If I could have any superpower it would be perfect control of attention.
It takes a lot of effort to consistently focus the laser beam, and doubly so when there’s too much context switching!
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One thing about being on the spectrum is that focus is relatively easier. I've always kind of felt like extreme focus was my one true skill.
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A reason sometimes kids with aspergers or autism are labeled add is because they get focused on certain things
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Yes, extreme focus in too narrow a field can be detrimental.
Luckily I was interested in EVERYTHING from a young age. That served me well later on.
For kids on the spectrum, feed them as much diverse knowledge as possible through a fire hose then let THEM choose where to take it!
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All children should be taught in a manner that allows them to advance each subject at their own capacity. Faster or slower than others. Childhood is a challenge, even more so for children who are different. Allowing them successes instead of holding them back, helps the psyche.
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I went to a Catholic elementary school. They meant well, I have 10% vision so they figured I needed to sit at the front of the class and use magnifiers but that wasn't why I couldn't read at the same level as my peers.
I was dyslexic but they had no idea at the time what is was.
I was held back in grade 3 even though I got 62% (a pass was 60% in that school system).
It was my first experience with injustice (as I saw it) so I set about to 'prove them wrong'!
I tackled reading til I mastered it and without even being aware of it soon surpassed my peers.
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In grade 7, I thought all kids had hobbies & devoured university textbooks my father (an elementary school teacher) brought home.
That year the Principle told me 'I could do better' (I was a 'C' student).
What I didn't know was that I'd scored 2nd in my school at aptitude tests.
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Yeah. This is why I think allowing kids to accelerate their learning in subjects or activities they excell at allows them to not feel disabled by what is difficult for them. Don't push them down a path. I shouldn't be clogging up this thread It's just something I think of always.
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In the 1960s there wasn't any options for individual learning. My teachers thought they were dealing with someone with 10% vision struggling through a normal school system.
One of the first things I did when I found out was to start a computer room at the local Boys & Girls Club.
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