I think it is the helping profession syndrome---- even if you have demonstrated abilities they often still treat you as though you have less abilities.
Also the teachers carefully took the time to teach me how to cook, clean, wash clothes, shop, and take public transit,
Yes I agree here which is why I have always been reluctant to reveal any diagnosis as I seen it happen to my son when he was diagnosed by a "well meaning" school even though he is very functional apart from the anxiety / social skills / obsession. They put him in such a class while completely ignoring his "gifts" (sorry don't wish to offend anyone here but some of us do have dramatic gifts) All the while "teaching" him basics that he already knew.
This entailed maths (a gift of his) being taught down to a lower level. Ridiculous. I took charge and changed schools, but that was another exercise in frustration.
Its only by patient work by me his father, that he has been able to through off this "label" and become mainstream.
I must say, just like atypical I evaded "capture" by the system as I'm quite functional and top of class type marks and worked hard from the earliest age to overcome my shortcomings.
At least me and my son understand each other perfectly, although my NT wife and daughter think we are both a bit weird.
OK I'm on the autistic spectrum. But all I need is a little help (and the same goes for my son) in the area of social relationships, finding our way around new places, and the ability for time out from anxiety / panic attacks which thankfully are rare. Apart from that, little else. Is that too much to ask for? in a career? Just because we are on the spectrum doesn't mean we have to be treated like invalids with some contagious disease which is the impression I sometimes get from various "professionals' to this day.
I always had problems in stats where you had to describe in general terms the results of say, an annova analysis along the lines of possibly this indicates due to scatterring ..... Using the formal rules of correlation between populations (variances) was much easier.
That song drives my wife nuts seeing her name is Grace. micgrace (Michael & Grace)
You name it she gets it. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound ........ (she really hates that song) Lets say Grace..........
[quote=micgrace]
Yeah, you do need a little bit of help. From me. Your comment in another thread about "aspies being gifted in academics" felt like a broad sweeping statement, and it stings when someone like me--the opposite of the stereotyped Aspie Math genius with a 3.8 GPA at all times--has to read it.
Live and learn. You can't say that aspies are academic geniuses anymore than you can say NTs are.
No definately not a broad sweeping statement it does apply to me but only in this narrow mathematical/science area and not in the language area where my GPA is lucky to crack a 4. I do have a bit of a problem when transferring words to paper and may sometimes make unintentional errors. My apologies.
I know I can't do a supermarket job.
I could not either. I could not be a waitress either. Ugh!
I know I can't do a supermarket job. I tried. I left. I tried working in a smaller shop and got fired. For years I was underemployed and people would say to me "why don't you get a little job at the supermarket?" and when I tried to explain that it would do my head in and I didn't know how other people coped with those jobs and that I was different, they'd get really angry and upset with me and say "Do you think working in a supermarket is beneath you?" and assume it was some kind of ego trip and that I preferred unemployment.
Well meaning but obviously have little understanding. I get that too as a male. Surely you could get a little job at the local servo? Or do some tutoring out of hours or something? I will reply "my studies are full time if I did anything else on top I would fail". That seems to work.
NOTE: I can't quite do my current university studies to the same load as a "normal" (whatever that is) person. And will go into panic / meltdown mode if too much sensory overload. Sigh.
Interestingly I like variety in work. But I still like a fixed routine. Contradictions. However when the sensory overload gets too much meltdown / panic attack. That wish for variety may come from having a rather over active intellect (million things at once struggling to get to the surface).
I can't ever be sure if its me or the aspies talking so I can do an excellent resume, excellent interview (all rehersed) but eventually stuff up on the social side if too much interaction is called for. The detail memory I have put to good use in coming up with quite a few different businesses as well as in some jobs.
I actually prefer my own business as you can be whatever you want to be. But for now thanks to losing one a little while ago its time to give the academia route a go. (18 months left).
Watching my NT wife who was hopeless at school and manouvering her through the university system to get her in. After failing a few times she has now made up for it and is passing Business school. Its not easy. Keep it up, but check out other possibilities, there are many aka Branson etc.
My husband just called me. He is at work flipping through a magazine and he sees:
Some moments in time you simply don't forget. For the parents of Richie Clolery, it was when their son - born with Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder - cooked his own meal at the group home provided by YAI. Richie's self-esteem has boomed. He holds a job at a supermarket and has his own bank account. For over 50 years, YAI has provided a place of hope for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities. YAI. Building brighter futures.
https://secure2.convio.net/yai/site/SPag...nding_page
I am not sure what to say other than that I believe this is a misrepresentation of an "average" Aspie. Maybe I am wrong here...
http://www.yai.org/
Are you talking about this dude?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRpoXp_AMCM
And, yes, I've heard of YAI.