Lets say you and I are sitting at lunch. Suddenly, I jump up, sprint around the room, flipping light switches, raising and lowering the mini-blinds and re-arranging every piece of flatware to point in exactly the same direction. Would you think Id lost my mind? Just ignore me? Try to stop me? Well, folks, this exact scenario happened to me several years ago when I was working as a staff member at a summer camp. That week the campers consisted of about 50 adults with developmental disabilities. The light-switching, mini-blind lowering camper was autistic and had a whole slew of behaviors I found fascinating. Odd, but fascinating. During one meal, this unforgettable camper looked into the tub of dirty silverware, saw that the forks, knives and spoons all pointed in different directions and was compelled to reach into the disgusting mess to correct what he thought was a problem. As I witnessed this, I said to a co-worker, God, itd be so fascinating to step inside his brain for a day! Now, a decade later, I still wish I could live inside his brain for a day; just to experience the world as he does, to understand exactly why uniformity in mini-blinds is so important. Well, I got my wish! Sort of A few days ago, I began reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. This is a novel written from the perspective of a 15-year-old boy with autism. In it, he explains his behaviors and the reader begins to see the logic and method to what, at first glance, seems completely random. For example:He will not touch anything yellow. Why? Yellow, in his mind, is equated with yellow fever, jaundice and other unsavory health issues. He will sit in a darkened closet for hours on end. Why? Because, as he explains, too much information enters his head too fast and confuses him; like trying to comprehend what is on four blaring radios at once. Sitting in a darkened, quiet place alone allows him to limit his sensory intake. He will happily rub a coin over the grooves of a heating vent, utterly fascinated, for hours and hours. Why? Again, he can focus on that one task, be completely enveloped by the clicking sounds, counting the openings of the grate and noticing every tiniest detail of one, small area. Now, after having read this book, the campers behaviors seem a little more rational. If today I was to be re-introduced to that camper, Id be much better equipped to deal with what, upon first viewing, seemed like totally irrational behaviors. Yet, isnt this something we should be doing anyway? Shouldnt we always make an effort to see things from anothers perspective? When I was a kid, I was told that American Indians had a phrase: Dont judge a man until youve walked a mile in his moccasins. Was this truly a bit of Native American wisdom handed down through generations? Well, it doesnt really matter, does it? The sentiment behind the phrase is exactly correct - take time to try to understand anothers point of view. Seeing things from anothers perspective helps us become more compassionate, caring and understanding - three things this world can definitely benefit from. |
