My Autism Insights

I’ve often heard the rumor about individuals on the autism spectrum that they have no senses of humor.  I can’t fathom, especially living with my son, where such a notion could come from.  Not only do I find him to have a very sharp wit, but I could say the same of a number of people that I know who are on the spectrum.

From the GRASP (The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership) website:

“People on the autism spectrum do not have a sense of humor.
This is one of the least harmful but most ridiculous myths about the autism spectrum. It is probably due to the fact that people on the spectrum often are unable to “get” many conventional jokes, or simply do not find them funny. This is then interpreted as a lack of a sense of humor. In reality, many people on the autism spectrum develop a strong interest in humor, especially after enough jokes are explained to them and / or they develop the ability to understand them independently. The result can range from a downright hilarious individual, who happens to be on the autism spectrum, to someone with an unconventional and perhaps highly original style of humor.

—Karl Wittig”

I am reminded of Gus’s antics last spring as he was receiving his Principal’s Award and he (inches from the principal) grabbed the microphone and shouted, “Is this thing on?” He saw an easy laugh and went for it.  Usually, his humor is a little more understated and deadpan, but no less funny.

Tonight he looked zoned out and tired, and wasn’t responding to anything I was saying to him.  So to see if he was just ignoring me, I started to pretend to hypnotize him.

“You’re getting sleeeeee-py…” I said, wiggling my fingers in front of his eyes.  No response.  Total stillness.  It was as if I were a ghost and he didn’t even see me.  “When I snap my fingers, you will act like a chicken.”  Snap.

“Bawk! Bawk!”

The kid never even missed a beat.  He couldn’t have timed it better if we’d planned it.

No sense of humor?

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard” ~Groucho Marx