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There is no one type of autism, but many.

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There is no one type of autism, but many.

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Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.

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Naoki Higashida is a boy who struggles significantly with verbal communication. He prefers to type his thoughts onto a computer, which he finds to be very useful for helping others understand him. When he recognized his success in this area, Naoki decided to write a book that discussed a variety of challenges that he was facing. This way, the community at large could become more aware of the issues that autistic people struggle with on a daily basis.

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•ASDs are neurodevelopmental disorders with a genetic basis, potentially affected by environmental factors

•Characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive interests and behaviors

•Advances in early recognition and intervention have had a positive impact

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1. What is the worst thing about your ASD?
2. Why do you talk so loudly?
3. Why do you repeat questions?
4. Why are you insensitive or overly sensitive to pain?
5. Why are you so picky about what you eat?
6. Why do you jump up and down?
7. Why do you make the same mistakes over and over?
8. Why do you cup your ears?
9. Why do you move your legs and arms in weird ways?
10. When you look at something, what do you see first?

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4. Sometimes it is easier to ignore pain than to realize that someone knows we are in pain. We hate being laughed at.
5. It's not that we don't like to try new things. It just takes us a lot longer to become accustomed to new tastes and textures.
6. When I am excited, the feeling of jumping up and down with glee is incredibly freeing. Having autism is kind of annoying because it is hard to control my actions and that bothers people. But, jumping makes me feel light and free from the constraints of the world--like a bird let out of his cage.
7. I hate when I realize that I am making the same mistake over and over. We don't want to let people down. Honestly, when I am scolded for making the same bad decisions. I just get lost in the moment and forget about the last time I was in trouble. All I ask is that you don't give up on us. We want to be be the best we can be. We want you to be proud of us.

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1. The worst thing about my disorder is how hard it is to retrieve memories. They are like puzzle pieces instead of number lines, which makes everything disorganized and confusing.
2. My loud voice is uncontrollable. It actually hurts my throat to try and contain it. I know I am being a burden to some, but honestly, people with ASD don't know how to be quiet because our voices are like breathing.
3. Firing back the question helps me create an answer. I literally have to search my memories to develop what I want to say. Often times, repeating the question can be pleasurable--I like hearing the sounds and rhythms of my voice.

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8. The sounds that we hear are way more intense. Sometimes it feels like the area around me is literally alive--like it's after me or something. I can't really explain it, but it is terrifying. I know deep down that there is nothing to be afraid of, but I can't control my actions or feelings.
9. I know most people with ASD walk funny, sit on their legs, or fling their arms around. I don't really know why, but from my personal experience, I'm not really aware of my limbs. I don't feel them moving or know why I am moving them. I just don't think about them.
10. Sometimes, I actually pity you not being able to see the world in the same way as we do. We get so focused on a certain detail that catches our eye and its like our hearts drown in it. We can't focus on anything else. Every single thing has it's own unique beauty and that is a blessing that we get to have forever.

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"Making friends with nature is the most enjoyable thing. Being swallowed up into the bubbling, swaying, glowing, rustling--in that moment, I am just a speck. I forget that I am a human being. I forget that I have special needs. I will always cherish that part of me that calls nature my friend."

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More than half of children diagnosed with autism acquire language that can be used for communication.

Naoki prefers symbols over verbal communication. He uses alphabet grids.

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"I used to be afraid that having autism and never being cured would make me unable to be a human being."

"We are handed a ray of hope if you can accept the truth you have just read about this disorder. No matter how hard a life with autism, no matter how sad we can become, as long as there is hope, we can stick at it."

"What I want is for our futures to be connected--for all of humanity to stand together as one."