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 The
Topsy-turvy World of Autistic People
by Eric Sewell, Tax Accountant, dcmilitary.com, March 12,
2004
For more articles like this
visit
https://www.bridges4kids.org.
I enjoyed the
movie Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman as Raymond, an autistic
savant with photographic memory and an inability to empathize or
relate emotionally to others. I personally could relate to
Raymond because I too am autistic. My purpose in writing this
article is to offer a general explanation of what autism is and
is not. I am motivated to do so because I know firsthand how
frustrating it feels when others misunderstand my autistic
behaviorisms. While autism has no medical cure it is enough for
me when others understand why autistic people think and
communicate differently. I believe that where there is
understanding there can be friendship. And where there is
friendship there can be opportunity for great personal and
professional growth.
What is autism? Autism is a neuro-biological disorder. Autism,
and autistic behavior, is due to a physiological dysfunction
within the cortex of the brain. In essence, autism affects the
way a person interacts socially. Autism may appear from birth or
from infancy, and causes difficulty in developing normal social
relationships, and in normal communication. Autism can be
described as a severe disorder of communication, socialization
and imagination.
Autism is not confined to children, i.e. autistic children do
not grow out of autism. Autism lasts throughout life. Autistic
people do not necessarily have special or 'savant' skills as was
portrayed in Rain Man. Some autistic people do have unusual
abilities, musical talents, exceptional rote-memory or even
lightning-speed mathematical calculation. However, these cases
are in the minority (about 10%) rather than being the norm.
Autism is found at all IQ levels and general learning
difficulties commonly accompany autism about 50% of the time.
Autism is a condition with a wide-ranging spectrum of ability
ranging from mild to severe. No two individuals with autism
share the same identical characteristic impairments. Because of
the varying range of abilities, the condition is often referred
to as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Those on the higher end
of the spectrum are relatively able, and are said to have
Asperger's Syndrome. I inherited the disorder from my father who
inherited it from his. In my family the severity ranges from
highly functioning autism (HFA) to severely autistic and
nonfunctioning.
Individuals with ASD look no different from other people,
resulting in autism being thought of as an "invisible
disability." Some autistics interact with others, but in a
rather unusual way. We appear not to pay attention to the
responses of the people we approach. This is not due to a lack
of concern but rather a lack of neurological ability in the
cortex of the brain. We neurologically are not capable of doing
so other than through mimicking observed behaviors of normal
people in like situations. I still remember locking myself in
the bathroom as a young child in order to practice showing
emotion in my facial expressions and body language in the
mirror. I wanted to fit in socially with my peers.
Autistics appear to show a lack of appreciation for the
functions and pleasures of social communication. Even those of
us who have worked hard to learn how to socially interact are
still generally inclined to talk 'at' people rather than talking
with people.
Autistics have a general lack of understanding of language as a
tool for conveying social and emotional information to others.
This has been one of my greatest challenges. I may be able to
ask for my own needs but find it difficult to talk about
feelings or thoughts and to understand the emotions, ideas and
beliefs of others.
Autistics have poor comprehension of the information conveyed in
body language, e.g. gestures, facial expression, posture, tone
of voice, etc. We generally do not gesture, or use tone of
voice, etc. to convey information appropriately.
Autistics generally show only a literal understanding of the
language, and are challenged to pick up the subtle meanings in
language. The subjects that autistics talk about are often
limited to a few specific interests. I like to discuss
accounting, math, historical or scientific topics and issues. I
get bored with other topics because I seem to be incapable of
appreciating discussions involving anything other than facts and
absolutes.
Having said all this I hope the reader will be better equipped
to interact with an autistic person, or coworker, and have
better insight into the "why" autistic people come across so
different socially.
We are different only in the way our minds process information.
We are alike in our desire for attachment, relationships, and
friendships. We are different in how we go about attachment,
relationships, and friendships. We are alike in that we have
good hearts and are inclined to have a strong aversion to
physical aggression and deception. We are caring human beings
but unintentionally may come across as a modern day version of
Spock from Star Trek. We are alike in that we too have families,
careers, dreams and aspirations for a better life for ourselves
and for our children.
And we are alike in that we share this beautiful world full of
hope and promise for a bright future together.
Eric Sewell
has worked in public accounting since 1997, has a BS in
Accounting from George Mason University, is a proud member of
the American Institute of CPAs, Virginia Society of CPAs,
National Association of Enrolled Agents, and the National
Association of Tax Professionals. He resides in Fairfax County
with his wife and two children and may be reached with questions
and comments via
www.EricSewell.com.
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