The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Some topics covered:

Understanding the interrelationships between the complex symptoms of ASDs. One panelist comments on how, when first diagnosed, he did not realize that many of the sensory problems and sensory impairments he had experienced were related to the autism spectrum. He discusses sensory overload and strategies for reducing this problem.

Learning how to use strategies to compensate for challenges.  Most people on the autism problem have serious challenges of some kind.  Realistically speaking, no amount of positive thinking or “practice” is likely to make these challenges go away.  In many cases, good strategies to compensate for these problems may be more effective—and a whole lot less stressful—than trying to “conquer” the challenge in question.  Organization can be a problem for many of us.  Filing cabinets may, realistically speaking, not work as a way of storing documents.  If the files do not get back in time to the file cabinet, papers may be lost.  Binders may be more effective—and often much more accessible.  One panelist remembers as a child being told at Christmas to unpack his presents slowly so that he would better remember who to thank for what.  An easier strategy would have been for him to bring a sheet of paper to an adult each time a present was opened so that a record could be made.  One panelist realizes that he will not learn the names of his students unless he takes photographs and has students point out distinguishing characteristics.  It was helpful, for example, to learn that on Tuesdays when some students were taking his class, it was their sorority’s T-shirt day so that they would also wear their Greek lettered T-shirts that way.

Compensatory strategies may be useful in the social arena as well.  Those of us who have problems recognizing and responding to non-verbal communication may be able to demonstrate our interest in others in different ways.  Those of us who are good at compiling information, for example, can develop good will and appreciation by others by making this information available to others who can use it.  Those of us who have “geekier” qualities earn the eternal gratitude those we rescue from computer problems.

Understanding that having to do “manually” what to others is much more automatic can be exhausting.   One thing this means for many of us is that going to cocktail parties and other social events is very real work even if it is experienced many in the general population as leisure.  We need to recover from this.  This means that there are many other things that for us simply may not be worth doing.  For example, one panelist comments that he ultimately realized that the trouble driving to an event may ultimately more than cancel out any pleasure that he might have had there.  There are other ways to have fun.  Realizing the cost of some tasks does not mean that one is selling out or setting for a less “full” life.

Appreciating one's differences from most others and its consequences. In life, we are often taught to try to "conquer" our problems. Perseverance is strongly advocated and revered. Although many people on the spectrum have chosen to target certain difficult tasks to function more effectively in society, it must also be recognized that the efforts expended on such goals might be applied to objectives that are more important to one self.

Understanding that strategies that may work well for others may not work well for one self.  As an example, one panelist comments on learning that trying to imitate others simply did not work for him.  He was never able to commit the implicit steps of continuous process to memory and instead realized that he needed to see steps written down sequentially.

Understanding that with our experiences, we must more explicitly question whether traditional goals of most people are appropriate for us.  Some people on the autism spectrum have been very successful parents and have found this process rewarding.  For many of us, however, having children, rather than being a joy, may be more of a burden.  There are other ways for those of us who are not attracted to the idea of having children to contribute to the world.

Learning Objectives: