Beautiful Minds

Thank you for a great series, and the heartfelt, compassionate, wrap up!

These after thoughts did not pale to the enjoyable Interview.

My immediate intuition after reading the full interview was to not read your post script. I thought so becasue I felt that I wanted to do my own reflections. I read your reflections anyway because I felt silly, at the same time, for thinking that way.

I am glad I read your after words and I cannot thank you enough for this whole article, or whatever it might be called. I conclude that just as Daniel has a very special mind, so do you, which is why your thoughts are as valuable as Daniels'. In the same sense I would have to believe that I, myself, also has a special mind. In the end we are all special and that makes us also very non special. It could be for this very reason that by seeing and acknowledging all our differences we can see and acknowledge our likenesses and origin.

Thank you

Dear Daniel,

Thankyou for seeking an insight into the life, thoughts and experiences of a person living with being on the Spectrum.
Thankyou for presenting the interview and your reflections in such a positive, educative, honest and respectful manner.
Thankyou for helping persons like myself, my children, my friends and colleagues, and all the other wonderful souls on the Spectrum who have an Autism story similar to Daniels' or highly reflective of their own, be told in such a way.

When one becomes the student instead of the teacher, so much of an untold story (or one which resounds with so many on the Spectrum) can be the gift needed when assisting those who request or need our help to reach their rightful place (of peace and acceptance) in this world as valued and respected fellow citizens.

As a mother of children (3 teens) on the Spectrum, a Professional Counsellor (ASD), Autism Therapist, Author and advocate for Autism acceptance, respect and understanding, I dearly appreciate your publication of your interview with Daniel.

In this modern world, I believe we are on the cusp of a revolution of truth and understanding of what differing abilities are; how they evolved or just are and have always been; accepting alternative thought and investigation; and most importantly - listening to the voice of the Autistic individual themselves as to what is their life experience and what really works and what doesn't work for them, regarding what is provided as assistance for them as they navigate a world which is, on many occasions, confusing, frustrating and demanding for them.

When we gain a holistic perspective of all that is and is experienced by the Autistic individual, only then can we, as professionals, be ones who trully are better placed to assist our Autistic 'brothers and sisters' in their quest to be helped gain the best quality of life as to which they are entitled.

Kind regards,

Louise Page M.A.I.P.C., Q.M.A.C.A. (Australia)

Apologies Scott,

my previous post was meant to be headed "Dear Scott..." not "Dear Daniel.." Silly me ! :)

Hi
As I try to continue my exploration of my mind and the small things that make me tick I come across a piece like this that stands above the rest.
I make no claims to be a Rhodes scholar but feel I always have a "special" insight into certain subjects and some of them the both of you have discussed here.
His thinking on I.Q. is the same as my own.But your reference to the newer types and there applications is good but I have not done this in yrs. so I do not know where it fits.
Just your basic thoughts on how we are human no matter what is the sign on my gate so to speak. Both of your thoughts on life circumstances being part of the equation is right on the money and I understand we would certainly notice an individual with the brain of Daniel no matter what he did.
It would have been interesting to see what would have happened to this guy "if" he would have been tagged in one of the "gifted" programs in the U.S.? would he have just developed sooner? faster? been the instructor in 9th grd. ? funny thought.
His links to his family tree are interesting ones also .
I will read these books now because of what is said about boxing people in and cramming them full of information.
The best thoughts I have read on this so far are titled something like "What happens to the gifted people" "Where are all the geniuses" things like this and both of you say something in regard to this.
People like you help me understand myself and a few others a lot clearer. I have had gran mal seizures for over 16 years ,auras all my life and have always been a little different,including those I.Q. tests and a lot of other things that I am only now realizing were way out there.
That openness he had in his childhood made a huge difference for sure and is why communication is the key in education no matter the I.Q. I have a 12 yr. old that has been tagged as "gifted" since kindergarten, but I was slow coming around for the same reasons both of you state about intelligence,I.Q. cramming information etc.
She has finally earned her spot though and herself and just a few others will basically skip junior high after these next tests .shew!
Thank you for the clear writing Rick and Teresa