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An Asperger Syndrome
Diagnosis and Reality
By Dan Coulter
Wow.
The reaction I received to my article announcing that I’ve been
diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome was gratifying.
I was struck by the difference between the many, many positive
responses I got to this article, and the skepticism that I heard
from a work colleague when my son was diagnosed with Asperger
Syndrome in 1997.
Then, Asperger Syndrome was a diagnosis that few had heard of. After
describing my son’s behaviors, including his social awkwardness, my
colleague asked, "But isn’t that just normal boy stuff?"
It’s hard to explain that normal boy awkwardness multiplied by five
is no longer normal.
Twelve years later, the response to my own diagnosis has been
overwhelmingly supportive. I shared the news, and a link to the
article, with former corporate colleagues through an email Google
group. While many responded that they would never have guessed, none
expressed skepticism. A few asked to hear more about the symptoms
and talked about family or friends who have, or who they suspect
might have, Asperger Syndrome.
But the vast majority of replies I received to the article came from
the autism/Asperger Syndrome community. I heard again and again from
parents of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome who suspected
that they or their spouses could have the same diagnosis.
It’s likely some do. And it’s great that people feel confident
enough to come out and ask questions about the possibility.
For too long, people getting a diagnosis in the family that involved
autism have been made to feel that they or their children were being
fenced off and separated from normal folks and a normal life. I’ve
seen parents resist getting a son or daughter diagnosed for fear it
would drive a wedge between their child and his or her peers, often
when the wedge was already there. Many parents have felt that
getting a diagnosis of autism or Asperger Syndrome means having
their dreams for their child crushed.
It makes me think of the movie cliché where the hero has a dream for
the future and another character tells him it’s time to face reality
and give up his dream.
But from what I’ve seen, dealing with the reality of an Asperger
Syndrome diagnosis is the basis for making a dream happen. It can
erase irrational fears of what might be and replace them with facts
you can use to start building the life you want.
That’s because an accurate diagnosis can help you understand how
your brain works. You can begin to grasp why you have behaviors that
might interfere with your dream and work on modifying them. You can
explain to others about the behaviors you can’t modify (or, at
least, not yet) so they can understand and make allowances.
A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can help you understand why you’re
so interested in some things and couldn’t care less about others. It
can help you see that focusing on your interests and what you’re
good at could be the secret to a successful career.
My wife and I noticed a long time ago that when our son with
Asperger Syndrome was given a task that didn’t interest him, it was
hard for him to concentrate on it. But when he was interested in
something, he was a skyrocket.
For example, when he and I went to Space Camp, he was easily bored
with some of the projects and tended to wander away from the group.
But when it came his turn to be the pilot of the space shuttle
simulator on a mission, his brain kicked into high gear. His eyes
flashed over the manuals and controls like lasers. His
communications with Houston control were crisp and accurate. His
course corrections were precise and perfectly timed. In a maze of
lights, knobs and switches, his hands were always in the right place
at the right time. He got a higher score on his shuttle flight than
any of the other kids, or adults, in our camp group.
Does that mean my son’s only option is to be a shuttle pilot? Nope,
because that’s not his only interest. He also has a natural gift for
math and loves spreadsheets. He got a degree in accounting and
recently completed an accounting internship. While he has two
part-time jobs now, he’s hoping accounting could become his
career when the economy turns around. He’s also a good writer, so he
has additional options there. People with Asperger Syndrome can be
very different from each other, but most tend to have at least one
special interest.
For the last nine months, my wife and I have been working on a DVD
designed to help people with Asperger Syndrome find and hold a job.
That DVD is now with our duplicators and will be available in a few
weeks. For the program, we interviewed six successful employees who
have Asperger Syndrome. All six are in positions where their
interest in their jobs and aptitude for the work more than make up
for the accommodations their employers are providing.
All are embracing the reality of an Asperger Syndrome diagnosis. All
have disclosed their Asperger Syndrome to their employers and
coworkers. All their bosses praise their work, and some bosses say
their employees with Asperger Syndrome are among their best workers.
One of these employees described having lost ten jobs in eight
years. It was only after he got a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome
that he was able to take steps to deal with it and secure a job with
a software corporation that he’s now held for nearly five years.
So, if you’ve recently gotten a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome for
yourself or your child, you can look on it as a platform to help you
climb toward a better future. If you’re thinking about getting a
diagnosis but are concerned, consider the benefits of knowing – and
using that knowledge to make your life, or your child’s life,
better.
Not everyone who gets evaluated gets diagnosed with Asperger
Syndrome. But for those who do, it might become anything from a
platform to a launching pad.
Reality can be a great enabler of dreams.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -- Dan Coulter is the producer of the DVD "Asperger
Syndrome at Work." You can find more articles on his website:
www.coultervideo.com.
Copyright 2009 Dan
Coulter All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
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