Hello everyone and welcome back to Deeper Waters where we are diving into the ocean of truth. I stated that I would begin another project today. In case you don’t know, April is Autism Awareness Month. This month, I’d like to give an inside look at Asperger’s as an Aspie and as one married to an Aspie. Note that I am not claiming to be an authority for all people on this topic, but just giving my perspective on what this condition is like.
To start this month, I’d just like to say to be aware. This is a real condition and more and more Americans are having this condition. There are various levels of ability on the spectrum and no two people are alike. Some people are very much incapacitated by this condition. Some aren’t. It varies. The rule of thumb has been that if you’ve meet one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.
I like to refer to the condition as an invisible condition. I have a friend who is a member of my church who has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheelchair. Naturally, you don’t walk up to him and challenge him to a foot race. That would just be totally uncalled for. However, when you look at people like my wife and I, you cannot tell just by looking that there is anything different about us. Perhaps a skilled examiner could tell by looking at us or looking at photographs, but chances are, you and most others are not skilled examiners. (I recognize however some could be who read this blog on a google search.)
Thus, a lot of times people can think we’re rude as an example. Now I won’t deny that there are times that we can be rude, but why assume that prima facie just because we don’t play the same game as everyone else plays? It is a real challenge for us and a lot of times, the way the world acts doesn’t make us want to get out and play the game with them.
At the same time, saying this is not a call for pity either. The last thing people like myself want is pity. I have often made it a point of mine to seek to do as much as I can on my own. This does not mean that I do not seek the advice of others in many situations and I have a number of excellent counselors. However, when I reach a goal, I want it to be known that I did indeed earn that success. I may have a condition that holds me back in some areas, but it does not hold me back indefinitely.
And finally, remember that people like my wife and I are indeed just that, people. We have feelings and thoughts and goals and dreams and hopes and fears like other people do. While we can surely learn much about the way you interact from you, this could be a two-way street and I think should be. The “neurotypical” world can also learn something from the way we act in the world. This can be a mutually building up of one another.
As we go through this month then, we will look at various topics from a personal perspective including God, marriage, love, hobbies, etc.
Come along for the ride.