“Welcome to Look Me in the Eye and my Aspergian world” says John Elder Robison. I spontaneously giggled imagining a circus ringleader bowing before a crowded tent. I had a feeling that I was about to go on a magical journey and Mr. Robison was my Willy Wonka or the “Cat in the Hat”. The author did not disappoint. He manages to temper despair with a touch of comic relief and tells his stories of anger, want, pride and joy with honesty. I read three-quarters of the novel that first day. Mr. Robison uses the written word to create an intimate connection with the reader—perhaps otherwise difficult for him to do. Motivated by John Elder Robison’s book, I searched the Internet for websites presented by students or adults with Asperger’s
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First and foremost, finally acquiring a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome seemingly provided a wonderful sense of relief and happiness. John’s own words at being diagnosed at age 40: “ The realization was staggering. There are other people like me. So many, in fact, that they have a name for us.” (Robison, 2007, p. 237) Luke describes his revelation: “I finally knew why I felt different, why I felt as if I was a freak, why I didn’t seem to fit in. It was not my fault! At first I wanted to run out and tell the world. I felt like charging out into the streets and shouting, ‘Look at me, I have Asperger Syndrome!” (Jackson, 2016) Each finally had permission to embrace his thinking without shame. They were different, not wrong or bad. John remarks, “I was not a heartless killer waiting to harvest my first victim. I was normal for what I am.” (Robison, 2007, p. …show more content…
Despite differences in age, background, and geographic location, each individual has shared first hand “expertise” with a world-wide audience. Their collective message is one of positivity and power conveyed in multiple platforms; such as, books, blogs, videos, lectures, Ted Talks, and
First and foremost, finally acquiring a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome seemingly provided a wonderful sense of relief and happiness. John’s own words at being diagnosed at age 40: “ The realization was staggering. There are other people like me. So many, in fact, that they have a name for us.” (Robison, 2007, p. 237) Luke describes his revelation: “I finally knew why I felt different, why I felt as if I was a freak, why I didn’t seem to fit in. It was not my fault! At first I wanted to run out and tell the world. I felt like charging out into the streets and shouting, ‘Look at me, I have Asperger Syndrome!” (Jackson, 2016) Each finally had permission to embrace his thinking without shame. They were different, not wrong or bad. John remarks, “I was not a heartless killer waiting to harvest my first victim. I was normal for what I am.” (Robison, 2007, p. …show more content…
Despite differences in age, background, and geographic location, each individual has shared first hand “expertise” with a world-wide audience. Their collective message is one of positivity and power conveyed in multiple platforms; such as, books, blogs, videos, lectures, Ted Talks, and