'Through Our Eyes: Living with Asperger's' (Documentary)

Three young adults with Asperger's Syndrome (now Autism Spectrum Disorder) share their stories to show life from their perspective. They discuss their everyday experiences and difficulties they face, and their hopes for the future. The film was produced by Alyssa Huber, a filmmaker and autism self-advocate who also has Asperger’s.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:39 Main Asperger's Symptoms
03:54 Sensory Issues
06:55 Social Issues
12:15 Emotions
16:05 Coping with Asperger's
17:30 Thinking Patterns
19:43 Imagination
22:22 Gaining Independence
25:33 Careers and College
27:01 Asperger's Strength
28:55 Advice for Aspies
30:26 Credits

I loved this project so much, but the tough part was that I was still in college. I cannot work or do any extracurricular activities while I'm in school due to my Asperger's, and yet I chose to produce an entire film on my own on top of my normal workload. That'd be tough for a normal person! I worked very hard through the murky waters of anxiety, depression, and perfectionism (that comes with my AS) to complete it, but I'm glad I did.

I wanted to help others understand Asperger's, but this project helped me, too. I learned a lot from it, and it gave me a reason to stay motivated in spite of my difficulties. Life is tough when you feel different and isolated, but filmmaking gives me a way to stay connected with the world. Plus, I love every aspect of making films, so I had fun with it!

NOTE: While Asperger's Syndrome is no longer a diagnosis in the DSM, it remains legitimate for individuals diagnosed before 2013 (including those featured in this film, which began production before 2013). Asperger's is currently associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, meaning those who meet the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's (but didn't get a diagnosis of Asperger's before 2013) would now likely be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

CREDITS SONG: "A New Year" by Blue Fox Music, previously titled "Starlight"

© 2015 Alyssa Huber Films | All rights reserved.

[Hawera]

I can't deal with rude or arrogant people but I will help anyone who is civil and polite. I feel that the rude people are the ones who have the problem, not me. Having Aspergers I get hurt easily and emotionally bruised. It's not what people say to me, it's the way they say it.

[missionpupa]

I just realized that Aspies go through so much effort for self improvement than most neurotypical people do. They want to be better.

[andrewlipp]

I am a black man with Aspergers which is now called Autism 1. I face the ailments of both and have learned from it that, the only problem is acceptance. Not my skin or my culture, not my “diagnosis, ” but the acceptance of difference.

I spend most days surrounded by people yet in solitude. A room full of people doesn’t quench that feeling of being alone.

Know this, don’t flock. Use your alone time to become who you are meant to become in the light of greatness.
Use your time to tend your life’s garden, if you use that time right, you can have beautiful growth. I am Andrew David Lipp, I call myself an Aspergian! Haha maybe we are evolution!

[steveg]

Ear plugs and headphones playing your favorite feel good music, this helps this Aspire with PTSD, super sensory overload. Neurotypicals are not necessarily normal, and that's our biggest issue interacting with them. There is nothing normal about this world, " measuring yourself in comparison to such a profoundly sick society is no measure of mental health."

[harrychurchill]

I am a 96 year old Aspie who thinks it is wonderful that we now understand and can talk about autism. In the thirties and forties I received an almost daily dose of derision and ridicule. Everyone thought that my odd behavior was my fault and that I should stop it. I could not play baseball or any other team sport like the other kids because of sensory issues. A couple of "experts" were dispatched to "find out what is wrong with this kid". Their conclusion was that I was just dumb and put me back one grade, which was exactly the wrong thing to do. They only succeeded in making me feel that I was indeed a dumb kid. Then one day a teacher took me aside and said, all the while poking me with her red fingernails for emphasis, " I think you are really bright ". That was the first time in my young life that anyone had said anything good or encouraging to me. No one but l will ever know how beautiful and wonderful those words sounded to me; to this day I still begin to tear up whenever I think about them. The system in those days was that where you sat in the classroom was determined by how well you did with tests. The smartest student sat at the very back and the pupil with the poorest results occupied a front desk. The result of those words from that beautiful woman was that I was to occupy that rear seat for the rest of my public school days and more importantly, in spite of being "different" had a successful life. It is important for adults to realize the power they have to shape the future of children.

[tinalovessparkle]

I am almost 50 and a friend with an Aspy son pointed out that I am probably Aspy too. High sensitivity (light, sound, smells, tastes, textures), hyper focus/obsession, super crazy awesome imagination, no friends because I don't care for small talk or social gossip and can't figure out why people want to hang out in packs, and the need to come home and sleep or getting a migraine after going to an office every day. Plus I do accounting for a living! OMG! To have an explanation on why I've felt like a social outcast my whole life . What a gift. Thank you for this beautiful video. Love and blessings to all of you. Mwah!

[Headsign]

"I thought I was the modern equivalent of the village idiot" touched me very deep because I realized that that's what it was for so long and that this is why I'm so engaged in getting recognized as someone with Aserger's. I'm tired of being the village idiot when in fact I just function differently than average people.

[Skippy]

Great film.

Unfortunately, I wasn't diagnosed until my early 30's. Until then I thought sensory overload and social anxiety was "normal" and that everyone else was just better at dealing with it than me. It never occurred to me that my experiences might be in some way different.

I've now learned a few coping strategies that really help (wearing sunglasses when I leave the house *really* helps with the sensory overload), but I wish I'd known about my condition sooner.
If you're a parent who thinks their child might have Asperger's, do them a favor get them tested. The sooner they learn coping strategies, the easier life will be for them.

[ghostkitti]

"I think the most important thing is that this is a person, and every person is different" so true.

[MrWeAllAreOne]

i cried all through this. 50 and only just realised why i have had trouble fitting in all these years. Sure i have coped through mimicking but i never know or read correctly if others are bored or just wanting to stop talking. I get fixated on my current interesting topic. Many people have found me interesting but find me to be way too intense. I took up rollerblading 3 yeats ago and it has consumed all my free time, a total addiction i must say. I believe I am not normal nor have I ever been. Relationships have been difficult but only now do I realise why.
This video made me cry.

[nates]

I agree with u. I feel like I'm on another planet about 80% of the time. I have high functioning autism. I get overwhelmed with people very easy. It sounds crazy.

[pn]

Sound and the cold sensation makes me feel awful. I feel them 100 times more. Also every time someone talked bad to me, i took it literally, i never thought they may be jealous or try to diminish me in order to make themselves feel better and this gave me depression because i genuinely thought they are just saying the truth, especially my family.

[micahnewman]

If you have ASD, you're doing pretty well if you have friends, period.

[jenniferaluni]

Never look down on introverted people they're the best.you're lucky if one calls you a friend.

[MissesWitch]

Worst thing about life is, Unlike school, Life is all about your likeability, Not your talents.

In Primary School, Secondary School and College I was the top student. Higher grades than everyone else.

Though, Since then, I've been unable to make a penny. I've been unsuccessful, Now Seven years have passed, Nearly Eight, And I'm still trying to find my place.

The grades have also become obsolete due to the fact that they're so outdated.

[adrianwatkins]

I'm a high-functioning aspie myself, and its really difficult connecting with people. Meeting other aspies is hard and watching your really amazing documentary makes me realise that i'm not alone, and there are people like me who function very similarly, who go through the same struggles and life experiences.

You're amazing Alyssa

[the--outlawgamer]

I am a gamer, and I am an Aspie. Thanks for producing and creating this eye-opening film. I identified with most of the traits depicted from the individuals you interviewed though everyone's autism is different. How my diagnosis plays in my development and into my adulthood is the fact that I am audio sensitive and unable to multitask when it comes to certain duties. And like most people, my K12 education was very chaotic for me that I don't even like to talk about my high school experiences, I have actually destroyed and tossed away my yearbooks because I don't want to reminisce the negative experiences I've endured. When I go to public places to socialize, like there's this place I go to sing karaoke, if I interact with someone I have not ever met, the only time I will speak to them is if they compliment about the songs I sung. But I am careful and cautious of who I interact with because they may be up to no good. As as far as my strengths are concerned, I tend to be creative and fascinated with art and music and of course video games. I can even remember 40 years ago and I'm only a young 46 yr old.

[thenobleone-]

Being Introverted doesn't mean u don't like people it means u prefer to be alone or have a small group of friends. That's how it is

[Takedownman]

From Aspie to another thank you for this!

[霧裡探花水中望月]

My parents have always been anything but supportive. They have mocked and bullied me for years, verbally attacking me for being different. I had to escape. Now that I am an adult with a family of my own, they wonder why I don't come visit them. If they can't figure out the reason by now, they never will. I now strive to be the kind of parent I never had. It's bittersweet what Asperger's can do for a person.