Sunday, 09 May 2010

• Asperger's and the use of Technology

  

  We are living in a very technological time. Gone are the days of having to write letters and having to look in a thesaurus for information – the internet (along with the great ‘email’ and ’search engine’) has made sure of that.

  Computers and advanced phones (such as the Google Nexus One or the Apple iPhone) bring a whole new world of interaction, socialization and communication – and seeing as people with Asperger Syndrome do have problems with communicating: there must be a way this vast range of technology can help.

  I spend a lot of time using a laptop to speak about how I am feeling, what I want to do, and to generally express myself. It’s not that I can’t be bothered to go outside and speak to people…it’s because I can’t. It is literally impossible for me to communicate adequately without the use of some sort of technology – but why ?  

  With a communication device, whether it’s a laptop; an Apple Macintosh; a desktop or a mobile phone: communication is simple. There are no facial expressions to try and understand and no tones of voice. It’s just 10x easier to write what you want to say instead of trying to find the words to say it.

  In my opinion…technology is essential for people with Aspergers. It’s an essential way to express ourselves and to communicate. Even though we mustn’t rely on it fully, or become too dependent on it, technology is a valuable asset for getting from day to day – in an Autistic person’s life.

  I leave you with this quote:

  “Destroying an Autistic person’s computer or communication device they RELY on is no different than tying them up & duct taping their mouth shut.”

  Thank you, as always, for reading.

  • 11:50 PM
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