After so many stories about autism and genetics in the news media, a parent asked me “that question” yet again: Would I want to be cured? What if my “autistic traits” could have been prevented? I have answered this multiple times, on this site and elsewhere. First, my life is…
Tag: social skills
I managed one partial day of an academic conference. The conference was from Wednesday through Sunday at noon. I attended four hours in the middle of Friday and that was more than enough for my system. Enough to attend a single presentation and give my own presentation before needing to…
I had a student this week who mentioned her ten-year high school reunion was approaching. Was asked if I went to mine. Nope. No reunions, no proms, no formal dances. No grad party. “Did you do college commencement at least?” Nope. Not USC, not CSUF, and not UMN. “Wow. Don’t…
The “look at me” approach to reading humans is painful, literally, for me — and I know I am not alone. Considering many cultures dissuade direct eye contact, it must be assumed individuals in those cultures concentrate on intonation, gesture, and other non-verbal signals. Even personal space varies culture to…
This week there is a major national conference on campus, sponsored by the academic department in which I reside (in theory). However, either I missed the announcements or didn’t understand them earlier this academic year. So, while other graduate students and instructors are meeting administrators from across the nation, I…
I get extremely anxious around stressful people. People with no humility, too much need to be right, too much intensity… they annoy me. I am currently reading Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. In the book, he mentions that the doctors most likely to be sued are the worst doctors: they are…
Whether I consider my oddities “autistic” or “birth trauma” (I vote for “complex entry into life”), I am certainly not normal. My wife will attest to this. Parents of special education students ask if I would want to be “cured” of my oddities. This question is one with which I…
I recently left two Yahoo Groups for autistic individuals and their families. Now, before you dismiss this as being hypersensitive in general, understand that I still read posting on several political, philosophical, and academic forums. These forums deal with controversial issues with some regularity. The difference seems to be that…
I love my wife, my cats, my family… but I wish I knew how to sound and act nicer. I can be curt, rude, blunt, or whatever else you want to call it. I would like to sound much nicer to the people about whom I care most. (Tangent: The…
Even as an adult in my mid-30s, I am struggling as a graduate student. I can do the work, I can read the texts, but I am struggling. What is the issue? Probably the most important of all: In eight months I have yet to form a single personal connection within…