Friday, 13 November 2009

• My Most Basic Autism Soapbox Speech (interupted)

  A few weeks ago, I met with the Interpretive Association at the Cradle of Forestry (I’m working with them to make an autism-friendly adventure trail in Brevard!), and had a pleasant surprise. I had just pulled out my soapbox (which is never far from my side), in order to drone on about how to set up a successful autism program, when this quiet intern who I hadn’t met before stops me and says,

  “Before we begin, I just want to say that I have Aspergers Syndrome.”

  Sweet! My work here just got 500% easier.

  Let me explain. This is what I would have soapboxed about:

  A. People with autism don’t need the fun ‘toned-down’ for them. As a group, they don’t need easier games, flatter terrain, or simplistic versions. I have never come across an activity that people with autism just cannot do, because of their autism. Sometimes people with autism need more thorough explanations (often in a visual format) about what to do, but that doesn’t mean they should have to play the boring game, or do the undemanding activity. In fact, just like myself and other neurotypicals, people on the spectrum get squirrelly and/or tune-out when they’re bored.  
  

  B. We all need more thorough explanations sometimes (often in a visual format). How many of us send out meeting agendas (or wish we would) before we have meetings, so that the whole meeting knows what to expect? How many of us have travelled to a place where we don’t speak the language, and wished we could access a more thorough explanation, in a format we could understand?

  C. As a group (with some exceptions), people with autism process information more easily when it is written down, or in a picture format if they do not read. Using visual explanations/expectations gives people with autism more access to the fun (read: life). It really doesn’t have to take a boatload of effort for our parks, museums, restaurants, and bars (yes! People with autism drink too!) to be more accessible to more people on the autism spectrum.

  But I didn’t have to say all that, because this intern was there, who they clearly knew and respected. Nobody in the meeting was about to look this kid in the face and suggest that we set up even slightly dumbed –down adventures, or that we ‘protect the autism population’ by making the games too safe (read: boring). Kudos to the Cradle of Forestry for hiring someone on the autism spectrum, and for respecting that person’s expertise (in forestry and in autism).

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