First Post / Q and A

Growing Up Aspie

Growing Up Aspie: is a comic about my struggles, trials, tribulations, and triumphs of growing up with Aspergers syndrome. I knew that were other people like myself out there, and wanted to share some of my stories with everyone. Feel free to ask questions, make comments on your own stories. Please be respectful as I have already had one or two bad eggs come through. Other than that...Enjoy!

This was my first comic

Q&A 

(Comment or email with any further questions.)

Q: Why do most of the other characters look like faceless aliens?

A: I chose to portray nuerotypicals how most aspies tend to see them (at first). They are often hard to read, and understand, leaving us with a feeling that we are on the wrong planet surrounded by people who are very unlike us. I wanted to portray that. You may notice people I’m close too often have face because I have learned to read them, or somehow been able to since I met them. (Side note: I am great at reading faces, body language, and voices now, as I have learned over time to spot minor differences like these.)

Q: You’re just pretending to have Aspergers (or) using it as a crutch.

A: For one, that’s not really a question, that’s an accusation. I was diagnosed as a child, and rediagnosed as an adult (as needed for job placement when it was impossible to find work) And as for a crutch, I don’t see myself as broken or disabled, I am not all “Woe is me” about having Aspergers, I recognize the benefits of thinking differently from everyone around me. I will say the world could learn to accept us into the workplace, and society a bit more….quite a bit more.

Q: Why do you feel like everyone is judging you or are out to get you?

A: Over the years I have learned to act nuerotypicals. When I act Aspie it makes people single me out, and attack me, and now when I act Nuerotypical it makes people question my motives, or my credibility because it seems like I’m lying. Which I am, because I am ACTING. So it can cause major problems in interviews, or while being pulled over by the police, or even just meeting my girlfriend’s parents for the first time. (What’s wrong with him? What is he hiding? Does he have gum?) No I don’t. *hides gum*

Q: Are all of these true stories?

 A: Yes. They are either completely true stories that have happened to me, or parodies of those stories for added comedic effect.

Q: Do you think you’re better than everybody?

A: No. I address people as equals (Even superiors) until I am given a reason not to. I do however walk away thinking “Humans” when someone upsets me.

Q: What is the real reason you are doing this blog?

A: Because people think Autism stops at childhood barely giving any thought to those of us who actually make it into adulthood, and the struggles we have trying to get into the workplace. Because when I say I have Aspergers someone almost certainly asks “Are you worried your kids will be retarded?” Because out there right now there are people like me who have no idea that these things happened to other people. That’s why I do this.

Please comment below with any further questions, and I will answer them to the best of my ability.