Autism as a Culture

          There is a reason autism is described as a spectrum of disorders.  No two people with autism are exactly alike.  Similarly, not every treatment for autism works for every person on the spectrum.  Finding a method that works for each individual is a trial and error process that every parent, child, and adult living with autism has to go through in order to change, advance, and grow.  A good way to explain this concept is to take a person with an obvious disability and describe the similarities and differences between how we treat that person, and how we treat a person with autism.

            For example, when a child is born without the ability to hear, we notice this disability very early on in the child’s life.  It is easy for us, as parents, to see when a child is not hearing sounds properly.  Additionally, simple pediatric tests can tell us instantly if an infant is responding to sounds or not.  As a society, we have determined that there is usually nothing wrong with these people, except for the fact that they are hearing impaired.  In order to accommodate our hearing impaired population, we have developed a visual language (ASL) to teach these children. We also have written language for them to utilize as well as services tailored to all those who cannot hear in the same way as the typical person hears the world.  This disability is easy to treat because there is one noticeable issue to navigate around in order to help these people “find a voice” and fit into society comfortably, successfully, and as if they were no different from a person with the ability to hear.

            On the other hand, when a child is born with autism there are usually no obvious signs at birth.  The disability is in the brain, and we cannot see what that disability is by looking at the child.  There are currently no accurate tests to determine if a child is autistic or not.  Furthermore, it takes years for us to see the beginnings of language or social difficulties.  Complicating things further, each child on the spectrum has varying degrees of abilities and disabilities.  In terms of awareness, the average person knows very little about autism.  Generally, there are many misconceptions and stigmas attached to the word autism.  This disability is very difficult to treat because there are many noticeable symptoms, while the actual problem is hidden inside the brain.  We can only treat the symptoms and not the actual disorder in the brain at this time.  It is not very easy to help a person with autism fit into society comfortably and successfully, however, it is not impossible.

            Instead of seeking out a “cure” or a universal treatment for autism, we need to develop a method of assessment that incorporates all that we know about autism today and matches the best treatments to each individual person.  For instance, some children are non-verbal and respond well to sign language.  Others do not respond to verbal or visual language but excel at typing on the computer as their main method of communication.  Still others may not respond to written language, and a pictorial or a tactile way of communicating can be attempted.  As a whole, we need to think outside of the box and discover ways to get through to our autistic community so that they too can “find a voice” and fit into society as if there was nothing different about them at all. 

Finally, I like to think of autism as a culture in itself.  Every culture has its rules, and yet no two people in society are alike. The culture rules of autism are the symptoms we see, while the typical culture’s rules come out in the ways we try to fix those symptoms.  Naturally, we want the person on the spectrum to conform to our way of thinking and behaving.  Alternatively, if the typical culture stops trying to fix symptoms and instead increases awareness, communication, and understanding of why those symptoms exist, the symptoms will lessen and possibly even disappear completely over time. My point is that autism should be incorporated and accepted into our culture rather than “cured” out of it.

Jaclyn Hunt is a Life Coach specializing in the Autism and Special Needs Population. She works with adults on the spectrum, parents of autistic children and adults, spouses of adults on the spectrum, and anyone affected by autism or other related special needs.  Visit her website to learn more:

www.asnlifecoach.com

asnlifecoach@gmail.com

Twitter: @asnlifecoach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismAndSpecialNeedsLifeCoach

Is Autism a disability or a different ability?

I am not good at math.  In fact, I avoid math at all costs.  I use a tip calculator at dinner, and I ask my husband to add things up quickly for me.  I have very little use for math in my day to day life...so am I disabled, special, or stupid?  My only label would be, "She's not so good at math."

Now imagine a man on the Autism Spectrum.  He isn't exactly good at socializing.  He avoids social situations at all costs.  He uses others such as a wife or relative to help him interpret unavoidable social situations.  He has very little use for socializing while conducting his duties as a mathematician. He is labeled as disabled, special, and slow.

I am perfectly capable of learning math.  In college I failed my first try at calculus, but the second go around I studied hard, did each problem slowly and followed each step exactly.  Sometimes I would still get a wrong answer, but I persisted and ended up erasing that F with a very deserved C+. Had I tried again, I'm sure I could have gotten even better at math and perhaps pulled off an A.  However, my degree in Psychology did not require any other math courses.  So I got rusty and poor at math again.  I was not interested in math, it did not come naturally, so I gave up on it.

Our man on the Autism Spectrum finds no challenge in mathematics.  He looks at a problem and instantly sees a solution.  He skips all the steps that I need to meticulously memorize and follow because he has no need to go through something when his mind brings him to the conclusion with ease.  Likewise, he perfectly capable of learning how to socialize.  He may need to take each situation step by step, slowly and meticulously until he learns and remembers all the new information being thrown at him.  Over time he improves considerably.  However, his duties as a mathematician are more interesting and it is very easy for him to "forget" to go out with friends in order to unwind.  Socializing does not come naturally, and occasionally he gives up on it.

In social situations, I rarely have to think.  I react instantly.  Being with people is very easy for me.  I understand them and can relate to them with very little work.  In fact, I enjoy being around people and it is just easy to me, so much easier than taking a math test!  I am not a genius, I just like to hang out with my friends and have a good time.

The Autistic man, however, is labeled as a mathematical genius.  He is also labeled as having a disability.  I say he is neither, or that I am also a genius in terms of understanding society and I have a disability when it comes to math.  My point is, society puts labels on people before truly taking the time to understand each individual person.  Society is lazy, and has a disability in terms of seeing the truth.  Just because someone is different from the majority, does not mean he or she needs to be "fixed" or labeled as having a disorder.  We have to cultivate our interests, work on our weaknesses, and find a balance.  We ALL need to do this, not just those on the Autism Spectrum.  We all must change, adapt, and better ourselves.  That is my goal as a Life Coach.  To bring that message to the world.

Being Autistic

Ever go to another country where you don't speak the language?  Imagine being lost in the middle of a busy city, not sure where to go or who to ask in order to get where you need to be.  The city is bustling with activity and you are isolated, alone, scared, and lost.  Soon people start to notice you and try to help, they keep asking you questions that you don't understand and you look at them with a puzzled expression.  Soon they start speaking louder, thinking that will make you understand them better.  Your eyes widen and you stare blankly...

This is a close approximation as to how an Autistic person feels, as described by a typical person.  I have found that many people don't understand Autism because it isn't something you can see with your eyes.  We can tell when a person with a hearing impairment can't hear, so we don't go screaming at them to make them understand us.  We teach them sign language and soon the mind opens up and can express thoughts, feelings, and complex concepts to the world.  The same holds true for an Autistic person.  The typical person cannot see the impairment in the Autistic mind.  It is hidden behind a cute child's face, or behind an attractive man or woman's smile.  But the difference still exists, and we are at fault if we continually try to communicate with them over and over in the same way expecting different results.

Every Autistic person learns differently, so there is no one way to "fix" a person with Autism.  There is no drug, no magic cure.  We must learn how each particular person learns, and create a language that they understand to unlock the potential in their minds and let them express themselves to the world.  We need to bridge the communication gap.  Some people learn better visually, some verbally, others in the written word.  But we need to get even more specific than that.  Some Autistic individuals respond to the written word over the typed word, or the reverse.  Others respond to sign language, but sometimes that sign language has to be tactile, letting the person feel the words and letters instead of just seeing them.  There are infinite ways of communicating, and each and every method must be thought of and experimented with until a breakthrough is made.

The point is, we need to make the system of figuring out how to communicate with each individual as the focus, and not try to find one specific fix.  Everyone is different, and teaching the typical child or adult in this way, using a variety of methods, will do nothing but benefit everyone.  Being clear, concise, and thorough.  Something we all can benefit from.

Jaclyn Hunt

http://www.asnlifecoach.com

asnlifecoach@gmail.com

@asnlifecoach on Twitter, AutismAndSpecialNeedsLifeCoach on Facebook

Autism, Special Needs, and the Life Coach

The rates of children being diagnosed with an Autism spectrum disorder and other special needs (whether they are medical, mental, or psychological) are on the rise.  This fact has been well documented by the media, the field of medicine, and by the realization that almost everyone we come in contact with has or knows someone with some sort of label or disability.  Likewise, the services for these children are growing and developing into high quality care due to the passion and diligence of parents who demand it from society, the government, and the world.

With these high quality programs on the rise, why then is a Life Coach an important addition to the Autism and Special Needs network?  A good place to start is with the child.  What happens to a special needs child once he becomes an adult?  The high quality care and environment he has had access to his entire life quickly vanishes and he is thrust into a society that is not necessarily tailored to every individual’s personal needs.  It is apparent that services for special needs adults are lacking greatly in today’s society.  This is where a Life Coach, such as myself, can be recruited to assist in the very specialized needs of this population.

In my experience, I have found that the desire to obtain the qualities of organization, motivation, and focus are some of the most common reasons people seek out the services of a Life Coach.  Interestingly enough, these qualities are what many in the special needs population require support in developing, by a person who knows how to effectively communicate and integrate with the unique learning methods of a special needs individual.

For instance, some real life situations where a special needs adult may need support is of course the transition to college, followed by choosing a career path, starting a family and becoming a parent, and general planning for the future.  These are very broad categories that most adults navigate through successfully with hard work and a strong support system. However, a person with special needs may greatly benefit from an advisor who can help them break down these monumental life events into small, easy to accomplish goals.  In addition, another related aspect of adults with special needs entering the real world is the task of establishing and maintaining proper social relationships in these various stages and areas of our lives.  A Life Coach can be an excellent guide in a potentially confusing and rule laden environment.

It is equally important to mention that people who reach out to me are not only those on the Autism spectrum or have issues with attention, organization, or social understanding.  I have worked with the parents of children with Autism and other special needs, as well as their siblings, and in some cases close friends.  It is very easy for a parent who is dedicated to her child’s life to lose sight of her own identity.  Having a Life Coach who understands the frustrations and difficulties, as well as the joys, of having a special needs child is essential in assisting the parent in whatever goals she wishes to set and strive towards as an individual.

Furthermore, I have worked with individuals and couples who are in romantic relationships where one or both partners are on the Autism spectrum.  These types of romantic relationships can become very complicated and have a different set of circumstances as compared to a typical couple’s relationship.  A Life Coach can assist in helping this type of couple create goals and solve problems as well as bridge a gap in potential communication difficulties due to the different way each person in the relationship thinks, learns, and feels.

Currently, there are very few Life Coaches in the United States who are specialized in Autism and Special Needs.  One of my goals is to change that by making my services and experience available to all those who want assistance. I also hope to encourage other Life Coaches and professionals in related fields to see the importance and very great need for these services in the world today.  Autism and Special Needs do not simply disappear when a young adult graduates high school.  It is my belief that we should continue to fight hard for these people by offering our support now, and for the rest of their lives.

Jaclyn Hunt

http://www.asnlifecoach.com

asnlifecoach@gmail.com

@asnlifecoach on Twitter, AutismAndSpecialNeedsLifeCoach on Facebook