Category Archives: Asperger’s vision to reality.

Oct 20 2021
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An Asperger Point of View, Autism & the Environment, Greta Thunberg

Aspies: How We Interact With Our World

I have always known that those of us with Asperger’s see the world differently. Perhaps more intensely than others see it.

Sometimes our Asperger’s can provide a unique viewpoint, enabling us to see events from a more focused and vital perspective, and from this distinctive intellectual position, create avenues for provoking change.

Take, for instance, Greta Thunberg, who views environmental issues with great clarity. Thunberg was able to focus on her local environmental situation and with great determination, work to effect change in her community.

Greta’s single-minded conviction that action needed to be taken if the youth of today were to inherit a world in which the reduction of pollution and restoration of natural resources was of prime importance, stirred people to action around the world.

Because of her insistence that something be done, beginning in her home, then in her community, then in the larger, global community, Thunberg has effected tremendous change in the social and legal responsibilities of some nations toward environmental issues.

There is a rather astounding blog by Mark Hutton, My Asperger’s Child, in which he details a fifty positive traits which he associates with his child. (myaspergerschild.com)

Among these traits are the following:

Being conscientious, reliable and persistent.

Having a lot of passion when pursuing activities with which they engage.

Bringing a new, highly original perspective to problem solving.

Not recognizing hierarchies; evaluating people upon their intentions & actions, not their ‘positions’.

Displaying honesty

Possessing high integrity.

Having exceptional memories.

These characteristics are not only positive but are essential qualities when dealing with the complexities of international relations.

Consider how they have aided Thunberg in her goal of changing how the citizens of the world view the possibility of changing national and international attitudes toward environmental issues.

Not recognizing hierarchies is a plus if you are a teenager meeting people in power without being intimidated by their status.

Having an exceptional memory is important when you are quoting statistics, and bringing vital issues to the attention of international forums.

These positives are only a few Hutton names; for a complete list go to his blog or to https://aspergersvic.org.au/page-18136

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Sep 22 2019
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Asperger teens, Asperger's vision to reality., Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg: One Person, One Aspie Can Rock the World.

Can One Person make a difference?

If you are a student taking part in the Fridays for Future climate change protest, then you are an individual who is taking action aimed at creating global, national and local change.

And you may have become aware that Greta Thunberg, an Asperger teen from Sweden believes that one person can work to create positive changes in  our world.

What convinced her of that?  Possibly her conviction came from the way in which her parents responded to her concern about climate change.

Greta asked her mom and dad to acknowledge that the earth is in a dangerous state due to many factors.

She pointed out that the quality of her future life was in jeopardy because of government and individual inaction. And she felt that if her parents shared her concerns and honestly cared about the world that she would grow up to live in, they would personally make lifestyle changes.

She wanted them to change some of their routines and eating habits so that their personal lives would reflect their acknowledged growing concern about the environment.

And they did.  They made changes that were not easy for them.  For instance, they agreed to give up air travel, which meant her mother had to forego some choice roles in her career as an opera singer.

Because her parents agreed to effect changes in their lives as a result of her discussions with them, she realized that she could be persuasive. Perhaps this ability to create change could reach others beyond her family.

At the age of 15, Greta decided to take her protest beyond her home, to the grounds of the Swedish parliament buildings.  She did this on a school day.

She was protesting the lack of any real climate action on the part of the government and she felt it was important enough to miss school to make this happen.  It was the first strike for climate change.  It had an attendance of one!

Last week, almost four million students around the world protested with Greta.

On this coming Friday, the 27th of September, the Friday for Future strike will come to BC, to cities and towns such as Tofino, Victoria, Campbell River, Burnaby, Vancouver and Prince George, as well as Gabriola and Saltspring and other Islands. Check the map at the links given below to find out if your community is included.

Are you ready Aspies?  Ready to Rock the World?

To find the locations for the Friday for Future Strike, including the one this Friday, September 27, 2019, check these websites:

https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/news

https://fridaysforfuture.ca/

https://fridaysforfuture.ca/event-map/

Please be sure to read the information regarding security.  Certain safeguards are suggested.  Remember that at any large gathering, people who are more interested in making trouble than affecting political change could become involved.  Know what action you need to take to protect yourself if such a situation should arise.

Mar 03 2015
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Asperger teens, Asperger's vision to reality., Aspie visions-how to

Aspies: Craig Kielberger’s Keys To Building Your Own Organization.

Free the Children is a great read.  I couldn’t put it down.  It is the true story of one young boy’s determination to change the world.

Thinking about Free The Children by Craig Kielburger, I realized if you want to start an  organization of your own, an analysis of Kielburger’s success is a good place to start.

  • Vision: Kielburger’s goal?  To continue the work of a freed child-labourer who had been assassinated.

  • Mandate:  Children working together to right injustices perpetrated against impoverished children.  Kielberger envisioned children (up to and through their teens) and not adults being in charge.  In pursuit of that vision, he enlisted the help of his schoolmates.  They encouraged each other in the belief that this was possible.

  • Education:  Kielburger and his team educated themselves on the topic, learning all they could.  And when confronted by people who saw the situation from a more sophisticated perspective they researched & studied until they were able to return and respond appropriately.  This later served Kielburger well in dealing with governmental agencies and other administrative bodies.

  • Action:  He first worked locally, and then through his network of friends, travelled the world.  He wanted to see the situation firsthand so that he could report accurately from his own knowledge.  In his travels he interviewed many of child labourers.  He found he was often surprised by their perspectives.

  • Respect:  He showed respect, even for his opponents, as well as for the impoverished children, government officials and charitable organization administrators.  He observed and analyzed positions of the various authorities under whom child labour existed.  HIs cool and knowledgeable demeanour won him the respect of all.

The Free the Children organization is responsible for building more than 650 schools providing daily education 55,000 children.

What is your vision?

How can you build it?

Yours truly,

Margaret Jean

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