I know this is an older video, but I am a neurotypical mom homeschooling my 6 year old daughter who is autistic. It’s hard right now because we struggle constantly with trying to learn how to follow simple instructions which often results in tears. I know it’s stuff she knows and is capable of doing. She just wants to do things her way, which a lot of times we can accommodate but sometimes, it’s important to follow instruction. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth it to homeschool. But I know public school is a terrible fit for her. This is encouraging to know that our current struggle is worth it for her.
Games help my daughter with this. She’s still pretty forgetful, like myself, but she has had lots of progress since we first began homeschooling a few years ago. Card games like uno, red light/green light, Simon says, and she made up a game called “Task List” where one of us makes a short list to follow in order and try to complete them. Well wishes for you and your daughter’s homeschool journey!❤
I'm in a similar boat. My 6 year old autistic child who only knows about 3 dozen words, which mostly are names of animals, needs to go to school. I'm still deciding what to do.
The period in which I was receiving my education from a hired tutor in the library down the street instead of school is the source of some of my best educational memories. With so few sources of sensory overload, and so much opportunity to immerse myself in research projects tailored around my special interests.
Wish I could have had that in the 1970s and 80s back when I was in school. I'd literally go home and pretty much completely shut down until the next day. When I'd just Dredd going back in again because it was so exhausting.
This is so incredibly helpful for parents of young autistic kids. I often want to listen only to the perspective of autistic adults who have been there in this journey as kids ~ their experiences can be the best guide. I often feel so lost when trying to help my child simply because there is so much I just don’t know or understand about how he experiences the world from the inside out, so videos like this offer a window of understanding. As parents we need to know these things in order to better prepare our kids for life, but they are too young to express or explain these fundamental things. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video🙏
I had to go to 13 years of school. K-12. It was the most horrific experience I can ever recall. But it did make me go to college. I don't know how I got through it, I just did. I spent another 15 years going to college. Getting my Bachelors degree in History. I didn't spend all those years going to college, it was mearly having the ups and downs through it all. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 25. So you can imagine what that must have been like. I am trying to get my Masters in the future, maybe my PHD, we shall see. Thank you for al that you do. Sincerely, Michael
Another problem with public schooling is bullying; especially if the perpertrators are teachers, who in turn, contribute to students dropping out by making them feel unwelcomed and tawdry. I hated eighth grade with a passion due to this even though I was placed in an Independent Education Program although my mother was considering the option of enrolling me to a special school that cost about $40,000 annually. I dropped out of my local community college due to the poor scheduling and lack of resources for me to do my assignments, but I am trying to enroll in seminary school.
I'm autistic I wasn't diagnosed until recently after my daughter was everything your saying I completely understand and I don't want my daughter to go through this
Hi, I was homeschooled most of my life but was in public school 2 years (worse two years of my life), and all the generalizations you made were true in my case.
This was extremely helpful and hit the nail on the head on what my 5 year old seems to be experiencing. You've helped us tremendously with making out decision to homeschool
This video really resonates with me. I remember feeling absolutely exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally from every day activities that I noticed other kids weren't as affected by and I just shrugged it off as normal. I hated recess because of the chaos, lack of structure and shear unpredictability of it. Where do I play? Who do I play with? What if I can't make friends? I also played soccer which was much easier because there was structure. The coach would tell us exactly what to do, how to do it and when. EASY! Recess though…. dear lord what a nightmare.
My autistic son starts high school in January and we are going to homeschool him. He doesn't do well in noisy, high-stimulus environments. One of his brothers is also homeschooled due to ongoing health issues and it's worked out very well. The homeschooling provider organises regular social days too. A supervisor interacts with them while they do the online components, to answer questions and ensure they are actually doing what they're supposed to do, and they will ring us if his login session expires or he isn't doing his work. He once walked out of his old school and came home by himself and the teachers didn't even notice he was missing. The homeschool teacher is much more engaged with the student than the face-to-face teachers ever were. Every subject gives one assignment to be completed by the end of term, and it is always HUGE, involving a lot of research, which will suit my autistic son, he's a born researcher! So my advice to parents wanting to homeschool is to shop around for a good provider, and (in Australia at least) avoid the government-run programs like the plague. Some programs are run by brick-and-mortar schools, so if you can find one within easy travelling distance of your home, any social days they organise will be much easier to get to.
I liked recess back in elementary school - catching sixteen minutes of fresh air in between periods of reading and math - but I always focused on two or three specific friends. I would become very uncomfortable if they were not in the playground.
I can so relate to your descriptions of recess (and the other things, but mostly that)... Always the hardest aspect of school to cope with for me (still is even though I'm in my 40s now). My school also didn't allow to stay in class during recess, they locked the classroom between classes. It, was the one last drop and impossible challenge that made me go from "struggling" with the social aspects of school, to giving up, being unable to cope, in year 8 (and giving up on higher education for many years after)
Thank you for this! I often wonder what my son would think and feel if he were to look back at his school years in a painful way. I want him to thrive and is people like you that shine a light on what a bright future for him would look like!
You cannot be more right in what you say in this video everything you say in the video is 100% true this video has more value than gold itself very impressive
As I debated on whether or not to pull my 11 year old son out of public school, I worried about the social aspect. The way you describe the ability to compartmentalize to specialize in academics and social situations put the whole thing into perspective for me. The onslaught of social opportunity does not automatically equate to real skill building. We are out of the public school now and both of us are so much happier and at peace. Thank you for sharing your perspective. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!
I've been working in a school with an autistic centre in the UK helping pupils to access mainstream. Some will cope better than others but the good thing is that there is a quiet room and 3 rooms seperate from the main building. I obviously cannot speak from an autistic perspective but I think we're doing a good job :-)
Glad to see you're making videos again. Edit: Also, I can kind of relate to the experience in school part. But even though socializing is hard for me, I like to be around other people.
I ended up finishing highschool by correspondence through the homeschooling office of local education board. Events that precipitated the switch from brick and mortar are lengthy but suffice to say mental illness, my comorbid OCD mainly, came to a head and I couldn't go to regular school anymore. For myself the switch to correspondence was very beneficial. It allowed me to go through the material faster and without the constant repetition involved in conventional classroom setting. Social element was of course gone. And the environmental element of my own home was more conducive to learning without distraction. So, I think it's a worthwhile option to look at for students around junior high and highschool age who are having difficulties in the regular school system. I haven't a clue about early grade school.
You are absolutely amazing!!! Thank you for making this video! I just found you, but if you haven’t already done a video on ways that one could homeschool their child in a “good way” to make it a blessing to them and not a disaster, that would be awesome. I am not assuming that you know all of the answers to this question, but perhaps you may have some insight or tips that could be useful to those attempting to use homeschooling as a solution for their child.
I have Asd too and I have to say homeschooling is the best thing too do because we can focus more on what subject we may need help with. I can't agree even more.
Hey im Chris V. I have 32 years old from Houston Texas I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your videos and that you keep doing them and also that is impressive for me that you are still going to school i suffer from asperger as well but I no longer go to school and for me it will be hard later down the line ok well thanks for the videos have a nice day
Totally agree and I find very hard to explain it, I feel that the lack of empathy, and acceptance of who has different opinion or points of view still building big walls, it’s very challenging when people force things. For example have a break for a normal person is talk, laugh, have fun, but for ASD is get fresh air, go for walk, being alone, have space. Would be much better if everyone accepts other instead of try to change others.
Thank you for this the teachers at my daughters school keep pushing her to fit in ,not working always upset not settled now I've taken it upon myself to home educate her .
This is all true and Autistic people think more bright and their minds are more powerful and they or good with detail and can come up with good creative ideas and your very sensetive to noise textures and lights and you have no idea why until you find out later in your life I know this from the way I am with my Autism not all of them are the same and I hated going out in the school yard too it was hard
This summarises exactly what I've observed with my two ASD kids. No one seemed to get it. I homeschool my youngest now. After two years of school refusal he has completed Year 6 comfortably. My oldest attends Health School, for other reasons. 'Normal' school is not for everyone. I hope you all find a path that works for your child. (Don't give up, it can take a long time.)
I have thought about this a lot, and I am still on the fence about what to do with any future children I may have. I am personally glad that I went to school though. I wasn't diagnosed until my 20's and I guess I am biased in thinking that that was to my benefit. If I had been diagnosed while in school, and especially if my socializing skills were being evaluated by outside entities (teachers, my parents, ect.), I think I would have been really stressed by that. I also would likely have been told about my lowered chances of success in general, and even if it never would have been put into words, i would have sensed that i was expected to fail, and thus would have concluded i was not good enough, or less than. I would probably have lowered my expectations of myself as part of that process too, and the diagnoses would have been another thing i would have had to fight. Instead, as an adult, it is now a source of comfort, or information on why i have trouble with some things. It is insight into how to solve the problems, instead of an excuse to not even try. Because no one concretely told me I had social problems, I was able to by and large experiment and experience my social failures without an audience. I was highly aware of the failures, and i feel that having my parents and teachers witnessing and evaluating them would have made things so much worse. I think my parents knew, but I tried to downplay the worst of it to an extent. I also got along well with most of my teachers, much more so than my peers, and I think that helped mask the trouble i had with making friends. I can't imagine having put off dealing with my social difficulties until adolescence or adulthood. It wasn't until probably 10th grade that things really got better for me socially. From pre-k through 7th grade, i was mostly confused and quiet. When I got to the 8th grade, I finally was able to start what i call my social experimentation stage, and by 10th grade was able to keep and maintain positive acquaintanceships and friendships. That means it took 9 years of observation and interactions to have enough data to begin working out a system, which took another 2 years to refine to a decent level. I am technically still refining that same system as an adult. But i am biased towards the benefits of adult diagnoses and having the autonomy to figure out solutions to these problems without an audience. Maybe the support of a more directed plan and having caring adults in the know would have been beneficial, but i will never know in this lifetime. Maybe for my future kids, a combination of homeschooling and public schooling will be best. I think i would have possibly benefited from that. Also, as each child is different, so each one's solution will be different. Only time will tell. Sorry for the novel!
Thanks for your insights. This sounds like what my 7 yo son goes through at school, and the teachers there don’t get it. I’ve been raising the red flags for the past two years, not including pre-K, but they haven’t been getting it.
Oh God. Recess. Worst thing about school. I used to sit in a corner rubbing the leaves of a particular weed on the bricks of the wall. They really should have had me assessed for SOMETHING, even if, as I am told by the defenders of my abusers, "we didn't know about autism in the 80s". God!
Indeed, recess is the worst. I used to hide during them all, so I wouldn't be sent out into the playground with the other kids. I had hiding spots everywhere. Staircases that weren't used much, rooms that were mostly vacant... I knew them all! Gotta say, even now that we know so much more about autism, the point about recess being hell for us, most schools really don't get it. I have to explain in depth what the problem is to each school/teacher that I speak to, because most of the time, they'll look at me like it's the weirdest thing to talk about - because their problem with the child is in the classroom, most often, and they don't understand that the child's problems OUTSIDE the classroom are affecting the problems INSIDE the classroom too. They don't see what we're going through, so they don't get it. I will usually spend 5-10 minutes going in depth on this topic when speaking to schools.
honestly, people confuse me with their lack of understanding. I mean seriously, how dumb do you have to be to o not understand that?? you do really well from what I can tell at being polite about this. I really admire that in you. I don't think I could resist the temptation to scream "are you stupid?" at such people!
Ahh yes, totally agree. I smile to them and then come home and scream "are you stupid?" at a pillow which I have decided is them ;) School improved exponentially for me, when I found out from teachers that you can totally spend recess time in the library....
Please come speak to the teachers in the Inland Empire in California.They don't know anything. I feel so bad for the ASD children here. They are not getting a fair shake at all.
For children on the spectrum who find recess very stressful IEPs/504 plans can be implemented to help. Be it removing recess, taught plans for recess, or given assistance during recess. And if it is too stressful for the child to be with the general population they can be put in a self-contained room with other students who need it. Depending on where they live there might also be a specialized school that could be a good fit for them.
I can understand why homeschooling might be preferable for some children. Personally, though, I'm glad I wasn't. I found school to be a largely positive experience, despite my difficulties with socializing and sensory issues. (My main one was with fire alarms, which I was subject to once a month for drills -- I *hated* that sound!) I've always enjoyed learning, and I found being in a group environment added to the experience. There are a lot of things I learned in school that I don't think I would have learned had I stayed at home. However, I have to disagree with you about recess. Yes, it can be stressful (I was a hand-flapper as a kid and was often bullied for that), but recess can also give children with autism a chance to relax their brains and explore the world around them. Also, if you were like me and preferred to socialize with one best friend instead of a group, recess can give Aspie kids a chance to do that. I have fond memories of one friend in fourth grade whom I had a sort of Calvin & Hobbes-like relationship with -- we would often use recess as a time to make up stories and play imaginary games, and just act silly with each other. Sure, we sometimes were teased for it, but as long as we had each other it didn't seem to matter.
In the first grade when it was recess time i used to just get up from my chair and stand beside the table, looking at kids running around. it felt safer to not move
This is an important subject that I'm certain you have a unique and personal insight on, but I just want to point out that you're rather beautiful in vocal tone, cadence, and overall radiance.
As a person with asperger's looking back I know Homeschooling helped me out a lot but being religious isolationist homeschooled it made me so unable to deal with social reality I spent nearly a decade unable to make friends.
Hey, I remember you lol. It's good to see you again, Maya! This topic seems complicated, but ultimately I find homeschooling to be a bad idea. I think in a lot of cases it's taking the easy way out from a more professional environment that's more qualified to educate kids and help them become better accustomed to interacting with people. Not to mention parents often don't have any teaching skills and can put their own bias into whatever they're teaching their kids. They're less likely to get the facts. Religious parents teaching their kids that creationism is real and evolution is a myth is a perfect example.
I completely agree that parents are not always the best teachers, and the creationist homeschooling movement has been an example of homeschooling being used to indoctrinate rather than educate - but this would obviously be a case where I would be against the practise (I really do hope that is obvious). Homeschooling can involve private tutors and/or officially recommended curriculae. It also does not have to be full time. It is possible, at least in some countries, to split the time between attending school and being homeschooled. And where it is possible to do homeschooling in a helpful, academically sound way, I think it may be a good idea for some. At least, I do not think it should be dismissed outright as an attempt to isolate or indoctrinate the child, because in some cases, it may actually be the best thing we can do for the child's mental health.
"Professional environment that's more qualified to educate kids"... You definitely did not attend the schools I did. Can't think of many places less suited to educate kids. I attended 6 different schools and almost everthing I learned after the 4th class was outdated, useless crap or plainly wrong. Almost everything I learned I had to learn myself after school (including english, I'm not a native speaker). Not talking about social interaction - that's a completely different story. Most teachers I knew were not even close to capable of teaching anything beyond the most basic stuff or dealing with the social aspects of their job. They were either powertripping egomaniacs, disillusioned pseudohippies, oldschool tutors just waiting for retirement to finally happen or highly motivated hipsterlike people without a clue. Of all the teachers I ever knew there were only two that were really suited to the job. Maybe other countries have the knack of choosing better who's teaching their children but germany definitely is not among them.
heriberthuber54 Well, I'm speaking from an American perspective because that's where I live, although it's disheartening to hear that Germany's education system is also lousy, at least at the schools you went to. I always under the impression that Europe's was one of the best in the world, but I guess it must vary with country to country or school to school. Interestingly, a lot of what you described about your teachers is also the case here. I could tell you some stories lol. By no means am I saying that schools are perfect, far from it, but it's still better than homeschooling.
TheAnMish You bring up some good points here I didn't consider. I'm sure in some cases, homeschooling might be a better alternative to going to an actual school. It's just that here in the U.S. when kids are homeschooled, it's usually due to their parents being religious nutjobs who want them to stay ignorant of the world they live in.
Wow, great editing. Did it take too long this time? Edit: Oh, nevermind, I saw that you found someone to help you edit. It made it much easier to watch, thank you for the added effort.
I think this is why my daughter loves nature… she’s surrounded by sensory input that is natural, beneficial al. In a class it’s artificial and the sensory input isn’t edifying her in the way nature does.
I believe I say it in the video, but if not, I appreciate the chance to clarify. The 'meadow' analogy is one I have heard from Tony Attwood. It is not mine. :)
Yep, I remember you said you heard it from Tony Atwood, and that's cool... but I'm looking for the exact citation.... because I like the image and your description and want to use it in my research (but I can't really go ahead without the citation). Do you remember the full citation/ link to where you grabbed the trees-image from, by any chance?
I honestly don't know where the original citation would be from.. I've simply heard him talk about it and read it in (at least) the complete guide to asperger's, but I suspect it's in other books too. The images can be found via google.
I still suffer from some sort of PTSD resulting from my school experience between age 9 and 16. I would love to go back in time and spare myself the record though I was one of the best students in class. To this day, and I am 34, I seriously feel nothing but hatred for many of my school mates and especially teachers. Nobody should suffer the way I did having to take painkillers every day without even knowing what's wrong with me. Having a migration background and utterly stupid, inept parents were not helpful either. In my opinion I did nothing wrong and the neurotypicals acted like monsters which in fact they were. NT children are little sociopaths. I can very much understand some Autistic children lashing out in terrible ways. It's their way of coping in a warzone. Shame on you neurotypicals.
Hello, I already read: "The complete guide to Asperger's Syndrome". Something I noticed is that there isn't a difference between autism and Asperger's Syndrome on the book. Which book would you recommend me to know that?
Asperger's syndrome has become a part of the diagnosis "Autism Spectrum Disorder" in the new diagnostic manual DSM-5, even though they were separate diagnoses before. In the ICD system, they are still separate but they are expected to be updated in the new edition. In the book you refer to, it is the Asperger's range of autism which is discussed, and not the classic autism range. You can search for the differences online (though I would tend to avoid any autismspeaks sites). However, if you want a book, I cannot recommend any particular one that I have read, as I tend to stick to the Asperger's range myself - it is what I know and what I work with. Simon Baron-Cohen is a renowned expert, however, and he does have a book called "Autism and Asperger Syndrome". That may be an option? Again, I have not read it, so I can't promise anything, except that he is an expert that others look to. Uta Frith is another renowned expert, who has several books about autism, one of them called simply "Autism", but it does not outline differences. She also has a book called "Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" which is mostly about Asperger's, so far as I know, but may give you an idea of the differences. (This is also one of the books that most professionals I know have, and it is highly regarded.)
hi hello i have aspergers too. can you do me a favor of reading this book "the solution" by laurel mellin and tell me your opinions about it. because being an asperger i think this is the important book ever written..
As someone with ASD, I don't think homeschooling is a good idea for someone with ASD. While the environment might be stressful at best, it's important for a child with ASD to be around children their own age in order to learn social skills. I was picked on and hated by my classmates and when I was younger, fire drills were the bane of my existence, but I wouldn't have been as good as I am around ppl had I not learn to overcome my issues. Coddling does not make anyone better in the long run
I am not saying it's a good option for all children with ASD. It depends on so many factors. But there are options to socialize and learn social skills outside of a school environment. And what I think could be beneficial for some children with ASD is being able to learn social skills in a setting where they do not simultaneously have to focus on learning academic subjects (and vice versa). School can be a really good environment in some cases - I have really good memories from the smaller schools that I attended. But it can also be far too confusing and stressful depending on your profile. And attempting to prevent clinical stress, anxiety and depression in children is not coddling in my eyes, it is a smart move to improve quality of life long term (by avoiding additional diagnoses that affect the brain chemistry in the long run, reduce learning ability, and reduce ability to cope with the already existing difficulties). Social interaction with peers should of course not be ignored as an important factor in development. But it can be achieved through other environments, in my experience.
I belive the difference in maturity between children with Asperger and normal children is just to big. Special schools or small groups where they can be around other children with Asperger is better. If that isn't possible, being homeschooled or having a teacher coming to the home of the student would be the best option.
Excellent observation man I think the same thing I mean no one say something is easy if you just cheat yourself all the time in the end something or someone will stop you from doing this i too suffer from asperger and I know almost exactly how you feel man
A mothers perceptive on understanding my child and children. We decided in november 2017 that homeschooling was our last option. But my children do socialize with each other i have 4 and family , but we also have annual passes to disney, the zoo, and our science museum. which puts him or them in situations that arent calm but can be very stressful.which provides them with normal world scenarios .I by far coddle mine lol at least not all the time. but i understand them which i think as a parent changes the playing ground and knowing their limits. I think from your comment, and everyone elses is that children can still be very different and how the deal. but i do love your point of view bc that helps me again as a parent that you appreciated being put into those activities and value them .For me personally he does get into real world situations and knowing how to deal with the stress hes learning. I want more than anything in the world for him to grow up and be an active member of society.Hes 9 now but has been to normal school and got held back 3 times for 1st grade due to normal school. SO thats why we decided to do it. Sorry for tha long response but i love talking to people and getting their perspective on things especially when i can connect it to how my child thinks and understanding him.
For me, buzzing noises (such as those from fluorescent lamps, less so machine noises) are very distracting. High pitched noises (old train brakes, certain machines when they are strained etc) cause intense physical pain - so much that as a child, I would want to run away or scream. In the classroom specifically, fluorescent lamps, tapping noises (pencils, feet, keyboards etc) distract from the teacher. The worst is honestly group work (which there is A LOT of in Denmark's school systems, all the way through Uni, too), where first, tables and/or chairs will be moved around, and then trying to focus on 2-4 specific voices in the din of people talking, that stresses me out. It's not so much a sensitivity, but more that I can't filter out the sounds quickly enough, and I get overwhelmed and will feel a wave of fatigue some time after (anywhere between right after it stops to maybe 30 minutes after). If I can then sit in a quiet space for 5-30 minutes, I sometimes will feel fine again, but not always. Edit: Just in case it's interesting or relevant: My main (other) sensory sensitivities are: bright lights (which physically hurt, like needles in my eyes), I am also very wind and cold sensitive.. my eyes will water and my ears hurt much sooner than anyone else's, which is annoying, but easier to deal with, and I tend to need more layers of clothing. Tactile sensitivities with scratchy fabrics (meaning, when other people say it's soft, I still think it's scratchy :D), with wet or spongy things (I get nauseous touching wet hair and other things that will cling to my skin when wet). Taste/food, most types of kale also make me feel nauseous, I get easily overwhelmed by strong flavours (and strong smells, tbh), and am sensitive (both positively and negatively) towards the consistency of food, fx undercooked/overcooked.
TheAnMish I'm the same way with a lot of what you've said. But I will say that buzzing of lights relaxes me...weird I know. But food texture is a pretty big one for me. Also, the sounds of liquid pouring into a glass or cup is almost more than I can stand. Sometimes I have to hum to block out the sound if I can't get away from it...I've looked weird a number of times, as I'm sure you can imagine. Have you had any experience with people telling you that you seem unapproachable or just cold??
I disagree soundly that learning social rules is more important. Society is in a lot of ways rotten and it has tried to destroy itself multiple times. Social and political rules can and in some cases should be changed. Physical laws are completely non negotiable.
Jeg kan lide dansk. I know two Danish words I fancy: *lagom* and *hygge* . Us Dutch people have a lot of similarities I think -both externally and internally- to our northern neighbors (which isn't that weird considering our shared heritage/ ancestors [the Ingaevones]). Anyways you seem happy, hope you'll be making more videos for your fellow internet-bound aspies
You are going to be kept very busy analysing these issues more an more as the rates of these mental and brain function problems climb. You do know the scientific links between these horrible types of diseases and VACCINES. I would love to see you have a talk with Mike Adams.
1) It is not a disease. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is one that exists on a spectrum from perfectly functional, even in some ways superior to those without it, to completely dependent on others in order to survive. In those cases, other diagnoses tend to be present, too. 2) Vaccines.... no link has been found in any study where the methods have not been thoroughly torn apart by peer review. The factors (and these are correlations for the most part, though some appear to be causative) that have been identified are things like: Genetics (genetic mutations, over 300 different genes have been identified, none simple enough to provide any real answer), in utero environment (meaning exposure to certain hormone levels and whatnot, not all stuff the mother can actually do anything about), and birth complications. But the point is, we actually don't know what causes autism. It's a fucking complex issue, and walking about screaming "vaccines!" isn't helping anyone find any answers. 3) Stop treating us like we're a problem you have to deal with or cure. You wouldn't have half the inventions in your life if it weren't for us, and seeing as we constitute about 1% of the population, removing us would change the landscape quite significantly. And considering our tendencies to become specialists, experts and artists, I'm gonna guess it won't be for the better.
I know this is an older video, but I am a neurotypical mom homeschooling my 6 year old daughter who is autistic. It’s hard right now because we struggle constantly with trying to learn how to follow simple instructions which often results in tears. I know it’s stuff she knows and is capable of doing. She just wants to do things her way, which a lot of times we can accommodate but sometimes, it’s important to follow instruction. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth it to homeschool. But I know public school is a terrible fit for her. This is encouraging to know that our current struggle is worth it for her.
Parent child interaction therapy could help. It’s most effective for kids up to 7 years old. You can search it online.
Games help my daughter with this. She’s still pretty forgetful, like myself, but she has had lots of progress since we first began homeschooling a few years ago. Card games like uno, red light/green light, Simon says, and she made up a game called “Task List” where one of us makes a short list to follow in order and try to complete them. Well wishes for you and your daughter’s homeschool journey!❤
I'm in a similar boat. My 6 year old autistic child who only knows about 3 dozen words, which mostly are names of animals, needs to go to school. I'm still deciding what to do.
The period in which I was receiving my education from a hired tutor in the library down the street instead of school is the source of some of my best educational memories. With so few sources of sensory overload, and so much opportunity to immerse myself in research projects tailored around my special interests.
Wish I could have had that in the 1970s and 80s back when I was in school. I'd literally go home and pretty much completely shut down until the next day. When I'd just Dredd going back in again because it was so exhausting.
This is so incredibly helpful for parents of young autistic kids. I often want to listen only to the perspective of autistic adults who have been there in this journey as kids ~ their experiences can be the best guide. I often feel so lost when trying to help my child simply because there is so much I just don’t know or understand about how he experiences the world from the inside out, so videos like this offer a window of understanding. As parents we need to know these things in order to better prepare our kids for life, but they are too young to express or explain these fundamental things. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video🙏
I had to go to 13 years of school. K-12. It was the most horrific experience I can ever recall. But it did make me go to college. I don't know how I got through it, I just did. I spent another 15 years going to college. Getting my Bachelors degree in History. I didn't spend all those years going to college, it was mearly having the ups and downs through it all. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 25. So you can imagine what that must have been like. I am trying to get my Masters in the future, maybe my PHD, we shall see. Thank you for al that you do. Sincerely, Michael
Another problem with public schooling is bullying; especially if the perpertrators are teachers, who in turn, contribute to students dropping out by making them feel unwelcomed and tawdry. I hated eighth grade with a passion due to this even though I was placed in an Independent Education Program although my mother was considering the option of enrolling me to a special school that cost about $40,000 annually. I dropped out of my local community college due to the poor scheduling and lack of resources for me to do my assignments, but I am trying to enroll in seminary school.
I'm autistic I wasn't diagnosed until recently after my daughter was everything your saying I completely understand and I don't want my daughter to go through this
Hi, I was homeschooled most of my life but was in public school 2 years (worse two years of my life), and all the generalizations you made were true in my case.
This was extremely helpful and hit the nail on the head on what my 5 year old seems to be experiencing. You've helped us tremendously with making out decision to homeschool
She did. Planning to homeschool my 10 year old and just want him to gain thr most with also life skills
Exactly the same here with our 5 year old and making our decision. It makes so much sense now. This was super helpful!
This video really resonates with me. I remember feeling absolutely exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally from every day activities that I noticed other kids weren't as affected by and I just shrugged it off as normal. I hated recess because of the chaos, lack of structure and shear unpredictability of it. Where do I play? Who do I play with? What if I can't make friends? I also played soccer which was much easier because there was structure. The coach would tell us exactly what to do, how to do it and when. EASY! Recess though…. dear lord what a nightmare.
Lunch, recess, and any other unstructured times at school were my worst nightmares
Not seen a video from you in about a million years! You look much happier now, so I guess you are less tired. Less tired is good.
My autistic son starts high school in January and we are going to homeschool him. He doesn't do well in noisy, high-stimulus environments. One of his brothers is also homeschooled due to ongoing health issues and it's worked out very well. The homeschooling provider organises regular social days too. A supervisor interacts with them while they do the online components, to answer questions and ensure they are actually doing what they're supposed to do, and they will ring us if his login session expires or he isn't doing his work. He once walked out of his old school and came home by himself and the teachers didn't even notice he was missing. The homeschool teacher is much more engaged with the student than the face-to-face teachers ever were. Every subject gives one assignment to be completed by the end of term, and it is always HUGE, involving a lot of research, which will suit my autistic son, he's a born researcher! So my advice to parents wanting to homeschool is to shop around for a good provider, and (in Australia at least) avoid the government-run programs like the plague. Some programs are run by brick-and-mortar schools, so if you can find one within easy travelling distance of your home, any social days they organise will be much easier to get to.
Oh my gosh, the part about Recess couldn't be more accurate
I liked recess back in elementary school - catching sixteen minutes of fresh air in between periods of reading and math - but I always focused on two or three specific friends. I would become very uncomfortable if they were not in the playground.
I can so relate to your descriptions of recess (and the other things, but mostly that)... Always the hardest aspect of school to cope with for me (still is even though I'm in my 40s now). My school also didn't allow to stay in class during recess, they locked the classroom between classes. It, was the one last drop and impossible challenge that made me go from "struggling" with the social aspects of school, to giving up, being unable to cope, in year 8 (and giving up on higher education for many years after)
Canine Saga is probably because of the generation you grow up in too.
Thank you for breaking it down so beautifully. I am homeschooling my 10 year old with autism this year
Thank you for this! I often wonder what my son would think and feel if he were to look back at his school years in a painful way. I want him to thrive and is people like you that shine a light on what a bright future for him would look like!
I'll use this video to further the understanding my wife has of how the world looks through my eyes.
Thank you for sharing!
...and welcome back!
You cannot be more right in what you say in this video everything you say in the video is 100% true this video has more value than gold itself very impressive
loved the analogy with the bush/tree! nice to see you back on youtube 🙏 u look great
Such a great soothing voice. I like to put this one just before i fall asleep
As I debated on whether or not to pull my 11 year old son out of public school, I worried about the social aspect. The way you describe the ability to compartmentalize to specialize in academics and social situations put the whole thing into perspective for me. The onslaught of social opportunity does not automatically equate to real skill building. We are out of the public school now and both of us are so much happier and at peace. Thank you for sharing your perspective. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!
Was so happy to see you back I just liked the video after 1 sec lol.
I've been working in a school with an autistic centre in the UK helping pupils to access mainstream. Some will cope better than others but the good thing is that there is a quiet room and 3 rooms seperate from the main building. I obviously cannot speak from an autistic perspective but I think we're doing a good job :-)
Glad to see you're making videos again. Edit: Also, I can kind of relate to the experience in school part. But even though socializing is hard for me, I like to be around other people.
Don't ever stop making these videos!
So very glad to have you back. I miss your insight and words. Never been diagnosed but you tell me all about me with every video. Thank you.
Thank you for all you're doing for autistic community.
I love this analogy, and it’s so true of my 9 year old daughter.
Another jewel from someone who has long helped me accept myself as who I am, not some put up Faux NT. Thanks and god bless you.
Awesome video!!!!
I ended up finishing highschool by correspondence through the homeschooling office of local education board. Events that precipitated the switch from brick and mortar are lengthy but suffice to say mental illness, my comorbid OCD mainly, came to a head and I couldn't go to regular school anymore. For myself the switch to correspondence was very beneficial. It allowed me to go through the material faster and without the constant repetition involved in conventional classroom setting. Social element was of course gone. And the environmental element of my own home was more conducive to learning without distraction.
So, I think it's a worthwhile option to look at for students around junior high and highschool age who are having difficulties in the regular school system. I haven't a clue about early grade school.
I recently stumbled upon your channel and started watching your video's, this upload really surprised me.
You are absolutely amazing!!! Thank you for making this video! I just found you, but if you haven’t already done a video on ways that one could homeschool their child in a “good way” to make it a blessing to them and not a disaster, that would be awesome. I am not assuming that you know all of the answers to this question, but perhaps you may have some insight or tips that could be useful to those attempting to use homeschooling as a solution for their child.
I have Asd too and I have to say homeschooling is the best thing too do because we can focus more on what subject we may need help with. I can't agree even more.
Hey im Chris V. I have 32 years old from Houston Texas I just wanted to tell you that I enjoy your videos and that you keep doing them and also that is impressive for me that you are still going to school i suffer from asperger as well but I no longer go to school and for me it will be hard later down the line ok well thanks for the videos have a nice day
Damn, you hit the nail on the head here !
Welcome back. I was just wondering where you were at and watching some of your old videos earlier this week!
Totally agree and I find very hard to explain it, I feel that the lack of empathy, and acceptance of who has different opinion or points of view still building big walls, it’s very challenging when people force things. For example have a break for a normal person is talk, laugh, have fun, but for ASD is get fresh air, go for walk, being alone, have space. Would be much better if everyone accepts other instead of try to change others.
Thank you for this the teachers at my daughters school keep pushing her to fit in ,not working always upset not settled now I've taken it upon myself to home educate her .
This is all true and Autistic people think more bright and their minds are more powerful and they or good with detail and can come up with good creative ideas and your very sensetive to noise textures and lights and you have no idea why until you find out later in your life I know this from the way I am with my Autism not all of them are the same and I hated going out in the school yard too it was hard
This summarises exactly what I've observed with my two ASD kids. No one seemed to get it.
I homeschool my youngest now. After two years of school refusal he has completed Year 6 comfortably.
My oldest attends Health School, for other reasons.
'Normal' school is not for everyone. I hope you all find a path that works for your child. (Don't give up, it can take a long time.)
I have thought about this a lot, and I am still on the fence about what to do with any future children I may have. I am personally glad that I went to school though. I wasn't diagnosed until my 20's and I guess I am biased in thinking that that was to my benefit. If I had been diagnosed while in school, and especially if my socializing skills were being evaluated by outside entities (teachers, my parents, ect.), I think I would have been really stressed by that. I also would likely have been told about my lowered chances of success in general, and even if it never would have been put into words, i would have sensed that i was expected to fail, and thus would have concluded i was not good enough, or less than. I would probably have lowered my expectations of myself as part of that process too, and the diagnoses would have been another thing i would have had to fight. Instead, as an adult, it is now a source of comfort, or information on why i have trouble with some things. It is insight into how to solve the problems, instead of an excuse to not even try.
Because no one concretely told me I had social problems, I was able to by and large experiment and experience my social failures without an audience. I was highly aware of the failures, and i feel that having my parents and teachers witnessing and evaluating them would have made things so much worse. I think my parents knew, but I tried to downplay the worst of it to an extent. I also got along well with most of my teachers, much more so than my peers, and I think that helped mask the trouble i had with making friends.
I can't imagine having put off dealing with my social difficulties until adolescence or adulthood. It wasn't until probably 10th grade that things really got better for me socially. From pre-k through 7th grade, i was mostly confused and quiet. When I got to the 8th grade, I finally was able to start what i call my social experimentation stage, and by 10th grade was able to keep and maintain positive acquaintanceships and friendships. That means it took 9 years of observation and interactions to have enough data to begin working out a system, which took another 2 years to refine to a decent level. I am technically still refining that same system as an adult.
But i am biased towards the benefits of adult diagnoses and having the autonomy to figure out solutions to these problems without an audience. Maybe the support of a more directed plan and having caring adults in the know would have been beneficial, but i will never know in this lifetime. Maybe for my future kids, a combination of homeschooling and public schooling will be best. I think i would have possibly benefited from that. Also, as each child is different, so each one's solution will be different. Only time will tell. Sorry for the novel!
Great video; good summary!
Thanks for your insights. This sounds like what my 7 yo son goes through at school, and the teachers there don’t get it. I’ve been raising the red flags for the past two years, not including pre-K, but they haven’t been getting it.
Oh God. Recess. Worst thing about school. I used to sit in a corner rubbing the leaves of a particular weed on the bricks of the wall. They really should have had me assessed for SOMETHING, even if, as I am told by the defenders of my abusers, "we didn't know about autism in the 80s". God!
Indeed, recess is the worst. I used to hide during them all, so I wouldn't be sent out into the playground with the other kids. I had hiding spots everywhere. Staircases that weren't used much, rooms that were mostly vacant... I knew them all!
Gotta say, even now that we know so much more about autism, the point about recess being hell for us, most schools really don't get it. I have to explain in depth what the problem is to each school/teacher that I speak to, because most of the time, they'll look at me like it's the weirdest thing to talk about - because their problem with the child is in the classroom, most often, and they don't understand that the child's problems OUTSIDE the classroom are affecting the problems INSIDE the classroom too. They don't see what we're going through, so they don't get it. I will usually spend 5-10 minutes going in depth on this topic when speaking to schools.
honestly, people confuse me with their lack of understanding. I mean seriously, how dumb do you have to be to o not understand that?? you do really well from what I can tell at being polite about this. I really admire that in you. I don't think I could resist the temptation to scream "are you stupid?" at such people!
Ahh yes, totally agree. I smile to them and then come home and scream "are you stupid?" at a pillow which I have decided is them ;)
School improved exponentially for me, when I found out from teachers that you can totally spend recess time in the library....
Annalise O'Connor Oooh. Libraries!
Please come speak to the teachers in the Inland Empire in California.They don't know anything. I feel so bad for the ASD children here. They are not getting a fair shake at all.
For children on the spectrum who find recess very stressful IEPs/504 plans can be implemented to help. Be it removing recess, taught plans for recess, or given assistance during recess. And if it is too stressful for the child to be with the general population they can be put in a self-contained room with other students who need it. Depending on where they live there might also be a specialized school that could be a good fit for them.
I can understand why homeschooling might be preferable for some children. Personally, though, I'm glad I wasn't. I found school to be a largely positive experience, despite my difficulties with socializing and sensory issues. (My main one was with fire alarms, which I was subject to once a month for drills -- I *hated* that sound!) I've always enjoyed learning, and I found being in a group environment added to the experience. There are a lot of things I learned in school that I don't think I would have learned had I stayed at home.
However, I have to disagree with you about recess. Yes, it can be stressful (I was a hand-flapper as a kid and was often bullied for that), but recess can also give children with autism a chance to relax their brains and explore the world around them. Also, if you were like me and preferred to socialize with one best friend instead of a group, recess can give Aspie kids a chance to do that. I have fond memories of one friend in fourth grade whom I had a sort of Calvin & Hobbes-like relationship with -- we would often use recess as a time to make up stories and play imaginary games, and just act silly with each other. Sure, we sometimes were teased for it, but as long as we had each other it didn't seem to matter.
Yay Maja has new video :) :D :P
In the first grade when it was recess time i used to just get up from my chair and stand beside the table, looking at kids running around. it felt safer to not move
I'm surprised u didn't just float away. U have such a cool channel!
Great video!
Thank you for sharing
Hi Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts
You've uploaded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
This is an important subject that I'm certain you have a unique and personal insight on, but I just want to point out that you're rather beautiful in vocal tone, cadence, and overall radiance.
As a person with asperger's looking back I know Homeschooling helped me out a lot but being religious isolationist homeschooled it made me so unable to deal with social reality I spent nearly a decade unable to make friends.
Hey, I remember you lol. It's good to see you again, Maya! This topic seems complicated, but ultimately I find homeschooling to be a bad idea. I think in a lot of cases it's taking the easy way out from a more professional environment that's more qualified to educate kids and help them become better accustomed to interacting with people. Not to mention parents often don't have any teaching skills and can put their own bias into whatever they're teaching their kids. They're less likely to get the facts. Religious parents teaching their kids that creationism is real and evolution is a myth is a perfect example.
I completely agree that parents are not always the best teachers, and the creationist homeschooling movement has been an example of homeschooling being used to indoctrinate rather than educate - but this would obviously be a case where I would be against the practise (I really do hope that is obvious).
Homeschooling can involve private tutors and/or officially recommended curriculae. It also does not have to be full time. It is possible, at least in some countries, to split the time between attending school and being homeschooled. And where it is possible to do homeschooling in a helpful, academically sound way, I think it may be a good idea for some. At least, I do not think it should be dismissed outright as an attempt to isolate or indoctrinate the child, because in some cases, it may actually be the best thing we can do for the child's mental health.
"Professional environment that's more qualified to educate kids"... You definitely did not attend the schools I did.
Can't think of many places less suited to educate kids.
I attended 6 different schools and almost everthing I learned after the 4th class was outdated, useless crap or plainly wrong. Almost everything I learned I had to learn myself after school (including english, I'm not a native speaker).
Not talking about social interaction - that's a completely different story.
Most teachers I knew were not even close to capable of teaching anything beyond the most basic stuff or dealing with the social aspects of their job. They were either powertripping egomaniacs, disillusioned pseudohippies, oldschool tutors just waiting for retirement to finally happen or highly motivated hipsterlike people without a clue. Of all the teachers I ever knew there were only two that were really suited to the job.
Maybe other countries have the knack of choosing better who's teaching their children but germany definitely is not among them.
heriberthuber54 Well, I'm speaking from an American perspective because that's where I live, although it's disheartening to hear that Germany's education system is also lousy, at least at the schools you went to. I always under the impression that Europe's was one of the best in the world, but I guess it must vary with country to country or school to school. Interestingly, a lot of what you described about your teachers is also the case here. I could tell you some stories lol. By no means am I saying that schools are perfect, far from it, but it's still better than homeschooling.
TheAnMish You bring up some good points here I didn't consider. I'm sure in some cases, homeschooling might be a better alternative to going to an actual school. It's just that here in the U.S. when kids are homeschooled, it's usually due to their parents being religious nutjobs who want them to stay ignorant of the world they live in.
Wow, great editing.
Did it take too long this time?
Edit: Oh, nevermind, I saw that you found someone to help you edit. It made it much easier to watch, thank you for the added effort.
Thank you :-)
Nice to see you....
thanks 4 the new video.
I think this is why my daughter loves nature… she’s surrounded by sensory input that is natural, beneficial al. In a class it’s artificial and the sensory input isn’t edifying her in the way nature does.
You are a good influence
How did you come up with the "meadow" analogy? I love it! Would love to reference it.
I believe I say it in the video, but if not, I appreciate the chance to clarify. The 'meadow' analogy is one I have heard from Tony Attwood. It is not mine. :)
Yep, I remember you said you heard it from Tony Atwood, and that's cool... but I'm looking for the exact citation.... because I like the image and your description and want to use it in my research (but I can't really go ahead without the citation). Do you remember the full citation/ link to where you grabbed the trees-image from, by any chance?
I honestly don't know where the original citation would be from.. I've simply heard him talk about it and read it in (at least) the complete guide to asperger's, but I suspect it's in other books too. The images can be found via google.
Yep. Hated recess.
I still suffer from some sort of PTSD resulting from my school experience between age 9 and 16. I would love to go back in time and spare myself the record though I was one of the best students in class. To this day, and I am 34, I seriously feel nothing but hatred for many of my school mates and especially teachers. Nobody should suffer the way I did having to take painkillers every day without even knowing what's wrong with me. Having a migration background and utterly stupid, inept parents were not helpful either. In my opinion I did nothing wrong and the neurotypicals acted like monsters which in fact they were. NT children are little sociopaths. I can very much understand some Autistic children lashing out in terrible ways. It's their way of coping in a warzone. Shame on you neurotypicals.
Hello, I already read: "The complete guide to Asperger's Syndrome". Something I noticed is that there isn't a difference between autism and Asperger's Syndrome on the book. Which book would you recommend me to know that?
Asperger's syndrome has become a part of the diagnosis "Autism Spectrum Disorder" in the new diagnostic manual DSM-5, even though they were separate diagnoses before. In the ICD system, they are still separate but they are expected to be updated in the new edition.
In the book you refer to, it is the Asperger's range of autism which is discussed, and not the classic autism range. You can search for the differences online (though I would tend to avoid any autismspeaks sites). However, if you want a book, I cannot recommend any particular one that I have read, as I tend to stick to the Asperger's range myself - it is what I know and what I work with.
Simon Baron-Cohen is a renowned expert, however, and he does have a book called "Autism and Asperger Syndrome". That may be an option? Again, I have not read it, so I can't promise anything, except that he is an expert that others look to.
Uta Frith is another renowned expert, who has several books about autism, one of them called simply "Autism", but it does not outline differences. She also has a book called "Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" which is mostly about Asperger's, so far as I know, but may give you an idea of the differences. (This is also one of the books that most professionals I know have, and it is highly regarded.)
Name's Andy btw
hi hello i have aspergers too. can you do me a favor of reading this book "the solution" by laurel mellin and tell me your opinions about it. because being an asperger i think this is the important book ever written..
As someone with ASD, I don't think homeschooling is a good idea for someone with ASD. While the environment might be stressful at best, it's important for a child with ASD to be around children their own age in order to learn social skills. I was picked on and hated by my classmates and when I was younger, fire drills were the bane of my existence, but I wouldn't have been as good as I am around ppl had I not learn to overcome my issues. Coddling does not make anyone better in the long run
I am not saying it's a good option for all children with ASD. It depends on so many factors. But there are options to socialize and learn social skills outside of a school environment. And what I think could be beneficial for some children with ASD is being able to learn social skills in a setting where they do not simultaneously have to focus on learning academic subjects (and vice versa).
School can be a really good environment in some cases - I have really good memories from the smaller schools that I attended. But it can also be far too confusing and stressful depending on your profile. And attempting to prevent clinical stress, anxiety and depression in children is not coddling in my eyes, it is a smart move to improve quality of life long term (by avoiding additional diagnoses that affect the brain chemistry in the long run, reduce learning ability, and reduce ability to cope with the already existing difficulties).
Social interaction with peers should of course not be ignored as an important factor in development. But it can be achieved through other environments, in my experience.
I belive the difference in maturity between children with Asperger and normal children is just to big. Special schools or small groups where they can be around other children with Asperger is better. If that isn't possible, being homeschooled or having a teacher coming to the home of the student would be the best option.
TheAnMish: Tactful and very well thought out answer to a subjective opinion. Like it :-)
Excellent observation man I think the same thing I mean no one say something is easy if you just cheat yourself all the time in the end something or someone will stop you from doing this i too suffer from asperger and I know almost exactly how you feel man
A mothers perceptive on understanding my child and children. We decided in november 2017 that homeschooling was our last option. But my children do socialize with each other i have 4 and family , but we also have annual passes to disney, the zoo, and our science museum. which puts him or them in situations that arent calm but can be very stressful.which provides them with normal world scenarios .I by far coddle mine lol at least not all the time. but i understand them which i think as a parent changes the playing ground and knowing their limits. I think from your comment, and everyone elses is that children can still be very different and how the deal. but i do love your point of view bc that helps me again as a parent that you appreciated being put into those activities and value them .For me personally he does get into real world situations and knowing how to deal with the stress hes learning. I want more than anything in the world for him to grow up and be an active member of society.Hes 9 now but has been to normal school and got held back 3 times for 1st grade due to normal school. SO thats why we decided to do it. Sorry for tha long response but i love talking to people and getting their perspective on things especially when i can connect it to how my child thinks and understanding him.
Holy shit a new vid!!
Ever heard of beauty techniques?
my son who was asperger went to Normal school but the other kids yels him
I also watch a lot of your vids too. Don't mean to sound like a creep
Got a potential girlfriend. I'm also aspiring to become a pro bowler
Were there ever certain SOUNDS that effected/affected you??
For me, buzzing noises (such as those from fluorescent lamps, less so machine noises) are very distracting. High pitched noises (old train brakes, certain machines when they are strained etc) cause intense physical pain - so much that as a child, I would want to run away or scream.
In the classroom specifically, fluorescent lamps, tapping noises (pencils, feet, keyboards etc) distract from the teacher. The worst is honestly group work (which there is A LOT of in Denmark's school systems, all the way through Uni, too), where first, tables and/or chairs will be moved around, and then trying to focus on 2-4 specific voices in the din of people talking, that stresses me out. It's not so much a sensitivity, but more that I can't filter out the sounds quickly enough, and I get overwhelmed and will feel a wave of fatigue some time after (anywhere between right after it stops to maybe 30 minutes after). If I can then sit in a quiet space for 5-30 minutes, I sometimes will feel fine again, but not always.
Edit: Just in case it's interesting or relevant: My main (other) sensory sensitivities are: bright lights (which physically hurt, like needles in my eyes), I am also very wind and cold sensitive.. my eyes will water and my ears hurt much sooner than anyone else's, which is annoying, but easier to deal with, and I tend to need more layers of clothing. Tactile sensitivities with scratchy fabrics (meaning, when other people say it's soft, I still think it's scratchy :D), with wet or spongy things (I get nauseous touching wet hair and other things that will cling to my skin when wet). Taste/food, most types of kale also make me feel nauseous, I get easily overwhelmed by strong flavours (and strong smells, tbh), and am sensitive (both positively and negatively) towards the consistency of food, fx undercooked/overcooked.
TheAnMish I'm the same way with a lot of what you've said. But I will say that buzzing of lights relaxes me...weird I know. But food texture is a pretty big one for me. Also, the sounds of liquid pouring into a glass or cup is almost more than I can stand. Sometimes I have to hum to block out the sound if I can't get away from it...I've looked weird a number of times, as I'm sure you can imagine. Have you had any experience with people telling you that you seem unapproachable or just cold??
TheAnMish And thanks for getting back to me so fast.
I disagree soundly that learning social rules is more important. Society is in a lot of ways rotten and it has tried to destroy itself multiple times. Social and political rules can and in some cases should be changed. Physical laws are completely non negotiable.
Are you Dutch? ^^
No, Danish. :)
Jeg kan lide dansk. I know two Danish words I fancy: *lagom* and *hygge* . Us Dutch people have a lot of similarities I think -both externally and internally- to our northern neighbors (which isn't that weird considering our shared heritage/ ancestors [the Ingaevones]). Anyways you seem happy, hope you'll be making more videos for your fellow internet-bound aspies
Scrap that I just found out lagom is Swedish...
You are going to be kept very busy analysing these issues more an more as the rates of these mental and brain function problems climb. You do know the scientific links between these horrible types of diseases and VACCINES. I would love to see you have a talk with Mike Adams.
1) It is not a disease. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is one that exists on a spectrum from perfectly functional, even in some ways superior to those without it, to completely dependent on others in order to survive. In those cases, other diagnoses tend to be present, too.
2) Vaccines.... no link has been found in any study where the methods have not been thoroughly torn apart by peer review. The factors (and these are correlations for the most part, though some appear to be causative) that have been identified are things like: Genetics (genetic mutations, over 300 different genes have been identified, none simple enough to provide any real answer), in utero environment (meaning exposure to certain hormone levels and whatnot, not all stuff the mother can actually do anything about), and birth complications.
But the point is, we actually don't know what causes autism. It's a fucking complex issue, and walking about screaming "vaccines!" isn't helping anyone find any answers.
3) Stop treating us like we're a problem you have to deal with or cure. You wouldn't have half the inventions in your life if it weren't for us, and seeing as we constitute about 1% of the population, removing us would change the landscape quite significantly. And considering our tendencies to become specialists, experts and artists, I'm gonna guess it won't be for the better.