Chris Packham, Asperger's and Me

I don't understand, Pamela. I thought Chris was high functioning.

It was truly an inspiring programme. It's obvious watching him on Springwatch he is such a knowledgable individual and quirky too.
We have a friend who is somewhere on the Aspergers spectrum. So many of the things Chris said apply to her-doesn't like noises, always has the same meals, delivers monologues, few social graces except the ones taught by her Mum and stuck to rigidly.
If only all sufferers could make such a success of their lives.

Yes; the programme [good as it was] only really dealt with the high functioning end of autism. Still, anything that gets people thinking/talking about it is good.

An excellent programme. My cousins husband has high functioning autism. He is a partner in a law firm but his son is not high functioning like Chris. Now he is approaching adulthood they are very concerned about his future.
Any good ideas? One of the problems is that the condition varies so much.

Maybe he takes so much on board that he can recognise the book by its size and colour. Also undoubtedly his books are in subject/author sequence

She did look quite hurt, though.
Just been looking at his sister's dress designs on the catwalk. They looked like his wardrobe, all the same colours grouped together.
My grandson's parents would love it if he cared enough about his clothes to hang them up or put them in drawers.

Chris Packham said he doesn't put books with spines facing outward, as that's too confusing for him, too much sensory information, so I wonder how he puts them, and how he finds the book he wants?

I think he was incredible open to his step daughter he didn’t say ‘well I ll try’ or ‘we ll see’ he just said ‘no I can’t I m afraid’ I m sure she has met up with that before just
like the partner and the friends wedding and both those two relationships seem strong enough to withstand his lack of attending any ‘do’s’ He Obviously does have empathy as it very much there for animals and birds just doesn’t relate to humans

As Tegan2 Wed 18-Oct-17 14:08:16 has said some people with Aspergers can be decidedly difficult to live with as a partner. They tend to have a sort of it's about "me" thing. Empathy bypass.

I don't think it's being recognised that's the problem; he would hate being there and can't understand why his stepdaughter would need him to be. But what a wonderful relationship he has with her. Can't understand why he doesn't seem to be considering getting another dog, though; hate the thought of him being on his own in that house, lovely as it is. I guess he can't bear the thought of losing another pet .

I've just watched this on I-player and am so glad I've seen it. Have often thought CP may have Aspergers but my goodness, did he have difficulties getting where he has today! We complain about services for today's autistic children being available in theory but inadequate in practice, and he had to achieve it all himself. I would love to think DGS was able to manage as well. In fact it's the thing I've come to hate about getting older - that I may not be around to support him and his parents through future difficulties

What he is going to do is mix the two dogs ashes together, and keep them until he dies. Then all three will be scattered around the base of a giant beech tree on his land.
I like the idea.
I am sure his partner will oblige.
I felt rather sorry for his step-daughter who wanted him to go to Liverpool to watch her get her degree, and he point blank refused. It's in zoology, inspired by him.
I wonder if he would have gone if he hadn't been so recognisable.

I watched it for the second time today as my son asked if I would watch it with my autistic grandson. He enjoyed looking for the similarities - he hates going to parties, and would spend most of the time in a corner with his hands over his ears.
One big difference is that Chris didn't find out until he was forty. We've known about my grandson since he was three or four.

I'd love to know if there are any companies like microsoft here, who allow for autism. A five day interview would be brilliant for many kids like this. When they go somewhere new for the first day, they do not take anything in.

Oh that is so sad sparkle

I love Chris!! I really admire his brain. He does 2 hours to camera on Springwatch without any notes or cues. He seems a very lovely and likeable man. I read that an ex partner bought him the 2 dogs, Itchy and Scratchy, to help him cope when they broke up. Sadly Itchy has died and Chris has put him in the freezer at home as he is worried about parting with him, and that if he has him cremated, they will mix his ashes with another dog's ashes, so he wants to keep him safe.

Just watched it and found it very moving.

...trouble is, the programme just made me want to hug him, something that would be the worst possible thing for him ...

Seeing how devastated CP was when his kestrel died, I think the loss of the second dog will be awful for him. He mentioned them being around in 2004 so there can't be too much time left.

Interesting as well how he said music was so important to him in his teens; something that does define us all when we reach a certain age.

He still had Scratchy in the programme so Itchy must have gone. I've often wondered why he has poodles and assumed he's allergic to dogs. Which makes sense of his naming of them.

What happened to, is it, Itchy or Scratchy? Only he definately had two at one time. The one left must be incredibly ancient.

Yes Mawboon that’s what I thought really worrying and the changes to the brain..... it’s the same with ADHD someone on here can correct me if I m wrong but I think they encourage kids to be on Ritalin or similar to even be in school in USA
Tegan I think that’s the worrying part saying they no longer have it have they been changed to such an extent they are no longer themselves ....how awful is that

Yes; very disturbing. However the man in charge did say that many of the children treated there were not classed as having autism after the treatment. I wish they'd given more information/questioned that more.

Didn’t those scenes in America make you think of the most primitive efforts at mental health care? Bedlam or at least One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
And the electrodes on the brain made me shudder - Brave New World at its worst.

..I've always thought it was Asbergers with a 'b'....

Just watched it [thanks to phoenix for recommending it; I probably would have avoided it]. Was in tears for most of it [still am]. As I said, we met Chris several years ago; he gave a talk at a local school and we then spoke to him afterwards. I had no idea that he had Aspergers [other than the fact that he had obsessively collected owl pellets throughout his life]. For some reason, since then I've been fiercely protective of him [there has been criticism of him on here at times, if my memory is correct]. I can so relate to things he does, such as eating the same food; wearing the same clothes; needing solitude etc. I saw a film many years ago about an American child with Aspergers [wish I could remember what it was called] and that there were places in Romania that offered conductive education for autistic children [in fact, my niece worked in that area for a while]. I've also long believed [and I'm so glad it was touched on in the programme] that if some people in society weren't on the spectrum the world would be a totally different place; would love to go back in time and find out how many great inventors had Aspergers [quite a few I would imagine. My ex is definitely on the spectrum; a brilliant engineer and a thoroughly decent person who has real problems dealing with anything emotional; it made for a very lonely marriage for both of us. Now worrying about Chris's dog . I'm sure no tadpoles were actually harmed in the making of the programme....

Aspergers not asbergers - sorry!