|
|
Post by geoff738 on Apr 2, 2023 14:26:02 GMT -6
I may have posted a thread on this on previous April 2nds. Can’t remember.
Anywho, this is a day for those of us with people on the spectrum in our lives to think about, and celebrate, them.
I also suspect, but don’t have actual stats to back up, that folks on the spectrum may be over represented in musical fields.
However, my kid, who is on the spectrum, has no interest in music whatsoever. He did as a young child scream the lyrics to Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner as I walked him in his stroller down a busy downtown Toronto street. Proud papa I was that day.
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2023 10:09:00 GMT -6
Thanks Geoff,
We have people who are near and dear to us who just happen to be on the spectrum. There are things about autism that will make navigating the world tricky, but are smart, loving, funny people in there. The more we learn about autism, the more common we find it to be (and always was). That weird shy kid we knew as children may have simply been autistic.
Like those of us who are "neurotypical", there are autistic people who are supremely gifted. Others are just "regular", except for the different reactions they may have to various stimuli. Their gift to us is in making us realize how many different kinds of people it takes to make a world.
I didn't know that yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day. But you can be sure it will be on my calendar now!
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by svart on Apr 3, 2023 16:37:43 GMT -6
My mother taught autistic children for 20 years. Unfortunately the public school system failed them constantly by trying to force them into equality with normal children, even going as far as penalizing my mother for their understandably low standardized testing scores. Most of them were quite low functioning and some were barely able to eat let alone communicate or even recognize their own parents.
I also worked with a high functioning autistic man for 15 years. He just retired. Getting along with him was difficult at times as he was prone to fits of angry outbursts and couldn't really understand other people's emotions. verbal communication was hard as he had verbal ticks, was echolalic as well as had difficulty having conversations of more than a few lines and got anxious very quickly over even the most small stuff the rest of us take for granted.
However, he had a very weird but sharp sense of humor and could put together word puns that were multiple layers deep. He enjoyed trying to get folks to laugh with them.
He was also a savant with mathematics and code writing.
Over all a very interesting person and I'm glad to have known him.
|
|
|
|
Post by chessparov on Apr 3, 2023 19:51:03 GMT -6
I have three very close friends who have Autism. Two have been diagnosed with Asperger's. (One mild/one moderate) "Marc" is a fellow Chessmaster. "John" became Grandmaster strength after 60!! No official title but at least two classes higher in strength, to us two. The other is a very pretty Lady I've known about 12 years. (Who I have a big Crush on!) All very smart. And she's a Redhead too. Ala Rita Hayworth/Maureen O' Hara type.  (Cues up The Quiet Man for further education  ) Chris |
|
|
|
Post by srb on Apr 3, 2023 20:56:10 GMT -6
I have two close musician friends (and good clients) both of whom have kids on the spectrum; for one of them, both his kids are. I know that it's challenging, and for the two-child parent, especially so. But these kids are in loving, two-parent homes with abundant opportunities for support, services, and quality upbringing and education.
|
|
|
|
Post by drbill on Apr 3, 2023 22:38:47 GMT -6
Close family member here with severe Aspergers and ADHD combo. I never knew there was an autism day. Saying "happy" autism day seems....um....odd. It's not much fun having a close family member with Aspergers, but we love him nonetheless. There does seem to be some increasing hope as he ages. And yes, incredibly smart, constantly frustrated, lacking any social skills with a very formidable brain that operates at about 210 mph with photographic-like memory while the rest of us bumble along at 65-70. Makes for a very non-standardized lifestyle to say the least. And geoff738 - zero doubt that musicians have a higher than normal incidence of being on the spectrum. I have known many. As a matter of fact, I'd hazard to guess that it's approaching 50%. |
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on Apr 3, 2023 23:14:43 GMT -6
Hmmm. Perhaps let’s celebrate autism day would be more appropriate than happy? As a parent of a kid on the spectrum, and knowing many other parents of kids on the spectrum, for me the day is for celebrating their achievements, and yes the joy they bring to our lives, while acknowledging there are challenges. And hoping that more awareness will lead to greater opportunities and inclusion in the future. At the end of the day, while I do have worries about how my kid will be able to navigate this world, particularly after I’m gone I guess like any other parent, I wouldnt change who he is.
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
|
|
Post by gwlee7 on Apr 4, 2023 18:15:28 GMT -6
I have worked with Spectrum kids for years. I have learned as much as I have taught.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083 
|
Post by ericn on Apr 17, 2023 17:28:55 GMT -6
I often wonder if we dug into testing how many of us in the creative world ( my self included) would fall somewhere on the spectrum. While there are many with severe cases we need to embrace the diversity and be excepting, because I’m pretty sure the most successful of class of 87 cohorts would have been found to be on the spectrum.
|
|
|
|
Post by chessparov on Apr 20, 2023 9:42:16 GMT -6
Definitely at least a 2nd cousin here. I have Post Traumatic Stress. But considered "High Functioning". Enough to fool them! Chris |
|
|
|
Post by gmichael on May 7, 2023 17:17:05 GMT -6
Definitely at least a 2nd cousin here. I have Post Traumatic Stress. But considered "High Functioning". Enough to fool them! Chris <<<+1 more  |
|
|
|
Post by bossanova on Jun 20, 2023 21:53:43 GMT -6
Musician on the spectrum with ADHD here. *waves*. My wife and kid too. It’s a colorful household.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Jun 24, 2023 18:04:02 GMT -6
Musician on the spectrum with ADHD here. *waves*. My wife and kid too. It’s a colorful household. You're in good company! Wife and I and two youngest sons. . . all as ADHD AF |
|
|
|
Post by EmRR on Jun 25, 2023 6:13:25 GMT -6
Yep, somewhere near that intersection too….
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083
|
Post by ericn on Jun 26, 2023 18:22:50 GMT -6
Definitely at least a 2nd cousin here. I have Post Traumatic Stress. But considered "High Functioning". Enough to fool them! Chris PTSD ( yeah shocking I know). |
|
)
