Finding Kansas
Posted by Bill Bourlet
Aaron Likens came today to give his personal story of what it is like to live with Asperger's Syndrome which is part of the Autism spectrum.
He is a high functioning sufferer and wasn't diagnosed till later in his life. He now has written a book on the subject and lectures on it. Especially to the police departments where it is important for them to distinguish the difference between criminal behavior and a cry for help.
Aaron called his book "Finding Kansas" because that is where he raced his Go Kart and when racing he was in the zone, totally concentrating on one thing in life. That is where he wants to stay all the time. He says there are two sides to me, firstly authoritative and commanding, then shut down in the second state. He wants to stay in the first state all the time. He can stay focused whilst in the first zone. Often people would say he has a one track mind as it is hard for him to change the focus.
Eye contact is very unnerving for him, it causes intense anxiety.
He prefers to speak in metaphors. Parents often cant cope with this.
Autism suffers don't like change. As a kid he would only like to eat in one restaurant. Still today he only uses one gas station. He hates to be late.
He is a high functioning sufferer and wasn't diagnosed till later in his life. He now has written a book on the subject and lectures on it. Especially to the police departments where it is important for them to distinguish the difference between criminal behavior and a cry for help.
Aaron called his book "Finding Kansas" because that is where he raced his Go Kart and when racing he was in the zone, totally concentrating on one thing in life. That is where he wants to stay all the time. He says there are two sides to me, firstly authoritative and commanding, then shut down in the second state. He wants to stay in the first state all the time. He can stay focused whilst in the first zone. Often people would say he has a one track mind as it is hard for him to change the focus.
Eye contact is very unnerving for him, it causes intense anxiety.
He prefers to speak in metaphors. Parents often cant cope with this.
Autism suffers don't like change. As a kid he would only like to eat in one restaurant. Still today he only uses one gas station. He hates to be late.
To cope in life he often uses the alias role and by plays an acting game.
He becomes the actor talking about the author guy then he doesn't have to put himself on the line.
Therapy really helps and the earlier in life the problem is diagnosed the better. Its like cement the sooner you get to work it the better. After it has cured it is a little more difficult to smooth out. You need a jack hammer.Â
Love can be present when communication happens.
Autism closes in the world. As a child his father made him watch the news to see that is an outside world out there. That helped.
Autistic are horrible at empathy and tend to be very frank. which tends to keep them aloof.
Balance is often poor. They are often deep in there own thoughts which leaves them awkward.
Police get no autism training so Aaron can give a lot of insight in an hour or so.
Paul M.B. thanked the speaker.
He becomes the actor talking about the author guy then he doesn't have to put himself on the line.
Therapy really helps and the earlier in life the problem is diagnosed the better. Its like cement the sooner you get to work it the better. After it has cured it is a little more difficult to smooth out. You need a jack hammer.Â
Love can be present when communication happens.
Autism closes in the world. As a child his father made him watch the news to see that is an outside world out there. That helped.
Autistic are horrible at empathy and tend to be very frank. which tends to keep them aloof.
Balance is often poor. They are often deep in there own thoughts which leaves them awkward.
Police get no autism training so Aaron can give a lot of insight in an hour or so.
Paul M.B. thanked the speaker.