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Musical Interlude: Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up
Mirror Watch
Because people on the autistic spectrum tend to lack the ability to ‘mirror’ other people’s body language, autistics often have trouble making the right facial expressions on cue. If you have this problem, it may help to check your facial expressions in a mirror, but using a mirror discreetly can be a challenge. I get around the problem by using a mirror watch. It’s basically a mirror on your wrist (the time only shows if you press a button). That way, you can check your ‘look’ while pretending to read the time. If you’re buying one, make sure to check the size, because they tend to be a little larger than the average watch.
Writer: The Internet Typewriter
I’ve been looking for one of these for some time. Like many autistics, I get distracted easily, and often put off writing while I fiddle endlessly with the formatting, etc. Writer is a stripped-down online word processor that (pretty much) only allows you to type. There’s three fonts and line-spacings to choose from, and you can pick the colours for text and background. That’s about it. You can also choose to make it sound like a manual or electric typewriter, which helps to set the writerly ambience. Text can be exported for formatting elsewhere. Also available as a Google extension.
Etiquette Series: Fine Dining Table-Setting & Etiquette Tips
A common problem with austistic spectrum disorders is difficulty understanding the ‘unspoken rules’ of social interaction. The videos in the etiquette series spell out some of these ‘unspoken rules’ for different situations (just look for the tag ‘etiquette’). This video on fine dining table-setting and etiquette is courtesy of Replacements Ltd.
I Just Like It: Dancing Lion Speaker
I Just Like It: Naturally Self-Watering Planter
Forgot to water the plants again? This self-watering planter is made from naturally porous unglazed earthenware. The water goes in the central chamber, and seeps gently out through the walls (the clever thing is the plants’ own capillary action determines the rate of water seepage, so there’s less risk of over-watering). Available from Joey Roth. Read more about the history of this kind of irrigation pot (called an ‘Olla’) here, it’s been used for hundreds of years and is now making a comeback.
Successful Career Women with Asperger’s Syndrome
A nice little article from the Mail Online about high-achieving women with Asperger’s, and how they cope with the condition. A few choice quotes below, just to give some idea of what Asperger’s is like –
Sarah has also got herself into trouble at work several times by repeating other people’s jokes and comments without understanding that they were inappropriate.
‘For example, I’ve gone up to people in the office and said things like: “You must be ‘Octopus Mike’ or ‘Orange John” — the secret nicknames people have given them.’
‘I’m very sensitive to light and noise, so with 200 people all working in one room, it can feel like fireworks going off in front of my eyes — and as if people are banging saucepans in my ears. I often have to escape for half an hour, count to ten, and get my thoughts in order before I can go back.’
‘It takes me at least two hours in the morning to prepare for work. I lay all my clothes out the night before and have a set routine, but if my husband moves something and it isn’t where I expect it to be, that can add an hour to my day.’
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Darran Knight: Jewellery Designer with Asperger’s Syndrome
45-year old Darran Knight had Aspergers since childhood and was a bus driver for eight years, before deciding to combine his interests in sharks and jewellery design into a business; designing shark-themed jewellery, of course. You can admire his handiwork at Shark Jewellery by DZN. (via The Sutton Guardian)
Montre Sticky Note Watches
Absent-mindedness or ‘brain fog’ goes with many autistic disorders, and everyone has their favourite way of dealing with it. If you’re the sort who likes simple, hands-on solutions, this product may be for you. It’s basically a sticky note that wraps around your wrist. One way to use it – draw a clock-face and mark your appointments around the face, then write the details on the strap. Available from PA Design in France. Via Better Living Through Design.
DESIGN FOR ASD 