Make a pledge to understand autism and reach out

Make a pledge to understand autism and reach out

I pledge to...

<br />It is time to understand that having autism can sometimes lead to a&nbsp;unique way of thinking, but that the thought patterns are equal to those who have not been diagnosed.&nbsp; Many people associate autism with a deficit of thought, a lack, an inequality in mental ability.<br /><br />The truth is that those with autism have their own thought processes going on, and those processes are an equal form of thought.&nbsp; It is a unique means to a similar end.&nbsp; Though the challenge is in verbal ability, the strengths are in other areas.<br /><br />Those with autism continually challenge themselves to&nbsp;learn&nbsp;how to communicate in a verbal world.&nbsp; In order to connect, we&nbsp;should challenge ourselves to communicate in other ways.&nbsp;<br /><br />&nbsp; The following is a general idea of what autism is like for someone who has been diagnosed.&nbsp; This description captions are from Temple Grandin, Ph.D., as described in her&nbsp;book "Thinking in Pictures."&nbsp; She talks about her hightened associative and visual thinking abilities.<br /><br />"One of the most profound mysteries of autism has been the remarkable ability of most autistic people to excel at visual spacial skills, while performing so poorly at verbal skills.&nbsp; When I was child and a teenager, I thought everybody thought in pictures.&nbsp; I had no idea that my thought processes were different...<br /><br />Another indication of visual thought as the primary method of processing information is the remarkable ability many autistic people exhibit in solving jigsaw puzzles, finding their way around a city, or memorizing enormous amounts of information at a glance....<br /><br />When I invent things, I do not use language.&nbsp; Some other people think in vivdly detailed pictures, but most think in a combination of words and vague generalized pictures."<br /><br />As Temple Grandin explains, the thought pattern is equal, though not initially verbal.&nbsp;&nbsp;With such a high number of autism diagnoses per year, isn&#39;t it time for us to begin to understand a non-verbal world?&nbsp; As opposed to pity or fear of difference, make a pledge to understand associative and visual thinking.<br /><br />Please take the time to read "Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism," by Temple Grandin, published by&nbsp;Vintage books, a division of Random House, Inc.&nbsp;<br /><br /><br />

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