Meet the contributing mentors of Been There. Done That. Try This! Steve Selpal, Jeanette Purkis, Jennifer Cook O’Toole and the mysterious Dr. Know. They tell readers their day-to-day likes and dislikes about all things Aspie. It is important to know, as Jeanette Purkis says, ‘if everyone were the same, the world would be a boring place’. So in the words of Jennifer Cook O’Toole, ‘don’t forget to be awesome’.
Jennifer Cook O’ Toole
Country where I am currently living: USA
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Being able to sense and articulate patterns—in experiences, in people, in ideas—that the rest of the world seems to miss.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Missing the patterns that the rest of the world sees! Thinking (time and again) that I finally have my footing, and discovering, instead, the carpet being pulled out from underneath me.
Last completed level of education: Graduated with honors from Brown University and have since studied at the Graduate School of Social Work at Columbia University and Graduate School of Education at Queens University.
Current job: Author, educational consultant, speaker, CEO, MOM!
My one line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Whatever you do, wherever you go, whether you are loud or soft, bold and glittery, or subtle and strong…don’t forget to be awesome.
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: Beneath our bravado, ideals and intensity, we are so very afraid of…so much; please be kind with your advice, be gentle with your rebukes, and be ever-generous with your patience, creativity and love.
Dr. Know
Year of birth: Withheld
Country where I am currently living: Somewhere in Europe
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: I would rather think about the favorite part of being myself. I like being who I am. I guess I am particularly fond of my high intelligence.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: I would rather think about the least favorite part of being myself. Again, I like being who I am, but I can identify parts I want to work more on: not getting so angry sometimes (even if I am being provoked), and getting better at not hurting the feelings of people I like (it is not intentional, but it still happens).
Last completed level of education: Ph.D.
Current job: Postdoctoral researcher.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Depends so much on the individual Aspie, but I think the above quote is something that a good chunk of Aspies should consider thinking about: “What do you care what other people think?” Arline Feynman reportedly asked this question often to her husband, the famous scientist Richard Feynman, when he was worried about what his colleagues thought about his work.
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: There should be no doubt that Aspies have been contributing a lot to the world. Neurodiversity is strength in societies, analogous with biodiversity, which is known to be a significant strength in nature. The world benefits greatly from having so many different individuals in it—Aspies together with NTs.
Jeanette Purkis
Year of birth: 1974
Country where I am currently living: Australia
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Being honest, moral and trustworthy.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Knowing that I miss out on most of the meaning when I’m talking to someone.
Last completed level of education: Masters degree in visual arts.
Current job: Public servant, author.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: You can do anything! Don’t let your diagnosis stop you from doing anything.
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: We are capable, intelligent, and have a lot to give. If everyone were the same, the world would be a boring place.
Steve Selpal
Country where I am currently living: USA. But I was a Canadian until age 20, which explains a lot.
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: It’s a huge improvement over my lifelong diagnoses. From 1970 to 1979, my diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia and from 1979 to 2006, it was bipolar manic-depression. I took lithium carbonate for 21 years. When I quit in 2000, nothing happened. In 2006, it was ascertained that I was born this way. Besides Asperger’s, I probably am mentally ill. I’ve always double checked my work and tried to reflect if I am acting crazy or sick.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: None personally.
Last completed level of education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1979.
Current job: President of Steve Selpal Art Production, Inc. That’s just illustration, graphic design, murals, selling paintings, shaking money out of trees, whatever I can. I do my job well.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Don’t kill yourself. Always know that this too shall pass. You can do what they do (NTs) and even reiterate what they do in more ways than they have patience for. Use the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid!
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: Don’t be surprised if they are cleverer than you are. Never ask them, “How are you?” You might get a long-winded ontological analysis and that’s your fault, not theirs.
Been There. Done That. Try This. Edited by Tony Attwood, Craig R. Evans and Anita Lesko is available now, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Nice to know about nice work being done in this difficult field.