Aspergers' and blindness, Is it so unheard of?

Post Reply New Topic

Asplanet, I just want to say thanks for the input, and I also appreciate the rest of you being informative and supportive. My older brother is much like the blind auty you know. He lives in a group home near our parents, and he has perfect pitch. He plays just about anything on the piano, and he makes up songs. My pitch is perfect as well, but my condition is much less severe, although we both share the same genetic blindness. This might confuse some of you, but blind people are very social creatures for the most part, not easily mistaken for autistics. The ancient depictions of the little blind boy sitting in a corner by himself, wearing ratty clothes that don't match, and not doing much else other than begging on a street corner are less accurate then they've ever been before. In fact blind people join forces, and they can be some of the most vengeful, resentful, backstabbing, and gossiping socialites you'll ever meet! Believe me! I thank God that I am not in the least bit low-functioning, and I'm in fact more intelligent than the majority. Though it might come at a price, I "look" at the people around me and think sometimes that Aspergers' is my gift. Also, if many sighted aspies are sensitive to light, wouldn't it make sense that some of us are the same way with sound, even a bit more so than the typical blind person? They generally don't cover their ears when the fire alarm goes off, anymore than anyone else does.

I see nothing, no shapes, no colors, though whether or not I see light has been disputed.

No, it's not. I've met two people who were aspie and legally blind, though both did have some vision. Whoever said that it would be unusual for an aspie to have bad eyesight because we're light-sensitive is really full of it, IMHO. It's different from blindness, of course, but I bet there are lots of people on this forum who have less than 20/20 vision naturally (including myself.)

Not sure of the relation, but I know both my son and I have poor eyesight...in addition, I did read somewhere about many children with autism, who also had vision problems, having perfect pitch...

Well, my brother and I both have leber's congenital amerosis, a resessive genetic condition, and Aspergers. He's the only Aspie I've ever met, and the NT's I hang out with, including the blind ones, think I'm a bit weird. But I guess not. Haven't quite figured out what "normal" is though.

I too will say, I have blindness but, not total in effect however it came very close to such when I was a kid though for, without spectacles I'd be lost. Well, I've also heard that sometimes children whom have blue eyes run a greater risk of developing social anxiety order.Maybe, there is some connection with the eyes possibly who knows at this time..

ProfessorX

It might be a false correlation, but we really don't know. My brother has brown eyes and mine are ice blue, however we both get anxious. And like I said, his condition so far as being on the autism spectrum is more severe than mine. It might have something to do with gender. My fiance seems to find it fascinating that when I get extremely angry, or my mood shifts, my eyes get dark and dilate. He's joked that if the cops saw my eyes like that I'd be calling him from jail.

Blindness and AS are not unheard of.

I knew someone who had AS AND cataracts.

I don't think that it is. I have a friend with AS, who's legally blind.

Well, I guess it's not unheard of, thankfuly. I just wish doctors and other people would quit assuming they know things about me that make no sense. That probably applies to many of us though. I was also thinking there might be some sort of a genetic link with Leber's, my blindness, and AS. There might even be one or two of us VI aspies in Austin, where blind people gather in droves to fight over government resources, I just haven't seen them. Thanks you guys.

I do not have any input regarding your question, but I did want to say that you have definitely got three things going for you in my book... Austin Texas, a Mac, and being a member on Wrong Planet!

I miss Austin, but I still have my Mac and being here.

Interesting thread you started... thanks!

Actually I should add you've got a great attitude also!

Rory Burnside from a band "Rudely Interrupted" was born with no eyes has aspergers and is the lead singer of the band

Home Page Here

Video of the band here

Thanks! Macs rule! It was fun teaching myself how to use my first mac last year. It also makes me feel a hell of a lot better to know that my brother and I are not the only ones floating around in the land of the NT. I study them all the time, and NT antics amaze me. I'm glad I joined.

KateShroud, Of course you can be, and are, both! These are not mutually exclusive conditions. Some with autism have a difference in their vision cascade, but that's independent of what you've described (ie: blindness).

Just as an example, one could be autistic/AS and be confined to a wheelchair (such as Strapples, Wrong Planet member) - no corrrelation indicated. This is like saying, "I am autistic/AS and left-handed." So what?

Personally, I think you should be commended doing both! Wow! You're very strong and unique in having a 'dual difference.' For me, I am grateful for being a HFA since this is my analytical/science mind and I does account for my enhanced cognitive abilities. There are gifts associated with autism (aka: mindblindness), although it's hard sometimes too.

I cannot know about being visually blind, since I'm not, but maybe there are advantages too? Unknown. I'll bet you've found those advantages in tandem with being AS. You are diverse. And therefore special.

Thanks, LabPet. I've said this before, but the AS mind is, for the most part, a superior one. I'm quick to analyze or pick apart just about everything someone says, and because of my brutal honesty my few friends are the ones with good self-images. Not that I'm a jerk to any of them. Blindness is not a gift though, and I'm looking forward to the surgery coming up at some point in my future. I can play the blind card quite well though, and the sweet thing is I get to go to school indefinitely for free. Too many blind people don't take advantage of this, and I'm just glad I didn't end up blind AND ret*d, like too many of them unfortunately.

Rory Burnside as well as having severe Aspergers and born with no eyes was born with a cleft palate as well.
And Rory Burnside really rocks!! !