My Life With Asperger's Analysis

“Imagine finding yourself in another culture…the language is familiar but…facial expressions and body language are foreign.” Hammond’s words intrigued me immediately. Had I ever before considered how it might feel to live “in a diamond bubble,” unable to interpret subtle signals of body language or comprehend accepted social cues? Megan Hammond’s plainspoken and insightful blurb for her autobiography ‘My Life with Asperger’s’ initially captured my attention through challenging my perspectives towards the everyday outlook of living with a disability. Inspired to gain knowledge on the “confusing world” Hammond encounters, I was particularly interested in learning about her personal challenges and triumphs in regards to schooling, employment, …show more content…
Due to experiences within the classroom setting in a teaching assistant capacity, I had formerly supported a child with an Attention deficit disorder prior to reading the text. As such, I have seen the vital role of tolerance and understanding in maintaining a trusting student-teacher relationship in order to meet the individual holistic needs of a child. Thus, I was curious to read about a student’s perspective and the role of teacher relationships in promoting learning. Conversely, my knowledge about Asperger’s syndrome was relatively limited. Thus, although I recognised that Hammond’s story would be individualistic to her own abilities and experiences, I hoped to gain a greater understanding and awareness of Asperger’s. This included a willingness to re-evaluate my own personal attitudes and expectations, developing greater tolerance and inclusiveness. In addition, I desired to gain further understanding regarding the social and communication skills that Hammond found difficult, and what strategies she implemented to interpret language, appropriate cues and behaviour. I was curious as to whether her schooling experiences had assisted or inhibited her development of such life skills. For example, I had a basic knowledge of Hammond’s life of many transitions between schools and a late diagnosis, and wondered whether such circumstances …show more content…
In particular, Hammond’s stories reveal flawed educational systems that remained indifferent to her needs, and consequently promotes further mindfulness, acceptance and inclusion within schools. Her painful accounts of misunderstandings, depression, abuse and suicidal thoughts due to her vulnerability in misinterpreting social cues and body language acts as a powerful protest for responsiveness. Hammond’s autobiography reveals her transition from negative labels by society to realising she has a valuable story to share: “Finally I am beginning to find my voice. Sometimes I was silenced by other people, but often I’ve been gagging myself.” (p.138). Presently, through sharing her personal ‘strategies to cope’ when living with Asperger’s, Hammond powerfully reveals her strengths and rights despite everyday challenges in interpreting social cues and communication. This causes her readers, myself included, to re-evaluate our attitudes, perceptions and tolerance towards the unique abilities each individual has to offer, and to recognise the beauty of diversity. Through such an open manner of speaking and speaking up for her rights, Hammond reveals each individual as having something valuable to offer society, and pushes towards greater acceptance and inclusion within schools and society: “I do matter. I do have a voice not only to speak, but to shout and