"Love on the Spectrum" - Part 2

- We had almost 100 comments, many of them writing in just to show support for the couple.  Jack Robison and Kirsten Lindsmith are both living with Asperger’s syndrome. The article, which appeared on the front page of The New York Times in December, is a candid account of their struggles with the disorder, with social situations and even with each other.

“I think I sort of lucked out. I have no doubt if I wasn't dating Kirsten, I would have a very hard time acquiring a girlfriend that was worthwhile,” said Jack, with Kirsten at the apartment they share

On Love and Autism: Our Favorite Student Comments

[photo courtesy of  Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times - Navigating Love and Autism 12/26/2011 ]

Here is how the conversation began:

From Kirsten:
Reading about my boring life from the perspective of an outsider made everything I take for granted as normal seem much more interesting. The release of the article itself only really affected me in the sense that I got a ton of Facebook friend requests from strangers, but my family certainly had a stronger opinion. Most of them were impressed that I was front and center in The N.Y. Times, especially those who didn’t yet know about my diagnosis!

From Jack:
Autism isn’t a disease. Autism and Asperger’s are considered disorders, which can be misleading because that implies that someone with autism is somehow “broken.” This is reinforced by the fact that people who don’t have Autism are referred to as “neurotypical.” More and more it is coming to light that there really isn’t such a thing as neurotypical, and that autism is only one of several different “types” of people. You may not have autism, but you probably fall under some other sort of category, like A.D.H.D.

Read more comments here:

On Love and Autism: Our Favorite Student Comments - NYTimes.com

Love on the Spectrum: In the video above, Jack Robison and ... which appeared on the front page of The New York Times in December, is a candid account of their ...

Watch video clip of Kirsten Lindsmith and Jack Robinson - Navigating Love and Autism By AMY HARMON Published: December 26, 2011 

 More videos about 'Love on the Spectrum' New York Times project"

http://video1.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/26/15109_1_autism-jack-emotion_wg_16x9_xl_bb_art.mp4#media/jackemotion

http://video1.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/26/15110_1_autism-kirsten-love_wg_16x9_xl_bb_art.mp4#media/kirstenlove

Jack Robinson's father, John Elder Robison, is the author of “Look Me in the Eye,” a best-selling 2007 memoir about his own diagnosis of Asperger’s at age 39.
 despair his father felt in his youth

A Meltdown
Kirsten’s diagnosis brought her closer to Jack.
Alex Plank, 25, the founder of the WrongPlanet Web site, also had Asperger’s and had enlisted Jack in the production of Autism Talk TV, featuring video interviews with autism experts.
Kirsten now joined them, and as they traveled to conferences, Alex’s tales of his own romantic ups and downs — echoed by many on his Web site — gave them perspective on their own dramas. “It’s easy for me to get a girl’s number,” he told them. “I can build attraction. But attraction isn’t enough.”

via

"Life on the Autism Spectrum can be ENJOYable."


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