content proposition — trial 01
ASK is a microsite created for nonbiological friends of YA with AS so that they (a) do not feel alone in their struggles and (b) are better equip to personably, empathetically communicate with them.
Below is the proposed content for the microsite, as it is now. This content is continuously evolving and was taken (and modified) from this link: https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/dear-neurotypical-guide-to-autism#6.
For reference, the desired outcomes are (immediate) education & awareness and (intermediate) the audience will no longer feel isolated and will become better equip to communicate with the target demographic in a calm, compassionate and personable manner (as opposed to speaking from a frustrated, callous position).
Content |
Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive behavior, difficulty communicating and problems establishing and maintaining relationships; it is on the milder end of the Autism Spectrum (ASDs)
an Aspie is someone who has AS (Asperger’s Syndrome)
- Be Nice
Even if an Aspie makes you a tiny bit uncomfortable, a little kindness can go a long way! They might behave in ways different that baffle you, but believe me, you behave in ways that baffle them, too!
When people try to assume the mental capacity of an Aspie, it only serves to demonstrated their doubt of the condition. This initiates resentment and causes Aspie’s to feel annoyed because it invalidates them — i.e. “Why can’t they do this now when they could do it yesterday?” (cough cough* don’t say this).
It forces Aspies into their defensive motive of “I have Asperger’s.” The differences between your mind and an Aspie’s are HUGE. Avoid questioning their capabilities and, instead, focus on optimism and reassurance. A compliment or encouraging comment can set the entire framework for a lasting friendship.
2. Be Patient
An Aspie can’t always tell you how they feel, simply because they don’t always have the words to express their feelings or emotions. If you are patient with them, you will be able to tell what they need more quickly because you won’t be panicked, anxious or annoyed with trying to identify the problem.
Patience comes in when you realize that the only way to tell how they are feeling is to listen to them very carefully and to watch them for unusually movements during stressful moments. Don’t allow yourself to feel anxious or to become upset when they are experiencing symptoms of their condition.
It is better for all parties involved if you are patient with their communication skills — or lack thereof. That brings me to this next part.
3. Listen Carefully
Aspie’s process communication solely on word processing and definitely not on subtle facial cues, so they might semantically misunderstand the meaning of the words that you use– especially homophones. Aspie’s also get confused by inflection.
For instance, they have increased difficulty with sarcasm. A great example of this is how Arianne’s mother had a habit of saying “Thank you,” when she didn’t not do what was asked of her so, on an occasion where she did do what was asked of her (in this case cleaning her room) and her mother said “Thanks!” Arianne did not understand that her mother was being earnest and replied, “but I did clean my room!”
This is where your listening helps all parties involved because you will likely notice the misunderstanding before the they do, in such an instance you should definitely clarify what you are trying to say if their responses do not match your intended meaning. Arianne’s mom did that and, in turn, Arianne learned what sarcasm was.
Aspie’s may also understand something differently because their emotional audio processing tends to get jumbled a little when they are trying to hear. they are not generally very aquatinted or good at polite conversation and small talk, so getting personal is okay. They enjoy the connection (just like everyone else).
4. Pay Attention
You may notice that Aspie’s perform repetitive actions meant for self-soothing– this is known as stimming. If you see an Aspie doing this, they are likely experiencing an excess of emotion or overwhelm of sensory stimuli. It isn’t always negative, but it isn’t always good either. It just is.
Most people with AS have free floating physical anxiety even when they are happy, stimming is one way in which they keep that under control. If you notice that they are moving around more than usual, go ahead and ask if they need anything. Another helpful tip would be to lower the lights and rid the area of any excess noise; these are additional stimuli that could be elevating the anxiety.
5. Instruct us — but nicely
If someone is offending you, tell them. Individuals with AS may experience avalanche-style misunderstandings, this hunters the formation and maintenance of lasting relationship and can make for a VERY long and lonely life.
For them, cultivating social skills is imperative to bridging the gap of misunderstandings. They aren’t boring with those skills and some of them weren’t properly educated on social etiquette or coping mechanisms. Not knowing such information instinctively makes forming connections more difficult.
When they are processing social cues, they very likely might miss something and accidentally say something that comes out as stupid or mean or offensive. Without those physical emotional cues to guide their response (which they do not pick up on), they are left with just words, sometimes making it an awkward experience for you.
To demonstrate the difficulties this imposes, try closing your eyes the next time somebody is taking to you. It will give you an idea of how much they are missing out on. It is believed that over half of all communication is nonverbal. If you are conversing with an Aspie, it is your responsibility to make sure you are clear in your meaning. Letting them know if you are offended will get you an apology from them a lot faster than making an offended face.
The bottom line
You form conclusions based on subtle emotional cues given by those who you are with. If you notice that the person you are talking to isn’t doing that, you may be talking to someone with AS.
Practicing these tips in the moment can help you prepare for complicated social situations when you interact with someone with AS. Help them out and clarify yourself if they seem confused. By being mindful, in the moment, you will feel more comfortable communicating with people on the spectrum.
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Some things I am considering with this content are:
- condensing it to be more concise and to the point
- limiting the personality within the wording, saving that for the stories that I plan to integrate (i.e. the example of the “thank you” story) OR in reverse making it entirely personable and inhabiting a personality when rewriting so that the audience feels a more direct/intense connection to the information
- including more stories and life-like testimonies (with replaced names) on BOTH ends of the situation, i.e. how the Aspie feels and the neurotypical
- bulleting the content for an easier view/read
- breaking the content up into ‘chapters’ therefore requiring transitions between the 5 lessons (be nice, be patient…etc)
- visualizing the 5 lessons in some way (image, illustration, infographic?)
- just overall making it more friendly and welcoming, less like a lesson or confrontation and more like an open ended conversation with ample advice
