The World of Autism

Imagine living in a world where you felt different than everyone else, a world where you simply did not fit in. You frequently misunderstood others, and therefore could not respond appropriately. What if those around you misunderstood you and as a result you were constantly frustrated? Now, on top of all this, let's set your frustration tolerance down to zero. Oh, you are in for quite a ride!

As if this world isn't difficult enough, let's play with your ability to reason things out or think logically. What if you could not learn things intuitively like most other people? What if you could only mentally process things one small step at a time and therefore frequently misunderstood directions? You would most likely feel more frustration and remember -- in this world you have zero frustration tolerance!

What if your brain could not process sensory input appropriately? What if every sensation was so severely intensified that it affected your nervous system? What if certain lighting conditions bothered your senses to such a degree that you simply could not tolerate it. Imagine not being able to eat certain things because the texture, smell or taste was always off. Imagine not being able to walk barefoot in the grass or sand because the sensation drove you mad! Imagine if your senses were so highly acute that loud noises, like a fire alarm or a vacuum cleaner, caused physical pain. Imagine if your sense of touch was so heightened that something as minor as a tag on your clothing or the touch from another human being threw you into a tailspin.

Imagine if there were times when this sensory integration dysfunction worked in the total opposite way? What if you did not feel certain things? What if you could not feel pain and did not realize that you were injuring yourself? Or if it was 10 degrees outside and you did not feel cold? You would surely be at risk for frostbite!

Imagine not being able to differentiate between negative feelings. Sadness, disappointment, fear, embarrassment -- all translated into anger. Imagine how angry you would feel most of the time. Then imagine the behavior you would display if you were constantly feeling angry. What if others did not realize that this was a problem for you and you were constantly disciplined for that behavior?

Imagine what this world would be like if you did not have the skills to articulate your needs, feelings or concerns. What if you simply could not use your words to tell someone that you were having difficulty and needed help? What if you were unable to solve some of the most basic everyday problems? You would surely walk around feeling overwhelmed.

What if you did not have friends because you did not know how to make them? Imagine living everyday without having a friend to bounce thoughts or ideas off of. What if you did not have the skills to enter into a group activity? Imagine how isolated you would feel being constantly left out of group activities.

Imagine not understanding the feelings of others or not knowing how to express your own feelings. Imagine a world where you took things so literally that you often did not get the implied meanings, or didn't see the humor in a joke or a pun.

Imagine a world where everything happened spontaneously, as it often does in our world. However, what if we took away your ability to adapt to changes? What if you could only function by following a strict routine or schedule and others were constantly changing your routine?

What if you had episodes of frustration or fear that overwhelmed you so badly that you just wanted to run? Remember, you have no basic reasoning skills anymore, so you cannot make good decisions during these episodes of flight. Imagine running aimlessly down the street without being able to factor in things like strangers passing by, trip hazards or traffic!

Welcome to a world where 1 in 150 of our children live everyday! This is the world of autistic disorders.