Eye Contact and Autistic Dissociation: One Example
Autistic writer, artist and consultant, Judy Endow on eye contact and autistic dissociation. Autistic Dissociation “Dissociation is the ability to cut off from what is happening around you or to you. In its simplest form it is daydreaming. It is a skill all children have and which children with autism tend to overdevelop in managing a world they find overwhelming for a whole range of reasons.” Donna Williams (Donna Williams at http://www.donnawilliams.net/333.0.htm) Overwhelming Eye Contact and Autistic Dissociation I can remember the overwhelming experience having eye contact with others sometimes had on me as a child. Too much bright,
Autism and Movement Fluidity in Thinking
Autism and Movement Fluidity in Thinking by Judy Endow Unreliable Fluidity in Thinking One of the hardest things about my autism is the unreliable fluidity of my own thinking. Sometimes my thoughts are fluid and sometimes they are not. When my thoughts are fluid I can easily think through task-oriented things such as making a meal, writing an article, or cleaning the house. I can make a mental (or written) list and follow it. I can think of a main idea and sub topics. I can gather supplies and start. When my thoughts are not fluid life is a bit different.
Visual Accommodations and Blessings of My Autism
The visual sensory aspects of the way autism plays out for me most of the time means that I get too much information delivered – things are too big, too bright, too bold – typically too much to endure all day. Practically, this means I need to accommodate my sensory system in a variety of ways. Let’s take but one example from my life where visual overload is a pretty constant problem. Here are some things I have found helpful: Environmental Accommodations for Overhead Lights Most of the time I simply do what I need unless it
