An Aspie Video made by an Aspie

Today I want to talk about a you tube video made by an aspie, Alex Olinkiewicz.

Have a look at it, it's embedded below.



It's insightful, the way it talks about aspergers as a kind of half-autism. There are several places in the video where Alex talks about a kind of "split-personality". Aspergers isn't schizophrenia and I don't think that Alex is suggesting that. He's simply making a point that sometimes we "switch gears" and act in quite different ways.

He talks about having adult maturity combined with childlike behaviour. While it's a good analogy, I think that the childlike behaviour is probably more impulsiveness than anything else. I certainly don't seen any reason why a normal (NT) teenager couldn't or wouldn't watch cartoons like Spongebob. Of course, being obsessed with Spongebob would be different.

Alex also talks about not fitting in, which is a major part of Aspergers. Most aspies don't feel like they fit into society or even into aspie groups. Aspies are very solitary creatures and tend to like it that way. Of course, they're also often lonely and depressed as a result.

The key in the keyhole analogy is good, but he gives the impression that it is only a "music" thing. In truth it's all kinds of stimuli. Being deaf myself, I don't have such an issue with music, though I have problems with certain vibrations and I have issues with things that I see. Some of my greatest visual issues are with things like a book appearing upside down, or with a mismatching (not lined up) label or logo. I like order.

The "mind like a table" analogy is very good. Spot on, in fact. Alex is right in suggesting that it sounds like a plea for watching more TV instead of doing homework but unfortunately, this is how the aspie brain works.

Recently, when discussing my son's learning with my wife, I said; you concentrate on the English and Maths, and leave learning about things like Science and History to me. That's not to say that I won't help with the English and Maths, obviously I'll need to be involved, particularly when he reaches more difficult levels. The problem as I see it, is that subjects such as Religion, History and Science are mostly just exercises in English and Maths with a bit of "flavour" thrown in.

I firmly believe that TV/Movies can provide better history and religion lessons for aspies than written materials. In the case of science and geography there are some TV series which could help but practical experience (experiments and observations) are also quite effective.

Some things, like languages really aren't suitable for aspie learning while others, like art (not art history) would benefit from leaving the aspie to their own devices with only a "technique hint" here and there.

Finally, a lovely finish from Alex. He's happy being himself and wouldn't "cure" Aspergers. A sentiment echoed by most aspies I've spoken to.