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Hi I'm new and I wanted to ask a question to everyone on this forum. I've only been on the forum for a few minutes and I have noticed a bit of anger towards those who misrepresent autism and AS and the only way I know how to undo the damage those kind of people do is have the real McCoy's come in, so my question is... If you were in the media spotlight or had a chance to, what would you talk, write, make a movie about? This has to be related to autism, AS or any other spectrum disorder. About your life, struggles you went through, maybe how your diagnosis impacted you. Your involvement in somebody else's life who has the above syndromes.

I would like everyone commenting on this, not cause I am seeking popularity but because I am curious on how people respond. It can be a nice lengthy response full of imagination and vision or it can be simply, "i don't have time for this," or "your asking too much." I would understand either way.

The purpose of this is to get people to blossom, and we cant get to know each other. I'll be posting mine tomarrow for those of you saying, "well wait, where is your's?"

-Jeff

hi there jeff
i am a lousy person to ask "what to do" but since you asked, i wanted you to have a prompt but reasonable response to your query.
if i were to produce a tv documentary about AS/HFA, i would concentrate on one family [with aspie members] longitudinally, for at least 25 years, just them and their dealings with the world and with each other. i know it sounds impractical or at least unwieldly as a tv doc, but this general type of thing has been done before, most notably in england where such programming seems more popular than here in america. the time frame could be shortened if some family has already self-documented their lives in this regard, on home video. hell, it would not even have to be a multiyear thing, i could just make a doc about various aspies, just interviewing them and their families about their lives up to the present. but i would NOT include myself in the discussion, i am just too insecure and i don't photograph well generally, especially in my old age.
i can't wait to hear your side of things, jeff!

Hello Jeff. Welcome to Wrong Planet.

It is an astute observation, that the media tends to misrepresent AS and autism. It seems like even well-meaning documentaries can reinforce negative stereotypes about ASDs, making "sufferers" appear garishly awkward, eccentric, or annoying.

I have Asperger syndrome, and I think that the importance of playing up the positive aspects of the disorder cannot be emphasized enough. AS has a reputation for often coming packaged with a high IQ, and it's not uncommon for specialists and experts to have diagnoses, but not everyone with the disorder is a genius with a "special talent." The lucky ones are, because it gives them something they can use to influence others and gain admirers and friends. Often, Aspies have normal intelligence, with no outstanding skills, and their "obsessions" that are so indicative of Asperger syndrome have few practical applications. For instance, a common obsession for a young person with Asperger syndrome is Anime. Watching Anime is not harmful; I adore it. However, portraying it or video games (another one, also common in ADHD diagnoses) as a "typical Aspie's" obsession probably isn't the best decision a documentary can make, since people are naturally wary of any disorder that gives a child/teen/young adult an excuse to zone out in front of the television or computer for hours after school. More representative of the true nature of AS are extremely obscure and focused interests. Last year, mine was Schistosomes, a type of Platyhelminth. When I was seven until I was around fourteen years old, it was pack therapods in the Cretaceous era. Something like "Anime" or "video games" encompasses an extremely broad spectrum, each containing countless genres within genres, and many NTs as well as ASDs indulge frequently in what they have to offer.

If I was making a documentary about AS (it would be AS, rather than other ASDs since this is where my experience lies), I'd focus on adults with the disorder, since this is an underrepresented group that faces many difficulties. Children with AS can get help in the public school system, or be homeschooled (though I don't recommend the latter, as that is the sheltered story of my own childhood.) University life can be difficult, but many Aspies thrive in the structured environment and love the opportunity to absorb information and choose their own classes. However, even if they excel in college, people with AS have a notoriously difficult time finding jobs. Since AS is an "invisible handicap", and many people are not aware of what it is, benefits are difficult to come by and understanding is hard to find. People hold the door for a man in a wheelchair, but an Aspie's inability to make eye contact or a poorly timed and highly inappropriate joke don't often get such compassionate treatment. To make matters even more complicated, attempting to explain the diagnosis to the unaware usually requires the word "autism" being mentioned, which can call to mind dated stigmas. Disclosing AS to a potential employer or romantic partner in an attempt to explain social missteps can make things even more complicated.

This is long-winded, but I hope it helps.

just what the top of the home page of this site talks about, how aspies and people on the spectrum sometimes don't know how to be social. It's. not. a. freaking. crime.

I seem to be ill about it right now so I guess I will hush.

If I may get egocentric here for a moment I want to make a documentary, movie or write a book about my struggle with AS and co-existing disorders. I've not found anyone here that can completely relate.
I also want to make films that focus on an average intelligent aspie, that is more right brained than left brained, about his/her struggles with friendship, work and a lovelife (but not have a strong emphasis on the lovelife - it's been done too many times). I've already started to get some ideas for it.

I'd only be able to write a book on AS and not use my real name. I am scared of public speaking and popularity.

Welcome to WrongPlanet.

I would like to do kind of like a reality show, I'll even show it on MTV, where the camera follows me or some ASD friends around showing how well they function. Then the confessional, where I'll bring in people this person knows, kinda like that 80's show "This is your life!" and talk about how they were before they were as functional as they were, childhood, teenage years, young adult years. It's something for young kids to look forward to when they grow up instead of thinking they're always gonna feel left out and not change, those who focus on the negative instead of the positive like I did.