AGXStarseed
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(Not written by me)
With one of his photographs projected in the background, author John Elder Robison speaks at Worcester State University on Thursday. Mr. Robinson wrote the memoir "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's." T&G Staff/Paul Kapteyn
WORCESTER – It’s time for people on the autism spectrum to say “that’s enough,” and let the world know they are no better or worse than anyone else, according to John Elder Robison.
The author emphasized that point - and many others - during a lecture Thursday afternoon at Worcester State University. Mr. Robison, who grew up with Asperger’s syndrome but was not diagnosed until he was 40, recounted his life in a best-selling memoir titled “Look Me in the Eye.”
Mr. Robison noted that he grew up in an era before autism was recognized in people who could speak. He recalled knowing that he was different, and feeling as though he was “less” than other people. He also recalled being ridiculed by other kids and being labeled as “stupid, retarded, lazy, a sociopath” and more, both by his peers and in the educational system.
When a diagnosis was finally made decades later, it provided an explanation for a lot of his behavior, he said, such as having trouble with eye contact, and an inability to recognize what to say to others and to respect personal space.“
I said, I’m going to change myself and learn about what is appropriate in order to transform the way I deal with people,” Mr. Robison noted. “It was magical. It showed my earlier isolation was of my own making.”
Mr. Robison emphasized that his autistic “differences” are the key to the successes he’s experienced.
Because of his inability to connect with others, he had a lot of spare time that he used to pursue his interest in electronics.
“The truth is, because I couldn’t make friends, I turned to technology, math, science … They were my friends. They didn’t pick on me,” he said.
Mr. Robison described how he was able to teach himself about circuits and sound waves in his head, and physically transform those ideas - creating sound effects for bands and gaming devices, designing guitars for the rock band Kiss, and toys for Milton Bradley.
He went on to run a successful car specialty shop, and to raise a son, who also has autism.
Mr. Robison said four generations of his family included individuals with autism, some of whom achieved great things - including early leadership of William and Mary College in Virginia, where he now teaches and is scholar-in-residence.
He said people in the autism community should not “hide away in shame,” but instead embrace that they are here for a purpose. Autism, he argued, is part of "neuro-diversity."
Not having an autism culture, nor having leadership like other groups such as African-Americans or Jews, “facilitates oppression,” Mr. Robison said. That can be rectified by turning to those groups for advice.“
It’s up to us to turn to them and say, 'Teach us how to fight for our rights.’ No one is going to help us if we don’t help ourselves,” Mr. Robison said.
Mr. Robison’s books about life with Asperger’s - “Look Me in the Eye,” “Be Different,” and “Raising Cubby” - have been translated into 15 languages and are sold in more than 60 countries. His next work, “Switched On,” goes on sale March 22.His brother, author Augusten Burroughs, featured characters in his books that are inspired by him. The movie version of “Running with Scissors,” for example, was based on his family.
He said that his books about autism are “triumphant tales,” telling how a sad, isolated kid became the successful man he is today.
Mr. Robison urged those in the audience with autism, “Go out and tell the world we’re valuable.”
SOURCE: http://www.telegram.com/article/20160303/NEWS/160309653
With one of his photographs projected in the background, author John Elder Robison speaks at Worcester State University on Thursday. Mr. Robinson wrote the memoir "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's." T&G Staff/Paul Kapteyn
WORCESTER – It’s time for people on the autism spectrum to say “that’s enough,” and let the world know they are no better or worse than anyone else, according to John Elder Robison.
The author emphasized that point - and many others - during a lecture Thursday afternoon at Worcester State University. Mr. Robison, who grew up with Asperger’s syndrome but was not diagnosed until he was 40, recounted his life in a best-selling memoir titled “Look Me in the Eye.”
Mr. Robison noted that he grew up in an era before autism was recognized in people who could speak. He recalled knowing that he was different, and feeling as though he was “less” than other people. He also recalled being ridiculed by other kids and being labeled as “stupid, retarded, lazy, a sociopath” and more, both by his peers and in the educational system.
When a diagnosis was finally made decades later, it provided an explanation for a lot of his behavior, he said, such as having trouble with eye contact, and an inability to recognize what to say to others and to respect personal space.“
I said, I’m going to change myself and learn about what is appropriate in order to transform the way I deal with people,” Mr. Robison noted. “It was magical. It showed my earlier isolation was of my own making.”
Mr. Robison emphasized that his autistic “differences” are the key to the successes he’s experienced.
Because of his inability to connect with others, he had a lot of spare time that he used to pursue his interest in electronics.
“The truth is, because I couldn’t make friends, I turned to technology, math, science … They were my friends. They didn’t pick on me,” he said.
Mr. Robison described how he was able to teach himself about circuits and sound waves in his head, and physically transform those ideas - creating sound effects for bands and gaming devices, designing guitars for the rock band Kiss, and toys for Milton Bradley.
He went on to run a successful car specialty shop, and to raise a son, who also has autism.
Mr. Robison said four generations of his family included individuals with autism, some of whom achieved great things - including early leadership of William and Mary College in Virginia, where he now teaches and is scholar-in-residence.
He said people in the autism community should not “hide away in shame,” but instead embrace that they are here for a purpose. Autism, he argued, is part of "neuro-diversity."
Not having an autism culture, nor having leadership like other groups such as African-Americans or Jews, “facilitates oppression,” Mr. Robison said. That can be rectified by turning to those groups for advice.“
It’s up to us to turn to them and say, 'Teach us how to fight for our rights.’ No one is going to help us if we don’t help ourselves,” Mr. Robison said.
Mr. Robison’s books about life with Asperger’s - “Look Me in the Eye,” “Be Different,” and “Raising Cubby” - have been translated into 15 languages and are sold in more than 60 countries. His next work, “Switched On,” goes on sale March 22.His brother, author Augusten Burroughs, featured characters in his books that are inspired by him. The movie version of “Running with Scissors,” for example, was based on his family.
He said that his books about autism are “triumphant tales,” telling how a sad, isolated kid became the successful man he is today.
Mr. Robison urged those in the audience with autism, “Go out and tell the world we’re valuable.”
SOURCE: http://www.telegram.com/article/20160303/NEWS/160309653
