Career Aspirations

I'm reading Temple Grandin's latest book:  http://www.amazon.ca/dp/0547636458/?tag=msncahydra-20&hvadid=2998306088&ref=pd_sl_g8s7wswk5_p 

Temple writes about how sometimes when we are "label-locked" we can miss seeing some of the strengths of the autistic brain.  Generally, people labeled see details first, before seeing the bigger picture.  They may spend years collecting data, storing it in a "database" in their minds, before ever really understanding the meaning of the data and making connections to turn that into a bigger picture.

Now, I reflect, ever since I was very young, I always liked to look at people in terms of what I thought they could do, and preferred to ignore what they said they could not do.  I always thought that, if a person just learned the pattern or procedure to do something, the person would be able to learn to do that something (which I now understand is not always the case).  If a friend told me she was not good in French, I'd try to teach her the patterns I had learned in French.  This is how I think - in terms of "patterns".  I'd sometimes be disappointed because my friend would not be demonstrating that she thinks in that same way.

Now, Temple explains that some people may still be visual thinkers (as I am), but not think so much in terms of "patterns", but instead in terms of "images".

Temple describes in her book an activity that she does with students.  Draw pictures using a circle...

Well, the first thing that came to my mind was the sun, then a picture of a smiley face... 

I thought to myself that I think my oldest son is much more visually talented than I am.  I wonder what he would draw...  So I asked him...  Here is what he drew:

Now, he did this in a matter of seconds...  First, my reaction is one of my amazement.  I have NO skills when it comes to drawing proportionately.  Then I thought, he's shown me...  now that I "see" that picture, I'm going to try to remember it and draw one like it.  Here is what I drew:

 

 

 

 

Yikes!  As you can clearly see, I am NOT an "image" thinker.  However, I was able to recall the "patterns" in the image at least...  I think this clearly shows that he is an "image" thinker while I am more a "patterns" thinker.

I think Temple Grandin is doing an excellent job in relating what I've felt for a quite a long while now, as I've been watching my middle son grow up labelled with Asperger's.  We need to all be thinking of people described as having ASD in terms of their strengths, and not be label-locked.

I just want to learn more now...  to learn how to identify more strengths in people, to help people understand their strengths and see that smile like I saw on my son when he realized he has this strength that I clearly do not.

Very inspiring read!

Innovation

It is often said that people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders become obsessed with topics.  I prefer the word engaged!  Some would recognize that I have certainly had my "obsessions" this Spring.  Since March, I have been focused on finishing our basement, getting our water issues sorted out, organizing an auction to raise money for one of our local schools, running the local soccer club canteen, raising my three kids, spending time with my loving husband (which I don't do enough!) and, of course, my day job!

In the past few weeks, I have discovered the world of audio books, available for free checkout, digitally online, through our local library.  Such an awesome discovery!  Two books in particular have captured my attention.

In "Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?" by Seth Godin", I heard his perspective about what makes people "indispensable".  One point he raises is that linchpins are people who connect people and ideas.  He is the reason I have decided to start blogging again.  After all, it is one of the latest technologies for doing just that!  Another point he makes is that linchpins are people who create "art".  In his view, we create art if we do something that no one else has done before.  The most successful people do just that...  They create things that have not been created before.  In my view, my team at work creates "art" everyday, as they write documents and tools to improve the world of desktop systems management.  Finally, he makes that point that successful people give away some of their art for free, to inspire the generation of ideas for new art - another reason why I created this blog!

I am now just getting into listening to "Where Innovations Come From" by Steven Johnson.  He describes various ways that people have come up with new ideas.  What really struck me was his point that we can innovate by understanding the parts of a system (like a desktop systems management service offering), and then innovate by thinking about the "adjacent possible". We can consider what we have now, then connect with other people and even other new areas of knowledge (like maybe the world of autistic spectrum disorders or the world of education), and then consider what new door might be there to open based on that other knowledge.  This week, I learned how to draw a "conceptual and logical technology model" diagram, by looking at another person's example.  I then spent about 12 hours drawing a massive diagram, showing all the "elements" that make up our current desktop systems management service offering at work, and started adding in elements of the "adjacent possible", in collaboration with other people.  Where I am now in hearing his story, Steven Johnson talks about one of the great assembling of "parts" into something new as "Revolution #9", by the Beatles..  I prefer "Revolution" (version 1 I think) still.  It really relates to my work these days :-)

In past years, our desktops were all "physical".  We kept our operating system, apps and data mostly on the desktop.  As we move forward, those components of a desktop are moving to a "virtual" world, hosted on servers in a "cloud" that is separate from our physical desktops.  I work for CSC.  Check out one of our success stories here.  This is very exciting work!

Yes, some might say I am obsessed, even that I have Asperger's Syndrome...  I prefer to say that I am engaged and innovating!

Is It Asperger's?

I find myself asking this question often.  My friends call me "odd".  My husband is sometimes called anti-social, as he usually prefers to be home with family.  Our children are described as perhaps "on the autistic spectrum".  Oldest son at12 is too hyper and lacks attention in class, yet is very musically creative...  Some think may be worth testing for ADHD.  Middle son at 10 is formally diagnosed as having Asperger's syndrome, and knows a LOT about gardening and nature.  Daughter at 8 is showing lots of anxiety amongst peers and has severe issues with eating...  Has perhaps sensory integration issues.  Still, I ask myself often...  Does that label really explain us?  I think there are many reasons we are as we are.  We are all very high-functioning.  We have many virtues.  Latest is that our water is high in manganese, which may affect brain function in interesting ways.  Jury is out about safety issues that may relate to our water.  So, is Asperger's really what is affecting us?

Water with manganese and iron:

And after using Iron Out:

It seems to me like manganese and iron could affect us greatly, even though our government only looks at these related to getting them out for aesthetic reasons.