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!
