ASD/Aspergers – taking things literally
ASDs (or ASCs as they are sometimes called – a Condition being a less prejudicial word than a Disorder) are not the same from one person to the next. But one feature many people with ASD/Aspergers have is to take spoken language literally. I can’t count the times my son has told me “Why don’t you say what you mean, Mum?” I remember when he was much younger, and driving along one day I heard the famailiar sound of him chewing his finger and told him to stop. He knew i hadn’t looked, so he said, “How did you know?” and I said what mothers say everywhere – “I have eyes in the back of my head.” Five minutes later I had to pull over to calm down my distraught child who had been gazing at the back of my head, wondering where these eyes were. We parted my hair to demonstrate there really were no eyes. I explained over and over “it’s just a saying.” Eventually he looked at me, bewildered at my duplicity, and said, “Why did you lie to me, Mum?”
I have learned over time to speak quite a lot of “Aspie” – language that says things in a way that makes sense to him. And he is gradually learning to pause when he doesn’t understand what people say, and ask them to interpret metaphorical language and idioms. For him, living in a world of NT’s is like constantly speaking a foreign language.
literal interpretation:
One of the things people overlook in ASD/Aspergers is that it has extremely positive sides. Stop treating it as a problem, and start treating it as a way of being, and suddenly the whole world changes. Aspies typically are honest, and seldom lie; many are highly intelligent with long concentration spans, many are extremely loyal and dependable. If the Church wants to be inclusive for those with ASD/Aspergers, I would say it’s vital not to treat them as disabled or problematic, but as people who speak and live in a different language, which can greatly benefit the Church if we listen carefully enough.
The Diocese of Oxford has some guidelines to help Churches be more aware of ASD/Aspergers syndrome. Dave Walker’s cartoons for the publication include the one above which demonstrates how confusing everyday language can be for people with an ASD.
10 Responses to “ASD/Aspergers – taking things literally”
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Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
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What a wonderfully sensible attitude! If only we could all just celebrate the amazing diversity of people, and accept and love them for who they are — people created by God.
Every word of your wisdom inspires us to pray again for a niece with Aspie. So many fine lines, such fine balance. Bless you for speaking Peace with those you delight in – and continuing to share it with so many.
PS for Dave, and yourself: acetate once seen projected in a church, slightly out of focus and at 90 degrees: “Help needed with the OHP.”
What a wonderful and heart lifting approach. Kudos to The Diocese of Oxford…..next step is a comprehensive understanding and guidance on aspects of mental illness……
A lovely post, Maggie – thanks.
Our church has one lay reader with Aspergers and another lector with autism.
This has really lifted my spirits. I am someone who is on the autistic spectrum and I regularly get very annoyed with how autistic people are presented. I believe what you have written is a positive example of how we can become a more inclusive church.
Wise Words. I wish the Educational Establishment would actually recognised the problems associated with high functioning Autism/Asperger’s though, rather than ignoring them as irrelevant. Whilst in society in general this is a commendable attitude promoting it causes difficulties for those experiencing a brick wall in education. Apparently, if your IQ is higher than normal, it is unlikely you would need any intervention or specialist support unlike your less able Autistic peers.
We’ve been fighting for 4 years for the support our son needs, he has spent nearly as much time out of school as in school and I am seriously considering Home Educating (and hoping the current government has a less prejudicial attitude to it) .
I actually oppose the idea of changing the definition from ASD to ASC because life is hard enough already for those with Autism and I honestly feel “downgrading” the seriousness of their difficulties does them no favours. Speaking as someone who today would have been diagnosed I were a child today I believe recognition precedes understanding.
Wonderful to hear a message of diversity, in neurology as much as in other things! Diversity and inclusion are definitely things the Church should be doing far more to support.
Well said. It strikes me that Asperger’s has more advantages than deficits.
I think one of the things that drew me back to the church was finding one that was chock-full of people on the autistic spectrum! I am wondering whether I should add a section to the FAQ section on our church website about people with ASDs, although I think we’ve mostly managed to cover the majority of the possible problems through various other Q/As.
Was musing recently on whether having an ASD is one is high-functioning might actually be an advantage for e.g. living abroad, as one has always had to put the effort in to see what is culturally appropriate, rather than just taking it for granted.