As of a couple of weeks ago, Billy has developed a fascination for maps. His favorite is the map of the United States of America, and he quickly memorized all the states. The laminated map you'll see in the video above was once on the wall, but after repeatedly picking it up off the floor and rehanging it, I finally just let him keep it on the floor.
He lays on top of it, puts his eyeball practically right on top of his favorite states -- "Texas, Okla-HOHM-ah, Tennessee, and Ha-WHAH-eeeeee" -- for some reason.
Let's keep in mind that he still hasn't developed the communication skills to tell me where we ate lunch today ... at least, not yet. But he can name all 50 states and locate them on the map, which is more than I can do. (FYI, he can't read the names yet ... at least, I don't think he can.) And he's started on the countries of the globe.
Autism and memory are fascinating to me. Some kids like to memorize the names of every dinosaur known to man; others like to memorize dates or license plates or can easily memorize the TV guide, seemingly at a glance. One fascinating autistic child whose dad I've met online can tell you one what day of the week you were born instantly, just by knowing your birthdate.
Too often these remarkable talents are dismissed as "splinter skills," a somewhat pejorative term, in my opinion. Aren't all amazing talents "splinter skills?" Just because you aren't equally great at everything, that doesn't mean that the strengths and talents you have shouldn't be recognized as such.
Billy digs maps -- at least, at the moment -- as well as planets and satellites. He memorizes everything the GPS system says -- to the point we have to turn it off or drive ourselves crazy. I can imagine him in about 20 years, filling a date's ears with factoids about the Cassini-Huygens orbiter/probe. Or reciting the directions to her house like a living, breathing GPS system.
Look at it this way: At least they'll never get lost.
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Tuesday March 29 2011 05:13:10 pm
Maya
Love it! My brother memorized all the stats for every football player in the NFL as a kid. At 25 months, my son M has learned the alphabet and has spelled a few things that make my husband and I wonder if he's beginning to read. Yes, he can't communicate many things to me, but communication is communication and if right now that means the ABCs then that's amazing to us and we love it :-)
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Tuesday March 29 2011 03:43:17 am
stanly
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Friday March 18 2011 07:40:57 am
John Rambo
You American women (and all western women, white women) are mentally ill and hopeless. Have fun growing old alone with your 10 cats, losers.
Wednesday March 16 2011 03:15:00 pm
Christy@The a-word
That is really impressive! (Your son, not John-who-needs-to-get-laid. :)
Wednesday March 16 2011 12:10:59 pm
writerwoman61
I remember being fascinated with a map puzzle of the U.S. that we had when I was about 6...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to locate all the states on the map without being able to read the names! Billy's pretty impressive!
Hugs,
Wendy
He's amazing
Wednesday March 16 2011 11:46:05 am
Jennie B
Talent is talent - I don't care if you have other disabilities or not. Billy is brilliant! When my cousin, who we now know has Asperger's, was a toddler he was obsessed with certain letters and numbers. I was convinced that he would someday earn a Nobel Prize for some theory using those letters and numbers. Still am!
Yup
Saturday March 12 2011 05:41:44 pm
Big Daddy
Hello. I am commenting to you from 10 years in your future. It's pretty good here.
Griffin's map is still on his wall. He somehow messed up Lynn's birthday when we met. First time ever. I think it was all her fur and big feet that threw him off.
Total 13 comments