What a whacked out title, eh? However, it will make sense in a few minutes...
When I do seminars and workshops, I sometimes use the computer operating system analogy to describe the difference between a Neurologically typical person (NT) and an Autistic person.
Even those who do not work in the IT industry like I do often understand after this:
Neurotypicality (NT) is like Windows:
* It's known by most people, the standard in many environments and is somewhat user friendly and intuitive (at least to the general user...IT people usually are not big fans of Windows).
* Even when Windows is crashing and otherwise being a pain in the butt, people understand it and accept it as being the "norm".
* However, Windows is prone to instability and unpredictability. It can be finicky at times. Many people find themselves playing the “guessing game” to figure out what’s wrong with it.
* Users can point and click what they want and Windows XP will even install the drivers automatically when you attach a new device!
Autism Spectrum is like Linux used to be (and even DOS way back in the early 80's):
* Linux was command line based, which means a user has to tell it, in its own language, what to do each step of the way.
* Deviating from the proper command code will result in errors and the desired function will not occur.
* If the user corrects the command line to its proper form, Linux will do what its told. For the most part, Linux is a pretty stable operating system when everything is being entered properly.
* Linux is a great workhorse, but it takes a lot of learning to learn how to use it.
* To install devices, one has to have the proper drivers, the device needs to be compatible and the installation has to be done step by step through command line. If installed correctly, you'll have little trouble with the device or its drivers. You do have to manually install any updates, however.
Are either of these operating systems worse than the other? Depends on who's using it.
Most IT people have a serious hate-on for Windows because it always breaks down. Others don’t mind it since it keeps so many of us employed.
Most ordinary users prefer Windows because it is relatively easy to learn and use. Besides, everyone else uses it. It is the “Standard” in many offices.
If you know how to use Windows, you’ll get a job almost anywhere. (However, if you want to make the big money, learn Unix!)
Those who know and use Linux regularly will swear by it as being the best system out there! The problem is getting to know how to use it. Most folks would find it cumbersome and tedious and maybe even give up. While it is stable and secure, many companies will only use it for certain IT functions such as security, servers, etc. In those cases, only folks who truly know and love Linux/Unix are working with it. It is very specialized...and makes those people a ton of money.
The same goes for NT's and Autistics.
NT's are like Windows because they are considered normal. They meet the standards of the status quo. Despite some integrity issues, NT's are generally accepted by all.
Autistics are very efficient, but it's difficult to understand what they do, why they do it and how to ask them to do things. They are highly intelligent and work very well, but they do not meet the status quo and are therefore not as readily accepted.
Autistics work on a different "operating system" or neurological/psychological/social system than NT's. Therefore, it is difficult to reconcile the two.
It's hard for NT's to understand autistics, just as can be difficult for autistics to understand NT's.
One cannot run a program on Windows that is made for Linux and vice versa, unless something is place to help them work together. Some sort of interface.
This is where therapy and such should be directed: at understanding just how different the "autistic operating system" is and how to work with it to make it really efficient with no difficulties. Learn to work with it rather than trying to install a non-compatible program or operating system.
The certain programs that NT's would like autistic people to "run" (let's say "Social Skills" version 2.0) need to be written to work within that autistic operating system. In other words, things like social skills must explained the proper way to an autistic person and practiced on his or her terms.
Buy-in will not happen otherwise and they may never really understand or care to understand why people shake hands or make eye contact!
I see those Autistic "behaviours" as being like those annoying little error messages that come up when something is wrong with code or the computer itself. The cause is almost always the same or quite logical. (i.e.: “Cannot access drive A: there is a disk in it” – Solution? Take the disk out of it!)
An autistic meltdown, for example, could almost been seen like a Fatal Exception error. Sometimes a chance to sit quietly and regroup (reboot) might be all that’s needed. Other times, the problem is more deeply rooted and some changes need to be made to the computing environment or code.
The penguin may be out of place in the windows environment, but it doesn't make the penguin any less valuable!
Just some interesting thoughts for a Wednesday afternoon at work (hence my reason for the geek talk).
