Comments on: Asperger syndrome in the office: How I deal with sensory integration dysfunction http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:34:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Josh C http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-221405 Josh C Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:36:50 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-221405 Wow, it's hard to comment on a post with 73 comments already. Drop in the bucket? Echo in the chamber? I do not have Asperger's, we'll start with that. But, today, I had a long conversation with a very dynamic woman who does (not the wonderful author here). I had talked with her once before and was put off by how jarring it was to speak with her. She seemed to blurt everything out, appeared a bit narcissistic, and was very hard to track. Still, it was clear she was doing many, many different things, some of which actually interested me. During this conversation, she seemed a bit more focused but early in the conversation let me know she had a "high-functioning learning disorder called Asperger's" and this post came rushing right back to me. Immediately I was very in-tune to the attributes Penelope described and found myself listening more to how she was communicating than to what she was saying. I just wanted to come back and say "thank you" for providing a bit of context for my conversation. Whether I read this post or not would not affect how I treated this person but it was a better interaction knowing what to expect and how to approach things. :) Wow, it's hard to comment on a post with 73 comments already. Drop in the bucket? Echo in the chamber?

I do not have Asperger's, we'll start with that. But, today, I had a long conversation with a very dynamic woman who does (not the wonderful author here). I had talked with her once before and was put off by how jarring it was to speak with her. She seemed to blurt everything out, appeared a bit narcissistic, and was very hard to track. Still, it was clear she was doing many, many different things, some of which actually interested me.

During this conversation, she seemed a bit more focused but early in the conversation let me know she had a "high-functioning learning disorder called Asperger's" and this post came rushing right back to me. Immediately I was very in-tune to the attributes Penelope described and found myself listening more to how she was communicating than to what she was saying.

I just wanted to come back and say "thank you" for providing a bit of context for my conversation. Whether I read this post or not would not affect how I treated this person but it was a better interaction knowing what to expect and how to approach things.

:)

]]> By: willie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-220605 willie Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:12:50 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-220605 hi fellow asper-person here yeah alot of this is familiar to me, except the math part, i am really good at math (except for addition,subtraction,multiplication,and division) but all the social problems are familliar. possible hint/ technique: when walking in a crowded area, i tend to NEVER think about the people around me except as a box that has a 1/3 a foot more in every direction than the actual person. if you have aspergers that is similar to mine, you probably can focus on one thing for an extended period of time without being easily distracted. you also probably can focus on many things at once, however sacrificing your ability to stay focused with each item. here is the hint, when walking down a crowded corridor, focus almost completely on the destination, however, use your periphrial vision to notice the other people. using this i almost never EVER get complaints like "exCUSE me!" so, i hope this helps, it works for me,(but i guess being 6'4" helps to. hi fellow asper-person here

yeah alot of this is familiar to me, except the math part, i am really good at math (except for addition,subtraction,multiplication,and division) but all the social problems are familliar.

possible hint/ technique:
when walking in a crowded area, i tend to NEVER think about the people around me except as a box that has a 1/3 a foot more in every direction than the actual person. if you have aspergers that is similar to mine, you probably can focus on one thing for an extended period of time without being easily distracted. you also probably can focus on many things at once, however sacrificing your ability to stay focused with each item. here is the hint, when walking down a crowded corridor, focus almost completely on the destination, however, use your periphrial vision to notice the other people. using this i almost never EVER get complaints like "exCUSE me!"

so, i hope this helps, it works for me,(but i guess being 6'4" helps to.

]]> By: Rachel Nixon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-219880 Rachel Nixon Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:39:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-219880 Hi Penelope, I found your site through Amelia's blog 101 Birdtales, it's very interesting reading your thoughts on coping with AS. I'm a mum of an autistic child too, who I blog about at http://strange-beau.blogspot.com Best Wishes Rachel Hi Penelope, I found your site through Amelia's blog 101 Birdtales, it's very interesting reading your thoughts on coping with AS. I'm a mum of an autistic child too, who I blog about at http://strange-beau.blogspot.com

Best Wishes
Rachel

]]> By: High School Reunion: Winner Takes All : Life As A Human http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-219740 High School Reunion: Winner Takes All : Life As A Human Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:37:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-219740 [...] because she has Asperger Syndrome. And yet, she has managed to succeed in the workplace. How? By studying precisely the kind of research that Pentland conducts and applying it to her career [...] [...] because she has Asperger Syndrome. And yet, she has managed to succeed in the workplace. How? By studying precisely the kind of research that Pentland conducts and applying it to her career [...]

]]> By: Steven Michaelis http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-219346 Steven Michaelis Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:19:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-219346 As an additional resource you may be interested to check out the Free Sound Therapy Home Programme available from Sensory Activation Solutions. Their Auditory Activation Method builds on the pioneering work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis (Tomatis method) and Dr. Guy Bérard (Auditory Integration Training) and has been specifically developed with the aim to improve sensory processing, interhemispheric integration and cognitive functioning. It has helped many children and adults with a wide range of learning and developmental difficulties, ranging from dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder to sensory processing disorders and autism. It is not a cure or medical intervention, but a structured training programme that can help alleviate some of the debilitating effects that these conditions can have on speech and physical ability, daily behaviour, emotional well-being and educational or work performance. There is no catch, it's absolutely free and most importantly often effective. Check it out at: http://www.uk.sascentre.com/uk_free.html. As an additional resource you may be interested to check out the Free Sound Therapy Home Programme available from Sensory Activation Solutions. Their Auditory Activation Method builds on the pioneering work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis (Tomatis method) and Dr. Guy Bérard (Auditory Integration Training) and has been specifically developed with the aim to improve sensory processing, interhemispheric integration and cognitive functioning. It has helped many children and adults with a wide range of learning and developmental difficulties, ranging from dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder to sensory processing disorders and autism. It is not a cure or medical intervention, but a structured training programme that can help alleviate some of the debilitating effects that these conditions can have on speech and physical ability, daily behaviour, emotional well-being and educational or work performance.

There is no catch, it's absolutely free and most importantly often effective. Check it out at: http://www.uk.sascentre.com/uk_free.html.

]]> By: Simon Hay http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-218206 Simon Hay Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:38:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-218206 I'm a healer and a medium. I'm trained by spirit, and I have conversations with spirit and consciousness all the time, but the information is filtered through my conscious/unconscious (?) field. While reading this I thought why, what has caused aspergers? The response I heard was, "the information energy pathway is misfiring, there's a disturbance and a discontinuity in the field." I'm thinking how, and what has caused this to happen? "The disturbance is also in the earth's field. Technology and industry creates a vibration that influences all life." I've thought about the energy radiating from cell phones causing illness, and I hear, "this is close." Can it be reversed, corrected? "Yes." The conversation will flow, but the answers I hear are given to me in a way that I can understand them. Someone else would hear a variation of wording, but the theme and message will be the same. I'm sharing, and I hope it makes sense to someone. Cheers, Simon. I'm a healer and a medium. I'm trained by spirit, and I have conversations with spirit and consciousness all the time, but the information is filtered through my conscious/unconscious (?) field. While reading this I thought why, what has caused aspergers? The response I heard was, "the information energy pathway is misfiring, there's a disturbance and a discontinuity in the field." I'm thinking how, and what has caused this to happen? "The disturbance is also in the earth's field. Technology and industry creates a vibration that influences all life." I've thought about the energy radiating from cell phones causing illness, and I hear, "this is close." Can it be reversed, corrected? "Yes." The conversation will flow, but the answers I hear are given to me in a way that I can understand them. Someone else would hear a variation of wording, but the theme and message will be the same.

I'm sharing, and I hope it makes sense to someone. Cheers, Simon.

]]> By: The Bad, the Good, and the Beautiful - January 15th, 2010 | In The Loop http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-218199 The Bad, the Good, and the Beautiful - January 15th, 2010 | In The Loop Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:23:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-218199 [...] college and on into their careers. Whether she’s talking about leadership, ROI, blogging, or her life with Asperger’s, Penelope walks-the-walk of her firm, by creating her own seamless online identity. Which seems [...] [...] college and on into their careers. Whether she's talking about leadership, ROI, blogging, or her life with Asperger's, Penelope walks-the-walk of her firm, by creating her own seamless online identity. Which seems [...]

]]> By: Leah http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-213009 Leah Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:07:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-213009 I was recently diagnosed with Asperger's after years and years of struggling to make it through college (I am now a 28-year-old female in my senior year and still struggling) and the one thing I've learned is that Asperger's is an incredibly individual syndrome. No one person's stories/symptoms are the same as another's, and in fact, some can be radically different. However, there is always at least one or two things that we can find in common with each other. For instance, I don't have problems with my left and right, and my food obsession is quite different, in that I don't have a problem with change, and I actually like to try new foods, but when I find a food that I particularly enjoy, such as hummus and pita, I will eat it to an exclusion of everything else until I make myself sick off of it, and then I can never eat it again. (I solemnly shed a tear for hummus and pita). I was, however, particularly struck by the clumsiness in your story. I also was an athlete (swimmer) in school, and played several other sports for pleasure, but get me off the field or out of the pool and I'm like an octopus out of water with legs and arms flailing. The worst for me is walking through doorways. I constantly am missing doorways and slamming my shoulders, arms, hands, and elbows into the sides of the door. Fortunately, I have a loving family and fiance, and I have come to view a lot of my symptoms as things that make me interesting, and at the least, entertaining. Thank you for writing, I am eager to hear more! I was recently diagnosed with Asperger's after years and years of struggling to make it through college (I am now a 28-year-old female in my senior year and still struggling) and the one thing I've learned is that Asperger's is an incredibly individual syndrome. No one person's stories/symptoms are the same as another's, and in fact, some can be radically different. However, there is always at least one or two things that we can find in common with each other. For instance, I don't have problems with my left and right, and my food obsession is quite different, in that I don't have a problem with change, and I actually like to try new foods, but when I find a food that I particularly enjoy, such as hummus and pita, I will eat it to an exclusion of everything else until I make myself sick off of it, and then I can never eat it again. (I solemnly shed a tear for hummus and pita). I was, however, particularly struck by the clumsiness in your story. I also was an athlete (swimmer) in school, and played several other sports for pleasure, but get me off the field or out of the pool and I'm like an octopus out of water with legs and arms flailing. The worst for me is walking through doorways. I constantly am missing doorways and slamming my shoulders, arms, hands, and elbows into the sides of the door. Fortunately, I have a loving family and fiance, and I have come to view a lot of my symptoms as things that make me interesting, and at the least, entertaining. Thank you for writing, I am eager to hear more!

]]> By: A-Listers : éloge de la transdisciplinarité et de l’action « Heavy Mental http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-212660 A-Listers : éloge de la transdisciplinarité et de l’action « Heavy Mental Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:18:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-212660 [...] sont fascinés par son incroyable transparence : elle y parle tour à tour de son business, son syndrôme d’Asperger, ses aventures amoureuses avec son fermier du Wisconsin, son experience du 11 September (elle [...] [...] sont fascinés par son incroyable transparence : elle y parle tour à tour de son business, son syndrôme d'Asperger, ses aventures amoureuses avec son fermier du Wisconsin, son experience du 11 September (elle [...]

]]> By: daphne http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/comment-page-2/#comment-212652 daphne Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:11:22 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/?p=3991#comment-212652 I'd hug you, but I wouldn't want to freak you out. Sorry, autism humor. I haev a rather high-functioning level of Asperger's. What caught me cold about your piece was the clumsiness when not in sports. I was a state championship catcher and too played volleyball in college. I swam competitively, also. However, I get so caught up in thinking that I will often trip or dufus myself up in ways that only Charlie Chaplin would understand. I do very well in math, and I can write very well. However, I have always been seen as 'weird', and I have a terrible time understanding why I am on the outside of society. I never know what to say or what NOT to say. Basically, now, I just announce, "I'm weird and have a high functioning version of Autism." This lets me be me, and I've enjoyed the acceptance that recent years studies have given us, the weirdo nerds. I am obsessed with eating candy and popcorn in formulas, and I search out certain angles of certain sizes throughout the day on windows. When I'm stressed, I talk to myself. Whatever. I am what I am. Don't stop believing in your right to be different, and don't make excuses for yourself. The people who accept you are rare, but they are priceless. Were I to know you, I'd be one of them. Best wishes. I'd hug you, but I wouldn't want to freak you out. Sorry, autism humor.

I haev a rather high-functioning level of Asperger's. What caught me cold about your piece was the clumsiness when not in sports. I was a state championship catcher and too played volleyball in college. I swam competitively, also. However, I get so caught up in thinking that I will often trip or dufus myself up in ways that only Charlie Chaplin would understand.

I do very well in math, and I can write very well. However, I have always been seen as 'weird', and I have a terrible time understanding why I am on the outside of society. I never know what to say or what NOT to say. Basically, now, I just announce, "I'm weird and have a high functioning version of Autism." This lets me be me, and I've enjoyed the acceptance that recent years studies have given us, the weirdo nerds.

I am obsessed with eating candy and popcorn in formulas, and I search out certain angles of certain sizes throughout the day on windows. When I'm stressed, I talk to myself. Whatever. I am what I am.

Don't stop believing in your right to be different, and don't make excuses for yourself. The people who accept you are rare, but they are priceless. Were I to know you, I'd be one of them.

Best wishes.

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