Hello,
I was self-diagnosed weeks ago with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). I didn't take it as bad news. It is on the contrary a relief to know there's a name for it. So much of the fog of "why I think, feel, and act" has been lifted. Up until my diagnosis, I often thought of myself as an alien from another planet to this world. My diagnosis has set me free from that line of thought.
My suspicions were first raised some time after I started working with special education kids in the school district I myself grew up in. I had left working for the federal government in Washington, D.C. after over 20 years. Going from working for Uncle Sam to working with children was a drastic change, but definitely a life-changing one that would lead to my diagnosis.
Many times I would observe a student's behavior and I'd be moved to tears. I saw some of me in him or her. I was drawn to working in autism units, but I didn't know why until now.
This past month, one 12 year old girl especially caught my attention. She is autistic with practically no verbal skills. She frequently talks to herself with words that no one can understand. She'll sometimes get excited and let out a holler and/or skip across the room. It was like watching myself at her age. I just didn't do it in the middle of a classroom. That's just one example of watching a student do something I did OR still do. I started doing research on the Internet about the autism spectrum and took on-line tests. Then, consulted with my doctor and teachers of autistic students. Their support and valuable information was of tremendous help.
There are rewards and hardships. My main hobby or interest is writing which has been like a best friend to me ever since I started. Through writing, I have been able to entertain others while getting therapy for myself. Routine is almost as essential for me as air and water. However, I believe I was able to lose and maintain my weight for close to 40 years now because once I got on a diet plan, I stuck to it like any other of my routines.
I admit I'm a loner. I could count on one hand how many close friends I've had from childhood to present. I prefer to do things alone. It is when I'm alone or when I'm talking to someone I feel comfortable with one-on-one that I am recharged. It is when I'm with a group of people, small or large, that I am totally drained. An invitation to a party is like an invitation to a torture chamber.
So there's challenges but there's rewards too.
If it wasn't for working with autistic students, I'd still be in the dark. Now that I know, my job is more than a job. When I help a child with autism with their struggles, I can say to myself, "I know. I'm on the spectrum too."
I was self-diagnosed weeks ago with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). I didn't take it as bad news. It is on the contrary a relief to know there's a name for it. So much of the fog of "why I think, feel, and act" has been lifted. Up until my diagnosis, I often thought of myself as an alien from another planet to this world. My diagnosis has set me free from that line of thought.
My suspicions were first raised some time after I started working with special education kids in the school district I myself grew up in. I had left working for the federal government in Washington, D.C. after over 20 years. Going from working for Uncle Sam to working with children was a drastic change, but definitely a life-changing one that would lead to my diagnosis.
Many times I would observe a student's behavior and I'd be moved to tears. I saw some of me in him or her. I was drawn to working in autism units, but I didn't know why until now.
This past month, one 12 year old girl especially caught my attention. She is autistic with practically no verbal skills. She frequently talks to herself with words that no one can understand. She'll sometimes get excited and let out a holler and/or skip across the room. It was like watching myself at her age. I just didn't do it in the middle of a classroom. That's just one example of watching a student do something I did OR still do. I started doing research on the Internet about the autism spectrum and took on-line tests. Then, consulted with my doctor and teachers of autistic students. Their support and valuable information was of tremendous help.
There are rewards and hardships. My main hobby or interest is writing which has been like a best friend to me ever since I started. Through writing, I have been able to entertain others while getting therapy for myself. Routine is almost as essential for me as air and water. However, I believe I was able to lose and maintain my weight for close to 40 years now because once I got on a diet plan, I stuck to it like any other of my routines.
I admit I'm a loner. I could count on one hand how many close friends I've had from childhood to present. I prefer to do things alone. It is when I'm alone or when I'm talking to someone I feel comfortable with one-on-one that I am recharged. It is when I'm with a group of people, small or large, that I am totally drained. An invitation to a party is like an invitation to a torture chamber.
So there's challenges but there's rewards too.
If it wasn't for working with autistic students, I'd still be in the dark. Now that I know, my job is more than a job. When I help a child with autism with their struggles, I can say to myself, "I know. I'm on the spectrum too."
