Pressure

I think it's great to tell your friends and family about all the fabulous, successful Aspies out there in the world. It helps the neurotypical community understand that people with Asperger's Syndrome are normal people with amazing minds and limitless potential to achieve great things.

It is important to be mindful not to put too much pressure on children with Asperger's though. When my son was about 8 years old, we made the mistake of telling him about people with Asperger's whom also happened to be savants. He subsequently felt inadequate when he couldn't, for example, recite pi up to one million decimal places, creating unwanted anxiety about his own achievements, which he should have been very proud of. Needless to say we don't do that anymore!

Now that our son is a few years older, he feels both comforted and excited about sharing his condition with the "Awesome Aspies" I mentioned in yesterday's post.

Awesome Aspies

If you look around, you may be surprised who has Asperger's Syndrome or Asperger's Traits.

Most people are aware that Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Mozart and Vincent Van Gogh are likely candidates for Asperger's Syndrome.

Albert Einstein stuck out his tongue for a photographer on his 72nd birthday in 1951. 

Einstein was a theoretical physicist who changed the world with his theories. Like his Special and General Theories of Relativity, Quantum Theory and Unified Field Theory.

For more info see:  http://einstein.biz/

Bill Gates. Apparently no-one can write software code like he can.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756 - 1791

Was composing small works of classical music at the age of 5. 

This is one of many Vincent Van Gogh self portraits, painted in 1889.

Did you know that actor Dan Aykroyd was diagnosed with mild Asperger's and Torrette's Syndrome as a child?

Dan Aykroyd in "Ghostbusters" the movie, 1984.

Steven Speilberg was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome as an adult.

Lead singer of the super rock'in Aussie band "The Vines", Craig Nicholls, has Asperger's Syndrome. 

Check out The Vine's MySpace page:  http://www.myspace.com/thevines

Lady Hawke, (one of our family favourites), has Asperger's Syndrome.

Check out Lady Hawke's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

Clay Marzo, champion surfer, also has Asperger's Syndrome.