What it is like

Imagine you are in a restaurant with a group of friends.  You are shown to your table and the waiter hands you the menu and takes your drink order. A little while later he is back to ask what food you would like, and later still your starter arrives.  There is pleasant music playing in the background and the company, food and conversation is good.  For me, this would be an ideal evening out.

Or . . .

Same restaurant, same friends, same food same music.
You walk in and there are a hundred strange faces, all talking at once and you can hear every word.  The lights are too bright and someone is too close to you, invading your space, taking your coat.  Your coat.  Is he stealing it?  Why is no one else bothered?  You cant ask any of your friends because of the music it is so loud.  And all the people in the restaurant are talking and talking . . .

You are told where to sit and you wanted to choose.  Then you are given a menu but expected to know what you want to drink before you have a proper chance to look at it.  How does everyone else know what they want already?  And how can they even concentrate on the menu with so much noise?  And  that woman over there has a sparkly dress on and ooh look at his tie . . .

You stare blankly at the waiter so you don't end up with a drink.  All your friends are chatting away so you do what you can to concentrate on the menu so you at least get something to eat, until one of your friends mentions to you that the man on the next table is staring at you tapping your fingers in a 'unique' way.

There is too much choice how does anybody choose?  You notice with relief that the dishes are numbered, so you add together all the numbers in your date of birth (19) and have number 19.

The waiter comes back and before he has a chance to speak you shout 19! You are pleased that in spite of everything you will be fed this evening!  The waiter gives you an odd look but you don't notice because you are so pleased that some food will be coming and that bit is over so you are off in your own world . . .

But the food comes and it is all mixed together and the plate is the wrong colour so you don't eat it.  You would have pudding but to go through all the choosing again is too much and there is too much noise, too much to see.

You never go to a restaurant.


My six year old daughter has Asperger's syndrome and this is how she feels.  How she would feel without someone with her who understands.

So please, please anyone who comes into contact with her at school remember this restaurant scenario.  Imagine how she feels in a classroom of 30 children, all talking, all moving constantly.  The walls are full of posters and bright colours and every resource is available when ever you want it.  She hears and sees everything all at once and it is too much and the only way to block it out is to see and hear nothing.

Thank you for reading.