Today's blog is from Zoey Roberts, a British Columbian adult on the autism spectrum. If you are interested in Zoey's mention of synesthesia and echolalia, you can learn more about both at the links I've provided. BTW: synesthesia is often considered to be a gift; my son can "play" a flower garden by matching the notes he hears in his head with colors of the flowers he sees!
If you are an adult or teen with autism - or know someone who is - you are invited to share your story on this blog. I am welcoming personal essays of no more than 1,000 words which focus on your personal journey. Photos are welcome but not required. Please send to autism.guide@about.com.
Note: At the request of a number of people, I have removed all comments from this post and closed further comments. Unfortunately, the comments were very personal and negative. I am, however, leaving the blog itself up since it strictly a personal essay.
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Hi everyone, my name is Zoey.
Pretty well everyone on Facebook knows I run autism and other spectrum related groups. I'm also a neurodiversity supporter. I have Asperger's,the autism runs in my family as my oldest sister has 2 sons with autism as well, so that is the main reason why I support genetics. I am big autism advocate wherever I go and despite what others say a perfect person to speak for those with autism and on the spectrum.
I am the youngest of 3 sisters, growing up in a small Canadian prairie town wasn't easy,as nothing much was known about Autism & spectrum in the 80's anyway,they thought I had add/adhd or allergic to red dyes or something like that as well. When i was little I took things more literally then I do now,had trouble with understanding social cues (even now as an adult as well). I was different than everybody else therefore it was easy to duped,bullied & teased. I was for a time fascinated by spinning, rocking, flapping, & I used to line up my toys a certain way like my toy cars etc. I also have a minor comorbid not officially diagnosed of synethesia which is the jumbling of a lot of your senses together (ie when I was a small child I used to equate the shutting of the car door with chocolate or butter & I see numbers & colors like ie 7 is a goldey yellow for instance and 1984 was a brownish green kind of year) & also have been diagnosed with echolalia which is repeating things over (like a parrot does)
When we moved to the bigger city things weren't much better either. I was still the social outcast,and even though after high school when I went to private colleges,like for administrative programs, etc, due to social quirks, like social cues,being boisterous etc being blunt & calling things as I them. I have had a revolving door of jobs,jumped from province to province looking for work,it was hard on me going and moving from place to place because of my finances.
I tended to spend on things and toys that I was obsessed with rather than day to day living items,because with Asperger's, that has always been my "thing" like computer gadget,movies and games.I live with mom now so she helps me.
I also realized more and more,that yes something was different with me. Having the label of "Aspergers's" (both me & my dr have also considered HFA -High Functioning Autism as Aspergers's is on the Autism spectrum anyway & helps me expain it better & this is what it will be as when the new DSM 5 manual comes out in 2013) has helped me understand myself better and has been a step in the right direction. I was also wanting to get help because I began to wonder if I was like my nephews especially the one who has Asperger's, which is what prompted me to seek help in that area.
I also wanted to make friends growing up and in adulthood but nobody wanted to make friends with me,as I guess sometimes, I can come on a bit strong to my peers,in fact a lot of my peers I grew up with still don't like me to this day. Some have come around though.
Now that I understand a little bit about myself (I am always learning & growing about myself) I also admit that living on the Autism scale is not easy but like 2 sides to everything there are things I am good at like organizing some things,art, know lots of trivia facts especially dealing with the movies, & music I like etc. I want to help others whether that's parents or others on Autism Spectrum, I live in a small city now, a different one from where I grew up,so the only help I can mainly get is online,and a handful of friends I met on Facebook. I also want people to understand Autism is not the end of world but a different life long learning one as there is no simple quick fix it to Autism as its the way our brains our wired with the biology of our brains.
I believe that those with autism and on the spectrum are people too, who are entitled to there opinions, to help those who will listen to me and us. Thank you!
My blog: http://spectrumtimes.blogspot.com/ also see me for instructions for following me on twitter or google plus.
