Autism Profiles - Jean-Paul Bovee
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Jean-Paul Bovee is from Kansas City, MO and is director of the Institute for Human Development's Developmental Disabilities Resource Center.
Q. When were you diagnosed with Autism or Aspergers?
A. I was diagnosed with autism at ages 3 and 1/2 and at age 6.
Q. If you were diagnosed in childhood, what was it like growing up with Autism/Aspergers?
A. It was different than how other kids grow up. I was considered weird. That comes with the territory. My brother and sisters treated me like any other kid, which was a help.
Q. What would you like people to know about Autism/Aspergers?
A. I want them to know that having autism or aspergers syndrome is not a death sentence to a life worth living, it is a different way of thinking and a different way of life, but different is not wrong.
Q. What can you tell me about your school days?
A. I was not a good student in elementary school. I did not do very well in math or handwriting and flunked them all through elementary school. I did not pay attention in math and would pull a history book out to read, which would not please my teachers. However, I knew a lot of trivia, especially history, music, and sports. The other kids were amazed at how much I knew about those topics. Little League was a failure for me, because I was pretty uncoordinated. I mostly was on the bench unless the game was safely won or lost. Then, the coach would put me out in right field, because he felt it would do no harm. There were a few inside-the-park home runs made on hits that came to me, because of my inaccurate and weak throwing arm. Other things also include being on the 5th grade history bowl team at my school for my class. We competed with the four other fifth grade classes and got second. I answered a question well and amazed people.
Q. What types of supports were needed versus what was received when you were in school?
A. I could have used occupational and physical therapy, which my schools did not provide at that time. I got learning disabilities help and speech therapy help as well. I needed both of them.
Q. How can local communities be more supportive of people with autism/aspergers?
A. They can be more open and accepting of differences. If you have autism or aspergers syndrome, you cannot conform to what you are not. There needs to be more education and understanding.
Q. How has Autism/Aspergers impacted serious relationships with others?
A. It does make relationships harder, because you tend to try to push things too much. However, I am more emotional than most people, which goes against the stereotype that people on the spectrum do not have feelings. I have dated before, but those instances have not worked out very well.
Q. What types of things have been beneficial in helping people understand you?
A. Getting to know me as a person and know my capabilities and skills. They see who I am as a person.
Q. What suggestions do you have for families and friends of persons with Autism/Aspergers?
A. My suggestions would be to love the child for who he or she is. There is nothing wrong with being on the spectrum. We are different, that comes with the territory. Have high expectations for your child, you may be amazed at what he or she can accomplish.
Q. Is there a particular resource that you find to be helpful and that you would recommend to others?
A. There are some particular books that I would recommend. These are Autism:Handle With Care by Gail Gillingham; Thinking in Pictures:My Experiences with Autism by Temple Grandin, Autism:A Parents Guide by Michael Powers,; Aspergers Syndrome by Tony Attwood; and others as well.
