Aut_Scot

Link with more information: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57045770

World-famous American engineering entrepreneur Elon Musk reveals he has Asperger's: https://www.dw.com/en/elon-musk-reveals-he-has-aspergers-syndrome/a-57473708

Has anyone seen "Drive Me to the End"? It is a dark comedy film (made in 2020) in which a twenty something man is persuaded to give a lift to an autistic young woman who is a distant relative, to a funeral in the North of Scotland ( a two day journey away). I believe the film can be watched free online for subscribers to Amazon Prime at the time that this post was written. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/3Wb2V_eOJbE

Seen on the BBC website. "Autism: Parents of blind girl want better vitamin A testing Parents of an autistic girl who lost her sight because of a vitamin A deficiency are campaigning to prevent the same happening to other children. Sam and David Mildon's daughter Bella, 12, lost her sight after routine blood tests failed to pick up the deficiency. They are calling for more comprehensive testing for all autistic children who suffer from dietary restrictions. Advisory body NICE is reviewing its guidance about handling nutritional deficits among children with autism.": https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-56498467

News story seen online. "Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Nick Hine reveals he is autistic after being diagnosed 10 years ago Vice Admiral Nick Hine has revealed he is autistic after being diagnosed 10 years ago and said that the military needs more ‘neurodiversity’. The Second Sea Lord, 55, opened up about his condition as he encouraged others with autism to join the armed forces. Hine said that the only way the British military could compete with adversaries that have more advanced technology and larger funds would be through ‘thinking differently’ and hiring people with neurological disorders. ... ". https://broread.com/2021/03/12/second-sea-lord-vice-admiral-nick-hine-reveals-he-is-autistic-after-being-diagnosed-10-years-ago/

I am not familiar with that one, I am more of a "Freecell" player.

The Ealing comedy "The Ladykillers" is one of my favourite films:

I saw this online recently; "The science of ‘mind-reading’: our new test reveals how well we understand others" https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-mind-reading-our-new-test-reveals-how-well-we-understand-others-155241 " ... Our research also showed that people with autism reported substantially more mind-reading difficulties than people without autism. The average score of an autistic person would fall within the lowest 25% of non-autistic scores. ... ". " ... It will also be useful to understand and tailor support for people with clinical conditions, such as autism. ... ".

I tend to like books set in an area that I am familiar with, east central Scotland, which includes Edinburgh. Quite a few well known authors such as Ian Rankin (author of Rebus detective novels, some of which have been on tv) and Irvine Welsh (some of whos books have been turnd into films such as Trainspotting). Also the Scottish authors Doug Johnstone and Neil Broadfoot. All the books are set in the present time (rather than historical). With the lockdown my usual source of books (the library) is closed, so I have been buying books for a change. Maybe some would say that I should expand my horizon to include works set elsewhere or in other periods of history. But I enjoy these books and I can picture the places and just about recognise the type of people in them, so they seem more "real" to me. I experience some difficulty trying to imagine other places, periods of history etc to such an extent that it spoils my enjoyment of fiction set in other places, periods of history etc. Is this an autistic thing, liking fiction that is not too far outside one's experience of life?

NNC news story with video clip titled "Photographer wants to be autistic 'role model'" A wildlife photographer hopes to inspire other autistic people to know they can "achieve anything despite what society tells them". ... " https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-55940762 Some of Alfie's photos: https://alfiebowen.co.uk/galleries

I was single for many years, then I met a woman via internet dating and I got married. The best thing that I have ever done, she is good at things that I am not good at and is a great help as well as being a wonderful person.

Are the outsiders who do things differently, people on the spectrum?

Has anyone watched "Love on the spectrum"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_on_the_Spectrum If so, apart from the fact that it was made in Australia, how does it compare with the autism stories in Channel 4's show "The Undateables"?

That's quite something, Aeolienne. The Beatles one of my favourite bands. People are still talking about them today: https://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/ The Beatles film "The Beatles: Get Back" opens later this year and Paul has a new album out, called McCartney 3: I am not familiar with much of George Harrison's solo work apart from "My Sweet Lord", I am sure that I wouldn't be disappointed if I bought some of his post-Beatles work.

I quite like this song at the moment, it has a certain poignantcy:

Happy New Year, I hope that it is better than 2020. It is quiet up here in Scotland due to the Covid siyuation. Most Scots heeded warnings to hold Hogmanay celebrations at home with household members. But there was: New Year fireworks from Wallace's Monument: Online drone display lights up skies for Hogmanay: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55485371

A very Merry Christmas to all users of the Asperger and ASD UK Online Forum.

Article in the online Guardian titled "A psychiatrist diagnosed me as autistic with ADHD. Now, finally, I can thrive": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/23/psychiatrist-diagnosed-autistic-adhd-adult-neurodivergent Some of the comments (below the article) in which autistic people write about their own experiences are interesting. Another article titled "'At 47, I discovered I am autistic – suddenly so many things made sense'": https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/20/at-47-i-discovered-i-am-autistic-suddenly-so-many-things-made-sense Again some interesting reader comments.

I have recently finished reading another novel which includes two Asperger's syndrome characters, called "Watching You" by Lisa Jewell. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-You-Brilliant-psychological-author-ebook/dp/B076VWBYGZ

Dr Camilla Pang recent winner of the Royal Society's science book prize said her autism helped her succeed.: 'Autism has its advantages, link below: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-55238576

I used to see David around Dunfermline mostly in the library, where there were some computers for people to access the Internet. There was an article about him, his Asperger's syndrome and his interest in model trains in the local paper, more that ten years ago. I had suspected that I had Asperger's syndrome but as he was the only person that I was aware of with Asperger's syndrome, I compared myself with his presentation to the world (some of which is in the links above) and concluded that I had only slight Asperger's syndrome, if at all. I got my diagnosis quite a few years later. Unfortunately, after I received my diagnosis I never spoke to him about Asperger's syndrome, I regret that now. I only found out about his passing when I did an Internet search, after I realised that I hadn't seen him about town for a long time.

An author with Autistic Spectrum Disorder wins the Royal Society Science book prize for her book called "Explaining Humans" and is a guide to navigating life, love and relationships using the lessons she’s learned in her scientific career so far.: https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pang-wins-royal-society-science-book-prize-1224336 A podcast in which the author talks about her book etc: https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/camilla-pang-how-can-science-guide-my-life/

In "Broad Spectrum" on Radio 4, a woman called Helen Keen, talks about her adult diagnosis of Autism: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mcyj

If you missed this, you can download the podcast. Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000m5lh

"Alleged computer hacker Lauri Love: Living with my autism" Interesting video clip on the BBC web site, in which Lauri talks about his autism and "... Lauri describes daily life with his autism, and how a nice comment from someone can turn into a painful assault for him. ... ": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54072509