I am doing a "talk" on Asperger's. Any suggestions

Post Reply New Topic

My Occupational Therapist (although I often call her my social worker because she took over from my old social worker) from my mental health team wants me to do a "talk" on AS. Bear in mind that my mental health team treats me primarily for my psychosis, but they also help out with my AS a lot more than they used to. My OT wants me to do a bit on an informal talk on AS to 8 or so other OTs in the mental health area, who are interested in in expanding their knowledge on AS.

Do you have any ideas of how I could structure the hour or so that I will be talking about/discussing/answering questions about AS? My OT said she will come with me as I cannot talk to strangers without having someone I know with me.

Also, I would like to print off some handouts, probably from the National Autistic Society website (I live in London, UK and my support worker at university comes from the NAS) as they're quite good for handouts. Could you recommend me a leaflet to print out?

Thanks.

- I would recomend Tony Attwoods book.
- I would point out how extroverted society in our time is, and how our school system often fails more introverted pupils, and those with special needs as a result
- AND FINALLY and most important: I would tell them about how peoples first instinct when they hear about someone with AS often is "Exposure therapy! ... has to learn to be social!". Asperger's and social anxiety is not the freakin' same! Even if they manage to take my anxiety when being in a group away, I will still not function in a group. That is where the anxiety comes from, - from knowing my limitations. Not from some irrational belief that the world hates me or similar that is often found in people with only social anxiety.