Autistic Girl Expresses Profound Intelligence
I wanted to share this video, not only because it is inspiring, but also because I was struck with how she described her sensory issues and how she copes with them. I would love to hear what everyone thinks about this. It definitely struck a chord for me.
It was actually through an Autistic person that I first learned about Sensory Processing Disorder (called Sensory Integration Dysfunction at the time). I was desparate to find answers about my light sensitivity problems and found only references to it by Autistics.
Since then, I have found out that SPD is a common problem for people with other health problems and the more out of control those conditions get, the worse sensory problems will get.
I have always had some sensory problems, but they didn't make my life more difficult until I was an adult and my Food Allergies and Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis were heavily active. Now they work together to make my life more challenging.
I think for Autistics the Sensory problems make the handling input more difficult so that they have a hard time changing their own environment to work at their peak performance levels. SPD kids without Autism are able to eventually explain what is bugging them enough to get the problem to stop. When I was a kid, I explained to my parents that certain clothes were unacceptable. I couldn't seem to explain that they burned my skin, but I did get them to stop forcing me to wear clothes that hurt me. Same thing for foods that caused me a lot of pain and projectile vomitting.
I actually found out about SPD through my research on autism, as well. My nephew has autism, so I was looking for early signs so I would know what to do if it was something my son faced. Fortunately, my son only shows some sensitivity to loud noise and no other signs of SPD or autism, but I certainly found info that applied to me.
That's part of the reason I was interested in this, besides admiration for this girl's determination.
This was truly a remarkable video about a remarkable girl. Wouldn't you just love to meet her and pick her mind? Thank you for sharing this, Mawkinberd!
Wow that is so crazy. I'm a support worker and am currently running a youth group for youth with disabilities in my community. I'm gonna forward that video to some of my co-workers. Thanks for sharing Mawkinberd.
I'm pretty sure my boyfriend found out about SPD when he met a co-worker's brother who has autism. I think the brother wore gloves and when my boyfriend's co-worker explained why, my boyfriend realized for the first time that he wasn't the only one who felt like that.
I wore gloves at work, because otherwise my hands would get too cold to move. Made it very tough to type.