Teach Me About Autism
  • Home
  • For Kids: Short
  • For Kids: Long
    • Characteristics
    • The Up-Side
    • Famous People
    • Autistic Kids' Stories
    • My Sibling Experience
  • For Caregivers
    • What is autism?
    • How's it feel?
    • What's the cause?
    • How do I tell my child they're autistic?
    • What's does the future hold?
    • Communication Resources >
      • Communication
      • Emotions/Behaviors
      • Language Therapy
    • Blog
  • More!

The Up-Side

While downsides definitely exist, being autistic also has many positive parts of it that people don't realize. Here we're going to talk about them!

Concentration

PictureVernon Smith receiving the Nobel prize.
People on the autism spectrum generally have a great sense of focus when the subject is one of their interests. This can be a very positive trait. For example, the Nobel Prize winner Vernon Smith, discussing the selective advantages of his Asperger's (a type of autism), said “I can switch out and go into a concentrated mode and the world is completely shut out. If I'm writing something, nothing else exists.” Vernon Smith also said that the concentration his Asperger's gave him helped him win the Nobel Prize!

Passion

PictureJohn Elder Robison made special effects for bands.
Similar to concentration, people on the autism spectrum frequently are quite passionate about the subjects of their interest. My sister, for example, can speak with almost expert-level knowledge, on several areas, such as rights of minority groups, and - currently - the country of Kyrgyzstan. Others are passionate about interests as different as bus routes, ceiling fans, or Minecraft.

As you can imagine, these passions can be incredibly beneficial to certain jobs if applied appropriately. For example, the author of Look Me in the Eye, John Elder Robison, turned his passion for sound electronics into a career, even designing special effects for the band KISS, and the boy who loves bus stops would make a great ticket-taker on the bus, since he knows where all the stops are. When passions are incorporated into jobs, autistic people can be very, very successful!

Seeing Patterns and Systems

PictureMichelle Dawson studies how autistic minds work.
Many people on the autism spectrum are great at seeing patterns or understanding systems which are otherwise hard to see. For example, Michelle Dawson's ability to notice flaws in systems has helped make her a great researcher.


Website at a Glance

For Younger Kids
Autism Explained for Young Kids

For Older Kids
Intro to Autism
Characteristics
The Up-Side
Famous Autistic People
Autistic Kids' Stories
My Sibling Experience
Quizzes and Games

For Caregivers
Main page
Published: 7/06/2014
Last Updated: 6/21/2020
Disclaimer: The author of the website is a speech therapist, not a psychologist, and frequently writes based on personal experience. As a result, advice given here may not be completely accurate and may not apply to everyone. The author is not an expert on autism, and readily admits to having a lot left to learn. This website should not be used in place of a professional. The author is not responsible for the content of other websites for which links have been provided, nor content from other contributors.