Asperger's Diary

Life through the lens of Asperger's Syndrome.

Lynne Soraya is the nom de plume for a writer with Asperger's Syndrome. See full bio

July 23, 2009

Getting To The Root Of It

Since I began my Asperger's journey several years ago, I have observed a lot of troubling negativity in the autism community. Like PT blogger John Elder Robison, many times I have wondered, "Why Can't We All Get Along?". One of the comments on his excellent post particularly resonated with me, and brought up a point that has surfaced in my mind from time to time... When we talk of a cure for autism, what are we talking about? And, are we all defining it the same way? From what I have read, I suspect not. Read More

July 14, 2009

Is Harry Really Hairy?

In a recent book, and accompanying article, autistic savant Daniel Tammet explored the connections between associative thought and creativity. Inspired by his thoughts, I found myself exploring all the ways associative thinking manifests in my life. As I explored, I realized something that I hadn't expected - that the roots of many of my social issues lie at the intersection of visual and associative thought. Read More

June 15, 2009

Bridging the Gulf of Autistic Adulthood

For those not familiar with the landscape of autism politics, fellow PT blogger Stanton Peele's recent post, "Why We Can't Solve Autism," provided an excellent snapshot. The article which he references, "Growing Old With Autism," by Karl Greenfeld brings up yet another facet of the discussion - adults with autism. Reading it drove home my own misgivings about the lack of information, programs and support for adults on the spectrum. Read More

May 5, 2009

Gardening, Asperger Style: Learning When Not To Follow The Rules

Well, it's spring again and the gardening bug has definitely bitten me. While the weather is still too unpredictable where I live to plant, that didn't stop me from stopping by a local nursery to dream. While making my great plans for the season ahead - I found myself reflecting on the origins of my interest in gardening, and my disastrous early attempts. I wondered...how much of it was typical, and how much of it was Asperger's? Read More

April 20, 2009

Sheldony or Aspergery?: The Big Bang Theory

When talking about portrayals of Asperger's in the media, whether it be here, or in other forums, there are certain shows that keep coming up time and again. The one I had heard of most recently was CBS's comedy Big Bang Theory. I've been trying to catch it for months now, but never seemed to manage to, partially because it's scheduled directly opposite another of my favorites - House. Finally, on a plane, I managed to catch an episode. All I can say is...Oh, my! Read More

February 24, 2009

It's Just A Stupid TV Show: Why Pay Attention?

Several readers commented on my last post, about Asperger's portrayals in shows such as Boston Legal, and Grey's Anatomy, questioning why I should concern myself with shows that are melodramatic at best, surreal at worst. It's just fiction, can't you just trust that adults will tell truth from fiction? Not necessarily. Not if they have no truth to compare it to. Let me give you an example... Read More

February 10, 2009

When Will ABC Get Asperger's Right?

One of the measures of inclusion of a specific culture is the quality of media portrayals of members that culture. The transition from merely stereotypical, to more complex, multi-dimensional characters is all important. Despite multiple attempts, ABC, much lauded in recent years for its culturally diverse casting and development ideas, has not yet accomplished this in its portrayals of characters with Asperger's.

January 19, 2009

An Interest in Serial Killers

In an earlier post, Asperger's Awareness for Assistance Professions, I touched on the importance of professional awareness of certain behaviors in Asperger's, and how they can be misunderstood. Such misinterpretations, handled improperly, can cause a great deal of havoc in the lives of people with Asperger's, and their families. I recently saw yet another example of this depicted in the movie, "Billy The Kid." Read More

January 11, 2009

The Wisdom of Billy The Kid

I first learned about Jennifer Venditti's documentary, "Billy The Kid" some time ago - when I was pleasantly surprised to find a link to my personal blog on the movie's blog site. Reading through the blog, my curiosity was piqued. I was driven to find out more. What was this movie? And what was it's angle? What was the connection to Asperger's?

Googling the film, I learned that the documentary followed a few days in the life of a 15 year old from Maine named Billy. Billy is eccentric, loves movies, rock and roll, and martial arts. He also happens to have Asperger's, although it's never mentioned in the course of the film. Read More

December 14, 2008

Making A Pearl

While driving to work the other morning, I had one of my "moments." One of the moments in which my otherness overwhelms me, and I find myself thinking there's no place for me in the world. At least, no place where I fit in. Early on, it was easy to let those types of thoughts slip me into self-pity, but this time, I found myself stopping to think. Sure, it hurts to be an outsider - but is it really necessary to fit in? Read More

Autism Basics

Autism is a complex syndrome that resulting from abnormalities in the brain's development. Common features include impaired social interactions, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, problems processing sensory information, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. A recent study of a U.S.

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