Community embrace: Donald Triplett spent most of his years living in his hometown in rural Mississippi, where he worked as a bookkeeper. Donald Triplett, who was the first person to be diagnosed with autism, died last week in his hometown of Forest, Mississippi, at age 89.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence, may have been autistic. Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist and astronomer.
Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the alternating-current electrical system, showed many signs of autism, such as several phobias, sensitivity to light and sound, obsession with number three, and social ineptitude.
With specialized skills in one or several of these areas, a person with ASD that is encouraged to capitalize on their strengths and taught in ways that appeal to their thinking patterns, may become a very successful individual who is capable of doing things that even you and I might not be able to do.
Rosie O'Donnell – The comedian, actress, and former co-host of The View has been very candid about sharing her journey with her daughter, Dakota, who was diagnosed with autism in 2016 at age 2-1/2.
Amy Schumer jokes about how people react when finding out her husband has autism. Schumer shared that her husband was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in her 2019 Netflix special, "Growing."
Some may find it challenging to express love verbally or through typical social cues, but they can still demonstrate affection and care through their actions, interests, and consistent support. That said, autism is a spectrum, and each individual's experience and expression of love may vary.
Someone who is considered a savant may be especially skilled in art, math, music, memory recall, or another subject. Savant syndrome is commonly associated with autism but can occur alongside other conditions.
Attention to detail or visual thinkers: Those on the spectrum can quickly spot things others may miss, ensure accuracy and excel at intricate work. As mentioned above, this was the case with Temple Grandin. Technical abilities: For very detail-oriented individuals, technical skills often come quickly.
About 70% of autistic people have an intellectual disability, which means they have an IQ lower than 70. The remaining 30% have intelligence that ranges from average to gifted. Autism and intelligence are two separate characteristics. A person can be autistic with any level of intelligence.
While cognitive empathy can be lower in people with autism, affective empathy—which is based on instincts and involuntary responses to the emotions of others—can be strong and overwhelming. In fact, newer research suggests that some people with autism may actually feel other people's emotions more intensely.
Autism is a complex disorder with genetic and environmental factors believed to play a role in its development. While some children with autism may exhibit shyness as part of their symptom presentation, shyness itself does not cause autism.
Two years after she drew criticism for her depiction of autism in the film Music, Sia has announced that she is on the autism spectrum.
Renee is a thirteen-year-old girl who is nonverbally autistic. She appears in the Pixar SparkShorts film, Loop. Renne enjoys playing ringtones on her phone and touching interesting textures (like reeds). She communicates by vocalizing, gesturing, and showing people things on her phone.
Actress Daryl Hannah was diagnosed with autism as a child. In an interview with People Magazine, Hannah opened up about her “debilitating shyness” as a child and fear of fame as an adult.
Signs of High-Functioning Autism in Children
May appear more mature for their age and have above-average intelligence. A tendency to avoid eye contact. Trouble deviating from a routine or adapting to changes. Trouble making friends and maintaining social relationships or not “fitting in” with peers.
If an intervention doesn't occur or doesn't solve the problem, a meltdown is almost inevitable. While some people with autism merely yell or stamp, many really do become overwhelmed by their own emotions. 3 Bolting, hitting, self-abuse, crying, and screaming are all possibilities.