dustintorch wrote:
On another note getting back to the original topic...I think a lot of people find talented people to be "cool". Lot's of people on the spectrum become very talented in their field of interest (for example skating). This gives them a sort of boost on the "cool meter" and also gets them respect. This in turn usually results in the person becoming more confident in themselves and more accepting of their disorder. I find anyone who is confident and accepting of themselves to be cool.
Exactly. I never feel more confident than when i'm at a skating rink. I hate going to a new one, i can drive past a few times to make sure i know where the entrance is and where to park. i can park up and sit working out exactly where to enter and make sure i know which door opens and in which direction. When i get there i stand still for a while checking how many people are there, getting used to the sound level, getting a feeling for the size of the building and shape and where i am relative to the entrance etc. Then where to sit, where the lockers are, where the DJ is, what the average age/gender/race/fashion is. I then tend to put my skates on fairly slowly, sort all my stuff out, then go skate round slowly for a few laps checking everyone out.
Then i build some confidence and start to do some stuff and relax, smile, even catch eye contact with people etc and it all flows from there. I know people there think i'm cool or are jealous or want to ask how to do things or just want to associate with me, so that puts me in control and i get to set the rules.
As for my motor skills. I show a slight lack of fine motor skills. I don't remember the correct terms but i scored 100% on the "identify the pattern and select which comes next" test, but on the "organise these blocks to show the pattern on the page" test i scored just above average and got hardly any speed points. This is backed up by my poor artistic ability, poor hand writting, i don't play FPS computer games etc.
However I was a county/national standard athlete in technical events (Hurdles and Highjump) and while i was no better than the other regular skaters when i was 14 or so, i was the one who really practiced and improved and have been among the best where ever i go since i was 18 or so (13 long years ago!). I've moved from hockey style fast/dodging skating to a more tricks and dancing style now though.
So another long rambling post but yes, my motor skills are fine and i very much have AS.