Meet Alex - local boy with Asperger's Syndrome - April is Autism Awareness Month
April is Autism and Asperger’s Awareness Month. I recently met a boy from my district with Asperger’s Syndrome who, along with his Mom, wanted to meet and talk to me. They both graciously agreed to an interview to tell some of their story. Asperger’s is a mild form of autism and in kids, can often show itself by a formal use of language and by a focused and intense interest in one particular area. Alex has an intense interest in flying.
Here is my conversation with Alex Wilson-Thomas, followed with resources and more information about Asperger’s at the end of the interview. -- Rob
Alex Wilson-Thomas is an 11-year old who attended Corridor Elementary School through the fourth grade, and now goes to Bridgeway House near downtown Eugene. Bridegeway House offers education, treatment, therapies and support to children (and their families) with autism or Asperger’s. Alex’s mother, Anna Thomas, had her own initial Asperger’s diagnosis concurrent with Alex. Alex first met me after a candidate’s debate he asked his Mom to attend when he was nine. This conversation recently took place in Alex and Anna’s River Road home on a drizzly, late winter afternoon:
Rob: Alex, I recognized the Charlie Brown theme that you were playing on the keyboard when I came in the house just now. Where is the sheet music?
Alex: It’s just something I’ve been figuring out how to play. The keyboards are in this corner right between my bedroom and the kitchen, so often I just stop and start doodling something on my way by. Last year at our school play at the Hult Center I played the theme from Top Gun. I really like all of those pilots flying.
Rob: I see you have lots of photos of you with helicopters and various planes, not to mention the lego-block models of some different flying machines. In this photo is this you at the controls of this helicopter, or did someone nice just let you pose for a picture?
Alex: Yes, that’s me. I have been taking flying lessons whenever my family can afford them, I can’t wait for the next time always. I can get my pilot’s license when I am seventeen – only six more years! I take my lessons in Corvallis, though the first time I flew was when Lone Pine Farms had some free helicopter rides. I knew I wanted to fly planes when I was four, but then John Denver died in his ultra light plane, and I was afraid to fly in an airplane for six years, then I flew first in a helicopter, and now I am OK in a seaplane, too.
Rob: Your mom told me at 18-months old you knew the directions to the airport, and she would have to take tricky routes home every day, so you would not recognize one of the roads that might lead to the Eugene airport. You said that you became afraid to fly, but you still dreamed every waking hour of being a pilot? Were you scared when you took that first helicopter ride at Lone Pine Farm?
Alex: Somehow flying a helicopter was different, and now I am back to not being afraid to be in or fly a plane. There are so many cool things that helicopters can do. I like to pilot, but I also am working on designs for helicopters, and I also want to become a designer at the same time I get my FAA Pilot’s License. I like the little 2-seater helicopters, and have some ideas how to make them stronger so they can do more. Currently, the 2-seater is the most maneuverable for fighting forest fires, but isn’t strong enough to carry more than a little water bucket. I’m designing a new set of controls and torque lift rotor blades so the 2-seater can be able to do more work to help people.
Rob: Your mom says whereas most kid’s first words are “mom” or “papa” your first word was “fan”, a helicopter term. Do you always think about helicopters and dream about them, too?
Alex: Pretty much. But I do pretty well at my school, and my Mom and my teachers help me spend time on the other things I need to learn, but yeah, I always come back to flying. One of the things I am trying to learn is that when one of the other kids is wanting to talk about cars, that it’s OK for me to just listen and try and understand him, rather than me changing the subject immediately to helicopters and airplanes.
Rob: I understand Bridgeway House has groups for kids and one-on-one time when you need it, and a fun summer camp program, too. Having Aspergers,are there little things you have to remember to remind yourself in certain situations?
Alex: Well, I do get stressed at times. Sometimes too much stuff is going on around me, and I can feel myself getting stressed with too much stimulus. When too much is going on, I sometimes go over in a corner and try and figure out what is going on, and what I should do next. Sometimes this happens at home, and my Mom will say, “Work through your cycle”.
Rob: When I met you at my candidate’s debate, I figured your Mom dragged you along. I found out you were the one begging her to go -- do you listen to the political news?
Alex: I listen to a little news on the radio. I like Obama, but there are too many troops in Afghanistan. Mostly, I like hearing politicians promise what they are going to do, but knowing they won’t do them -- you aren’t like that, though!
Rob: Heh, thanks for the vote of confidence. I want to help people, kind of like you are with thinking up new, improved helicopter designs.
Alex: I am also designing a foldable house on wheels for homeless people, that they can ride around on a bicycle with, which they can then unfold at night and have a place to stay. I’m still figuring out how to make it foldable and insulated, so a family can stay warm.
Rob: Alex, that is great. Keep up the good work on helicopters and at school.
Alex: Thanks, Rob.
Here are two resources in our community for the support and early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders:
Bridgeway House
708 W. 10th Ave
Eugene, OR 97402
541 345-0805
Bridgeway House is a non-profit organization helping children
and families by providing treatments, courses, and support to families
and individuals affected by autism and related disabilities.
Early Childhood CARES
299 East 18th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
541 346-2578
Early Childhood CARES provides early intervention and early
childhood special education services to infants, toddlers and preschool
age children in Lane County.
What's the difference between autism and Asperger's syndrome?
Asperger's syndrome and autism are both on the spectrum of Autism Disorder which includes Rett's Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. All these types of autism disorders present at least some of these symptoms: echolalia (repeating words said by others), abnormal social behavior, restricted range of interest, poor motor coordination, and self-stimulating behavior.
Asperger's syndrome is a mild form of autism. People who suffer from Asperger's don't have the same communication delays as do people with other forms of autism; they function relatively well in terms of intelligence and social functions; and they often manage to go to school; graduate from college and live independently. Asperger's syndrome is a specific type of "high-functioning autism" (HFA), which is often characterized by poor social skills, advanced and overly formal language, and extensive, pervasive interest in a specific subject. It's said that geniuses and people with Asperger's share some of the same characteristics, because they both have narrow interests and are more focused and persistent on what they are doing than most people.