If Aspies were in the Majority...

I have been finding some amazing stuff online over the past few days, since my current research obsession is now 'Everything you always wanted to know about Aspergers Girls.' Now that I have a word and medical research to explain my quirky ways, I feel a huge sense of liberation.

I just didn't know where to look or who to ask , like the parents of a little seven year old that I'm now chatting to online. We're rare loony birds. Though I suspect many of us go undiagnosed as we can pretend to be 'normal' more easily than boys.

I found this quirky take on what life might be like if people like me were actually the majority of the population. It was posted by Pherber at the Bust Lounge, and I think the original was posted at the Aspies For Freedom forum. Like me the ASFF community don't believe we should be trying to 'cure' people living on the Autism Spectrum.

I think we should be focussing on helping the autistic communicate with NTs through technology. If they indeed want to. I don't actually believe that the autistic are trapped in some 'dark void' in our heads. The way I feel is that I enjoy bathing in a warm data-stream, and enjoying my heightened senses with stimuli I can control.

Often NTs and NT interests like celebrities / soaps / small talk / babies just aren't interesting to me. Sometimes I'm too busy listening to the orchestra and watching the film in my head to notice the 'small stuff'. Real Life is like a series of channels that I can adjust the volume on.

It's actually rather lovely. If I'm relaxed enough in seconds I can get to that peaceful place, that many people seek through drugs, yoga or meditation. An NT can spend their whole lives learning to go 'there' from 'here', when for me it's the other way. I have to meditate before I am really able to connect with other people.

I feel like I really live in Nirvana/Heaven and come to planet Earth for visits. I like it there and some people are lovely to me, but I like to come home after short trips.

So enjoy this take on how the world would be if people living on the spectrum were in the majority of the population:

"If Aspies were the majority of the population, then the Neurotypicals would be handicapped, because we would set the standards on how a "normal" brain works, which means a lot of NTs would need the help of an Aspie caretaker, to cope in an autistic world.

The Aspie caretaker would have to teach an NT, on how to deeply concentrate for a very long time. Maybe 12 to 16 hours a day.

The NT would also have to learn, to cope without small talk and much socializing.

Aspie scientists would be intrigued, by the neurological deficits of the NTs, for example:

-One in 20 000 NTs has perfect pitch, among autistics it's one in 20.

-Many aspies can dream lucid, which means we are aware of the fact, that we are dreaming and can actively decide what to dream, and when to wake up. Most NTs have to passively endure their dreams, no matter how terrible they are.

-A lot of aspies are synesthetes, can write backwards, are ambidextrous, and so on.
In an world full of autistics, these things would be as normal, or common, like right-handedness.

In an autistic world, NTs would probably face severe punishments, even jail sentences, for the following crimes:

1.) making torturous noises, like whistling, speaking in high pitched voices, shouting, etc.

2.) wearing strong perfume/after shave.

3.) touching/tapping someones arm or shoulder, and trying to maintain eye contact.

4.) engaging someone in a superficial conversation

5.) trying to grab an autistic persons attention, intruding their world, while they're "zoning out" or distracting them, when they are preoccupied with their special interest.

6.) installing bright lights would be illegal.

These things contribute to sensory overload, and it results in frequent melt-downs, which causes us stress and pain, so all these things would fall under the Neurological Injury Act.

Autistics would also ridicule NTs, for their desire, to maintain a balanced diet, owning clothes in many different colours, styles and textures, and painting the walls in their homes white.

Those things wouldn't be illegal, but if they annoy the neighbours with that kind of eccentricity, NTs could face getting an ASBO.

Confusing autistics with ambiguity would be a minor offence, too.

NTs would also have severe difficulties forming relationships, because their need for attention, care and empathy is rarely met by the much more self-sufficient autistics."

If you suspect you may have Aspergers then why not take the AQ test from Cambridge psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and others, which was published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2001. Anything over 32 is considered an 'Extreme Score', and I scored 38/50 which makes me a giant steaming nerd.
There is also a more detailed online Aspergers test where I scored 152/200 AS and 63 /200 NT. If I do choose to get a formal diagnosis, I'll probably go through the Starfish Clinic in Auckland as they are experts in AS and I love the story behind the name.

I've always known I was 'different' and was picked up as being 'gifted' around three years old with my rampant hyperlexia. I went to an excellent special needs primary in the UK, and later studied A Level Psychology to try and pin down exactly how I was different. At that point AS wasn't recognised officially so I missed out on a diagnosis for another 15 years.

The breakthrough came when I was doing some research for a documentary on learning difficulties. Once I had read a few stories everything fell into place. Finally I understand my unusual wiring and how I can to use it to my advantage. Rather than carry on pretending to be 'normal' I can fully embrace my quirky side, and as long as I avoid the things that stress me out then I'll have a long and happy life.

I know it's hard for parents when their AS child is small, but with nurturing they can become happy healthy adults. I think more people should see the positive of Aspergers Syndrome. The article 'from Social Deficit to Social Asset' is really interesting as I hate all the negative labels used to tag us. For more wry AS humour check out this video from the ' Institute for the study of Neurotypicals' and Wrong Planet is a great community to hang with fellow Aspies.

One last note, people with AS can hate talking about themselves especially face to face, and communicate much better in cyberspace. I've only 'come out' as I've had 33 years of feeling like a curious misfit and wanted to help any girls out there struggling with being in such a small minority. I worked it out to be 0.025% of the global population but then who really knows?

I'm happy to answer emails and comments on my personal Spectrum Analysis, but don't want to become a performing monkey or zoo exhibit. Thanks for listening!