By Carol Fisher-Linn
April is national autism spectrum disorder recognition month. It’s a lonely place to be.
One in fifty-nine.
Those are the odds of a child developing autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, or other developmental disorders on the autism spectrum. “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a ‘developmental disorder’ because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.” Nih.gov
Until a person on the spectrum develops their sure footing and discovers and develops their strengths, (which they generally will) the condition places them in a very lonely place. Sociability is not one of their strong points; in fact, indifference, seclusion, defiance, belligerence, and anti-social behavior is more the norm. Its hard for a person to be in their own autistic body and equally as difficult for families to understand and embrace them and keep family life on even keel.
I share with you here, briefly, the story of Buffalonian many of you many recognize through stories of his music and foundation “Rock Autism”. Sonny Muscato who, with family love, acceptance, and hard, hard work, turned his situation into one of accomplishment and acceptance. Birthing complications sent Sonny down a long, dark road characterized by social isolation and repetitive actions. He responded to and created his own music, even by slapping his hands on a wall to make beats. He likely was influenced by his father’s percussion background. Unfortunately, his behaviors negated any progress he may have made with music. His life was filled with ups and downs, prison time, good times and bad times. His younger brother Max got into the act and together, with their dad, created a musical word into which Sonny could grow and flourish. I invite you to read their story and look for an opportunity to see them perform on stage. https://www.rockautism.org/our-story/
Folks on the autism spectrum do not need pity. They need knowledge, understanding, education, and a leg up to find their way. They need legitimately good health and social services and quick access to them. They need housing. They need safe transportation. They need advance, well-planned knowledge about future transitions, be it in school – high school to adulthood is especially challenging, change from pediatrician to adult doctors, change in housing, medications, etc.
People on the spectrum can find work suited to their individual talents. Many on the spectrum are inventors holding advanced degrees; others are considered geniuses or prodigies. A review of current openings at workability.one show the diversity of jobs available from Amtrak and Walt Disney to Major League Baseball, to match their abilities. To list a few: Fashion apparel design and merchandising, video games, computer science/Software engineering, Content producing, Sound design, architecture and engineering, accounting/banking, health professions – pharmacy techs, medical assistants, OT or PT Assistants, Dental Hygienists, animation, arts, culture, entertainment, customer service, education, finance, etc. The list is endless. https://www.abadegreeprograms.net/lists/jobs-people-with-autism/
The Autism Trail at Letchworth State Park could not have been a reality were it not for the guidance of Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University and a prolific author who was diagnosed with autism as a child. It was recommended she be institutionalized, but her parents disagreed. Grandin has become a leading force in the animal sciences, has produced an award-winning biopic about her life, and was even named as one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.”
Since his diagnosis, comedy legend Dan Aykroyd has been vocal and honest about his experiences on the autism spectrum. Remember Susan Boyle, that highly talented (but shy) Britain’s Got Talent winner? She was diagnosed late in life and was relieved to find out! She has sold over 14 million record albums. And who doesn’t love Pokémon whose creator, Satoshi Tajiri, has confirmed he is on the spectrum.
I’m going to name-drop here just to get you dizzy with the number of famous people who are diagnosed or suspected to have been on the spectrum: Marty Balin (founder of Jefferson Airplane), actor Daryl Hannah (Blade Runner), Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs). It is suspected that Woody Allen, Bill Gates, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, Mozart, Sir Isaac Newton, Einstein, Nikola Tesla, William Butler Yeats, Emily Dickinson and Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz are/were on the autism spectrum. Judging from the list of names, it is simple to recognize that ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is more than 4 times more common among boys than girls. If you know someone with the diagnosis, engage with them and affirm them. Likely, you will be enriched.