Also I am not interested in public perception either for I personally don't care whether a person likes me for who I am or not. I do think the NT Male Ego though is often something that is constantly a problem and I do not understand why such behaviour is necessary. I do not see the point in bragging about how good I am, having to outdo another person and more importantly be concerned about self image. I really do not understand why as a person I am not able to contribute my energies and ideas to help make something better. Why instead am I cut down or not able to do more to make things better? If Equal Opportunity exists then I personally believe that it discriminates against a person who tries to do the right thing. This is just not Aspies it is other people also. Some people who get off their behinds and invest a lot of time and energy into something are more so undermined or confront certain factions which virtually make something impossible.

I remember experiencing the Male NT Ego in some workplaces where other persons would brag on about how good they were, how people thought they were marvelous and how they could the job better than other people. I thought so what do I really care?! The NT Male Ego in my opinion is a wasted means of energy and it is perhaps a deep routed male insecurity. I am really glad I am an Aspie but sadly the world we live in is not always fair and you can only try and do your best but being honest does not always get you anywhere. The more dominant species tend to want to take over and control.

If Aspies are going to be employed, an NT structure of employment will fail and not deliver within an Autism work environment. Persons on the Autism Spectrum need to be involved in employing Aspies and allowing them to demonstrate their abilities within the workplace. The NT Male Ego tends to also hold Aspies back because it is fearful that Aspies may do better and be perceived as some kind of threat to stability and status quo. The NT Male Ego also likes to brag on about how good they are with women and how marvelous they are as a person. I just find such people so boring and tedious. They may also talk about how great their body is and try to present a macho image. They also are more likely to be social climbers and exploit any opportunity at personal glorification whenever there is a possible means. Also they are more than likely to suck up to people who they know can be lured by their abilities in order to get to higher places and once they are there people find out what type of crap people they really are when they are unable to do their job properly! Then if you are unfortunate to be working under them then "Equal Opportunity" ensures the line of least resistance is always followed and you and other honest people miss out on having your rights observed and adhered to in a workplace or organisation.

The Aspie label

People may often hear or have just recently been introduced to the term, Aspie. An Aspie is a person like myself who has Asperger Syndrome and most of us are proud to have the name Aspie as a means of us to identify ourselves and relate to who we are as people. Being "Aspie" however does not mean we can get away with unacceptable behaviour but more so a means of self expression. For me being Aspie means that I can understand who I am as a person. I identify myself as Aspie by the following:

1. In the conventional world I may not be the same in terms of expectations of success. I am not interested in making money, nor holding myself above others, or more importantly reach unrealistic expectations. I just accept who I am and where I belong in this world.

2. As an Aspie, I have a lot of other Aspie friends, and they are good friends as they can relate to my own personal struggles and I theirs. As Aspies we can bring creativity into this world and although we may not fit into the regular conventions, we are people if understood and given a chance can make for an interesting world.

3. The Aspie label does not mean we hate the regular world, it is just our way of living in the world with you and sharing it. Although we may not think and react the same ways you do, we can learn from you and you can learn from us. There needs to be mutual understanding and acceptance from Aspies and non Aspies. Do the labels really need to be used?

In summary, I have known Aspies who need a hand up in the world but this is not my hand but more so the hand of other Aspies as we can help each other and more so overcome the difficulties we experience of social isolation, depression and anxiety.
I do not see myself as better than other Aspies but it is in my wiring to help other people and more so other Aspies. I do care about the unemployment figures and although some adults may not support the work I do, I just try to understand that they may need some space. It would be my hope to see more adults on the Autism Spectrum work together and establish more support but we can only hope in time this will happen. Sometimes I also find the NT Male Ego is afraid of the Aspie because they Aspie is a threat in that we work hard and invest a lot of energy into what we do. The NT Male Ego feels afraid of this and in order to control measures are implemented in ensuring that persons either who are Aspie or committed to do more are just held back as it is a means of ensuring the potential threat cannot continue.

I am honoured that Dr Tony Attwood lives in Brisbane, Australia as Brisbane is make a lot of pioneering efforts. We just need to open those minds which remain closed for people to look at Autism more positively and to see Aspies in a more positive light. I cannot work on my own to improve awareness of the Autism Spectrum in Australia but as adults combined we can make a difference. Aspies are good people, we are often avoided by you as you may not always understand us but we cannot help the way we think and feel. Rather than simply overlook us, give a chance to be seen and heard. You may find more to an Aspie than society's wrongful expectations that we are all geniuses.

People with Autism being prone to predators, bullying and abuse

I would like to touch upon a very important and a matter of serious concern for persons on the Autism Spectrum, family and friends. This is the matter of people with people on the Autism Spectrum being vulnerable to predators, bullying and abuse.

Unfortunately amongst the Autism population a great deal many persons can be prone to predators. Trusting people and being naive is one of the serious issues as people with Autism cannot detect danger from trust. Often exposure to unsavory individuals can leave the person open to predator abuse causing emotional scaring. Some people with Autism try so hard to make friends that their psycho detectors can often fail to pick up danger leaving them in a very vulnerable situation. For women on the Autism Spectrum this can be especially difficult. When attending a conference with Dr Tony Attwood, Tony spoke about predators and more especially sexual abuse amongst the female Autism population. I have known of personally or heard stories for women on the Autism Spectrum who have felt pressured, exposed or even vulnerable to sexual exploitation with little or no protection. Furthermore there is a real underlying danger that persons with Autism can venture into situations not knowing underlying dangers. These dangers ranging from loss of money through to abuse or bullying of some kind.

It is important and what is of concern in western countries like Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, is the lack of support and services for individuals unable to obtain family support. Sadly the predator can intervene unchecked with the person on the Autism Spectrum having little or no protection from possible dangers. As persons with Autism have little connection to the community and most are socially isolated, they are especially vulnerable. Often people around them are not aware of the motives of unsavory people and what impact they can have on the person with Autism. I know of Asperger adults who with little or no family support are clearly vulnerable to attack or abuse and society seems to be largely unaware or oblivious to what is going on. Asperger women are especially prone to predators because they are unsure of the motives of the predator. The predator can exploit the woman's trust and commit abuse not so physical but more so psychologically and the community is largely unaware of this activity.

People with Autism are very trusting people and they can be very giving but in the wrong company, the very lowest people in the community can intervene causing serious ramifications or even danger. This is why I believe that more and increased services for adults need to be implemented fast. Adults being largely socially isolated and ignored by the community are in the line of attack so to speak. Most people have networks and support but for Autistic people this drops away and there is no scaffolding. In my own situation in order to make friends I had to reach out to one organisation known as a "Place to Belong". As I was finding it impossible to make friends and to find social structures, I knew I needed to do something. Often relying on my intelligence can be difficult for sadly predators can infiltrate the mind of a person with Autism without the person with Autism understanding the dangers. We as a community need to do something fast to stop this unacceptable and dangerous behaviour from continuing. I am not saying all adults with Autism are exposed to this but there are some adults especially prone. I can remember some incidents of a child being exposed to predators. In one instance a boy kept on daring me to do dangerous things in order for me to be his friend. In one situation he forced me to ride down a steep street on the bicycle with him and I could have been killed or seriously injured as I had no protection on the bike and my foot was close to be entwined in the bicycle spokes. He also destroyed turned all of the other children in the school against me.

I believe younger people and the peer group are coy of person with Autism because they do not always understand the way a person with Autism behaves and responds to certain situations. Persons with Autism have weaker networks and very few friends. Often it is hard to also judge a person to ascertain whether they are quality or possibly dangerous. I am fortunate to have established some good networks over time and I have had a lot of help. Sadly though this is not always the trend in general for persons with Autism and why as a community we need to be concerned about our adult with Autism population. I have heard of stories of adults with Autism being abused in institutions by perpetrators within these institutions knowing they can abuse and get away with it. The person with Autism is unable to communicate and identify where they have been abused with this seldom going unchecked or investigated further. People with Autism are especially vulnerable to the lowest ebb of society and we need to stop abuse happening and continuing to happen where it is ignored, unknown or unchecked.

I have included with this post a very well put together video from an adult with Autism and you can watch his video by double clicking the Title in this post. His video outlines his own personal experiences and the dangers out there for people on the Autism Spectrum. Fortunately for me I have had supportive parents but for other adults without parental or family support, imagine what it is like for them?!

Autism Works and its pioneering efforts

Residing some or almost 20 000kms away, I try my best to follow the work of Chris Mitchell and Peter McDonald in Autism Works. I am intrigued by the recent developments and more importantly the opportunity to break down the barriers of discrimination that exist for adults on the Autism Spectrum. I have been in touch with Chris on a weekly basis by phone to find out from him what is happening and more importantly progress which is being made. From what I understand, Autism Works will soon be recruiting its first software tester to the company and this will be interesting to observe.

I will be visiting the United Kingdom in June 2011 to witness what work is happening in the United Kingdom and it is my hope that this information will assist in the implementation of a similar replication in this country, especially Brisbane. I know some adults are not interested in software testing as such but with a great deal many adults either diagnosed or undiagnosed within Information Technology, this very employer will hopefully reduce unemployment levels significantly! Australia needs to ensure that adults with Autism are involved in the similar model in this country. If it relies too heavily on NT (neuro typical) input it will not work. In order for adults to function in employment, it is other adults on the Autism Spectrum who are best at understanding.

I would encourage anyone to visit Chris' blog by double clicking in the Title of this post to take you to the link with his important updates. Hopefully we can soon get adults on the Autism Spectrum into work and lay the foundation stones for such an undertaking to begin. I am sure many of us will keep our eyes peeled on the developments happening at Autism Works with interest.

The Autistic Brain

As a person with Autism, I often wonder how my brain is different to that of a non Autistic person. As more and more is beginning to emerge about Autism, little information is available to indicate how the Autistic brain actually works and why persons with Autism confront different wiring so to speak. I often feel like at times that my brain is processing information differently and more importantly I find myself struggling in simple day to day functions. I am aware that I am able write but what I find difficult is that sometimes my means of learning, assimilating information and expression of language is often stilted. Why is reading for instance so difficult and I find it difficult to read novels and more importantly understand the words in them? Why are vast amounts of mental energy required to simply communicate with other people and why is it difficult for me to make friends and make small talk?

Recently developments have emerged in terms of scanning the brains of people with Autism in order to be able to identify Autism in individuals. Hopefully this evidence will be able to convince critics that Autism does exist. Perhaps one day more information will come to light in understanding the Autistic brain.

Schooling and the socialisation process

The average age of a person in life depending on country to country varies but in the western world, life expectancy has increased in the last 30 years. This brings me to the crucial point of schooling and the socialisation process. What do I mean by this and what am I going to cover? As an adult with Asperger Syndrome I believe the main conditioning of a person and preparation for adulthood begins in the 12 years of schooling. Schooling is designed to condition a person for preparation for adulthood and the person is socialised throughout the school period in terms of social skills development and influenced I believe by toys and expectations. How then are adults on the Autism Spectrum affected by this? The person on the Autism Spectrum fails to fall within the requirements of socialisation and therefore miss out on the crucial steps of development. Rather than be part of social skills development and team work skills in playing sport, the person on the Autism Spectrum is instead living in their own world or focused on their special interest to not really know what is going on around them. In other words they are oblivious to situations and events around them.

The development of a person through to early adulthood seems to be a series of evolutionary steps to the eventual transition of adulthood. Dr Kate Sofronoff describes within the school system a scaffolding which exists that supports the child and Dr Tony Attwood describes the school period as being a period of war service for persons with Asperger Syndrome. Having spoken with both Dr Kate Sofronoff and Dr Tony Attwood, I have as an adult tried to also enlighten them about my own personal experiences of being an adult on the Autism Spectrum.

Have you ever wondered why a person is required to attend a school and the option of home schooling being discouraged? In my opinion this in itself is a controlling measure for the school years are an evolutionary process for the person to following until adulthood. In the Australian school system, a strong focus is on team sports and more importantly there still exists an academic grading system upon exit from secondary school for a person to determine or more so be aware of future career expecations of them. For a person with Asperger Syndrome this system fails to deliver and through the scaffolding of school the Asperger person can rely on the scaffolding as Dr Kate Sofronoff describes as a means of structure more so than a means of encouragement or nurturing the person's special interest.

I see the school system as falling into the following socialisation process. I will firstly explain by my example the regular person and then the Autistic person.

The regular person schooling patterns.

Grades 1 -6 (7 in Queensland) Primary School

The person enters the school, follows and evolutionary process

1. Structure process begins follow routine 9am to 3pm
2. Early socialisation with toys defining sexual stereotype
3. Boys play with masculine toys (Toy cars, trucks, bikes) and girls feminine toys (dolls, tea sets, purses etc)
4. Focus on strenghts of person e.g. good at English, Maths, Sport etc
5. Early preparation for adolescence further socialisation and some preparation for high school
6-7 - Focus on subjects for secondary school

Secondary school

8 - Hormone increase most teenagers think about sex, chasing girls etc
9. Early preparation for university
10. Person may decide career choice of whether to perhaps enter a trade or contemplate university
11 - 12. Preparation for university.

University
Often socialised sufficiently to cope with early undergraduate years of tertiary education

Now the Asperger person

School - Grades 1 - 12

1. May exist in school as it has structure but not really sure of socialisation process
2. Special interest may occur or evolve. Obsession with special interest and oblivious to school environment.
3. Susceptible to bullying and teasing as the person with Autism chooses to play alone
4. Does not engage with or use conventional toys as these provide no stimulation or emotional attachment.
5. Team work skills not developing and inadequate socialisation occurring
6. Not fitting into mainstream syllabus person with Autism failing to fall into socialisation measures
7. Preparation for adulthood not occurring and person with Autism unable to fit into mainstream socialisation.
8. Exiting of school system scaffolding and structure gone. Adult with Autism left in wilderness with no support or measures to assist and support them.

What I outline above is two comparisons of what I believe and speaking again from personal experiences happens to a person on the Autism Spectrum. Schooling is a continual socialisation process and measures and expectations are conditioned a long the way. For the person on the Autism Spectrum, they are failing to adapt to this period of conditioning and are on the outer thus affecting them once reaching adulthood. A special interest may be fulfilling but it can't lead to a job. A person may have an interest in calculators, or be just coping as best they can without a career path and insufficient social skills so where does this leave them?

Schooling needs to be inclusive of Autistic people rather than excluding. The person on the Autism Spectrum needs help and understanding to fit in, and be encouraged and nurtured and school systems need to adapt to accept this. Autism is a stand alone disability because people cannot see it but they also fail to grasp that Autism is a silent struggle. Locked into our own worlds having Autism makes it hard for us to communicate and be understood by people. The only way to deal with this problem is to increase both awareness and early intervention. Support also needs to exist post school in terms of ensuring disability employment agencies focusing predominately on Autism exist. These employment agencies need to ensure job searching, interview support and liaison. Firstly the person with Autism needs to find a job coach, secondly the job coach needs to contact the employer, provide on the job support, assistance with staff development and more importantly liaison between the employer with Autism, the job coach and the manager or supervisor on behalf of the employment. Until this is implemented nothing is going to change.

Crawling out of the adult wilderness

In a recent conference where I spoke with Associate Professor Dr Kate Sofronoff, Kate, myself and other adults spoke of our experiences with Autism and more importantly how Autism extends from childhood into adulthood. Associate Professor Kate Sofronoff spoke about how the scaffolding gives way in childhood and is non existent in adulthood for adults with Autism. I thought it therefore necessary from my own experiences to provide some strategies in dealing with Autism which may help other adults?

Some of the strategies I outline are below

1. As an adult I have been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum where to from now? Answer - The best thing to do is to try and come to terms with your strengths and weaknesses and more importantly find help where you can obtain it. Try not to compare or measure yourself against mainstream society but more importantly look for services which may help. In some countries essential services may be hard to find but the most important thing to do is to find an Autism Society in your area and contact them concerning your issues or areas where you may need or require help. Try to find a counselor who is supportive and inform them that you may required CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). Help is there but you may need to persevere as hard as you can to get it.

2. I am an adult and I am unemployed and find it difficult to get a job. Answer - Try and find a disability employment agency and ensure you get a job coach. A job coach needs to understand you as an adult and more importantly you need to work with the job coach to ensure what job is suitable for you. It is important that the job coach depending on your level of need or support assists you with job searching, interview attendance, training and staff development where necessary. Try to work out also if you are suited to full time or part time work. Some adults find full time work challenging and may prefer entry into employment on a part time basis. When speaking with Dr Tony Attwood, Dr Attwood has advised and I agree with him that approach family, friends and potential employers about undertaking a work placement and or experience.

3. I am an adult and I looking for a relationship. Answer - Try not to focus too much on relationships and joining internet dating agencies. Often you can be ripped off or confront humiliation from them. The more social networks you may be able to join will increase your chances of meeting other people, making friends or entering a relationship. It can be very difficult to join a lot of organisations due to the lack of understanding social skills difficulties for adults with Autism but perhaps you can mention your strong points when joining such organisations as an adult on the Autism Spectrum.

4. Overcoming social isolation and depression - For adults, strong evidence of overcoming social skills difficulties has been assisted by joining Toastmasters. Toastmasters helps people to communicate effectively and I am currently looking at ways of approaching Toastmasters to adapt certain ways of assisting with communication for adults with Autism. As a start join a Toastmasters Club and make yourself known to the club and inform them you have AS and want to improve your social skills. The more awareness the better! When dealing with depression, I believe adults need to undertake exercise regularly, particularly in the area of cardio vascular work. I know a lot of adults who exercise regularly by attending a gym and doing cardio work which drastically reduces their anxiety levels. Exercise does not have to be intense but more so regular to ensure serotonin and other brain chemicals are being released to reduce anxiety.

5. I need to get my driver's licence or find a way of getting around as I don't have a car or transportation. Answer - A strategy to this may be to approach a Defensive Driving Academy/School. I am not totally sure but within this environment the person can drive a car in a a safe area without other traffic or motorists being around. Depending on your level of income, you as an adult can combine this with driving lessons or a friend who is willing to help you get some practise to obtain the necessary practical experience when trying to obtain your Driver's Licence.

6. Most adults experience bullying and their self esteem can be low. Answer - Bullying is an unfortunate experience that a lot of adults have endured in their lives. It can cause emotional scarring but it can be overcome in time. Try to look for counseling services which may be able to provide help to you in order to heal from such experiences.

7. Society does not understand me as an adult with Autism. Answer - Not everyone is closed minded to Autism. Some sectors of the community wear blinkers or close their shutters to Autism and this is not your problem but more so their problem. Find people within the community who understand you and Autism and it is important to realise that not everyone is bad or against you. An Autism Alert Card can be purchased very cheaply online from the National Autistic Society in the United Kingdom and you could take this card with you as it is also a tool for more awareness of Autism. The card can be obtained by visiting this link http://www.autism.org.uk/en-GB/Products/Core-NAS-publications/Autism-Alert-Cards.aspx

8. I find it hard as an adult to have a lighter side or to engage in social chit chat - Answer - Social Chit Chat is not easy for Aspies but perhaps visiting a speech therapist may help to assist with speech tone improvement and trying to understand non visual cues better.

9. I find people ignore me or don't respond to my email, text, social utility or phone messages. Often this is hard to understand but people can sometimes be busy and may not always have the chance to respond to messages. It is better to just get on with life and hope that friends and family will catch up with you when they can.

10. I am having issues with TOM (Theory of Mind). Some people are not always able to understand Aspie thinking. Aspies tend to over think and assume things too much at times. Added to this Aspies can be one dimensional thinkers and fail to grasp the importance of seeing all sides of a situation. It may be appropriate to look at a certain situation from all perspectives rather than a black or white response.

11. Sometimes I am unable to sleep as my mind turns over and over. Answer - As an adult you may need to ensure you have sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is ensuring that you go to bed with a clear mind and a calming process. Perhaps read a lighthearted novel, listen to some calm music, avoid staring at a computer or television before going to bed.

12. Sensory issues - If you encounter sensory issue problems try wearing an ear piece or putting ear plugs into your ears where noise can be a problem. If your eyes cannot handle glare then wear a hat or dark sunglasses to ensure your eyes are protected. If certain fabrics annoy you then don't wear them. Find suitable fabrics that don't annoy your skin. If you also get social meltdown, take some time out and calm down. You will soon recover.

13. I find everything needs to have a routine or be predictable. Answer - Often it is difficult to break routine but think of how you may benefit or some coping strategies when breaking routine. Sometimes breaking routine can be liberating although anxiety provoking.

14. I am feeling anxious or about to have a panic attack Answer - Try to ensure you perform deep breathing exercises. Breath through your nose and out through your mouth and keep doing this until you feel the anxiety starting to subside. If you are about to experience an anxiety attack, just realise that anxiety will not kill you it will just unsettle you. Sometimes taking magnesium tablets can significantly reduce anxiety levels and this is again from personal experience.

Hopefully the above will assist adults from my experiences of having Asperger Syndrome. If I can think of anymore, I will mention them in due course.

Presentations and awareness of the Autism Spectrum to employment agencies and some organisations.

On Thursday 25th November 2010, I will be speaking at CRS (Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service) Australia about employing adults with Asperger Syndrome and what support is needed in terms of providing support with work placement and career choice. If anyone is interested in knowing more about this presentation they can contact CRS Australia for more information - CRS Australia http://www.crsaustralia.gov.au/find_an_office.htm

For anyone interested I will be presenting an online presentation with another adult on the Autism Spectrum, Arman Khodaei on Friday 3rd December 2010 and Saturday 4th December 7am Australian Eastern Standard Time. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/armankhodaei/2010/12/03/the-language-of-autism-transition-into-employment-for-an-adult-with-aspergers-syndrome Please feel free to join in and listen.

Apart from these presentations, I may also be presenting some information at the Austral-Asian Autism Conference http://www.apac11.org/ in September 2011. I have also been approached by the Luke Priddis Autism Foundation to speak in Penrith with further details yet to be finalised and also there has been some interest in me speaking at Port Macquarie possibly next year also. The Luke Priddis Foundation can be found on the web by visiting http://www.lukepriddisfoundation.com/

One of the things I would really like to do is to visit schools and advise them on early intervention and support for persons on the Autism Spectrum and as yet I have received little or no interest when approaching them. The University of Queensland needs to also come on board with ensuring the Asperger Adult Group continues to grow but schooling needs to ensure support and essential intervention at a much earlier age before the person reaches university.

I would also be interested in speaking in the United Kingdom when I am there in early June 2011 but as I have not received any responses as of yet, I will just have to leave it for now. I will be in the Newcastle area in this period and would value the opportunity to present.

Garry Burge talks on Asperger Syndrome and employment on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-Npbqoysa0

Handling emotions

I often wonder how and when to respond to emotions. I have been sometimes told I am cold or uncaring and I find it hard to understand when people say this. Throughout my life I have always had to deal with hardships, and situations which are often difficult and overwhelming. I have only cried in my life about 12 times, more so when I was a child but not at all as an adult.

Throughout my life I have dealt with anxiety especially in very challenging situations. Often when I become stressed my thinking becomes more literal and the verbal filtering required is harder to control. For instance if someone is not always sincere and they pretend to be, my immediate emotion in some circumstances is to become especially critical of them.

I find the level of emotions required to sustain a relationship are often challenging and feel the only way I could probably handle a relationship is to meet a woman who is more NT than I am Aspie. I see in a lot of other adults their difficulty too in handling emotion and understanding it. Why then do we find emotions so very difficult and challenging? Perhaps we use a coping mechanism which helps us to survive in the world around us. For adult Aspie men who have been in a relationship, how easy is it for us to enter another relationship? Perhaps we have difficulty in letting go of a previous relationship or our minds are too overwhelmed by the need to react and respond to emotions? As I have indicated earlier, amongst both Aspie men and women, I think speaking personally and again from my own personal experience, that entering relationships is more difficult for us and more so for Aspie men. I find personally that I suffer a large degree of facial blindness and I find it hard to respond to emotions in certain situations. When I observed a deceased older family member, it was my first time of seeing somebody dead. I can remember wondering why this family member died with their his mouth opened and more importantly questioned how a person can die in their slip. I find death hard to comprehend as even the word final cannot describe it. For Aspies and again speaking from personal experience we are emotional but our emotions are more powerful than regular people. We often can feel pain but our bodies respond to it differently than do other people. An interesting question is how an Aspie deals with being sick or injured? Do we put too much thinking into getting better that we can perhaps heal ourselves more?

As Aspies we are not really cold or lack emotion, we just convey, understand and express emotion differently. We are probably better at verbalising it than emotionally showing it which may confuse the NT population. I think some Aspies try to avoid emotional triggers where necessary and perhaps this is why we are often also reclusive and like cats we keep to ourselves?

Adult diagnosis of Autism

As Autism is increasing in the adult population, how are adults with Autism dealing with diagnosis and more importantly the next step? For older adults, diagnosis later in life and the difficulty in not intervening or diagnosing can cause some difficulty. My own situation was one of difficulty as being diagnosed later in life meant that some areas of my life carry some scarring. In particular the high school period. I often feel like an apology would be one way to heal from the 5 years of hurt, frustration and bullying I received in high school. I can remember teachers constantly telling me I had no brains and more importantly the bullying I endured within this period.

In one instance, a high school authority figure being a Deputy Principal confronted me in class and demanded me in front of the class to admit that I cheated on an art project. This authority figure said "why should the class be marked down because of the work you did not do?" and more importantly "you need to tell the class that you cheated in this assignment". Can you imagine how a person's self esteem would have been in this period, especially being shown up in class?. I hate high school with a passion. I hate the very fabric on which it existed. I detested the teacher who in Grade 11 in the geography class made fun of my inability to be like the other children and more importantly took it upon herself even with the intervention of one of my parents to try and help me, decide and defend a mark of 2% out of 20% in a geography assignment.

I am really concerned about future generations of Aspies and fear for them in terms of the high school system. Here kids can virtually be like little monsters who bully and tease to the point of undermining what little confidence an Aspie has. In adulthood, a great deal many adults with Asperger Syndrome are frustrated with the world around them but cope as best they can. A lot of adults have to live with the pain of bullying from the past and most are frustrated at always falling through the cracks. Early intervention is needed and the Queensland government has to do something more so than politicians wearing hard hates and pretending to be seen to be doing work. I believe that Aspies diagnosed below the age of 30 have perhaps better social skills than older Aspies because some of the past events in older Aspies need more support and assistance.

What is it like being an Aspie

I sometimes get asked how Asperger Syndrome affects me as an adult. Here are some of my answers to people's questions.

1. How does Asperger Syndrome affect you?

Answer - Asperger Syndrome affects me in that I find it difficult to understand people, their motives and what is the purpose of small talk. I also have to rely on and use vast amounts of mental energy to simply converse and find myself tired easily.

2. Are you brilliant at anything? Apparently people with Autism are supposed to be brilliant

Answer - I am not brilliant nor do I want to be. I don't really like to compare myself with other people nor do I care if I am good at something or not. I think the world places too much focus on a person being good at something or otherwise they are not as important. Everybody is the same and building up expectations is often unrealistic

3. Would you like a girlfriend or enter a relationship? Answer - I always leave a door open but I am not going to invest large amounts of my time and energy into looking for a relationship. To be honest I find relationships are draining and take a lot of work. They suit some people but not all. I prefer to mind my own business and I expect other people to do the same in relation to me. I find in all honesty because people cannot fathom a man for instance not being in a relationship that their minds tend to try and box quickly. People need to understand Autism more and realise that amongst Aspies relationships are more difficult.

4. What are sensory issues and how do these affect you? - Answer. My ears are super sensitive and when I am stressed my hearing amplifies just like you putting your ear to an old vinyl record and hearing the scratching sound. If you can imagine this then you can understand sensory issues. I also hate certain materials, especially Denim and my eyes can hurt with strong light and glare.

5. Why do you find it difficult to be promoted or take on higher level positions? Answer - I find workplaces are full of a lot of sucking up or idle chit chat. I find it hard also to make up stories to apparently demonstrate how good I am at something. I find it hard to lie and sell myself in the interview process as I prefer to be honest which other people seem to think is negative and I do not understand why they say this. Just being literal is often wrongly perceived.

6. What is Autism like in adults? - Answer - Autism affects adults differently. Some adults have good executive function while others find it difficult to organise their day. A common scenario in Asperger adults is bullying in school, issues with anxiety and high unemployment.

7. Have you ever had a panic attack? Answer - Yes I have and they are no fun. You feel like everything around you is caving in on you and you find it hard to escape the severe anxiety episode.

8 Is exercise good for Aspies? Answer - Yes exercise is good for Aspies as anxiety levels are significantly reduced. I believe a lot of adults with AS and Autism would benefit from increasing their participation in exercise.

9. Do you think Autism is a result of bad parenting? Answer - I think such a question is appalling. My parents are not bad people nor are the people who have persons affected by Autism. Most parents and families are looking for support and people need to be in their shoes for a day to experience what it is like and how the government does not listen.

10. Would you consider going onto medication? Answer - I have tried medication and it does not work for me personally. I do not believe that I should be forcing chemicals down my throat because society has an issue with the way I think and behave. It is society that needs to change not a person needing to rely on mind altering enhancing substances.

11. Do you think the world should change for Autistic people? Answer - I believe there needs to be a two way approach to this question. A person with Autism should not be treated with special treatment nor should an NT refuse to accept the way a person with Autism may be. It is a matter of finding a mutual understanding.

12. Do you think there needs to be more male Aspies to come forward? Answer - Yes. I think it is harder for male aspies as the world places greater expectations on men in general. Asperger men in most instances get tired of society's expectations on them.

The Dore Program

In 2005 I completed the Dore Program. The Dore Program was a brain gym designed to help Cerebellum function and it involved a series of exercises to improve function and cognitive performance. The program involved a series of exercises using a wobble board, bean bags and and a board which was used to assist with visual and sensory issues. The Dore Program received a lot of negative press in Australia more so than being looked into more. Criticisms were made that after completing the program a child or person was still not able to read but I do believe I benefited from the program personally. When I completed the program, I found anxiety levels dropped significantly and I was able to concentrate for longer periods than before. The difficulty I encountered was that after completing the program, was I still to persevere with the exercises? Apparently not.

I now use a wobble board when doing gym exercises and finding the left and right balance is improving somewhat. It is easier to think than before and having to use vast amounts of mental energy is becoming less of a problem. The problem with the Dore Program is that it experienced once again the usual 'cut down tall poppy syndrome' and quite frankly I am sick to death of this in Australia. I am sick of the way people cut down those who try to achieve and want to do better!

I would recommend for other Aspies that they get themselves a wobble board and undertake some exercises on a day to day basis even if it is only for 20 mins a day. They would perhaps find an improvement in their cerebellum function and performance. Some adults with AS have to stop using one dimensional thinking and start to see things from both perspectives. You can do a lot of work for adults and some just don't appreciate the work you and others do. I know it is part of their condition but it is sometimes hard to get through to them that they need to modify and change their way of thinking in certain situations.

I think it is a pity the Dore Program received such negative press in Australia and I hope that one day it may be re introduced once again. For now you may want to look at the website for Dore by double clicking on the title "The Dore Program" in this post.

Update

Today I am feeling somewhat anxious because my work environment is moving around and I am still recovering from the presentation I gave on Friday. When I speak at forums or events, all that I do is finely processed. Friday was a rather long day for me as having to function from 8.30 - 4.00pm requires a lot of mental energy. I have what I call buffer days. A buffer day is when I can relax from an event where I have needed to use a lot of mental energy. When I present my slides, I like to ensure they say the message I want to get across and more importantly I want to sound both interesting and convincing. I can wear a neck tie for a short period about a couple of hours but after that it becomes a sensory issue. I can only wear jeans if I really really have to for more than an hour and after that the denim really irritates me and affects me a sensory sense. I feel jeans are like mobile hessian bags and I can withstand if I need to the material for short periods then I have to revert to shorts.

Brisbane, has an unpleasant climate in summer and long sleeve shirts and long pants really annoy me also. I find the humidity is draining and it often feels like you are battling the constant humidity surrounding you and it feels a bit like swimming in it. I do have sensory and tactile senses but I try to cope with them as best I can. Do you wonder why some Autistic Children may go off in a tantrum? Perhaps you need to know what type of clothes are more comfortable for them.

Tomorrow I have the last meeting of the year for the University of Queensland Disability Sub Committee. Although attendance at the committee is somewhat mentally draining as often I am a person who looks for direct and thorough responses when others respond differently. I have re-nominated again for the committee and I am not sure whether I will be asked to serve again or not. Time will only tell. My post is somewhat unclear tonight as I am feeling a bit stressed as sometimes people like myself with Asperger Syndrome confront meltdown. No it is not me making it up, I am speaking the truth. Why would I make it up? Humidity really gets to me but I try to put up with it is best I can. It can be draining but I try and see it as just temporary.

I am progressing through my book and I am trying my best with the help of my parents to hopefully submit it before the year is out. It is back to work now on writing it so this is my update for now.

Being literal and to the point

I am going to say this and as angry as it may seem or as direct as it may sound, I really have to say it! Certain sectors of the community may think that all I do is whinge about the hardships in the world and how people on the Autism Spectrum have it tough. Ok I will say this in the defence of people with Autism and more importantly what I will say comes from my own personal experience. People on the Autism Spectrum are not always aware of what they do or what they say, and this is why we struggle as individuals as the disorder is not visible to you when you see us. Ordinary people are not aware of the internal struggles that happen behind the scenes and more importantly the high unemployment rates that exist within adults. Surely if a society is going to be equal and fair, then why does a certain percentage of the population who want to be given a chance simply forgotten about or overlooked? It this what you call equality and equal opportunity?

Life is not easy for anyone but the only way to be is to be optimistic. I have battled depression and severe anxiety in my life, and I have found strategies to the best of my ability to cope in such situations. I have been unemployed myself and I have been through some difficult periods in my life also. I always believe despite being called negative, that a positive and optimistic approach is always required in life. I see people who work hard and invest a lot of their time in representing members of the community that need help. Yes I am aware that there are other sectors of the community that need help also. I am well aware of this! I do however, encounter the difficult situation of people not seeing me or the struggles of other adults with Autism. Why should I as an adult and more importantly the Australian community sit around and pretend that Autism is not a reality? Why should unemployment and a lower quality of life in adults exist?! Does society think that because these people are unable to work that they should be made to endure unemployment and neglect? I am only one person but believe me there are many others behind me who share in the frustrations and lack of awareness that exist within society. People are not to blame it is this very fabric of present way structure that needs to change.

Early intervention needs to happen in schools of diagnosing and providing support for children with Autism. Is it happening? From what I can see no it is not and the governments quite frankly need to get off their behinds and do something about it if we are going to make change for the future! For society to understand and views to change then it has to start happening early in life.

I also am aware of the tireless efforts of volunteer organisations which desperately need funding and they are not getting this. Again I am aware of other needs in the community but are these needs life long and more importantly are people fully versed in their awareness of them. Quite frankly people can either stick with me or they can choose what option they so please but if nobody whinges then what can be done! Benjamin Franklin concocted the famous saying "A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one". Surely for things to change awareness needs to occur and if this is seen as whinging then so be it. If it means change then it is necessary for change to occur.

If I am whinging or investing too much of my time in Autism then how will the future for people on the Autism Spectrum be better? Once this generation of pioneers ceases to be, then what kind of legacy will there be for the future generations if nothing has been done? Open your eyes and look around you more so than being on the defensive and not becoming aware of the realities and the true life experiences that are happening around you. Things really need to change and more so than be on the defensive instead ask yourself how you can make the world a better place for not only people with Autism but for people in general? The world as I see it is in a mess and nobody seems to be responsible for their own actions. Surely this is one key factor that also needs to change? I think people spend and invest too much of their time in avoiding or shirking responsibility. Too much time is also spent in watching the negative press that exists in the world and how the mass media takes a way a person's thinking. Also this too much choice business needs to focus more on quality more so than quantity. Just use your brain, think and make a go of your life! Life is too short to be sitting around pondering or wondering what better things can be done. Be happy you have good health, you can see the sky, see colours around you and more importantly know that you are just as capable as other people around you. One of the things that really irritates me and I think it is a deep routed human insecurity is other people that think they are better than you. I find this artificial, hollow and shallow. Everybody shares the same amount of time on earth and nobody is inferior or superior to anyone else unless they are deeply insecure.

Autism in Adults

Currently there exists a stronger emphasis on children with Autism than adults. How then does Autism appear in adults and how does having Autism affect them? Here are some questions I have asked and will try to answer from my own experience as being an adult with Autism.

1. Does Autism appear in adults? Answer - Yes Autism does appear in adults and more adults are being diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum than ever before.

2. Why is Autism more known about now, and why has Autism only been known about in the last 30 years? Answer - Autism from my understanding has always existed as a condition but it was the re-discovery of previous lost documents which came to light by Lorna Wing in 1981, that made society somewhat and more aware of Asperger Syndrome. Autism has not magically appeared in the last 30 years, it is more so that people and especially the hardwork and dedication of certain professionals who have studied Autism and Asperger Syndrome, that have promoted more awareness. Lorna Wing in 1981 being one of these people and also Dr Tony Attwood. There are other people also worthy of mention and Dr Tony Attwood's website or contacting Tony may be a good way to broaden your curiousity.

3. I have heard that Autism disappears later in a child's life is this true? Answer - No! In some very rare instances does the Autism Spectrum disappear. In a great deal many children Autism evolves and continues into adult life. The reason why people perceive Autism disappearing in later childhood is that the scaffolding and support in the school system, gives way with the person entering adult life. Once the person then makes the transition into adulthood, the scaffolding disappears entirely leaving the adult in the wilderness with very little support and services to assist them within this important period.

4. I have heard the Autism Spectrum is a result of bad parenting, is this true? Answer - This is absolute nonsense! Parenting has nothing to do with the child's behaviour, it is more so the parents of the child with Autism are crying out for help and sadly society is not aware and educated about Autism. A simple solution is often seen as medicating the child but really a lack of awareness and understanding needs to be overcome by way of providing more essential awareness.

5. Are adults able to hold down jobs, get married and have friends etc? Answer Some adults do get married but in some instances relationships and marriages can be extremely difficult for certain issues may encroach on these relationships. More importantly, some adults do not enter relationships nor get married because the mental energy, sharing of space and understanding the necessary requirements can be difficult. Society has to stop judging adults who are not married or in a relationship as being either dysfunctional or homosexual. Awareness needs to go out to change people's ways of thinking and more importantly, people have to stop being inquisitive about a person's personal life as it is really none of their business.

6. I have heard all Aspies are geniuses? Answer - Not all Aspies are geniuses, I know of many adults who personally struggle in their day to day lives. Some adults are unable to obtain employment, and others struggle on a day to day basis to try and exist in a world which does not understand our ways of thinking and our own cognitive wiring. Most adults exist in society largely ignored, and unknown requiring certain essential services with the government simply not listening and the community in general.

7. Are suicide rates higher in adults with Autism than other groups? Answer - Suicide rates are sadly higher in adults on the Autism Spectrum as sadly people are not always able to understand when a person may be feeling lonely, depressed or isolated on the Autism Spectrum. Again society needs to be better educated in understanding that Autism is a stand alone disability.

8. Does Bill Gates have Asperger Syndrome? Answer - There is strong evidence that Bill Gates has some traits of AS, notably being his monotonous voice, lack of social skills, preferring to not be around people etc. If anyone has a chance to see or hear Dr Tony Attwood, Dr Attwood will provide a more thorough explanation of this.

9. Does an adult with Asperger Syndrome really have a disability? Answer - An adult with Asperger Syndrome is disabled by confronting social isolation, an inability to adapt and adjust to the outside world, hold down employment, and more importantly be affected by having poor communication and motor skills. Once again unemployment rates are higher in adults with Asperger Syndrome.

10. Why are adults on the Autism Spectrum eccentric or weird? Answer - Adults on the Autism Spectrum are weird because we see things differently to other people. We are most likely eccentric and many people on the Autism Spectrum have brought into the world at large many new and necessary talents.

11. Should there be a cure for the Autism Spectrum? Answer - I am personally tired of hearing people saying or looking for a cure for Autism. Why don't people accept Autism and begin to understand the many benefits of people with Autism in the community. I think the vaccination debate is somewhat tedious when we should be concentrating on what people with Autism can do and important changes are taking place.

12. Why is bullying and teasing common in persons with persons on the Autism Spectrum? Answer - People on the Autism Spectrum are different and not always understood. Our different ways of thinking and behaving make us vulnerable to bullying and teasing and sadly the school yard can be a place in the line of attack.

13. Can a person on the Autism Spectrum drive a car, travel overseas and look after their finances. Answer - Some adults on the Autism Spectrum can drive a car, and I drive a car myself. A person is able to travel overseas on their own and yes some adults can look after their finances but other areas in our lives may require assistance. The most important assistance being what happens to us as adults as soon as our parents or families pass on leaving us without any means of support. The government and society need to act fast on this to ensure support mechanisms exist for adults into their later years in terms of services and support.

14. I have heard people on the Autism Spectrum have high levels of anxiety is this true? Answer - Yes a lot of adults have higher levels of anxiety and this can be difficult to deal with at times. In some instances, adults have unfortunately resorted to taking their own life because anxiety levels being too high can be difficult to live with.

15. Should an adult on the Autism Spectrum feel annoyed when they are measured by society as not being successful or able? Answer - Success and failure come to our lives and it is important to not take failure too personally. If an adult fails at something, it is not necessarily a bad thing, maybe they need to try again later or find something they enjoy doing. An adult with Autism should not also compare themselves to non Autistic People as the needs and expectations are different.

16. Because an adult with Asperger Syndrome works only part time does this mean they are lazy? Answer No. Some people including myself are not able to work full time because of the use of vast levels of mental energy which effect both performance and ability. In my case I also do a lot of unpaid advocacy work in my spare time and assist with awareness where I can.

17. I have heard that some sectors of the community simply do not care or want to listen about the Autism Spectrum? Answer - There are some people who have closed minds about Autism and sadly what efforts we do and the information we provide cannot always assist them. We need to focus on people who do listen and want to understand.

18. The government does not want to listen to Autism? Answer - Sadly in Australia, there is very little or insufficient support at a government level. We need in Australia to provide the positive examples of what people on the Autism Spectrum can do and hopefully this will happen soon!

19. You talk too much about Autism? Answer I talk a lot about Autism because I have it myself, people do not understand me and more importantly I have tried in the past to fit into your world with no success. I have come to accept my diagnosis and if people do not like this, then this is their problem and not mine to deal with.

20. What are some of the ridiculous comments you have heard about the Autism Spectrum? Answer - If you have Autism why are you not like Rain Man? My answer is that the Autism Spectrum covers a vast spectrum and it affects people differently. Also I have been asked do I have an allergy to Asparagus? Really people need to be educated more as well as the medical fraternity in beginning to understand the needs of adults on the Autism Spectrum.

The Social Skills Hangover

I am not sure if I can speak for all Aspies but I experience what I term a "Social Skills Hangover". A hang over is as we are all aware when a person may consume too much alcohol at a party and the next day they feel fatigued and unable to cope. Well for me, I get the same feeling after I have socialised or attended a function of some kind. Having invested large amounts of mental energy in order to get through the social event or function, and often if this is a day's activity, I find myself having to safeguard against being literal also. Sometimes within the audience you may ask a question that may perhaps need some mental filtering. Mental filtering is the delay or filtering process between thought and spoken word. Aspies tend to have poor mental filters as the filtering process tends to not work and we usually speak our minds. When I have asked questions in the audience, I once asked about how the medical profession wants to ask us why we have contemplated suicide or if we have ever been depressed when all that we require may be a referral to an Asperger Clincic, in this case being Minds and Hearts.

Perhaps other Aspies have "social skills hangovers" where they too feel so drained after a social event and find themselves tired and feeling somewhat mentally drained. The distinction between Aspies and NT's is that Aspies run more on mental processing a great deal more and for us every hour, minute and second at a social event requires the use of more thinking. Now you can probably begin to understand why we get mentally drained and tired aftewards? Ask yourself do you experience a social skills hangover and does it make you feel mentally drained the next day?

Autism Spectrum the Full Life Cycle

Recently I have contacted the Luke Priddis Foundation but am encountering difficulty in winning over this foundation to assure them that Autism does evolve from childhood into adulthood. Unfortunately at the moment I have not received much luck. It would be good if the Luke Priddis Foundation could understand the need for seeing Autism as a life long condition. At my presentation yesterday, Autism Queensland seem to becoming more aware of Asperger Syndrome and Autism in adults but still a large percentage of people are only focusing on the Autism Spectrum in childhood. As children on the Autism Spectrum start to grow up, the Autism remains with them as a life long condition. We now have adults who are beginning to emerge with Autism and yet coping mechanisms and necessary intervention seems to be slow in following the diagnosis stage.

Adults with Autism are feeling neglected, forgotten about, ignored and isolated. Organisations such as the Luke Priddis Foundation need to look ahead to see that support for their child or children on the Autism Spectrum is important. I hope one day that I can speak at the Luke Priddis Foundation but for now, I am continuing with my advocacy work in the area of adults. A forgotten about and misunderstood area. Hopefully one day the Luke Priddis Foundation and other organisations similar will begin to see Autism as a life long condition, but for now the adults including myself with Asperger Syndrome can only pioneer. My aim is to get more and more adults on the Autism Spectrum into work. We need as a community encourage this as much as possible and I cannot do this on my own.

Dr Kate Sofronoff and Garry Burge "Insights and Perspectives" Asperger Syndrome

The seminar today called "Insights and Perspectives" concerning adults with Asperger Syndrome was very informative and interesting. Dr Kate Sofronoff has been promoted to the position of Associate Professor and her presentation was both informative and professional in getting the message out there concerning adults. Discussed was early intervention within schools and the nurturing of special interests and schools in general to understand more. For anyone interested in this important presentation, please visit the following website http://www.autismqld.com.au/ I spoke about my own personal experiences and the means of identify Asperger Syndrome and how awareness and support are required for a person making the transition into employment. I found Autism Queensland very professional and I hope to speak with them again sometime soon. Also some positive developments are beginning to emerge concerning the employment of adults on the Autism Spectrum in Australia. More updates when they become available.

I am now continuing to work on my book concerning the transition into employment and I hope to have this submitted for publication with the next 6 months. I am going to be in touch with Professor, Dr Attwood in November this year concerning Tony writing the Foreword to the book. In the meantime I have to endure a workplace which is undergoing rapid change and I am not sure whether things will improve or what will happen in the next 12 months. Who knows what the future will bring? More updates as they come to hand. Thanks need to go to Dr Kate Sofronoff and Autism Queensland for hosting this event. Also thanks to Stefanie representing Asperger Services Australia. What the seminar also highlighted was a greater need for more disability employment agencies and employment consultants within Australia. In addition to this, what a person with Asperger Syndrome can achieve and to not give up should they not find they can excel at anything. Not all persons with Asperger Syndrome are geniuses and schools and society need to be more inclusive of diversity and different ways of thinking. Good to see a combined effort! All Autism associations need to work together for we are the people on the Autism Spectrum whom you represent. We need your help and support and we need the wider community to understand more so together we can make a real difference and educate the community at large more about the positive attributes of a person on the Autism Spectrum.

Asperger Syndrome Progress

As I write this post and with my book now over 35 000 words, I feel some progress is being made in order to understand Asperger Syndrome better. Unfortunately though there are some major concerns which need to be rectified immediately. I have been recently contacted by a Queensland Member of Parliament to be informed that within the Queensland school system no action or necessary measures are being implemented within the school system to intervene and take the necessary steps to assist children on the Autism Spectrum. The Queensland Government has become committed to outlawing bullying but what the Queensland Government needs to understand is that persons on the Autism Spectrum are highly susceptible to bullying from within the school system. This afternoon I will be visiting the Brisbane Independent School to find out what support is being provided for children on the Autism Spectrum but sadly what is Education Queensland doing on a statewide scale to combat the issue of early intervention within the school system? The answer to this question is nothing or indeed very little. If attitudes are going to change and people on the Autism Spectrum are able to be employable then early intervention has to begin immediately.

I feel my own efforts in terms of pioneering are slowly beginning to penetrate the pockets and area of complacency but more work needs to be carried out. Tomorrow I will be speaking for Autism Queensland "Insights and Perspectives" and possibly next year at another conference located in Perth "Asia Pacific Autism Conference". My book and presenting at the seminars previously mentioned will hopefully increase awareness in Australia and my visit to the United Kingdom next year will hopefully also assist with getting something done about the issue of adult unemployment for persons on the Autism Spectrum. Together those of us affected by Autism and others who would like to know more can lend our support by helping to get the message of awareness and support out there. Together we can all make a difference!