Friday November 23, 2012, 9:03 am
For some people with autism, processing intense, multiple-sensory experiences can be very challenging. This two-minute video provides a glimpse into what that kind of sensory overload can feel like. The difference between watching this and what it can be like living with autism? You can turn this video off.Kim Hohman

Friday November 23, 2012, 9:28 am
Thank you. I wish more people truly understood autism and would withhold their criticism when they see anyone acting out.

Friday November 23, 2012, 9:50 am
Disabilities, especially invisible disabilities like autism, are all too poorly understood and all too many people judge based on assumptions that no disability exists--even those who espouse beliefs of acceptance and inclusion often display "auto-pilot" expectations of others inconsistent with disabilities (sometimes even when they know about the disability). Increasing awareness and exposure to people who are differently-abled continues to be needed despite how many decades have passed since the Rehabilitation Act and ADA and IDEA in the US.

Stopping to think before one speaks in criticism is also a worthy step towards valuing the lives of others.

Saturday November 24, 2012, 6:59 am
The Autism Site; -Click to give FREE therapy!
http://www.theautismsite.com/
Thank You!

Saturday November 24, 2012, 7:50 am
Thanks so much for providing the link to give all who read this an action they can do in response to this article Ben!
You cannot currently send a star to Ben because you have done so within the last week.

Saturday November 24, 2012, 5:56 pm
Cheers for this and Cheers Ben for link

Saturday November 24, 2012, 6:11 pm
A great post my nephew has aspergers

Saturday November 24, 2012, 6:30 pm
Thanks Rose. You cannot currently send a star to Rose because you have done so within the last week.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 5:21 am
thanks for sharing

Sunday November 25, 2012, 6:56 am
Very interesting, thanks!

Sunday November 25, 2012, 7:55 am
You are welcome Karen and Sharon!

Sunday November 25, 2012, 12:52 pm
A person with autism must focus on tasks in a different way than a nonautistic person. That is why symptoms of ADD and OCDcan also be viewed as part of struggles of the person with autism in their daily living activities. For example, fire drills, flashing lights, sirens, are all too loud for many people. This is magnified. A person with autism also has hearing that is very sensitive. Fast movement and too much talking cajust gets blurred. Due to early dx and education, people generally can read, and can speak. Many can hold jobs. In some people, it is a condition that is somewhat hidden. However, it is challenging, and the rest of the population would benefit from trying to understand the view of the person with autism, and some of the challenges. Some of our greatest inventions came from people that had a form of autism.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 12:58 pm
What if ADD is not a disorder? What if some people are meant to think this way? Remember when Einstein's teachers thought he was stupid? I think we should stop pushing people into a mold to function in a Corporate America work environment and let these people be and achieve what they are meant to achieve.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 1:05 pm
I have been a teacher of students with autism (middle-school to high school) for 23 years. It is indeed important to withhold judgement and criticism. Many families used to give up their children; and they were wards of the State. Now, my students live with their families, and grow up in a very supportive environment. Due to early diagnosis, and more knowledge about other conditions withing Autism Spectrum Disorders; such as Asperger's Syndrome, Autism has become a common neurological developmental disability that has increased dramatically. With early education, children can read, and many can lead lives that are productive;. Disability Awareness is necessary fpr anyone to understand why a person might not groom themselves as well as the next. Thomas Jefferson used to wear slippers. Empathy is a necessety, as many people with autism MUST have routine, and also have video playback memory. The smalllest things in life to a neurotypical are tantamount to someone with autism. Tone of voice matters as well. Routine, and inflexibility are part of their daily life. Therefore--'tis very difficult, when a routine must be broken.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 1:16 pm
Francie, thanks so much for sharing your wealth of expertise with all of us with such sensitivity--your words translating some of the video's images may help some better understand--a green star is headed your way.
Roseann, you are right to be concerned about a one-size fits all approach to students who are differently-abled in their thought processes where supporting maximum achievements related to their abilities would be the most humane and empowering option.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 3:35 pm
Autism is not viewed by various professions all the same way, such as a psychiatric 'mental disorder', one more of Psychiatry's 374 mental disorders. Same with Asperger's and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. All are terms created by the field of Psychiatry...

Roseann D. makes a good point. In fact there are some groups of autistic people who feel the following about autism:
"The autism rights movement (ARM) is a social movement that encourages autistic people, their caregivers and society to adopt a position of neurodiversity, accepting autism as a variation in functioning rather than a mental disorder to be cured. The ARM advocates a variety of goals including a greater acceptance of autistic behaviors, treatment that teaches autistic individuals coping skills rather than treatment focused on imitating behaviors of neurotypical peers, including extinguishing harmless stimming, forcing eye contact and breaking routines; the creation of social networks and events that allow autistic persons to socialize on their own terms and the recognition of the autistic community as a minority group

ADD and OCD as someone mentioned again are more terms created by the field of Psychiatry..

(The DSM is Psychiatry's book of all their current 374 mental disorders)....
"DSM4 gave autism purchase by introducing a milder form that is close to the extremely populous boundary of normality. Then autism took flight on the wings of definitional diffusion, internet contagion, financial incentive, and naïve interpretation of epidemiological results.
The autism “epidemic” is set to spread further starting in May 2013, when the next revision of the diagnostic manual (DSM 5) will be published. The DSM 5 definition of an “autistic spectrum” will cast an even wider net, capturing many people now considered to be normal or to have another disorder"
Dr. Allen Frances, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry

Sunday November 25, 2012, 3:40 pm
Thanks , very enlighting !!!!

Sunday November 25, 2012, 3:45 pm
I can relate.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 3:57 pm
Thanks for providing more information to enlighten others Kenneth!You cannot currently send a star to Kenneth because you have done so within the last week.
You are welcome Aletta!

Sunday November 25, 2012, 5:20 pm
Modern life can be jarring and noisy for all of us. Thanks.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 5:38 pm
Are there deaf autistic people? Couldn't special glasses be made like sunglasses to cut down on bright lights?
Since we are electricity, is there some way of toning down high frequency levels that mess up brain signals?

Sunday November 25, 2012, 6:06 pm
As a person in the Autistic spectrum, I can certainly relate to that video - especially the inability to ‘tune out’ repetitive noises, to filter out unnecessary background noise and differentiate between kind and dangerous physical contact. I have an added problem with colour: walking in a crowd is like being pelted - hard - with blobs of colour. That plus the noise keeps me away from crowds.

Avoiding the things which frighten or stress me deprives me social contact, stimulation, and opportunities to improve my life (especially financially). People are ‘hard-wired’ to shun ‘odd’ people: those who do not behave ‘normally’, yet society benefits enormously from AS adults who are able to think differently. How much better off we would be if all AS adults were given the assistance and acceptance they need to lead a satisfying, productive life.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 6:24 pm
Thank you for posting this.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 6:56 pm
Gloria, a partial answer to your question can be found at:
https://asa.confex.com/asa/2008/webprogram/Session3734.html
You are welcome Sue.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 10:45 pm
My husband lives with this sensory overload 24/7. His intense hearing makes him a wonderful musician, but he had to give up performing in public. not only sounds but bright lights, odors and environmental chemicals cause him to overload. Even in wilderness areas, the jet traffic alone in the US, makes life intolerable for him. That is why we live in rural southern Mexico now. He functions so much better in our little village.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 10:53 pm
Thanks so much for sharing your story Mindy--it may help others cope with similar issues and find a solution that works for themselves or those dear to their hearts!

Sunday November 25, 2012, 10:54 pm
thank you so much for sharing, this, it was very enlightening.

Sunday November 25, 2012, 10:57 pm
You are very welcome June.

Monday November 26, 2012, 8:35 am
thanks for telling the world

Monday November 26, 2012, 9:23 am
You are very welcome Cheryl!

Monday November 26, 2012, 9:26 pm
Very interesting. Thanks for posting!

Monday November 26, 2012, 9:34 pm
You are welcome Lane!

Tuesday December 18, 2012, 6:51 pm
Gosh... I feel so privileged to read these posts It's good to me to be in an area to read such entries. I didn't know this stuff. it is a need to know and understand details about autism. When the media say the young man was strange and he wouldn't look you in the eyes, I understand why. It's not that he was strange.

i have wondered in all the varieties of flowers; in contrast, why couldn't it be seen as a variety of humans. Maybe our understanding is our lack to...not understand..
Thx for sharing. I needed to know.

Wednesday December 19, 2012, 11:41 am
Kudos to you Lyn for recognizing the need to know more--an important step on the route to knowledge. You are welcome.

Wednesday December 19, 2012, 2:03 pm
Please all;
keep informing in any and all arenas you can, because people like me and more don't know.
We won't know or understand unless it is made well known.
Because I read this; I have come to wonder, what really is normal and who made up the rules to what to look at/for and why?

Wednesday December 19, 2012, 2:44 pm
Great post (!), J.L., and excellent comments. As a (retired) person who had worked with Autistic students (7-8th grades) in middle school, the video is one that needs to be viewed by people who do not understand how these young men and women feel, most of their day. Safe environment(s) are necessary in the school routine(s), and as Francie stated, schedules, pep rallies, games, half-days, weather, cafeteria, p.e., to list a few, can be very challenging to these students. Most of the students I worked with, were in Honors/AP classes. We can learn much from people with Autism, and about 50% are Savants. Google that. They are amazing, and I enjoyed, and have fond memories of working (b-mod), with all of my students. Thanks, again, J.L. for this.!!

Wednesday December 19, 2012, 3:20 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Gran because you have done so within the last week.