Been There. Done That. Try This! the new book from Tony Attwood, Craig R. Evans and Anita Lesko is an Aspie’s guide to life on Earth. Based on their personal experiences the mentors explain how they cope with daily stressors such as self-esteem, employment, friendship and love. In this post we meet three of the mentors who share their advice and personal experiences.
Anita Lesko
- Year of birth: 1959
- Country I am currently living: USA
- Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Diversity and my ‘laser focus.’ Thanks to my Aspergian gifts, my life has included: Administering anesthesia; jumping horses over six-foot high fences in competition; ice dancing; becoming an internationally published military aviation photojournalist; learning to fly a helicopter; writing my autobiography –Asperger Syndrome: When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade– in two weeks by writing 16 hours each day, heading the development of a hippotherapy center at the world’s largest Snoezelen complex, and starting the Flying High with Autism Foundation/
- Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Asperger’s is an invisible syndrome, yet how is it that neurotypicals ‘see’ it immediately, even before you say one word?
- Last completed level of education: Proudly graduated from Columbia University in New York City in 1988 with my Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia.
- Current Job: I have been working as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for the past 25 years, and have been at my current job for 15 years.
- One line of advice I would give someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Don’t focus on the fact that you have Asperger’s. Get out there and use your extraordinary gifts to make a difference in this world!
- One line of advice I would like people of the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: Aspies feel like we’re from another planet because neurotypicals make us feel that way by their reactions and behaviors towards us. I’d like the world to know that we are real people too, and find it in their minds and hearts to allow us into their world, so we’re not always on the outside looking in. Two powerful words of advice: accept difference.
Paul Issacs
- Year of birth: 1986
- Country where I am currently living: United Kingdom
- Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: I like that I can see the world from a different perspective.
- Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Stress levels and anxiety.
- Last completed level of education: General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) (NVQ Level 2); Information and Communications Technology Intermediate Course.
- Current Job: Autistic speaker, trainer and consultant for Autism Oxford.
- One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: Do not fear people with autism, embrace them. Do not spite people with autism, unite them. Do not deny people with autism, accept them for their abilities and they will shine.
Debbie Denenburg
- Year of birth: 1958
- Country where I am currently living: USA
- Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: I’m usually right! I love researching and giving factual information. This has the result of people trusting what I say.
- Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Not being understood. I feel I say things straight up, but NTs seem to think that there is always something unsaid instead of taking my words at face value. This leaves me confused and frustrated.
- Last completed level of education: High school
- Current job: The disability benefit is my main income but I always work. I am an artist and I have an Etsy shop online where I sell mostly vintage items. I have also written a movie screenplay. It is in the hands of a filmmaker, but there has been no action on it yet.
- One line of advice I would give someone with Asperger’s HFA: Believe you can be loved for who you truly are.
- One line of advice I would like the world to know about Aspeger’s HFA: By opening your mind to allow a knowledge of Asperger’s, you will be increasing your opportunity to understand a bigger picture of humanity.
Find out more about these mentors and their experiences in Been There. Done That. Try This! edited by Tony Attwood, Craig R. Evans and Anita Lesko.