Posted on 06/02/2021 6:06:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
While autism is regarded as a lifelong disability, Eric Chen wants to defy its limitations and be seen as equal to neurotypical folks. But not all autistics think this way — some call for accepting the disability as it is.
Through his childhood and adolescence, Eric Chen was sure he did not belong on Earth.
He had hoped for a spaceship to descend and take him back to his “home planet”. And he is hardly joking.
“I felt like an alien abandoned in this world,” says Eric, now 38. “Unfortunately, there’s no radio I can call on for help. I’m basically stuck in this world to put up with all these weird, irrational people.”
Put up he did — until he was 18 years old and obtained a diagnosis. On the brink of adulthood, he finally put his finger on why he could not make sense of the world. He had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“I needed an answer so that all the bad things that had happened to me, I can (attribute) to autism,” he tells CNA Insider. Things like being unable to tie his shoelaces, understand instructions or make friends.
He looks up ever so slightly, as he does every time he finishes a thought. With 20 years of “work” done on himself since his diagnosis, making eye contact is less of a chore.
(Excerpt) Read more at channelnewsasia.com ...
a lot of us feel that way
There’s a place in this world for all of this. I hope he finds peace.
Your tagline ... still laughing.
My nephew has Asperger’s Syndrome and to describe his life as “tragic” would be an understatement.
This shit’s home, because I have high functioning Autism.
Lol🙄🙄😂. Sorry! Hit the s instead on the t and didn’t check.
This really intrigues me. I definitely have some characteristics of autism, but I am also an empath and the two seem as diametric opposites. I inherently intuit the emotions of others even though I do not share them. I feel like a stranger in a strange land, but after listening to others, I can grasp their understanding. But I cannot share my understanding with them. This is very frustrating. The challenge for me is to not judge them or myself, but to simply realize that people are different and to strive to value others and myself without judgment, but only compassion. It’s hard.
More feel that way every day.
Not to talk about myself, but I have some level of Asperger’s and did not realize it for more than six decades. Life has been a series of figuring out how to behave, how to conduct myself in different settings, how to manage myself to reach goals, etc.
I feel like I am describing normal life for almost anyone. Maybe I got a “good” case of Asperger’s.
I don’t think they started diagnosing Asperger’s until 1994.
Nanu nanu
As a high school teacher, I’ve seen kids across the “spectrum” — which should include not just the autistic side but its opposite, the extravert and neurotic personalities, as well as ADHD (which in severe cases is frequently misdiagnosed as autistic). There was no single approach that I found worked with any personality type.
That is to say, every kid has one or the other traits or personality types, and it’s a matter of working it out individually.
Lord knows we all have problems. Sadly, too many teachers don’t appreciate that kids are people, too.
Not sure how this fits in to this article or FR posts, but I do want to express my love for and appreciation of all types. As a teacher, I have learned from every student.
Pretty sure I have it too. Once an arrogant, young (thankfully distant) in law called me “slow” and it really opened my eyes to the possibility that I wasn’t just introverted, or shy. I grew up next to a slow kid and not once did I see myself on the same level..but I very well could be on the higher end of the “spectrum.” If so, it makes a lot of things make sense :( But
So.... you felt like everyone else on planet earth.
While I don't think I qualify as "on the spectrum", I can relate because I've always been an introverted person. One thing that has helped me immensely has been My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I like to describe the show as Socializing 101 for all of us who missed that class. The fans are a mix of nerds, introverts and autists. I've made a number of real friends because of it.
Thank you so much for your comments. I had a few teachers in my high school years who really appreciated my various peculiarities and encouraged me. To this day, in my 60’s, I really appreciate it. Thanks to you for recognizing the unique individuality of your students.
My various qualities are mostly not disabilities but rather higher abilities. Nurturing those abilities without instilling any idea of superiority due to my abnormal IQ was invaluable.
My various qualities are mostly not disabilities but rather higher abilities. Nurturing those abilities without instilling any idea of superiority due to my abnormal IQ was invaluable.A few years back, I got an invitation from a former student to a film screening at the Dept. of Education in DC. All the bigs were there, an entirely PC event, etc. etc. The film was great, and I was unsurprised that the now young lady had created it. She was a brilliant student, but socially awkward -- and until right now I never thought of her as being on the spectrum -- but thinking back it's clear she is.
I’m on the Spectrum. I always figured everyone was like me.
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