Hi. I'm in UK.
I have a friend (19) who is, I'm sure, on the autsim spectrum. He has the typical signs, poor social skills, trouble with math (dyscalculia?) his handwriting is not good, his reading skills are below par for his age (dyslexic?) and his co-ordination is sometime not good (dyspraxia?). But despite these things he passed a GCSE in Design & Technology - Electronic Products - (Think he got an "A " in practicals "C" in theory, overal grade B (under the old grading system). He wired up, at my home, a robot (for the GCE course), and was pretty good at soldering considering it was his first time. At high school, He got an "A" in European Computer Driving License (EDCDL standard level). He is very keen on a career in electronics.
At high school, he got a grade 3 in English language and grade 2 in math (Got to got a grade 4 to obtain a standard pass in GCSE). He has just retaken his math and English GSCE's and is awaiting his results.
After high school, his first college activity was to attend a course on gardeing (that's the college thinking he has limited capabilty - but I think they are too pessimistic). He then did a course in business with computing (not computer science) in his second year at college. Now, in September, the college want him to do retail and life-skills (another sign they are too pessimistic in my opinion). He does not want to do retail. His parents have decided to take him out of college and are trying to get him into work or into an apprenticship.
Personally I think he has some capacity to enjoy a career in Electronics/Computing, but I am unsure just how much capacity my friend has. I think the intelligence is there, but his mind works in compartments I think. By the way, when he was 18 months old he got pneumonia and had a fit and went blue. Probably caused his autism.
I'm wanting to know has anyone any experience with people on the autism spectrum who desire or have made a career in electronics/computing?
Anyone here with autism?
Any ideas about how to progress my friends education? Thanks.
P.S. My friend has a brother (13) who is also interested in electronics, he is not autistic. I'm going to give them an Arduino, and see what happens as both seek to learn source code. In doing this, I should learn something myself about my friends capacity.
I have a friend (19) who is, I'm sure, on the autsim spectrum. He has the typical signs, poor social skills, trouble with math (dyscalculia?) his handwriting is not good, his reading skills are below par for his age (dyslexic?) and his co-ordination is sometime not good (dyspraxia?). But despite these things he passed a GCSE in Design & Technology - Electronic Products - (Think he got an "A " in practicals "C" in theory, overal grade B (under the old grading system). He wired up, at my home, a robot (for the GCE course), and was pretty good at soldering considering it was his first time. At high school, He got an "A" in European Computer Driving License (EDCDL standard level). He is very keen on a career in electronics.
At high school, he got a grade 3 in English language and grade 2 in math (Got to got a grade 4 to obtain a standard pass in GCSE). He has just retaken his math and English GSCE's and is awaiting his results.
After high school, his first college activity was to attend a course on gardeing (that's the college thinking he has limited capabilty - but I think they are too pessimistic). He then did a course in business with computing (not computer science) in his second year at college. Now, in September, the college want him to do retail and life-skills (another sign they are too pessimistic in my opinion). He does not want to do retail. His parents have decided to take him out of college and are trying to get him into work or into an apprenticship.
Personally I think he has some capacity to enjoy a career in Electronics/Computing, but I am unsure just how much capacity my friend has. I think the intelligence is there, but his mind works in compartments I think. By the way, when he was 18 months old he got pneumonia and had a fit and went blue. Probably caused his autism.
I'm wanting to know has anyone any experience with people on the autism spectrum who desire or have made a career in electronics/computing?
Anyone here with autism?
Any ideas about how to progress my friends education? Thanks.
P.S. My friend has a brother (13) who is also interested in electronics, he is not autistic. I'm going to give them an Arduino, and see what happens as both seek to learn source code. In doing this, I should learn something myself about my friends capacity.