tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post135866439339243483..comments2024-03-19T08:40:36.481+11:00Comments on Life with Aspergers: Going back to School: Some things I learned about myself in Recent Adult EducationGavin Bollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13833941398375568706noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-14353986364785710432011-04-01T14:46:06.219+11:002011-04-01T14:46:06.219+11:00Your discussion difficulties are intimately famili...Your discussion difficulties are intimately familiar to me. I can handle a very small group discussion (though I still get jittery), but in a large group I am completely lost. I feel like the conversation moves too quickly from topic to topic, and that I can't "think fast enough". And it's hard to insert yourself into the discussion without seeming rude and interrupting someone.<br /><br />And the doodling as well, I used to be addicted to it in elementary and middle school, and many of my assignments would have little people (or characters) interacting with the text on the page. I was always reprimanded for this, but it had always helped me to focus. <br /><br />And I do the humor thing! Never in large groups, but with a few friends or others that find me amusing. I can just keep the laughter going! Looking back, I'm pretty sure many of my friendships formed because I made them laugh so much, to make up for my lack of more serious social skills, like comforting someone when they're sad.thought-capsulehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10898749116630800706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-59428381902778232382010-05-14T14:09:27.493+10:002010-05-14T14:09:27.493+10:00ouch. the class clown part hit home. i was too q...ouch. the class clown part hit home. i was too quiet in school to be the clown, but i use humor so much to cope, i almost do it incessantly. it's probably inappropriate at times. maybe it would be best to rein in just a little.<br /><br />group learning situations--i always avoided study groups as best i could. there is always just too much going on.bludancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06026704286782851252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-39238996507329613882010-04-29T22:56:19.487+10:002010-04-29T22:56:19.487+10:00A fascinating post, Gavin. Great insight!A fascinating post, Gavin. Great insight!father of fourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13545620094928864276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-19567163177123496702010-04-28T11:19:33.207+10:002010-04-28T11:19:33.207+10:00Hahaaha I SO do the class clown situations. I'...Hahaaha I SO do the class clown situations. I'm smart enough to be witty, and other people find it funny even though I might not. :)<br /><br />Ohhhh and I looooooove to doodle!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04581959669587368249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-3523412626521501082010-04-28T01:17:01.662+10:002010-04-28T01:17:01.662+10:00I have to doodle in order to learn. Back when I w...I have to doodle in order to learn. Back when I was in college, it drove my psych teacher nuts. She just couldn't understand how I could get 100% on every test but one, when I didn't "appear" to be listening in class. Oh, yeah, the test without the 100%: I got a 99% because I forgot to put my name on it. She took off a point for that. At 42 I recently returned to college to get my paralegal certification and doodled my way through the course. One advantage to being an adult learner is that I was able to doodle-up the edges and backs of my test papers and really didn't care what anyone thought about it.Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13521761368473006391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-29287478929521638732010-04-27T10:57:01.072+10:002010-04-27T10:57:01.072+10:00This is the first time I've ever heard anyone ...This is the first time I've ever heard anyone else describe the "tongue-flicking on the back of teeth" stim. I thought I was the only one! I started doing it about a year ago, and I don't think it annoys anyone, but then again, most people are not as blunt as I am, so who knows?<br /><br />Regarding drawing in order to listen...When my NT daughter was a young homeschooler, she always had to be doing something else in order to listen. Often, she would draw, but sometimes, she would get up and walk around touching and looking at my books, my desk, my bookshelves, or anything else that she could reach. It used to drive me up the wall, because I thought she wasn't listening. Then one day I asked her what I'd just read to her, and she not only told me, but she told me with such an amazingly intelligent interpretation of it that I felt absolutely humbled. After that, I let her do what she wanted while she was learning. A couple of years later, when she discovered the Harry Potter books, you couldn't pry her off the sofa with the jaws of life. <br /><br />Everyone, whether NT or not, has his or her own learning style. Everyone should be allowed to learn in a way that makes sense for that person.Rachel Cohen-Rottenberghttp://www.journeyswithautism.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-38857735967115337422010-04-26T05:16:28.271+10:002010-04-26T05:16:28.271+10:00While I don't have an autism diagnosis, since ...While I don't have an autism diagnosis, since my boys were diagnosed and I gained insights into my own state of being, I've found that learning is a double-learning experience. I, too, have gained insights that have helped me to adapt better to learning experiences.<br /><br />Knowing oneself can make a huge difference, especially when you're able to make your own accommodations. Being able to transfer that to help make accommodations for others who are not yet able to make their own accommodations--that seems to be more difficult.Stephaniehttp://embracingchaos.stephanieallencrist.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-11629825308715406792010-04-23T17:07:22.714+10:002010-04-23T17:07:22.714+10:00I've never been a good "group" perso...I've never been a good "group" person. For one thing, I usually did all the work which pleased my classmates to no end. I tend to have little patience for people who SAY they will do the work, then don't. So, my default position is to do it myself, then let the group take credit.The Rambling Taoisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730292897416827840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-36311413630088569502010-04-23T14:52:51.636+10:002010-04-23T14:52:51.636+10:00Aspie kids do need to doodle.
(I will not say thi...Aspie kids do need to doodle.<br /><br />(I will not say this as a general point, but having seen your drawings and also Jypsy's doodle, I would tend to endorse it).<br /><br />And it's great you did non-verbal stuff.Adelaide Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490123934889071074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-4935928511693594392010-04-22T23:17:25.685+10:002010-04-22T23:17:25.685+10:00I had to draw/doodle when I was in school. It def...I had to draw/doodle when I was in school. It definitely helped me to listen. <br /><br />I also don't do well in group learning situations. I would much rather do the work on my own and then discuss the answers later.Foursonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07470306593323990269noreply@blogger.com