Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Temple Grandin, Bill Gates, Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Isaac Newton, Jane Austen, Jim Henson, Hans Christian Anderson, Michelangelo, Mozart, George Orwell, Beethoven, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Mark Twain, Warren Buffett.............
All are excellent role models and additionally have either been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Obviously, those who lived earlier in history displayed many of the characteristics and traits present in the modern day diagnosis. The abundance of positive role models that exist and the volume of written materials help to support the theory of the "gift" and not on "fixing" them. I recently checked out an abundance of materials written by Temple Grandin, Molly and I are reading them together. Dr. Grandin's advocacy for autism and animal science are especially beneficial as Molly would like to be an animal conservationist someday. Thankfully our zoos have amazing programs for the future conservationist as well and she will be spending a week learning about the animals, preparing their food and embarking on feeding (no pun!) her most high interest area.
I do wonder however, what life must have been like for these outliers who were noticeably different and probably ostracized by most of society. I am looking forward to reading more of Dr. Grandin's book and what it was like to be her. With my interest in historical figures, I do have to wonder can you be forced and bullied into assimilation? A recent meeting with a therapist left me wondering (not for the first time) if I have Asperger's as well. She mentioned that if we hadn't been tuned into Molly's idiosyncrasies she could have very easily fallen through the cracks and just been labeled "a socially awkward, bright, young girl." Hmmmm..........
Again, I wonder, is it possible to be forced or to choose to assimilate? This is not by any means a poor me synopsis! Everything happens for a reason, although at times it can be extremely painful, I truly believe this. I was extremely awkward as a young girl and had merciless bullies. One in particular used to pick on me to no end and make up things when she ran out of what was wrong with me. I also remember a boy asking me why I walked the way I did. I remember wondering what he was talking about? I made a mental note, discovered my arms didn't move when I walked and practiced my new gait. My family was intolerant to my peculiar behavior and my teachers were useless - I actually had one who repeatedly called me "motormouth" in front of the entire class. Did I consciously choose to make the shift in my behavior and assimilate? Was my awkward stage that much different than everyone else's? I remember a big shift in my ability to make and keep friends when I was in High School. As in the books that we are reading helping with social cues that most with Asperger's don't recognize is the unfortunate fact that appearance is a large part of the internal judging of peers. After a long bout as a chubby tomboy (yes, I ATE my feelings!) I emerged eager to try on fashionable, beautiful clothes and also transform myself. What is funny is that although I knew that I was smart, I was often labeled a flake. Looking back on it now, I wonder if perhaps I was missing the meaning of what was being said as it didn't translate to literal meaning. Actually being able to participate and socialize with a neurotypical social group may have been just what I needed to assimilate, although always feeling different on the inside.
What worries me the most though, for my daughter and other children and adults with Asperger's and High Functioning Autism is the desire to self medicate. It took me a very long time to realize that I did that. Through my teens, after college and beyond I often drank too much and enjoyed it tremendously because alcohol temporarily made me feel more normal. I can look back on it now and use it as a life learning experience which will certainly allow me to share and teach others before they make the same mistakes.
As I mentioned before, I do believe everything happens for a reason. Can some choose to assimilate and mask their eccentricities? Yes. If I do not have Asperger's I definitely have many of the traits that I passed on to Molly in particular. Just ask my college roommates (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) about my aloofness and rude behavior when I arrived at school. I continue on this voyage knowing that everything I have been exposed to on this wild ride - the bullies, the friends, successes, disappointments and a new found passion for advocacy will all be beneficial in the long run. I do have to mention on a final note that I am so proud of Molly. She embraces who she is and unlike me feels no need to assimilate. She would not, under any circumstances remove her Asperger's - it is a part of her. As painful as it may be to have the social struggles she endures, she has a very positive self-identification and confidence. She still wakes up every morning eager to start the day and would prefer adorning her sensory friendly clothes in which to do so. We recently attended a funeral and spent quite a bit of time trying to find something for her to wear that was both comfortable and appropriate. I smiled as my little girl who has not worn dresses in several years put on a dress, two days in a row, and looked beautiful at that! Would it last? Would she suddenly transform? Of course not, but I wouldn't change a thing!
All are excellent role models and additionally have either been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Obviously, those who lived earlier in history displayed many of the characteristics and traits present in the modern day diagnosis. The abundance of positive role models that exist and the volume of written materials help to support the theory of the "gift" and not on "fixing" them. I recently checked out an abundance of materials written by Temple Grandin, Molly and I are reading them together. Dr. Grandin's advocacy for autism and animal science are especially beneficial as Molly would like to be an animal conservationist someday. Thankfully our zoos have amazing programs for the future conservationist as well and she will be spending a week learning about the animals, preparing their food and embarking on feeding (no pun!) her most high interest area.
I do wonder however, what life must have been like for these outliers who were noticeably different and probably ostracized by most of society. I am looking forward to reading more of Dr. Grandin's book and what it was like to be her. With my interest in historical figures, I do have to wonder can you be forced and bullied into assimilation? A recent meeting with a therapist left me wondering (not for the first time) if I have Asperger's as well. She mentioned that if we hadn't been tuned into Molly's idiosyncrasies she could have very easily fallen through the cracks and just been labeled "a socially awkward, bright, young girl." Hmmmm..........
Again, I wonder, is it possible to be forced or to choose to assimilate? This is not by any means a poor me synopsis! Everything happens for a reason, although at times it can be extremely painful, I truly believe this. I was extremely awkward as a young girl and had merciless bullies. One in particular used to pick on me to no end and make up things when she ran out of what was wrong with me. I also remember a boy asking me why I walked the way I did. I remember wondering what he was talking about? I made a mental note, discovered my arms didn't move when I walked and practiced my new gait. My family was intolerant to my peculiar behavior and my teachers were useless - I actually had one who repeatedly called me "motormouth" in front of the entire class. Did I consciously choose to make the shift in my behavior and assimilate? Was my awkward stage that much different than everyone else's? I remember a big shift in my ability to make and keep friends when I was in High School. As in the books that we are reading helping with social cues that most with Asperger's don't recognize is the unfortunate fact that appearance is a large part of the internal judging of peers. After a long bout as a chubby tomboy (yes, I ATE my feelings!) I emerged eager to try on fashionable, beautiful clothes and also transform myself. What is funny is that although I knew that I was smart, I was often labeled a flake. Looking back on it now, I wonder if perhaps I was missing the meaning of what was being said as it didn't translate to literal meaning. Actually being able to participate and socialize with a neurotypical social group may have been just what I needed to assimilate, although always feeling different on the inside.
What worries me the most though, for my daughter and other children and adults with Asperger's and High Functioning Autism is the desire to self medicate. It took me a very long time to realize that I did that. Through my teens, after college and beyond I often drank too much and enjoyed it tremendously because alcohol temporarily made me feel more normal. I can look back on it now and use it as a life learning experience which will certainly allow me to share and teach others before they make the same mistakes.
As I mentioned before, I do believe everything happens for a reason. Can some choose to assimilate and mask their eccentricities? Yes. If I do not have Asperger's I definitely have many of the traits that I passed on to Molly in particular. Just ask my college roommates (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) about my aloofness and rude behavior when I arrived at school. I continue on this voyage knowing that everything I have been exposed to on this wild ride - the bullies, the friends, successes, disappointments and a new found passion for advocacy will all be beneficial in the long run. I do have to mention on a final note that I am so proud of Molly. She embraces who she is and unlike me feels no need to assimilate. She would not, under any circumstances remove her Asperger's - it is a part of her. As painful as it may be to have the social struggles she endures, she has a very positive self-identification and confidence. She still wakes up every morning eager to start the day and would prefer adorning her sensory friendly clothes in which to do so. We recently attended a funeral and spent quite a bit of time trying to find something for her to wear that was both comfortable and appropriate. I smiled as my little girl who has not worn dresses in several years put on a dress, two days in a row, and looked beautiful at that! Would it last? Would she suddenly transform? Of course not, but I wouldn't change a thing!
