Wired Science

My son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. He is bright and focused on computer games and design. He would be a wonderful engineer/designer but doesn't understand he will need training and skills to get a job and be self-sufficient. He is 22 years old. Developed social skills beyond expectations but is still stuck.

The program tonight was excellent. How terrific it would be if there was such an interesting, even though difficult, program freely available for people with Asperger's. My 15 year old nephew is similar to Tim's son. he doesn't seem to understand that he needs to do well at school to get into uni. to become the computer games designer he would like to be.

Tonight's program was excellent. It would be terrific if such an aid to develop understanding of body language was available to all people with Asberger's. My 15 yr old nephew is similar to Tom's son. He doesn't seem to understand that he needs to do well at school to get into uni. to study to become a computer games designer

Tim's email reminds me of our situation. Our son is a certified mathematical genius, but can't cope with real life. At 24 he has 3 years of college, but strays to a computer lab to play games and watch videos when he should be in class. Anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, low frustration tolerance, inability to talk about his feelings and situation or ask for help. We can't make him do what is best and he can't think into the future. We just hate watching him shoot himself in the foot all the time. Real life sucks.

I am so sick of hearing they must go to school to learn. These people have ideas that no school can teach much less a boring never make any money professor who teachs things that are 5 years out of date at the time taught. The today worthless industry will not even talk to someone without a degree even though they really can invent something truly new. Bill Gates along with Edison are and were not genius they stole everything from employees and took the credit because they had all the money. Let your kid invent from home if necessary then search for investors. Be proud they are different not just another me to government programmed clone.....

My son too has high functioning Autism/Asperger's Syndrome. I do stress the need for good grades in school as he will need a degree to be "recognized" by the business community (my son has been on the honor role since seventh grade he is now a junior in high school). This is not to brag, but to recognize the ability that the other parents have expressed, which is that our children/youth are very intelligent. I can only speak for myself when I say that I know that college will be tough for my son socially and I will assist him in any way that I can for him to be successful. I am comforted by the fact that many colleges have recognized that a new breed of youth with Asperger's are entering their colleges, so they have begun peer to peer programs to assist students with Asperger's with the social difficulties of college life. Some are Ivy League colleges that acknowledge that our kids are very intelligent and they are not about to lose these students due to the need for support with navigating the social scene.I am very hopeful that our children will enlighten the realm of higher education and the way that society in general looks at people with a disability.

I, unfortunately, missed the program, but I think the diagnosis of Einstein is pretty weak. Anyone in a stressful situation struggling to grasp what's going on around him would repeat sentences...they neglect to mention Einstein's social consciousness and speaking ability, showing that he didn't have major hurdles communicating with others. Also, Newton's obsession can be described by the sheer gravity(sorry) of his discoveries. I think Autism is a very interesting disease. I have, in other contexts, heard it described as not having a filter on what sensory information flows into the body. It's funny how something that seems so simple can manifest itself in so many ways in so many people. I don't know exactly how asperger's affects your thought processes, but there must be some way you can help them get in touch with reality... your older son needs an education? Make him work a job,(over the summer if he's in high school) something he doesn't like, but could likely end up with if he doesn't go to college. Let him meet some fellow employees who struggle with poverty. I don't think they lack empathy, as such, they just don't understand the situation and don't see it as relevant. Let them know that's where they'll be if they don't buckle down and study hard.

I find it amazing how less intelligent people attack more intelligent people simply for the fact they dont understand.

Aspergers is a gift. Sure as a child there are difficulties coping with too much information streaming into the brain at once. But maybe its not the person with aspergers who isnt learning but instead the one without who doesnt understand how to teach. Find something they love and let them do it. Many are musical, try all instruments. This can open them up sometimes.

Why is there even a syndrome. Why label it as this. Why call an amazing artist an IDIOT savant? Why lump extreme intelligence into the SYNDROME category? Do they not understand that with great intelligence comes great sadness because of an even greater understanding of how things are and will be. Sure some show extreme effects of the "disease" autism, but for the most part great things can come of an aspergers person. The simple fact is the schools system of education is not equipped to deal with extreme intelligence and they teach the poor kid like he is stupid when in reality he is starving for information.


to monty. I think your assumption of their assessment is pretty weak. I for one have aspergers, I also could be a great inventor, but i have squirreled away my books full of inventions. Not that I compare to Einstein in greatness in any way, but I have always had this thing since childhood that made me notice the similarities in his and my life. I was only recently diagnosed with it, and it immdiately hit me that he may have had it. After researching some say he did, as did newton. I have what they call HFA, High Functioning Autism, or the ability to appear as normal as anyone, yet I hide a secret super intelligence that is somewhat limited and focused. Sure english bores me so there is little space for caring for sentence structure, nouns, etc. but I do have an extreme visual gift, the ability to draw massive math problems, or gear workings, in my mind and move about them easily. Extreme spacial recognition, perfect pitch, and a little photographic memory to boot. Sometimes I feel like a computer, I can only bring up what I put into me, so I clearly dont know everything. Also the ability to think beyond my information, to have a great understanding of things hard to grasp for most. I can redesign anything to make it slightly better, cheaper. I have hundreds of life changing ideas and inventions. But alas I too have my flaws, I cannot show anyone, and I sometimes have trouble communicating my ideas in a way other less intelligent people can understand.

If you were a complete idiot life would be grand with no cares and no way to understand. If you were a complete genius, life would be hard, understanding your thought processes, catching your lies, endless explaining of what seems simple, masses of the confused majority siding for the wrong answer because they know nothing else and lack the ability to see, knowing you have an idea that could change the world, but its likely too late.

I would like a job inventing, possibly in the R & D department of an established company, or you can use my ideas to start a new product. My family is in need for once and I know my skills can be profitable to say the least, but only for the right person
please contact me at davidblack AT charter.net

Oh and one last thing to monty.

I NEVER had to study, buckling down is for the less intelligent. I absorbed information even while clowning around in class. I didnt understand that others werent like me and they couldnt hear and talk at the same time.

Your "suggestions" if I can even call them that are way off base. You know nothing of aspergers or autism, they would be much better off finding that persons skill and helping them advance towards that one skill. With aspergers you DO NOT want to force them into the same bullshit teaching that every child gets. They will either be too bored to learn or simple not caring one bit about a subject and almost unable to learn it. You cannot put everyone in the same category.

I think a general basic knowledge base taught in school is a good thing, but once a child shows skill or a gift in a certain subject or area they should be allowed to let this skill shine. This can really be said of autistics. So bobby doesnt like other kids, so what he cant spell very well, and cannot play basketball, but little bobby may figure out how to run your car across the entire united states off of a 10 to 1 water to gas ratio. Isnt that what we need today? Not a group of drop outs, because they couldnt make it through high school english, but instead a highly focused group of individuals with pure genius on their side and a little help from a school with focused training in a subject they enjoy.

If you need help with your Aspie child, check out www.charismaarts.com a conversation and 'seduction* school. Wayne Elise and the guys there are amazing at teaching aspies social skills... it worked for me an I'm an aspie!

Their instructors will do more for you Aspie teenager/young adult then any professional combined, these guys are clearly experts.

I also missed the program, but belive myself to be an Aspie. In response to Monty, I have a Masters Degree in English Lit, which is good for not a hell of a lot. I just left a customer service call center job and I am currently working in a grocery store. I hate it, but buckling down to deal with the problem eludes me. I want to go back to school, for what I don't know. Researching schools and programs seems to be impossible for me to do on my own initiative. It has created stress in my relationship, great stress. It is not that these kids just need a real world wake up call, they need help with reality in general.

Frustrated Mom:

Your son should know that he is not alone in his struggle. Autism (including Asperger's Syndrome) is a spectrum disorder and it manifests itself in many different ways. Many of those with AS who have trouble handling their emotions should know that there is hope. Things are improving, and there are many others - both on the spectrum and not on the spectrum (aka neurotypicals) - who have insight into how AS manifests itself.

To start, I encourage reading books like Daniel Tammet's "Born on a Blue Day," John Elder Robison's "Look Me In the Eye," and "Parallel Play," a short piece that is included in the links on the top of this page.

I know of others who are currently writing first-hand accounts too, including "autism mom" Kristina Chew, PhD of AutismVox.com.

The Face Reader should be tested at NASA - among the engineers, not the astronauts. My first hand observation is that NASA is the biggest federally funded sheltered workshop for those with Asperger's that could ever be conceived.

I was lucky enough to go to university in the UK, where if you study physics (as I did) you attend physics classes from day one, and sometimes maths or chemistry classes. Nobody cares if we know anything about literature, which is just as well, I might add!

I thought I had found my niche in college, as for the first time in my life I had friends; people like me who had also struggled a bit elsewhere. After my first degree I got myself a PhD, but that was as far as my career got.

Since completing my PhD in 2003, I discovered that people in industry don't want to know me because I'm too academic, people in academia don't want to know me because I'm not academic enough (too many people chasing too few chances) and the people flipping burgers don't want someone who struggles socially.

I managed to get six months' work (before being fired) on an astronomy outreach project. They said my social skills weren't good enough. Even if an aspie like me can make it through college, sometimes there's nothing at the other end of it. I'm 32 and still live with my parents.

I see that many Wired episode segments are available online, but I am unable to locate this one. Is there an online resource where we can view the program now?

Thanks,

MP

I would like to e-mail this site to a friend whose child has been diagnosed with Asperger's . I would like the link for "reading faces" ( Mind Reading ) also. Could you e-mail them to me and I will forward them?

Thanks! This was an awesome program.

Diane Pecnik

My brother is 40yrs old and has Aspergers. Because he was different, teachers and specialist labeled him as having a neurological disorder. Aspergers was not in the DSM until 1994 so my brother could never be properly diagnosed or understood as a child. Even more difficult, he wasn't diagnosed or understood until the recently funding for research. His life has been very difficult as a result. I have always known that he was special, and have argued that he was one of the most intelligent people I have ever known.. sadly society's rejection has taken a tole throughout the years, and he has been damaged psychologically. Now I can only wish and dream of going back in time (with all we know now) to provide my brother the chance to impress the world with his god given abilities, despite his lack of social abilities. If I had a child with Aspergers "today", I would be excited, proud, and anxious to see what he could accomplish with his life. Shannon

i'm self-diagnosed asperger, I have got my first job for a month now on a three-month contract. I am feeling so bad thinking about my future, especially reading some experience here. By the way, I think asperger may also be called "the professor's disease"

When I was in the 4th grade, some 47yrs.ago; I was told,based on standardized intelligence tests that I was mentally retarded. What really was going-on is that I was learning on my own,to be a 1st rate electronics engineer and I could of cared less about the standardized school curriculum which I found as dumb & boring as could be.

I achieved my goals and then some, including chemistry. Some say I graduated high school with a Ph.D equivalentcy in both. After high school I went on to become the youngest ever, Supervising Head Maintenance Engineer of a major hotel complex[160 rooms on over 5 acres] at the age of 21, at major Colo. ski resort,for 4+yrs. My position was obtained based only on my abilities & merit, not on any favoritism. I was told later on by the owner that I could out-perform many men who were much older and supposedly more experienced. I also was one of the most highly paid at that time.

Even before this, at the age of 16yrs in high school,I worked part time for 3yrs. at a major medical college [in Ohio] in their newly created Nuclear Medicine laboratory as an assistant electronics technician.

After the hotel position, I went on and started my own business and was highly successful. Besides being successful in my work, I had tons of fun to boot. If I had any syndrome, I sure didn't know anything about it. The above acomplicements are just the tip of the iceberg of a long list.

Today you can't even buy a Chemistry SET, either in grade or high school. I had mine in the 5th grade and it was just a sideline. In 8th grade Biology class I developed a simplefied Microphotography techique, that was just one step behind the samething the Japaneese developed, barely 1yr. earlier.

Standardized schooling, either at the primary or at the college level, is for the birds for a lot of people for obvious reasons. One of those is its obsolescence.

When I was in high school, I was being thought vacuum tube technologies, when in the workplace I was learning the first chip or intergrated circuit technologies. This kind of thing is still going on in many different ways today. In short is having an advanced college degree really worth its cost, both in economic and psychological terms. Not everyone can or should become a rocket scientist,engineer, doctor, lawyer or whatever profession.

If there ever was a bad syndrome, it is definitely one of having too much college. I see it all the time and it is quite ugly.

That is what happened to me back in the 4th grade. Had it been just a few years earlier,it would not have been an issue. I would have been considered almost normal or even advanced. The so-called Modern Math was just being introduced in the so-called advanced school systems back then. I saw it for what was and knew instinctifuly that it was just a Crock of S--t. That is what got me trouble back then for the most part.

Also I was told I didn't know how to read, even though I was reading some college level engineering & chemistry books at the time. Most of the reading books in the schools back then & still are,as boring & dumb as the day is long and then some. Its almost a miracle that anyone wants to read.

Albert Einstein said it best,"after High School, it is a wonder that anyone can go on to learn much of anything." Today it applies to the College level as well. What he was referring to, is that too much schooling dulls one's senses & mind.

David,

You may want to add delusions of grandeur to your CV!

re:Dave- I responded to your contact as written but it does not work on Internet or e-mail. If you want, respond to my e-mail. Best Wishes,Pat Mercurio

It seems to me that a plausible explanation could be that the smarter you are in terms of science and those sorts of things, the worse you are with people, and vice versa. As if everyone's given a certain amount of talent and it has to be "conserved" like Kinetic energy and Potential energy...:)

I like the comments of Chiya and Monty. There was a recent "Wired Science" report on restless leg syndrome, and one could similarly question the proliferation of other newly described syndromes.

I don't mean to be insulting to anyone else posting comments above. There was a "Time" magazine cover story this past summer (August 27, 2007) that also expressed concerns about current educational programs for more serious students. Charles M. Schulz was said to have skipped two grades as a child and most everyone can relate to his isolation. Unfortunately, schools and other social institutions tend to focus on the average needs of the majority and tend to neglect those at either of the two tail ends -- that's just the political/economic reality.

Some have the view that genius is about saying what many others are already thinking. People can argue over the relative merits of intellectual, social, athletic or other skills. But even if one only wants to value intellectual abilities, there is room for growth in moral reasoning, judgement that combines refection with experience, and other analytic abilities.

It's never going to be easy for Arthur Miller or Spock to function in a Britney Spears culture. The challenge will be harder.

I have bipolar disorder, and it is clear to me at 44 that mental deficiencies like bipolar disorder can lead to wonderful creativity. I followed the straight academic path to a PhD at 32, then at 38 I made this rather startling (to me) transformation into a mathematical chemist.

Sorry I missed the show. I don't know about Gates and Einstein, but Newton definitely had it. Go back and watch the PBS show on Newton from a couple of years ago. The signs are all there.

On balance, I'd say AS does more harm than good. While a precious few are able to harness their narrow abilites to achieve success and fame, far more Aspies will spend their lives getting fired from flunkey jobs because they can't play the normals' social games. As you said, "... machines have no confusing moods or emotional subtleties to sort out." But bosses and co-workers do, and Aspies often can't do the needed sorting. Since normal brained people have an instinctive urge to persecute abnormally brained people, Aspies lose in life. Admit it, you laugh at all those undiagnosed Aspies on "Beauty And The Geek."

When you combine this with the fact that shrinks have no desire to diagnose or treat Aspies, you see that Aspies are usually life's big losers. More Kip Kinkels, anyone?

How dare you say nobody wants to have aspergers syndrome. if i were a neurotypical i would kill myself because my life would be meaningless.

Interesting show. I missed it though.

Imagine a person

When he/she goes to party everyday,obsessed with so called urban culture, expensive clothes, girls, celebrities, gossips and partying. Who is he? COOL

When he/she is a businessman, trying to earn as much as possible, works like a machine, ignores family, schemes to put other businessmen out of business. he is obsessed with money. Who is he? A BUSINESS WHIZ

When he/she is a politician. Wants power like a madman. When at power screws up very ppl who selected him/her. Manipulates law, creates more laws to manipulate. He is obsessed with power (and money probably) Who is he? A RISING PEOPLE'S MAN

When he/she works with maths/sciences/painting/sculpting/music obsessively. He has probably found things that will ease day-to-day life or save some lives. Who is he? Why, an aspie?

Despite the obvious lack of social skills the people with varying degree of this syndrome made human civilization to walk from cave to a skyscraper. Most of these men never drew much money or respect in their lifetime and has gifted their contribution to the very people who made their life pathetic.

As a fairly successful aspie I can advise other people like me that you will never be a COOL or BUSINESS WHIZ or A PEOPLE'S MAN. you should never aspire to be one. We are born with something and that is not our fault. The best we can do is to meet people like us, create at least minimum interactive skills so that we can be at ease with COOL/BUSINESS WHIZ/PEOPLE'S MEN and proceed with our obsessions. Special people always have special difficulties in life and civilization is not so advanced that people without any specialties would like to help us.

If above materials offended any COOL/BUSINESS WHIZ/PEOPLE'S MEN, then my apologies. We aspies are not known for good communication skills. :)

We missed the show because we do not have TV -- is there an Internet link which would take us there? help!

Yva

My son and we, his family, struggled for too many years without a diagnosis. Seemingly intelligent and highly verbal, people left the room until he was the only one remaining. I recall a time he spent dialing the phone to peers and family and reading a long list of scientific names of insects to them. His rage and out attempts to control him left many scars over the years. Ultimately, he was properly diagnosed at age 12, thanks to UCLA, and some of emotional trials were alleviated by agencies and the school system and school administrators. His initial months at a junior high resulted in schoolyard peers surrounding him and tormenting him (more than once) to the point of rage and fights. Off campus specialized class and situations followed. He suffered isolation, depression, refused to attend school more often than not, and ultimately spent most of junior high and all of high school in classes designed for mentally diseased. He didn't fit any classroom situation offered. He verbalized well but performed poor socially and academically--he was unable to stay on task and complete assignments. His expressive skills were so highly developed, it was hard for anyone to understand why his education failed. He could not complete any task. He was far too hyperfocused on minutiae. It opens many old wounds writing this, but perhaps this will serve to enlighten someone to the pain that some suffering from this disorder goes through. It isn't always the scientific and engineering successes indicated above. High intelligence and high verbal skills do not always equate to success in education and career. To this day, he remains unable to drive, unable to manage money, loses things constantly, can only handle one college class at a time, and only a few tasks on any given day. He loves to socialize and hangs out at internet cafes--as a regular patron, and sometimes is taken advantage of by people he meets at such places. He prizes human contact over possessions he's grown tired of and practically gives things away (a video game for example), after he's tired of it, instead of seeking the true value. Other times, apparently he makes promises which they collect on when he fails to keep the promise, resulting in their owning something of his. Moreover, it may be that once he grows tired of something, it has no value...and he'll offer it to gain attention from others, ultimately losing out monetarily. He has managed to work a few hours here and there at the internet cafes. Some janitorial work in exchange for computer time or a little spending money seems to suit him.

Someone here said engineers make the best husbands. Please help me to understand mine. I'm here b/c I suspected he has Asperger's. Why? He lacks empathy. We had a heat pump for air conditioning. The copper pipe in the attic corroded and he replaced it w/ PVC. It was very difficult, b/c the attic was really like a 24" crawl space. He changed jobs and left me behind to sell the house. Problem--every time the heat pump turned on or off that hot summer, the water between the pump and the compressor ran through the pipe in the attic; the pipe was now plastic instead of metal, and the weight of the water made the pipe bounce with a loud TAP TAP TAP across the bedroom and living room ceiling ALL NIGHT. He knew this when he left town. He DID NOT CARE that I WOULD NOT SLEEP ALL SUMMER. It wasn't his problem, it did not matter. This is a house I did not like anyway. I told him that when we househunted just before we got married. I went back to finish college and he bought the house. I felt, well, I love him, I'll cope. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. I wish I had broken the engagement.

We stayed married b/c I would not break up a home and hurt our two children. Maybe I should have.

Somebody please, please remind me why they make the best husbands!

I'm an aspie who found this through a PBS program tonight. So many comments that ring so true!

I went through 50 years of hell until I found an answer for me -- perhaps my experience will help some other aspies: I bought a pet bird. And then another. My wife found one in a parking lot; a friend's husband dropped another off at our house, and, last, a family gave us a conure they couldn't handle.

Well, since I was a small child I've watched and loved birds. Never got close to one. Never owned one. But they were the beginning.

Unable to feel empathy for other people, I nevertheless found it impossible not to "feel" for the members of our little flock. All are cockatiels except for the conure. Each is quite different from the other. Two are friendly, one is hostile, another is moody, and so on. Yet each bird lets me know I am appreciated -- and not just for food. They sense when I'm not feeling well and take it easy on me. They hold of on the "mine, mine, mine!" attitude typical of most birds and let me be. Instead of being noisy and demanding, they'll land on me, cuddle up, and simply show they care...quietly!

Close by we have a large wetlands area hosting more than 360 different species during the year. I've picked two of these to observe closely and, yes, the individual birds of a species have very differing personalities as well. You have to spend a lot of time but you can see the tenderness between flock members as well as the purported hostilities (many times it's just play).

The act of watching and interacting with our birds as equals led to a sea change in my personality. People ask my wife what has gotten into me! She says I'm much less selfish than I seemed to be before.

All this contributed to my obtaining some empathy for other people and an ability to lead and direct groups. This for a fellow who couldn't, on his own, hold his hand out and greet any other human!

The aspergers is still there. But now I can sense when I'm socially errant and, sometimes, correct myself. I still find it hard to greet strangers but I can now "warm up" far more quickly than when I was younger.

But, if any aspie catches my drift, perhaps they can find an animal species that they automatically relate to and can develop both a fine relationship with them along with losing some of their socially disabling traits.

This is not a fix; it's a start!

I am the mother of an 11 yr old Asbergers boy. Luckily we got the diagnosis and Prozac before he suceeded in killing himself (not a joke)While he still has all the common issues of an aspie kid; lack of social skills, lack of empathy for others, honest but jaw-dropping statements, way above average intelligence but no interest in the subjects that don't apply to his narrow frame of involvement, and so on...he no longer makes 'i wish i was dead' statements and has stopped any physical self-harming actions...that alone gave great joy and gratitude to my mothers heart! We are looking into Middle Schools for him as he is about to graduate 5th grade, at the top of his class acedemically but with barely existing socail skills. He reads adult novels for entertainment: Piers Anthony, all of his series (he even has an on-going e-mail correspondance with him!), Stephen King, and some Heinlein... and, unsurprisingly he is our homes as well as the schools resident "Comouter Expert"... he has helped the teachers many times with their computer issues! Still, i too, worry that he will, at some point, to some degree, HAVE to deal with other humans in a non-offensive way! to get a job, pay bills, pay for things at a store, etc... he will not always be surrounded by those of us who know and understand him enough not to take much of it personally... i have found that computer time, jolly ranchers and milk shakes have been the best motivators for him to be polite and act in a socially acceptable manner... in other word; self-serving motives work for him. Oddly, hto, he seems to have this astounding sonnection with animals..any animals! he chooses to be a vegitarian, much to the consternation of my shopping/cooking habits, and our cat had her babies ON HIS BELLY as he was sleeping. They follow him to school if i dont keep them in when he leaves. They sleep with him, follow him around and wait for him when he is in the bathroom. They let him handle their babies from one day old and even when they squeek, they don't get upset and try to take them back...rather they seem to enjot the break and go get water or food or use the litter box...we went to a friends house and her 2 wolves layed on his lap, belly up the first time they met him..we went outside and before i could stop him he has her chicken in his arms, quietly enduring? cuddles from this 11 yr old kid! chickens! that live outside in a little chicken-house!! Is there a web-place out there, like a chat room for moms with kids like mine? I have looked but i find only message boards... thanks for taking the time to read this... Logans Mom...ps;please excuse the typos and mis-spellings:)

I'd only begun to read this cursory column when I felt insulted. Who the h*ll does Vince Beiser think he is to make such an all-encompassing, ludicrously inaccurate and denigrating statement as "NOBODY wants to have Asperger's Syndrome"? Maybe Vince doesn't want to have it, but I am nearing 60 and am quite content to be differently-enabled, with my quasi-unique neural hardwiring that has me processing sensory input the way I do.
Would I like to have had more successful relationships and be more adept with interpersonal skills? Sure. Would I like to be a neuro-typical? No way. Most NT's seem to go through life totally oblivious, unfocused and unappreciative of much that nature has to offer. I experience passion (for a select few interests) as well as a limited, directed level of empathy (in well-matched relationships). That's enough "noise" thank you very much.
Fortunately, I had strong coping skills that allowed me to wend my way along the sidelines of school and life fairly easily, no thanks to my oblivious parents. If I'd recommend anything to parents of young aspies, it would be to ignore those who talk of "cures" and strive to help the kids develop coping skills.

I found the article quite interesting. As a software engineer, I've always felt that many of us for whom interacting with people is less likely to be a smooth experience gravitate toward engineering jobs, working with machines/electronics/software/etc.

I'm curious, though, why the author called programming "repetitive." Programming is an unusually NON-repetitive discipline -- if you find yourself doing something repeatedly, you create an abstraction for it and never do it again. If you are an artist painting landscapes, every time you need a tree you have to paint one. If you are a programmer, the first time you need a tree you tell the computer what a tree is, and from then on you just ask for more of them by name. How much anyone enjoys writing software depends heavily on the particular assignment, but generally I think it is fair to say that given an interesting assignment, software engineering is an extremely creative endeavor carried out in an extraordinarily malleable medium. The article makes the discipline sound like nothing of the sort, and may have the effect of turning someone away from a career which, for them, might have been full of excitement and reward.

I can agree with some of this article and other parts of it are complete hogwash!!.......Why do people keep trying to perpetrate this terrible lie and or misunderstanding. That somehow "we" (those of "us" with Ausperger's) are somehow less sympathetic and understanding than most others. The fact has been actually proven to a very fair degree in these last few years, that we as a whole are actually much more empathy filled than a lot of society. Needless to say "we" probably have as many uncaring and selfish bastards as any other group does in our midst, but that doesn't make us all that way. It would be the same as saying that all Black and Hispanic Folks are drug dealing gang bangers. Yes, I'm equivalating the remark, the writer just made to racial hatred and stereotypes. On that subject, it's also coming out "we" as a group aren't easily capable of "any" form of racism. Which might explain the frustration in people when I refuse to agree with them. That "everyone" is a little racist. As I can safely say I've never felt an ounce of racial prejudice ever in my life......... I do wish people like the writer of this article would actually investigate these things and annylize the recorded "finding's" than quote a bunch of damn hearsay!!

Hi, looks like i have some of the symptoms of aspergers to some degree. I have managed with it over the years i guess cause of my computer career. i never thought of it as a problem just an ability to focus intensely (with some of the above mentioned issues). i am willing to teach computers/networking to any one afflicted with this. my experience and condition might make me a decent teacher for some one like me.
only serious inquiries ieinstein at hotmail.com.
i.

Hi, looks like i have some of the symptoms of aspergers to some degree. I have managed with it over the years i guess cause of my computer career. i never thought of it as a problem just an ability to focus intensely (with some of the above mentioned issues). i am willing to teach computers/networking to any one afflicted with this. my experience and condition might make me a decent teacher for some one like me.
only serious inquiries ieinstein186 at hotmail.com.
i.

Contrary to a statement in this article, Sir Isaac Newton was not anti-social, non=talkative, and so on. His personality simply has not been developed in various books. He was not only a scientist and mathematician but a public servant at the British Mint & catcher of thieves.

I would have to admit that Albert Einstein had Aspergers. He did not talk much or fit in during his childhood. Alot say he was dyslexic, but he did not have a reading problem. I have Aspergers and I am not good at math or English as much. I did not talk alot during my childhood. I have to admit though, my Aspergers is pretty mild. And I can still fit in. Albert Einstein was just one of those weird ones who was really smart and intelligent. In my opinion he was the brightest human beeing on Earth.