Autism Positivity Flashblog!
The Autism Positivity Project - Perspectives of Hope, Encouragement, Understanding and Pride
The Autism Positivity Project - Perspectives of Hope, Encouragement, Understanding and Pride
Autistic ‘obsessions’, and why we really really need them.
by Autistic Not Weird
Autistic people are famed for their ‘obsessions’. Be it washing machines, vacuum cleaners or dinosaurs (hell yeah, dinosaurs!!), having obsessions is seen as an autistic trait.
And therefore, it’s something unhealthy. Or at the very least, deficient.
Now, people who hold those kind of obsessions usually struggle to articulate why they’re so appealing, or at least in ways that the other person can understand or relate to.
So allow me.
What is the difference between an interest and an obsession?Well, to be cynical: normal people have ‘interests’. Autistic people have ‘obsessions’. READ MORE
by Autistic Not Weird
Autistic people are famed for their ‘obsessions’. Be it washing machines, vacuum cleaners or dinosaurs (hell yeah, dinosaurs!!), having obsessions is seen as an autistic trait.
And therefore, it’s something unhealthy. Or at the very least, deficient.
Now, people who hold those kind of obsessions usually struggle to articulate why they’re so appealing, or at least in ways that the other person can understand or relate to.
So allow me.
What is the difference between an interest and an obsession?Well, to be cynical: normal people have ‘interests’. Autistic people have ‘obsessions’. READ MORE
The Obsessive Joy of Autism by Julie Bascom
"...One of the things about autism is that a lot of things can make you terribly unhappy while barely affecting others. A lot of things are harder.But some things? Some things are so much easier. Sometimes being autistic means that you get to beincredibly happy. And then you get to flap. You get to perseverate. You get to have just about the coolest obsessions. (Mine are: sudoku and Glee. I am not ashamed.)" READ MORE
"...One of the things about autism is that a lot of things can make you terribly unhappy while barely affecting others. A lot of things are harder.But some things? Some things are so much easier. Sometimes being autistic means that you get to beincredibly happy. And then you get to flap. You get to perseverate. You get to have just about the coolest obsessions. (Mine are: sudoku and Glee. I am not ashamed.)" READ MORE
Unwrapping the Gifts by a Diary of a Mom
It is October of 2008.
I am sitting across the table from John Robison, having dinner. It is the first time we have met. He is speaking about the “gifts” of autism. He is telling me that he knows that with “little ones like [mine] it can be hard to spot the gifts, unlike it is with adults like [him.], where they are far more obvious.” I am working hard not to be defensive. He is, as far as I can see, nothing like my daughter. He has Asperger’s. She has classic autism. He speaks beautifully, eloquently articulating his experiences and sharing his inner world. She struggles to find words for her most basic needs. READ MORE
It is October of 2008.
I am sitting across the table from John Robison, having dinner. It is the first time we have met. He is speaking about the “gifts” of autism. He is telling me that he knows that with “little ones like [mine] it can be hard to spot the gifts, unlike it is with adults like [him.], where they are far more obvious.” I am working hard not to be defensive. He is, as far as I can see, nothing like my daughter. He has Asperger’s. She has classic autism. He speaks beautifully, eloquently articulating his experiences and sharing his inner world. She struggles to find words for her most basic needs. READ MORE
Aspergers, the autism spectrum and obsessive interests by The Invisible Strings
Three questions from two parents this time on a single topic: The autism spectrum and obsessive interests. These questions were about a child and teen, but this is a topic that can be relevant for any age…so let’s do it. Let’s Q and A this business.
Q: As kids get older is it common for obsessions to sometimes be more socially inappropriate? We have sort of worked this out but it got me thinking about them and what adults with Aspergers might think about finding a balance. READ MORE
Three questions from two parents this time on a single topic: The autism spectrum and obsessive interests. These questions were about a child and teen, but this is a topic that can be relevant for any age…so let’s do it. Let’s Q and A this business.
Q: As kids get older is it common for obsessions to sometimes be more socially inappropriate? We have sort of worked this out but it got me thinking about them and what adults with Aspergers might think about finding a balance. READ MORE
