How do you think your Aspergers would be impacted if....

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I didn't do a search for this, but it came up in a brainstorm. What do you think it would be like if you were blind? Eye contact would become useless, you cant see. Nor would you have to worry about missing body language, you cant see it. When your socializing, people probably cant tell or, don't even know what aspergers is. But if your blind, how do you think things would pan out?

People probably wouldn't notice me having it.

I think it would be a nightmare, you would have to rely on all your other senses, which would ultimately lead to a sensory overload. Besides, the worls is a confusing place as it is without your sight

I consider it a form of blindness as it is, just relating to people instead of seeing. Or maybe it's just severe myopia...

I'd be devastated; the things I do at work (fixing computers, software, etC) and home (read, use the PC) would be drastically changed. I'll keep my eyes, bad as they are...

I was an inpatient at Albany Medical Center in the capital of New York State last February when I was finally correctly diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome after years of anquish and abuse as a child enduring countless misdiagnoses. A woman on my treatment team at Albany Medical Center was blind and also, my treating psychologist. She was very understanding, supportive and wonderful! Her guide dog was a sweetheart, too...and I really had to restrain myself in not disturbing the guide dog as an animal lover since the dog "is working" and one is not supposed to interfere with any guide dog they see unless you have permission from its owner.

I found this blind woman quite gifted in her work as a psychologist in spite of her disability...and the inability to "see" patients and
their behaviors. Of all the psychologists I met in my young life, this blind woman was more capable in performing her job than the
many sighted "idiots" I encountered in the Psychology Profession.

There is a "syndrome" who's name I can't remember, that blind people are sometimes diagnosed with as a result of not being able to use non-verbal communication. I'll root around to see if i can find more info

I'm pretty blind without my glasses... doesn't do much except make me more likely to walk into things!

I have been through a period when I could hardly see, so know what its like.

A nightmare, but did give me an excuse to cut myself off more. But when out because could not see (except about a few blurry feet in front of me) just walked with my head down and looked at the ground, lost confidences.

I'm lucky as can now see, have lens implants and have never been blind. But know of a great individual who is, his story:
I think the autistic blind kid from christchurch is a great role model for all of us, I loved the fact he played playstation games better than his brother just by sound alone, the boy seems to be truly amazing in what ever he does... I think we can all learn from him, he does not try to be anyone else and seems very happy in his own space.

You hum it, this blind savant can play it
http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4258122a10.html

Personally, I think being blind would suck badly.
But maybe being born blind....
I'm half deaf (both ears, from birth) and I'm beginning to think this may actually be an advantage over you fully hearing people. I can't hear a lot of little stuff that would bug me.
So maybe if you were born blind, it might work out well for you.
Hell, I don't know.
I'm not actually wishing blindness on anyone here.

They say that when you lose a sense, your other senses become heightened...I don't need that! I have enough trouble with my supersonic hearing to being with.

Your so right, when I had problems with my sight, my already supersonic hearing increased so much that now even people breathing can cause me problems - how can you ask some one to stop breathing. My eye sight is great now after eye implants, but still have supper, super sonic hearing - so please think quieter

I wonder if AS is diagnosed less frequently in blind people.

I sure you're probably right. You couldn't really be expected to have to pick up on body language. If you were born blind, the concept is going to be out of the question. The social ball park will be entirely different. One with AS would have to entirely focus on hearing. I don't think sensory overload could be a large issue, since your minus one.

There are those who are sensitive to touch and sound. I like it, a back scratch or a massage. If I'm sitting though, and your leg bumps mine, expect me to jump or rattle each time. Anything buzzing or alarming frustrates me very quickly as well.

From the social aspect, hearing is going to be bread and butter, if you're with an NT, I'd suspect they'd be able to adapt quickly.
A lack of social skills might still be present, but relying on your voice and hearing most of the time, you'd think those skills would develop thoroughly.

if i was blind i would commit suicide. sight is just something i cannot live without, and yes my aspergers would be impacted. i couldnt see my favorite things

When people are born blind they do not know any difference, its a bit like us aspie we are the way we are, society just needs to realize not every body thinks and sees things the same.

But having to experience myself being nearly blind for a while, as my sight got worse I sort of got use to not seeing, but even for someone who likes there own space, did find it very isolating and lonely, but then I knew the difference..

But I so admire blind people like the Blind Autistic Sevant Jonathan Petty who just gets on with life, a great role model for all of us.