Autism Spectrum Disorders

To prepare for learning about autism spectrum disorders in class, I read this article http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/20/070820fa_fact_page?currentPage=all

as well as the videos we needed to watch for class. 

The article was an interesting read because the author described living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and particularly how he managed to survive and benefit from ASD.

Admittedly, Tim Page (who wrote the article) has Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an ASD (ASD, as the name suggests, is a spectrum, meaning that some people can have quite severe symptoms, and others relatively minor ones). However, some of the things he describes do ring a bell with a camper I had during my one summer as a summer camp counselor.

I started worrying about Camper B before I had ever met her, because one of my superiors (let’s call her Superior) briefed me and my fellow counselors on Camper B.

“She just doesn’t seem to have any friends. We’ve tried and tried, but frankly, she isn’t even really interested,” said Superior. She paused, “And Camper B’s not so great at showering, either.”

When I finally met Camper B, she was polite and observant. Other campers were nice to her, but when they had long talks all crammed on top of a bunk, Camper B elected to read a book rather than join them. In fact, reading was virtually all Camper B did. I often wondered where all the books came from. They seemed to spout from her shelves like a bibliophilic edition of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Despite attending the same number of activities as everyone else, Camper B averaged a decent-sized novel every two days.

Books were her obsession, and, I suspect, a travel guide for the world of people around her. As in the article above, Camper B used books to tell her what emotions people would feel and when.

Camper B was able to use her prodigious memory when working to achieve an activity award at camp. I wish I could claim responsibility for guiding her towards the award, but it was someone else’s brilliant idea. She studied hard for an award that required her to research numerous facts in books and memorize them all. Naturally, Camper B got the award. This is exactly what the article above mentions: someone had found an “outlet for [her] ever-welling monomania” (Page) –books.

As in the videos I watched for class about ASD, students thrived when teachers were able to find a way to capitalize on the students’ skills. After IEPs and IPRCs for special needs students who have ASD, I want to remember that many students with ASD, particularly those with Asperger’s syndrome, may have gifts that can provide a lifetime of joy if they are given an outlet.