Welcome to my Asperger's Syndrome blog! It contains responses on sources that I have researched for my English research project. We were required to research a topic that truly interested us. The topics that my classmates chose ranged all the way from cake making to explosives expertise. You may be wondering why I chose Asperger's--a mild form of autism--as my topic, since I had such a wide variety of topics to choose from. Honestly, it wasn't what I originally planned to research. I actually chose quilt making as my original topic, but at the last minute, I had a change of heart. After looking over the list of possible topics one last time, I noticed the category 'disorders/illnesses.' Asperger's Syndrome immediately came to mind. The first time I ever heard of this disorder was when I read Nicholas Sparks' book, Dear John. John Tyree's father had the disorder, and it intrigued me. It is because of Sparks' book that I decided to seek a deeper understanding of Asperger's.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this project. Some of the types of sources I chose to analyze included movies, articles, and books. While writing my responses, I found myself wishing I could write more than just two paragraphs. By far, my favorite source was the movie Rain Man. The main character--played by Dustin Hoffman--does not have Asperger's but a more severe for of autism. I found myself continually laughing throughout the entire movie. It was fantastic! I am amazed by how I have been able to find such a variety of great sources. When I first started this project, I assumed that most of my sources would be repetitive, but so far, I have been proved wrong. If there is one thing I could have done a little differently, it would probably be the interview. Though I am so glad I was able to interview Mrs. Kilgore--a teacher at HTHS--I wish I could have conducted another interview as well. Though I knew I was going out on a limb, I tried to get in contact with Nicholas Sparks. As I expected, I did not recieve a reply. Other than that, though, I am really satisfied with the way my project turned out.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
House Rules - Jodi Picoult
House Rules is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Adam trailer
A romantic character study examining the obstacles to intimacy and the compromises we make in the name of love, Adam stars Hugh Dancy as a man living with Asperger's syndrome who does his best to reach out to his pretty new upstairs neighbor. Due to his condition, Adam isn't the best when it comes to communicating. Though he frequently escapes by submersing himself in the world of space exploration, Adam senses an opportunity for a real human connection after Beth moves into the apartment just upstairs. As Adam attempts to gain control of his off-kilter, sometimes embarrassing social skills, he discovers that with a little patience and understanding, developing a meaningful relationship might not be as hard as he previously thought.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Artistic Response
This is a photo of my artistic response, which portrays some of the things that I have learned while researching for this project.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Interview with Mrs. Kilgore
Summary:
Due to contacting complications, I was unable to interview someone from Glenwood. In the end, though, I chose a great interviewee, Mrs. Kilgore—who actually worked at Glenwood for ten years. I believe she was ultimately the best person to interview because I already knew a little bit about her job. Because of this, I was able to ask more detailed questions. One question I asked was if she majored in the field of exceptional education. I also asked her why she chose to enter into the field of exceptional education, what the most challenging part of her job was, and what the most rewarding part of her job was. In general, this was a very successful and informative interview.
Response:
I’m very glad that I chose to interview Mrs. Kilgore. She was very detailed in her responses, and I learned a lot. Mrs. Kilgore admitted that she entered into the field of education because she really enjoyed helping people; she spoke about a time in middle school when she helped a friend with English (Kilgore). I thought that was really interesting because I’m a lot like that, and I’m thinking about entering into the field of exceptional education. When I asked her what her most interesting experience at Glenwood was, her response left me laughing. She admits, “There are many, but one often comes to mind…while working at summer camp, I woke in the middle of the night to find one of our campers trying to get into my bunk!” (Kilgore). The story seriously made my day! It was so hilarious! When I asked her what the differences were between those with Asperger’s Syndrome and those with more severe forms of autism, she replied that children with Asperger’s are higher functioning and are usually more academically successful (Kilgore). She also admits that “they may simply be seen by others as a little bit odd” (Kilgore). When she said that, I knew exactly what she meant. Recently, I learned that a certain boy—who I sit by in one of my classes—has Asperger’s. I was shocked when I heard this. Though I had been researching the disorder, I did not realize he had Asperger’s. Granted—as Mrs. Kilgore said—I did think he was a bit odd, but ultimately, I did not notice any of the symptoms. All in all, I thought this was a really great interview, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Kilgore, Dawn. Personal Interview. 30 April 2009.
Due to contacting complications, I was unable to interview someone from Glenwood. In the end, though, I chose a great interviewee, Mrs. Kilgore—who actually worked at Glenwood for ten years. I believe she was ultimately the best person to interview because I already knew a little bit about her job. Because of this, I was able to ask more detailed questions. One question I asked was if she majored in the field of exceptional education. I also asked her why she chose to enter into the field of exceptional education, what the most challenging part of her job was, and what the most rewarding part of her job was. In general, this was a very successful and informative interview.
Response:
I’m very glad that I chose to interview Mrs. Kilgore. She was very detailed in her responses, and I learned a lot. Mrs. Kilgore admitted that she entered into the field of education because she really enjoyed helping people; she spoke about a time in middle school when she helped a friend with English (Kilgore). I thought that was really interesting because I’m a lot like that, and I’m thinking about entering into the field of exceptional education. When I asked her what her most interesting experience at Glenwood was, her response left me laughing. She admits, “There are many, but one often comes to mind…while working at summer camp, I woke in the middle of the night to find one of our campers trying to get into my bunk!” (Kilgore). The story seriously made my day! It was so hilarious! When I asked her what the differences were between those with Asperger’s Syndrome and those with more severe forms of autism, she replied that children with Asperger’s are higher functioning and are usually more academically successful (Kilgore). She also admits that “they may simply be seen by others as a little bit odd” (Kilgore). When she said that, I knew exactly what she meant. Recently, I learned that a certain boy—who I sit by in one of my classes—has Asperger’s. I was shocked when I heard this. Though I had been researching the disorder, I did not realize he had Asperger’s. Granted—as Mrs. Kilgore said—I did think he was a bit odd, but ultimately, I did not notice any of the symptoms. All in all, I thought this was a really great interview, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Kilgore, Dawn. Personal Interview. 30 April 2009.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Live Interaction: Mrs. Kilgore’s Class
Summary:
Due to complications with scheduling, I was unable to go to Glenwood as I had originally hoped. Instead, I decided to analyze an autistic boy in Mrs. Kilgore’s eighth period class. For privacy reasons, I will refrain from using this boy’s name. Because I have known him for a couple of years, I will draw from all of my experiences with him. He does not have Asperger’s Syndrome but a more severe form of autism. Regardless, he still shares symptoms of those with Asperger’s. For instance, he has a very monotone and loud voice, he continually rocks back and forth, he avoids eye contact, he has a great memory, and he has routines that he always follows. By analyzing him, I really began to understand how those with autism function.
Response:
I must admit that I really enjoyed interacting with him. I met him at the very end of my freshman year. As I was waiting for my mom to pick me up after school, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. When I turned around, I came face to face with a hand in my face. Then with a loud, monotone he said, “High five!” (Kilgore). I chuckled a bit but went ahead and gave him a high-five. He went on to introduce himself and asked what my name was. After I told him my name, he asked me what my favorite food and drink were. Little did I know, this information would remain with him for a very long time.
Every time I would see him in the hallway, he would call out my name and give me a high five. One day during my sophomore year, he came up to me and said, “Your favorite drink is Dr. Pepper, and your favorite food is chicken fingers” (Kilgore). I was taken back by that comment, for I was shocked that he could remember something like that after a year. I now know that those with autism have a very high concentration level and a great memory. Another thing that I noticed about him is that he continually rocks back and forth and avoids making eye contact with me. One day while talking with him, Mrs. Kilgore said to him, “Stop rocking. It’s impolite to rock while you are talking to someone” (Kilgore). His reply to her scolding sent me into a fit a giggles. He protested, “I don’t have to stop rocking if it doesn’t bother her. It’s okay if it doesn’t bother her. I can keep rocking” (Kilgore). I don’t know why, but I just thought that was the funniest thing. Another thing I have noticed about him is his routines. For example, every time I see him, he gives me a high five. Also, whenever I hang out with him in Mrs. Kilgore’s class, he always tells me “knock, knock” jokes that he has made up. He also likes to type numbers into a calculator and ask me what the answer to the math problem is. All in all, I think that my interactions with him have really helped me to develop a better understanding of those with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism.
Kilgore, Dawn. Personal Interview. 28 April 2009.
Due to complications with scheduling, I was unable to go to Glenwood as I had originally hoped. Instead, I decided to analyze an autistic boy in Mrs. Kilgore’s eighth period class. For privacy reasons, I will refrain from using this boy’s name. Because I have known him for a couple of years, I will draw from all of my experiences with him. He does not have Asperger’s Syndrome but a more severe form of autism. Regardless, he still shares symptoms of those with Asperger’s. For instance, he has a very monotone and loud voice, he continually rocks back and forth, he avoids eye contact, he has a great memory, and he has routines that he always follows. By analyzing him, I really began to understand how those with autism function.
Response:
I must admit that I really enjoyed interacting with him. I met him at the very end of my freshman year. As I was waiting for my mom to pick me up after school, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. When I turned around, I came face to face with a hand in my face. Then with a loud, monotone he said, “High five!” (Kilgore). I chuckled a bit but went ahead and gave him a high-five. He went on to introduce himself and asked what my name was. After I told him my name, he asked me what my favorite food and drink were. Little did I know, this information would remain with him for a very long time.
Every time I would see him in the hallway, he would call out my name and give me a high five. One day during my sophomore year, he came up to me and said, “Your favorite drink is Dr. Pepper, and your favorite food is chicken fingers” (Kilgore). I was taken back by that comment, for I was shocked that he could remember something like that after a year. I now know that those with autism have a very high concentration level and a great memory. Another thing that I noticed about him is that he continually rocks back and forth and avoids making eye contact with me. One day while talking with him, Mrs. Kilgore said to him, “Stop rocking. It’s impolite to rock while you are talking to someone” (Kilgore). His reply to her scolding sent me into a fit a giggles. He protested, “I don’t have to stop rocking if it doesn’t bother her. It’s okay if it doesn’t bother her. I can keep rocking” (Kilgore). I don’t know why, but I just thought that was the funniest thing. Another thing I have noticed about him is his routines. For example, every time I see him, he gives me a high five. Also, whenever I hang out with him in Mrs. Kilgore’s class, he always tells me “knock, knock” jokes that he has made up. He also likes to type numbers into a calculator and ask me what the answer to the math problem is. All in all, I think that my interactions with him have really helped me to develop a better understanding of those with Asperger’s Syndrome and autism.
Kilgore, Dawn. Personal Interview. 28 April 2009.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mozart and the Whale (movie)
Summary:
The film Mozart and the Whale follows the love story of two individuals diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Donald, a good-natured taxi driver, has an “uncanny ability” to process numbers, and his daily routines are of utmost importance to him. Aside from his job as a taxi driver, he leads an autism support group. During one of his meetings, the lovely but impulsive Isabelle shows up. The two are instantly drawn to each other as a result of their similar Aspergian traits. For example, they both are extremely awkward socially and never know what to say in conversations. As their relationship grows, though, they realize that love is more complicated than they could have ever imagined.
Response:
I thought this movie was really good in regards to its Asperger’s Syndrome content. Though the story itself became flat at times, the film’s writer Ronald Bass did a fantastic job of portraying how those with Asperger’s react to their surroundings and other people. My favorite line from the movie was when Donald admitted, “People with Asperger’s want contact with other people very much. We’re just pathetically clueless about it, that’s all” (Mozart). That line basically sums up everything that I have researched on the topic. There are other lines in the movie that I liked as well. For instance, when Isabelle tells Donald that he is missing the point, Donald replies, “No I’m not! I just never know what to say” (Mozart). That is the case for many individuals with Asperger’s; they tend to have trouble with conversations, for they are very socially awkward. All in all, I thought this was a good source, for it gave me a visional of what Asperger’s is really like.
Mozart and the Whale. Petter Naess, dir. Avi Lerner, prod. Ronald Bass, writer. DVD.
Millennium Films, 2004.
The film Mozart and the Whale follows the love story of two individuals diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Donald, a good-natured taxi driver, has an “uncanny ability” to process numbers, and his daily routines are of utmost importance to him. Aside from his job as a taxi driver, he leads an autism support group. During one of his meetings, the lovely but impulsive Isabelle shows up. The two are instantly drawn to each other as a result of their similar Aspergian traits. For example, they both are extremely awkward socially and never know what to say in conversations. As their relationship grows, though, they realize that love is more complicated than they could have ever imagined.
Response:
I thought this movie was really good in regards to its Asperger’s Syndrome content. Though the story itself became flat at times, the film’s writer Ronald Bass did a fantastic job of portraying how those with Asperger’s react to their surroundings and other people. My favorite line from the movie was when Donald admitted, “People with Asperger’s want contact with other people very much. We’re just pathetically clueless about it, that’s all” (Mozart). That line basically sums up everything that I have researched on the topic. There are other lines in the movie that I liked as well. For instance, when Isabelle tells Donald that he is missing the point, Donald replies, “No I’m not! I just never know what to say” (Mozart). That is the case for many individuals with Asperger’s; they tend to have trouble with conversations, for they are very socially awkward. All in all, I thought this was a good source, for it gave me a visional of what Asperger’s is really like.
Mozart and the Whale. Petter Naess, dir. Avi Lerner, prod. Ronald Bass, writer. DVD.
Millennium Films, 2004.
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