A Survey on Asperger's To Help An NT I Know

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1. How do you feel about the point we are at with the research on Asperger’s Syndrome and exactly what needs to be looked into?

I think they should continue researching it and also research why we are like we are.

2. How would you feel if the people of the world had absolutely no idea that your condition existed?

I would feel like the world should know about me so they understant.

3. How does/did having AS add to the normal stress of being in high school?

well so far it only does with being around people.
I'm only a freshman but it's not to stressful

4. What are some of the pros and cons of having Asperger’s?

Pros: can be smarter than the average person
understand people who are going through a bad time
know ways to help people

cons: don't understand emotions like others
people think we're emotionless when we could be having more emotions than them

5. Do people seem to single you out just because you may think or act differently from them?

No, my class is really understanding to people who are different and treat them like anyone else.

6. Explain to me how different you believe your life is from another person’s because of the condition you have always lived with?

I don't like to be around people and am a little smarter then them. It's both positive and negative
7. Do you believe there is some kind of a difference at the genetic level between a person with AS and a person without it? For example; two regular genes (RR) make a regularly functioning person. Two mutated genes (MM) cause autism. Do you believe it is some combination of regular and mutated genes (RM) that causes Asperger’s?

No I don't I also don't believe 2mutated genes give you autism

8. How does/did Asperger’s affect your performance in school?

It helped and didn't
it helped because i would mostly know everything and didn't because of meltdowns.

9. Do you sometimes just wonder what it’s like to be “normal”, like many “abnormal” people do?

Yes, but then I remember how some normal people are then stop thinking about it

10. I found that Asperger’s Syndrome is not the advance of human civilization like some believe, but actually just another branch of the human mind’s development. What is your take on this?

I kinda agree to this since it seems lots of people have a little bit of aspergers

1. How do you feel about the point we are at with the research on Asperger’s Syndrome and exactly what needs to be looked into?

I think we should look at ways to improve the quality of life for people with autism, instead of using counselling to teach them how to act neurotypical. I had counselling as a child to learn social behaviors, and I did learn a lot about social rules but I also picked up the idea that autism is something that is wrong with me.

2. How would you feel if the people of the world had absolutely no idea that your condition existed?

I would feel like there was something different about me and feel like I wouldn't fit in. If nobody knew about Asperger's, then I would just see myself as very shy and with some nontypical behaviors.

3. How does/did having AS add to the normal stress of being in high school?

It was hard to make friends and ask for help when I needed it. I was also singled out by bullies because I was alone a lot.

4. What are some of the pros and cons of having Asperger’s?

I like being unique, having a high IQ (132), and being able to remember little details that my neurotypical friends overlook. I can also relate to my brother more, since he has autism. However, I do have trouble socializing and making friends and I have anxiety about being touched.

5. Do people seem to single you out just because you may think or act differently from them?

They used to, but now that I'm in college, I'm not noticed as much. Sometimes if I stim in public, people might ask me questions but I don't feel harassed anymore.

6. Explain to me how different you believe your life is from another person’s because of the condition you have always lived with?

I don't really like talking to people I don't know well and don't like to socialize as much as my neurotypical peers. I think I am more focussed on school than NTs and I like to live by my own routine as much as I can. I do some unusual behaviors (I have 3 different types of outfits I like to wear, I can't sit with my feet on the ground, stimming, etc) but they usually aren't different enough to single me out.

7. Do you believe there is some kind of a difference at the genetic level between a person with AS and a person without it? For example; two regular genes (RR) make a regularly functioning person. Two mutated genes (MM) cause autism. Do you believe it is some combination of regular and mutated genes (RM) that causes Asperger’s?

I think there is a genetic link for autism but I don't think it's as simple as having dominant alleles. I have Asperger's and one of my brothers has autism and I have 2 NT brothers. Neither of my parents have been diagnosed w/ ASD but we think that my dad or my aunt may have Asperger's. I don't think that Asperger's is half-autism, just a less severe form of autism, just the way your brain develops.

8. How does/did Asperger’s affect your performance in school?

I did very well in school (honors student, top 25 in my class) becuase I was more focussed on school and not very focussed on making friends or being popular. It might also have to do w/ my high IQ, which may or may not come from my Aspergers.

9. Do you sometimes just wonder what it’s like to be “normal”, like many “abnormal” people do?

Yes, I would like to see what it's like to be "normal" for a day but I wouldn't want to be "normal" forever.

10. I found that Asperger’s Syndrome is not the advance of human civilization like some believe, but actually just another branch of the human mind’s development. What is your take on this?

I think it's just a different way of thinking. I don't think that an Aspergian mind is any better or any worse than a neurotypical mind. ASDs and NTs both have strengths and weaknesses.

1. How do you feel about the point we are at with the research on Asperger’s Syndrome and exactly what needs to be looked into?

I believe research should be done in order to understand it better and create accommodations for those who have it in order for society to stop living in denial and work toward incorporating those with the disorder to gain the benefits of it. After all their are accommodations for those in wheelchairs or the blind. Some may think it is not as deliberating as those conditions but who can truly say unless they have the disorder. So long as the norms continue to live in their ignorance of the condition, it shall be accompanied by bigotry and hatred as that is the plebeian way.

2. How would you feel if the people of the world had absolutely no idea that your condition existed?

Well for one, stating that in its current form is illogical as I would not have a way to learn of the condition either. I did not learn of it until I was in my mid twenties. To better state the question it would be to state that "How do you feel that most of society is heavily ignorant of the condition?" I currently feel berated and cast out by an ignorant society forever making excuses for their cruelty and desire to take advantage of those of us with this condition. It is rather depressing I must admit as people depend to much on their eyes to perceive a deficiency. I am tired of having to explain myself as not being like them and for people to stop thinking of my conversations in such a narrow light and jumping to conclusions about what I am trying to say. Its a lonely world I live in.


3. How does/did having AS add to the normal stress of being in high school?

I was hated and a social outcast for not thinking like everyone else. Many subjects that did not interest me caused me to struggle and affected my grades but the subjects that interested me caused me to excel. I did not do all the things others did as I could not fit in. I had few friends and lapsed into a sever depression I still wrestle with today.

4. What are some of the pros and cons of having Asperger’s?

I will start with the pros. The pros are the incredible imagination I am capable of. I can create my own world and often entertain myself with almost nothing around me.

I can write very beautifully and have a knack for creating imagery with my words. I have a love of beauty and aspire to understand the world from multiple perspectives that inflect how the world can appear to us all dependent on the environment in which it is viewed.

I am not a factory output like most people but my individuality makes me truly unique. I have perspectives no one thinks from which from time to time someone who does not have the condition can appreciate.
I have a talent for theater in which I can see and hear the characters in a play which brings literature to life right before my eyes. My ability to read sense is rare.

I am consistently very thought provocative and can revere before the angelic and demonic forces of human thoughts as a mere observer and appreciate the beauty of a twisted world that no one really sees.

Finally the double edge sword that is a positive/negative: I live in my own little world.

The cons would be as follows:
I am isolated from the rest of the world which can be lonely.

People don't understand me and misinterpret what I am trying to communicate and I often cannot communicate back

I have been met with hatred by intolerant people who refuse to allow me to be myself.

I am negatively stereotyped by society as it being purely deficient and having no benefits.

The probability I would be able to maintain a relationship much less start one is one to a million. I am terrified of being touched as it makes me want to go in a panic attack which is hard to suppress especially when around a large crowd.

Being super sensitive to everything. I am easily startled, the slightest feeling can drive me absolutely insane (sticky fingers), I am super sensitive to light, the hum of lights and appliances can be a maddening sensation that overwhelms me and makes it even harder to focus.

I am labeled eccentric which often brings negative inputs from most people

I don't even understand my own mind.

It is harder to get a job and maintain it with the inability to socialize.

Utilizing my gifts is very difficult

My memory, organizational skills and directions are severely stumped. I only tend to remember odd specific topics at inappropriate times. I find it very difficult to focus on something unless it interests me. My mind is a mess.

I cannot read body language or facial expressions which society relies on far to much.


5. Do people seem to single you out just because you may think or act differently from them?

That question is so obvious to me its sad. I have been singled out my entire life for being different and being told I was a bad person because I was not like everyone else. Abuse goes hand and hand with those who have the condition due to a selfish society that wants those who have the condition to conform to their comfortable narrow way of thought. That question is the story of my life.

6. Explain to me how different you believe your life is from another person’s because of the condition you have always lived with?

It is much harder to excel and obtain healthy relationships then the average person. My life would be far less complicated had it not been for this condition and I would not have to sit their and focus on every little thing I do around people as to avoid angering them.

7. Do you believe there is some kind of a difference at the genetic level between a person with AS and a person without it? For example; two regular genes (RR) make a regularly functioning person. Two mutated genes (MM) cause autism. Do you believe it is some combination of regular and mutated genes (RM) that causes Asperger’s?

I am not an expert on the molecular level of genetics but from what I do understand of genetics is that it is so complicated and overwhelming with every little faucet of information that we contain in our genetic material that the answer must be yes. To what degree I do not know but I don't think Autism just forms out of no where. Their is probably a genetic code that got scrambled or twisted to cause these odd changes. To truly understand what that is would be like finding a needle with a notch in it in a pile of regular needles. It is a very difficult thing to determine.

8. How does/did Asperger’s affect your performance in school?

It had positives and negatives as stated above. Excelling in specific topics while failing in others. I had to learn to adjust which felt antagonizing just to get through school. Made school miserable to get through. Homework was always an interesting challenge to get through.

9. Do you sometimes just wonder what it’s like to be “normal”, like many “abnormal” people do?

Sometimes. I can't help but feel great anger at "normal" people because of their intolerance and cruelty that they tend to be persistent in yet to escape the confines of this condition at times is a very appeasing escape. To not have to worry about all the struggles and hardships this "gift" brings. I guess its a trade off in the end.


10. I found that Asperger’s Syndrome is not the advance of human civilization like some believe, but actually just another branch of the human mind’s development. What is your take on this?

I concur for the most part. Those with Asperger's simply have a very different mind in order to bring about benefits to society rather society realizes it or not. If everyone had Asperger's the world would be a mess and I am not even going into the Nazi like idea of being superior to everyone because I think different. I only hate societies inability to accept what is different from them and to utilize their skills and abilities. Not that fact they are not like us. The world would be boring if it were so. The problem is simple. Their is more of them then their is of us and human nature dictates that the larger group take advantage of the smaller group. This is something that has been redundant in human history. Every mind has an advantage to accomplish some objective or goal. Rather it be for good or evil is the simple choice everyone must make. Sadly I think the later is the majority choice.