Have you worked/played with people on the autism spectrum?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238361)
Walnut Creek, California
March 30, 2019 11:12am CST
I had an interesting experience with a child at the preschool yesterday. I was asked to sub with a group of 3- and 4-year-olds I hadn't worked with much before.
One boy I worked with is suspected to be on the autism spectrum. He isolates, often doesn't respond to commands or his name, and is said not to speak.
For some reason, he took a liking to me, and followed me around while we were all playing outside.
We did some scribble scrabble art together, and he DID speak, asking for the blue crayon, etc. He also made eye contact, and at one point gave me a hug from behind.
He did NOT do repetitive behaviors like flapping his hands, and he DID respond to my request that we clean up some Legos we'd been playing with.
So now I'm on the fence about whether he is on the autism spectrum, or might have some other communicative issue. Or maybe he "dissociates" when he feels threatened.
Have you been around people on the autism spectrum? What are the main symptoms you've observed?
15 people like this
15 responses
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
30 Mar 19
I had a pupil with Asperger. He had learned how to react to others, so when the other kids told jokes which he didn't get, he would laugh if everyone else did.
He was clever, only weird thing was that he refused to believe that good answer could have more than one sentence so he's tests were very short.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
30 Mar 19
If you talked to me you have. Not by doctor standards but pretty sure I am Autistic. I am just not right and I make bad jokes. 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238361)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Mar 19
@crossbones27 I sometimes say I have "late onset Asperger's." For awhile, I was really into facts and my sense of humor was on vacation. I'm not sure what happened.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
31 Mar 19
my nephew.
he doesn't work too well with people,has anger issues due to frustration,does weird things occasionally.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
31 Mar 19
does the child speak at home? is this what's called selective mutism?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
2 Apr 19
@TheHorse here is a link to the ASHA american speech-language-hearing association
You do not have JavaScript Enabled on this browser. Please enable it in order to use the full functionality of our website. Toggle navigation Home / Information for the Public / Speech, Language and Swallowing / Disorders and Diseases Some children are shy
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Mar 19
I've known several people with Asberger's and have one great-nephew that is thought to be on the autism spectrum. The main symptom for him is a lack of any social skills so he says what he thinks without regard to other's feelings or whatever. He also gets highly involved in whatever he is occupied with or obsessed with what he wants to do. I haven't really had a lot to do with him. He plays a mean trumpet.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr 19
@TheHorse One of the Asberger's people is a really good actor and has no trouble learning everyone's lines, not just his own. Another bought my last harness pony off me. He was a sail-maker and in great demand but always worked by himself. He later lost an arm through cancer but continued sail-making.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
30 Mar 19
Yes, generally I really like people who are autistic. I have known young and old. They can be very high functioning. They do not all stim. They do perseverate. A lot of people try to put OCD labels on them. They are very into detail. I am told we no longer use Asperger's or PDD NOS as labels. It is all autism, as is Retts Syndrome.One strength they have is to notice details. At one time it was said that autism is a communications disorder, but it is a lot more than that.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
30 Mar 19
I have met several people with autism and they were very different. One of them hardly spoke at all, and another one talked all the time. Some of them were very sensitive to noise. I noticed the communication issues most of all. It was hard to have a "real" conversation with some of them. They talked about themselves, but never asked any questions.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
30 Mar 19
I have been with people with autism my son has autism but not as bad as some have it he can talk and do things for himself
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
31 Mar 19
@TheHorse Not sure what you mean by that but some of his symptoms are not being able to stay on task longthat was one of his big ones and I am sure you know is they have to have the same schedule every day or it makes for not a good day for them
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
31 Mar 19
My neighbor across the street has a son with high-functioning autism.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@TheHorse — none that I knew of. I didn’t know until his mom had him tested (and he’s an adult, mind you).
@wolfgirl569 (136006)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Mar 19
I have never known anyone that for sure had it. So I cant help any.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136006)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Mar 19
@TheHorse I know some can function fairly well. So it could be we all have without know we have.
