Last night, I caught the second half of Today’s Man, a documentary in PBS’ Independent Lens series. The subject of Today’s Man is Nicky Gottlieb, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in his early twenties. People with Asperger’s tend to be extremely bright individuals who have great difficulty deciphering and responding to the cues of everyday social interactions. The film, directed by Nicky’s sister, tracks him over several years as he tries to find work and a place of his own. It doesn’t flinch from some of Nicky’s obsessive and occasionally irksome behaviors, which are on full display during a confrontation with a job supervisor. But the director’s love for her brother is what gives the documentary emotional heft. Check it out if you can.
I caught that, too! He’s a charming guy…although I can relate to that job supervisor’s frustration when Nicky struggles to appreciate her point of view! My favorite part was when he said that Mr. Rogers taught him that a girl doesn’t have to be “fancy on the outside, just fancy on the inside” to like her. But then added it would be good if she COULD look like Heather Locklear. In fishnet stockings, no doubt.
all this increases my belief there is someting in nature that makes for a certain equilibrism: nature takes and gives. It would be interesting to understand how this happens.
Mieke
I raised a son with Aspergers who wasn’t diagnosed until he was 38. We had attributed most of his social immaturity and other traits to his Klinefelter’s Syndrome (a genetic abnormality not related to Aspegers). Once we learned of Aspergers – his whole life clicked into focus like the tumblers of a vault lock. Finally it all made sense, but after a good deal of damage was done over the years. “If only we had known” became the immediate reaction. Not rational since it wasn’t even recognized until 1994, or so. Thanks for this feature because education of the public and professionals will move our understanding and accommodations forward. Chief among these needs to be the justice system, which unfortunately receives many with this condition. They wil probably be the last to catch up on this, if history is a guide.