Aspie mentors from fields as far and wide as education, medicine and the beauty industry offer their words of wisdom in the lead up to World Autism Awareness day. Alexis Wineman, Dr Patrick Suglia, Liane Holliday-Willey who feature in Been There. Done That. Try This! agree that the autistic spectrum produces unique, creative thinkers. So remember to be yourself and as the glamorous Miss Montana, AKA Alexis Wineman says, ‘Autism doesn’t define you. You define it!’
Alexis Wineman
Year of birth: 1994
Country where I am currently living: USA
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Being able to mimic everyone.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: The frustration
Last completed level of education: High School.
Current job: Miss Montana.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Autism doesn’t define you. You define it!
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: Never underestimate us, because we will surprise you.
Dr Patrick Suglia
Year of birth: 1962
Country where I am currently living: USA
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: The creative ways my mind figures things out.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Not being able to get the social clues and making myself look clueless in more ways than one.
Last completed level of education: Professional doctorate.
Current job: Chiropractor.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/ HFA: Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff. Don’t take anything personally, and remember that you are never the cause of someone else’s frustrations.
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: This isn’t going away. We aren’t going away. If we did, there’d be nobody around to save your butts when you get into a bind.
Liane Holliday Willey
Year of birth: 1959
Country where I am currently living: USA
Favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: My mind wraps itself up in ethics, honesty, objectivity, dependability and pragmatism. I think these are the cornerstones of a healthy and kind society, and the ingredients of living a fulfilling life.
Least favourite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: I wish I was not such a literal thinker. I do get annoyed and dismayed, not to mention confused, on a daily basis trying to figure out the real message behind everything from television commercials to personal conversations I engage in.
Last completed level of education: Doctor of Education.
Current job: Owner, Kirkshire Farm.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: We are not broken; we are otherwise fixed as wonderfully unique thinkers.
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: People with Asperger’s can be as capable and able as anyone else so long as the world accepts that differences.
Dr. Stephen M. Shore
Year of birth: 1961
Country where I am currently living: USA
Favorite part about being Asperger’s/HFA: Experiencing the world and our community.
Last completed level of education: Doctorate in Special Education.
Current job: Assistant Professor of Special Education.
One line of advice I would give to someone with Asperger’s/HFA: Find a way to use your often considerable strengths for success!
One line of advice I would like the world to know about Asperger’s/HFA: The potential of people with Asperger’s is unlimited – just like everyone else.
Been There. Done That. Try This. Edited by Tony Attwood, Craig R. Evans and Anita Lesko is available now, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.