discover the asperger advantage

Interview With Kristina's Son Darren, Age 11

What was it like to learn you had Asperger?

darren, age 11, at a campfire

"Hi, I'm Darren Wood. I'm Kristina Elaine's son. I have Asperger Syndrome. This page is about me."

It helped when I learned I had Asperger's syndrome because then I knew I wasn't just a freak or weirdo. It felt good to know why I was different. I learned I was a smart person with low social skills and can be successful. That made me feel great because I knew I could do something about it and my whole life wouldn't just be the pits!

In what ways have you changed?

My social skills have improved a lot and also my personal habits have improved a lot. That is because I've been working hard on it. My social skills have changed. I look at the person speaking and I do what people expect me to do. For example, if I want to show happiness, I smile. And if someone is lecturing and I am not happy, I don't smile. I have the ability to make friends now that I didn't used to have. Just recently I made a new friend.

How has coaching impacted your life?

darren with his sister laura

Darren with his sister Laura.

My mom, who is a coach, has helped me, and also my Mom hired a coach for me, Janet Estep, who helps me. With coaching I am able to find ways to get to my goals. If I was on my own with them, I wouldn't do them. With a coach I am able to do what I say I'm going to do. If I was on my own, I wouldn't keep myself to my goals. Coaching has changed my thinking from "I probably will do this, but actually I won't do the necessary steps," to, "I'll do every single thing it takes. I won't put my goals off until I'm older."

And now I don't have so much trouble with gremlins. Gremlins are imaginary creatures in your head. They are really just your own thoughts like "There is no answer" or "It's not possible. I can't do it." Actually, there is an answer and you can do it and often your ideas are really smart ideas. I had a gremlin I named 'Bill' and he was saying that my goals aren't possible. I have a goal to become a millionaire and buy rain forests for national parks and also to give to the poor. And I want to have "values led" businesses like Ben & Jerry's®.

How is having a coach different from having a parent or friend?

My coach helps me come up with my own answers. Other people tell me what to do and because of that, their ideas might not work for me.

What would you say to other teens with Asperger?

You can do it! You can achieve what you want in life. Asperger is a plus and also an obstacle that you can overcome. Be an engineer or accountant, or better yet, read business books to learn how to own your own business.

I recommend these books:

Also play games like Cashflow 101®.

Also get a coach!

Say more about what you like to do in life

I like playing with Lego®, building my own stuff and creating scenarios. I also really like playing strategy games. I like Monopoly®, HeroQuest®, Risk®, Young Jedi Knight. I also like electronic games and computer games that require thinking. I don't get to play computer games very often because sometimes my mom takes them away when I play them too much. I like Warcraft®. My mom doesn't like Warcraft®, but I do. I like it because I learn to think and figure out even the toughest of situations, ones that I had previously decided are impossible to win. I can beat missions that I had previously dubbed impossible. And I can use that skill in real life. If something hard comes up, I know how to stay calm and think it over and find a way.

To read Kristina's blog, which is a series of letters to Darren, click here.