Dear Editor,
I was looking through the Daily Universe on Monday morning, and an article on page six caught my eye. It was entitled “Understanding Autism.”
It caught my attention, because I too have Asperger’s Syndrome, but I do not know much about the condition myself.
My parents had explained to me that it is a form of mild autism that leads to heightened aspects of some part of the brain, usually mathematics and science, while other parts of the brain are deficient, such as social skills.
I am writing this because, I did not learn about my case of Asperger’s Syndrome until I was well into my teenage years.
I knew that I was a little bit different from other people my age — math was a cinch, but people were not — but I did not know why, and I knew that I was not too different from other people.
I feel that through my faith in the Lord, I have been able to come as far as I have in people skills.
I also feel that I have lived a somewhat normal life, but I know that people might think that this form of autism is a bad thing.
I guarantee that if those parents with children with Asperger’s Syndrome recognize their children’s unique abilities and nurture their children with love and kindness, then they will be just as happy and productive as any other child out there.
Michael Gardner
Healdsburg, California
