Self-Taught Skills?

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I've heard that it is common for people with AS to have exceptional self-taught skills as children and the ability to complete tasks quickly as if they knew how to do so already. Do you have any personal examples of this? I taught myself to draw and paint very well as a child, and have a natural talent for working on anything electronic or mechanical.

I taught myself how to speak english. I am Puerto Rican and my native language is spanish, they teach english in school, but it is very poor. Just basics like what a door is, to ask where the bathroom is, numbers, how to write and write enough to go to an airport.

By the seventh grade I was talking fluent english and reading long and complex books in the language while most of my classmates where singing the hokey pokey and Gallina es? Chiken! etc. I also started drawing about 10 months ago

One of my first works:


One of my newest works
[img][800:764]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/018/b/9/crazy_by_tempertempest-d5rwe5s.jpg[/img]

I also taught myself how to sing opera, how to cook and how to read tarot cards.

I picked up things easily, physical activities, using computer software, understanding a piece of electronic or mechanical equipment, looking at things visually and spatially. Unfortunately when it came to school, executive functioning, memory tasks, abstract thinking, understanding verbal instructions...I just bombed and got all C's. Anything non visual and I couldn't manipulate with my hands was difficult...

I can agree with you there! I am a very visual person, but have terrible motor skills, as well. So although I could understand the mechanics behind riding a bike, for example, I have never been able to ride one. I can see how long it will take that ball to get to me, but I can't catch it before it hits me in the face. School I did very well with textbook knowledge and I tended to read my books as a past time. I have a great memory, but never for what seems relevant.

I'm an artist and do a lot of different crafts. I told myself there was nothing I can't do, and so have tried many different things. I am quick at learning and have done mechanics and electronics, chemistry, writing. I'm not amazing at them though.

I am in the process of being tested for ASD. I'm 42 and have had many jobs...like every 3 years since HS. I cannot do something for very long, job-wise, because it becomes life-threateningly-boring after 3 years or so. The only exclusions are playing music and writing and study. Here is a non-comprehensive list of things:

I barely got through school, until I had some say in my classes.

I taught myself a bunch about tube-electronics.
I'm learning to write fiction.
I learned to grade hardwood lumber. The hardest thing I have done...ever!!
I play guitar (multiple styles, electric and acoustic), bass, dobro, mandolin, pedal steel, drums.
I have designed several guitar related electronics.
I'm a long time learner in recording technology...am now designing a recording studio.
I am a serious bible student. I have a mentor who keeps me going in useful directions.
Light industrial maintenance.
Professional contract painting and maintenance. (good money, flexable...hmm)
Interim ministry, I will begin as a consultant this year for transitional ministry, no more longer-term work.

Theres more, but no need to go on. The point is, folks who dont fit the usual profile for being "educated" find ways to self-educate. I am very fortunate to have found a few guides that understood how to turn me. And I get bored easily and move on to "conquer" another obsession.
I play many kinds of instruments and styles, so I just cycle through them, never bored musically!!

I taught myself how to code webpages (HTML+CSS, mostly). I wanted to get into computer programming, but was never quite able to grasp the concepts behind it. Designing webpages was easier for me to grasp, because I could see how the code translated to the finished product, and then learn from there. I've taught myself some other skills, but this one proved to be the most useful.

I started out learning Java before even trying web design, I think it's a bit easier to learn some of the harder stuff first, because once I started learning HTML, it was easy as pooping in a toilet.

I taught myself, with some help from my older brother, about all things computer related. You start to wander how computers work when you're on them almost 24/7.

I taught myself many things. Most of them were bad.

I taught myself to read roman numerals in 6th grade. It took me a week. I also taught myself how to download old computer games so I can play them on my computer and it took me about a month to figure it out using videos to watch it and reading online how to do it. I just had to find the right program for myself to play the games. I taught myself so many things just by reading. I also have done writing on my own and never really had to be taught.

Can't really say I have, as I always hit the books to see what has already worked; such as with fishing, shooting, archery and whatnot.

I taught myself a lot of bad thing, Like how to get even with your enemies at school. But that's how I survive in school.

Most of what I know is self-taught. My school did teach me to read, but once I could read fluently, I tended to be at least two grades ahead of my class (either that or hopelessly behind). Then I started being homeschooled, and my parents tried actually teaching me, but gave that up as it tended to cause meltdowns. They ended up essentially reinventing unschooling.

I was really into taking things apart as a kid. I think I took apart something when I was 4. I'm hyperlexic and naturally have a good vocab. Now as an adult, I've taught myself how to work on general machinery (bad with electronics, though), including bicycles and cars and internal combustion engines in general. I've had some help, but no formal schooling, most was just trial and error. I also taught myself how to cook pretty well.

My latest self taught thing is figure skating and Olympic style weightlifting. Very hard sports. A time of self teaching will eventually have to come to an end with them, but I got myself through about 2 years.

Self teaching is my natural mode I guess. I don't hate teachers, but I don't like ones that have a "guru" kinda attitude about them, ones not open to new ideas. The best teachers I think teach a student to think for themself.

I taught myself to write software programs at about age 9, Served me well as it's what I do for a living now .

Si

Acoustic guitar, piano, a basic understanding of German and Spanish (not enough to speak fluently, but reading it is almost effortless), drawing and writing.