Aspergers In Society - The Hidden Mental Health Crisis (Autism Documentary)

Thomas Henley is a 23-year-old Biomedical Sciences honors graduate from the University of Manchester, an autistic Commonwealth Gold Medalist in Taekwondo, and a self-taught online content creator on KZbin and Anchor.
In this documentary, Thomas explores the different views and experiences of people diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and those involved with them. From the decorated Taekwondo instructor, to an experienced special needs expert, to the autistic charity co-founder of Salford autism. Thomas intends to identify the reasons for the outstanding statistics on mental health in autistics, and find some suitable answers that may help in combatting this problem in the future.
This film is a final year science communication project, created as part of a Biomedical Sciences degree from the University Of Manchester. All individuals in the video have either given signed consent to be apart of this film or have been blurred to protect their privacy. Those consenting individuals have also signed a video release form to allow the sharing of this film on KZbin and various other social media platforms.
Any complaints, inquiries or questions about the film should be directed towards the creator's email: [e-mail]
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In the past few decades, there have been many changes to the fabric of our society that would quite honestly blow the minds of our predecessors. Medicine, psychology, technology and social change, have all been seen to by the dramatic and revolutionary minds of our time.
Autism; once thought to be a terrible affliction of the mind, has branched off into many specific and very different classifications. Asperger's Syndrome, a so-called 'high functioning' diagnosis, has been refined and redefined over the years... but what do autistic people actually feel about the crossover between the medical textbooks and their real-life experiences?
We have a problem. The statistics around the mental health and quality of life experienced by individuals with autism are severely underappreciated. There is a wealth of information and statistical analyses out there that show just how tragic a diagnosis of autism can actually be... but don't be fooled, this is may not be the result of inherent differences in biology and neurocircuitry.
The word 'autism' comes with many prejudgements and expectations that are almost automatically retrieved from our brains when we hear it. Disabled, strange, vulnerable, the weird kid; these are all common things that many people would associate with the condition. Many people on the autistic spectrum do not believe they are disabled, many would never choose to be any other way. Autism is generally seen to be a list of sensory, behavioral and social difficulties, but it is also associated with a whole host of intellectual gifts, positive personality traits, and talents.
Bullying, alienation, severe mental health disorders, unemployment, lack of support, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and acts.
These may just be simple words on a page, but one only has to do a quick internet search to find evidence for just a few of these unpleasant realities. The terrible truth is that assuming autism is 'BAD' thing, may be hiding the very real issues that lie below the surface. These issues lay silently in the dark, afflicting thousands of individuals both young and old without any discrimination, but the label.
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Support via Patreon! - / aspergersgrowth
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[@ThomasHenley]

Thank you so much for everyone who tuned in to the Live Stream, I’m so grateful to have such supportive people around me... it’s made all the hardships, stress and effort worth it and I appreciate it so much! 🤩 You may have realised that I’ve released some ‘Behind The Scenes’ content with Esme Hayes... we’ve actually done a joint blog post over on the documentary website if you want to check it out! ✍️ Website - www.aspergersinsociety.com I’m going to be holding a Q&A either tonight or tomorrow over on Instagram, so make sure to listen out for more updates over on the Aspergers Growth account! 🎥

[@allenspearing9143]

I have Asperger's Syndrome. I all I want is to be by myself. I don't like to be with other people

[@tomsale5142]

Same here but I have fybromyalgia from it

[@user-xv8ic4vc3r]

Same here 😊.

[@tomsale5142]

@@user-xv8ic4vc3r seams it gives us this after a stressor I've had CFS before fybromyalgia years are you hypermobile? Have you tryed ADHD meds apparently they help awaiting to try due to short age Kate diagnosed do you have pain everyday?

[@tdc3298]

Same

[@tomsale5142]

​@@tdc3298big links I've found one today autism causes mcas in us especially with heds do you have heds

[@DGDDice]

I think the most frustrating thing for me when it comes to having aspergers is that my little brother who has severe autism. you can easily tell he has it and society gives him the support he needs because there's no dispute he's on the spectrum but for me unless I outright told someone of my diagnosis you wouldn't know I had it. especially with my parents they sometimes forget I have aspergers and think I'm being a brat when I experience a sensory overload compared to my brother who would have their full understanding and sympathy. i don't know if I'm making much sense where I'm not too great at communicating my thoughts too well but that's definatley one of the things I've found hard with aspergers that people think I have it easier than my brother just because I'm not as far on the spectrum as him.

[@Coneman3]

I’m an INFJ and definitely somewhere on the spectrum. Because none of this is recognised as a disorder, we just suffer in silence. Most ‘normal’ people just live their lives oblivious.

[@brianmeen2158]

@@Coneman3 I’m In the same spot .. INFJ and on the spectrum . It’s had a pretty pronounced negative effects on many aspects of my life. I can work and “get by” though and by all appearances I’m a normal funny guy. It’s all exhausting though and tends to be stressful - I don’t enjoy life . No cure will be found in my lifetime

[@Coneman3]

I’m 54 and writing a book largely about being an INFJ. But it goes deep into INFJ plight and how important the type is. I think you’d really like reading it. I have a strong intuition it is going to make some waves in the community. It’s an important message I’m trying to communicate.

[@DGDDice]

@@Coneman3 well I wish you luck with the book. I'm an INTJ as far as I know when I've taken tests for it.

[@Coneman3]

Thanks. Big difference between INFJ and INTJ. INFJ are softer and friendlier. INTJ more driven and less constrained by feelings. INTJ quicker at logic but INFJ go deeper over time.

[@mariekatherine5238]

I got diagnosed at age 60 with asd, in the US, Aitism Spectrum Disorder. I’ve was always considered socially weird and stuck up because I got excellent grades. Many people in school and work think I’m stuck up. I’m not stuck up. I hate changes in routine and get very anxious over things normies don’t give a thought. In grammar school kids made fun of me because I was afraid to answer the phone. I didn’t like using it, either. I usually played by myself at recess. I didn’t understand the point of games like kickball, or four square. I’ve had no success at forming long term relationships outside of my immediate family. I’ve never feel like I fit in, and that’s because I don’t fit in.

[@Coneman3]

Check your MBTI. I’m an INFJ and struggled in many ways.

[@whaleblue7497]

You've described my experience with 99% of all people including my so-called birth family. Do you need friends?

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

Welcome to the club, as my autism diagnosis specialist said. it was 2022. I was 57. More or less explained everything that's good about me, and bad about my life. The social blindness and the difficulties that causes. Fix THAT, and our lives become more manageable. Isolation is a 100% effective solution, but comes at a high cost for autistic people like me who like people. It was quite a brutal ride until my autism was recognized and I could start supporting it. Very brutal.

[@maulanwong3841]

I have aspergers and whenever I’m at a place with a lot of people I get overstimulated and close my eyes and covers my ears. Autism is too much for lots of people to handle sometimes

[@ThomasHenley]

I agree yeah the sensory aspects can be difficult, for me it very much depends on my mood that day. Noise cancelling headphones, tinted glasses and clothing adjustments have always helped immensely 😊

[@maulanwong3841]

@@ThomasHenley even if the noises are quiet they can still be overwhelming

[@Naturegirl1976]

I had a severe case of childhood autism and now as an autistic adult I have found that spending alot of time alone to talk my problems out with myself seems to calm me down. But our uncaring society seems to make fun of me. Right now I'm starting to show signs of suicidal thoughts and feelings of wanting to end my life to escape the pain and depression I feel. I'm too afraid to tell my friends and family as I know that they don't care.

[@gdogg3710]

Diagnosed at 36 after a life time of suffering. Waiting to be assessed for ADHD too. Ex drug addict and heavy drinker. Obsessive anxiety and depression from childhood. IQ of 137 aged 7. But stupid about the most basic things. I’ve got better at socialising with age to the point that I can appear normal for extended periods. Eye contact is still difficult if I forget. I find often myself feeling like I have nothing in common with others though. I do live a rigid lifestyle, but mainly because I find thinking of other stuff to do gives me a headache, rather than being unable to change when I have to…

[@danielwilliamson6180]

I have Asperger syndrome. I've struggled to control all these years. It frustrates me and it make my life difficult. Sometimes I wish I never had it.

[@rowenawilson2323]

I feel the same sometimes

[@deborah2945]

I've always been drawn to people with autism. I think it's the lack of needing to put on a front, and being able to be direct without the worry of it being interpreted for anything other than what it is. It's refreshing and society could do with being a little more autistic in that sense! I've tried to incorporate some lessons I've learned from this into my own life.. e.g. I consciously will not act on the cues and hints people give me that they are annoyed about something I'm doing... if they won't say it to my face then they will have to suffer through it, because I want them to be able to tell me, and if it was really that big a problem they should learn to speak up!

[@allenspearing9143]

Because of this strange mental disorder, I have the ability to understand complex science. Albert Einstein had this. I understand his theory of time dilation. If a space ship were to travel eighty percent the speed of light for four years, outside the space ship four years would have gone by, but inside the space ship only 15 months would have gone by. Of course it could a trickery of the math I'm using

[@williamoarlock8634]

Only when they're bourgeois and female.

[@catherinecarter8987]

Speaking up works both ways really. I have often 'not spoken up and shut up' in the workplace because I feared further bullying and my bosses did nothing about it except segregate me into isolation. I felt victimised, and in fact I was. I did not know I was on the autism spectrum at that time. Oh, and my gp put me on antidepressants which was absolutely of no use to me at all in that situation.

[@hufficag]

Things are the way things are, let's all discuss openly and agree on how they are. Those non-autistic people just love to make things complicated so they can gain power.

[@Westly.3]

I am 39 and autistic I know these difficulties well, but I have embraced being myself now, not hiding or pretending to meet others expectations anymore. I am me and society needs to understand I will not change to conform to what they want, so my theory is why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary. I like who I am, if someone said there was a cure for autism I would refuse it because it would mean cancelling out me. Yeah I had found life a struggle when I didn’t know I was autistic but it just makes so much sense now and I have embraced my good qualities and passions in life, I just hope others can finally see the real me and be kind and supportive.

[@kayjay-kreations]

I fly so far under the radar I sometimes just want to "go away"

[@lizichell2]

Why do I keep watching documentaries that give me more anxiety

[@rowenawilson2323]

This is really interesting. I have Asperger's. But I don't think it bothers me only in social situations and I don't have many friends. I find it quite lonely at times.

[@antinatalist9995]

No matter how much I have observed others and tried to copy them, I have always been rejected by neurotypicals: bullied in school, uni and the neighbourhood, criticised by teachers and breeders for not being accepted by peers- 'you're not this enough, you're not that enough, you're too this, you're too that aka you're not neurotypical enough'. Have been prevented from taking up university offers and jobs, by occupational health physicians. No matter how hard I work and how good I am at jobs, I get criticised for not being good at boring, pointless small talk in the staffroom, struggling to adapt to last minute changes and coming across as aloof. Not being able to predict the response of neurotypical people is very anxiety inducing. If only more neurotypicals were as tolerant of difference as Peter, society might not be so disabling.

[@diogovieira5563]

Those people saying they like beeing asperguer must be ALL generation z. Things erre rougue in 2000s and before

[@tomchamberlain4329]

"I've never met an autistic person who would steal....." Hmmmm, I'm autistic and trust me, as a kid I would steal, fight, despite being violently bullied and abused at school and among peers, I would still join in with the abuse of others partly as a form of self defence and partly because that behaviour was/is so embedded and accepted in the culture I grew up in. I'm 42, diagnosed at 37, no idea autism even existed in childhood, just always knew I had to mask and hide myself. This included joining in with abusive and cruel behaviour sadly. Only really heard about autism in my 20s and it took a while for the penny to drop. The 90s was a pretty violent time for a kid to grow up compared to today, I think. If I'd been diagnosed, or if public knowledge of autism had been widespread back then, I think I would have been even more abused and even more inclined to retaliate.

[@carielchizzlecoil]

dito.

[@carielchizzlecoil]

I find the question "What is your autism"? or "What do you need"? Always very difficultto answer. Because its not something I can explain in a few sentences, it's complex and depends on situations and how I feel on a certain day. So mostly I resort to mentioning my sensitivity to sound, preparing for (mutual) misunderstandings, difficulty in telephoning (preferance for written, video or in person communication) and ask for patience, trust and understanding. When I am given more room to explain, I might add that it is important to listen to me if I ask for something I need (because I will REALLY need it) and to not push my boundaries whenever I indicate them and give me space. That I can do most things anyone can, but it will cost me more energy. So one might see my autism partly as energy-issue. It feels very unsatisfactory and unhelpfull because it is all so vague. Specially because I am *so* grateful when someone asks these questions! Can you neuro typical people work with the above? Or .. what do YOU need from me to help me?

[@riverdonoghue9992]

The taekwondo coach seems very open minded and really forward thinking. We need more people like him.

[@carielchizzlecoil]

Yes, but one thing that really bugged me was how he keeps talking about "learning difficulties". Does that mean he sees autistic people as people with mainly leanring difficulties? Or does he equate us with people with learning disabilities? I'm VERY good at theoretical learning, so the opposite of what is normally referred to as "learning disability". I would have severe difficulty mastering taekwondo *moves*, in that view ...

[@andrewdavies7523]

They tell me that my childhood is in the top ten percent of most horrific childhoods. I have never been properly diagnosed and or treated. I am taking Methylphenidate again I stopped talking it my doctor did not believe in it. With the new DSM-5 he now has no choice. I grew up in a extremely dysfunctional family my father was an alcoholic. He was a Sociopath An overt narcissist and lived inside his head . My mother was a covert narcissist who engaged in gossiping and lying about me and my life. The police surrounded my school when I was 11yrs old they completely locked it down and removed the staff and escorted them to the gymnasium and put a guard on every door. They did this because it is not legal for the police to speak with a minor without their parents present. They wanted to speak to me about one of the most horrific individuals of their careers. They could not have this conversation with me as long as my parents are present. It did not happen to me it happened to them. The police told me that they took this horrific individual to the 49th parallel and the American authorities assured them that this individual is never going to see daylight again ever. He is locked down in a basement for horrific individuals . It is not possible for him to escape ever . The only way he will leave this prison is in a canvas bag. They were trying to make me feel safe. I was numb emotionally I was a flatliner. I was in my 30tys when I began to know who I am. My life was about survival and thinking about me was not going to keep me alive. I needed to know what you are thinking to survive. I was never properly diagnosed and or treated nether were my parents. I am the poster child for an individual who has a severe disability that was never properly diagnosed and or treated . The result is that today I have many health issues that are a direct result of being autistic but never diagnosed or treated. I am the exact literal definition of what is developmentally delayed . Today my health issues can each be explained in intimate detail as to why . Basically it has to do with the negativity that your life is. I was expected to live like a normal person and I am not normal and never was not even today . I was a severely abused child and my high tolerance to pain was attributed to being an abused child. I was a tough guy who would never let you know that I am hurting. My world is The world where big fish eat little fish . When I was speaking to people who are Asperger’s they warned me about sensory deprivation disorder ( SDD ) they told me that I could have a severe health issue and I will not be taken seriously because I am not exhibiting pain like a normal person. When I was 17yrs old I complained continuously about sinus infection . They never did anything except give me antibiotics for witch I have a prescription on the ready for when I asked for it . They even put The diagnosis of sinusitis in my medical file. In 2006 I was fraged in the face I was sent to a surgeon to remove this metallic object from my face. The day I went to get the order for a CT scan l said to him that I believe that I have a sinus infection he looked and told me that I was imagining things go for your CT scan . The next morning at 08:00 I was called by my surgeons receptionist who told me to get here as fast as you can . The surgeon could not get that holly crap look off his face. He told me that I have the worst sinus infection he’s ever seen . He was asking me why I was not screaming at the top of my lungs ?? He told me that he can not explain how I am functioning. I reminded him of all the times for over three decades I complained about sinus infections and was never taken seriously and now I get shot in the face before you Discovered what I always said was wrong. They were no longer interested in the shrapnel in my face. It blew out of my nose six years later. I was 47yrs old when they discovered what they should have already known. I am sixty years old today and I am still dealing with this infection in fact they are going to pull all of my teeth out because the jawbone has deteriorated and is no longer around my teeth 🦷. They are worried that I will bite down and my teeth will Pierce out of my lower gums . They believe that this will be the last thing to do that will end the now Sinus disease . I was never properly diagnosed and or treated . If I was diagnosed as autistic when they were shoving me through school to get rid of me. They would have considered Sensory deprivation disorder as a factor and not have written me off as an abused child. I am sixty years old and I am Asperger’s as well I am ADHD and I have dyslexia I as well have many related disorders regarding having severe disabilities that were never properly diagnosed and or treated My point is simply that if you have autism and you are not properly diagnose you will suffer even worse health issues that becomes the focus of your health issues. The health professionals who are trying to stop the symptoms of an even bigger problem. My parents are people who have a severe disability and were never properly diagnosed and or treated. They had children for which one of them was a person who has a severe disability that was never properly diagnosed and or treated. What teachers did to me as a child today they would be put in prison for it . On top of a severely dysfunctional family as a result of parents who were abused growing up and they were never properly diagnosed and or treated for severe disability’s . With me the cycle of abuse ends because of what I did for myself growing up. I was always looking for the reason why????? I did this my whole life. I know what was not even possible for my parents to know. Don’t settle for what you are told when it does not help you. I have been looking my whole life for what I know today. And it all makes perfect sense. I can even profile my parents without a problem in fact it all makes perfect sense. I know about my parents what they do not know about themselves. Do not go through life and not be fighting for your survival. Do not believe them when they make no sense at all . Keep looking and that alone will give you hope of something better. I know and have always known that I am different from other peoples. That is only a bad thing when you are shunned by others.

[@ThomasHenley]

Thank you for that David, it was very honest and raw. I don’t think I could do your story any justice with my reply, but just know I’ve read it all and my heart goes out to you. Stories such as your own are why I set out to do the work I set my mind to... I just hope that things will change in the future. It’s absolutely horrific how you’ve been treated, in fact it’s aweful. Would you ever consider coming onto my podcast to talk about your experiences? Sometimes being open on a public platform can change a lot minds and contribute to preventing this kind of stuff in the future.

[@andrewdavies7523]

Aspergers Growth I am thinking it scares the hell out of me . But if I can hook up again with the gang maybe we can all talk of the way it was??? Yes my life was horrific from a very young age and from a very young I have been helping people who have had a similar horrific life. I live in a place that has a lot of resources. I bring people to those resources . Think of me as an alcoholics anonymous sponsor . I bring you too where you need to be if you are having issues regarding your psychologist I encourage people to tell their psychologist it’s no big deal it is a part of the process. They are used to this . Most people would just stop going and when asked why they answer I did not think they were helping me. And they stop I keep them in the game. Most people who have been abused long term are most likely numb .

[@roberttornay4677]

Nice job! We need more of these, where our voices are heard and not just the NT-s narratives. ( please adjust the settings so adding subtitle/translation will be possible ) Thanks again for the work you put in to make this video. ( A young at heart Aspie in his 50's)

[@ameena6485]

+

[@KeepWalkingNeverStop]

I am not autistic, but have worked with people who are on the spectrum. The two areas I have seen autistic conditions affect work most is in creativity and rigidity. It's consistently been VERY challenging to work with people on the spectrum because of their rigidity and inflexibility in thought, especially in work environments that promote flexibility in thought and expect it from me and the rest. The autistic person is an outlier in this regard; they stand out and not for the right reasons. I am curious to learn more about the reasons behind this rigidity in thought. Is it a sense of superiority? Is it a lack of empathy? While I have at times been very frustrated with people on the spectrum because of this, I come from a good place and I am trying to understand them better to find ways to work with them. But it always comes down to me being the one having to constantly adapt to them and find workarounds because of their rigidity, all the while they feel like immovable mountains who leave no room for negotiation sometimes. This leads me to feel constantly exhausted having to work with them, and if I adapt the same attitude that they have, then we argue and no work gets done because no one is willing to back down. Help me out here because I'm losing my patience and so are some of my other colleagues.

[@strictnonconformist7369]

Autistic here. You complain about the rigid thinking of autistics at work, and… you completely failed to start to describe what you mean by that. That won’t get a useful answer because you’ve said nothing that can be made sense of. Not all of us are inflexible and lacking creativity: that’s a dangerous generalization.

[@cherylyoke4872]

What I’m rigid about, gives me some comfort and reassurance in what I see as a very chaotic world. Because I see, hear, and feel so many things, it is calming to just get hyper focused on something and tune out the rest of the world.

[@kelliecroft4841]

I think what Tom has done here is amazing , it opens door to discuss further issues in communities for those on the spectrum not receiving inclusion or support that they are entitled too, this impacts on the Mental Health of people that do not perhaps have a big enough voice, its vital to advocate for minority groups, highlight the issues and tackle them head on , by creating a documentary such as this , which is honest and shows exactly how people living this feels, opens question and discussion in communities , are we flexible enough,? are we kind enough?are we aware enough? one thing i have learned as an Autism Parent myself is , people will sit very comfortably in a belief over truth , if that truth makes them uncomfortable, it boils down to equality and fair treatment . I feel the documentary was carefully put together, it was sensitive, it was honest, it gives a good insight into lives of people living with Aspergers the stereotypes they face and gives a true picture of the impact on the Mental Health of people living in the community with little to no support, who require the world to be more flexible and kinder, and makes you think about how small those changes would need to be to start the ball rolling , and how big the impact would be . It would be great to see more documentaries such as this with a big impact to make people stop and think to encourage the change that is needed . well done Tom kellie Barker (director at Born Anxious) and Autism Parent

[@emmagifford9417]

When I was at primary school my verbal responses were slow and often I wouldn't respond. They made me have a hearing test but suprise suprise my hearing was fine! 😑😅

[@gavinwaterman5456]

I'm currently in the process of illistrating my AS and have drafted up the equilivant of three books and working on the forth. Hopefully I'm going to try and change the system of how Aspergers is taught in schools from my own accounts throughout life. This documentary has opened opportunities to enter the market.

[@SpicyConstellation]

Thank you for this. I have watched it several times. I am self identified ASD & ADHD (inatentive) in mid life, . Thanks to my own research in reading about eleven books on the topic Still waiting for a clinical diagnosis when it's affordable and my circumstances allow it. I have to say your videos are an amazing help during my (and many others of us) anxieties in daily life. There are so many of us adults isolated and using social media to feel the sense of not being alone, it helps ground us and gives us time out Thank you.

[@sdrawkcabUK]

Have you tried getting it one NHS? Waiting lists are loooong, but private ASD diagnoses are very expensive (£600-700 minimum).

[@AMIRAH360]

Thank you so much for making this. We need more awareness about Autism and Aspergers.

[@osaniss]

I hate being autistic. I get sad alot because of this shit. Idk what to do with my life, i get hopeless

[@sbsman4998]

Enjoyed your excellent movie Tom, my two cents if may sir, maybe too tame. People might understand Autism better if seen thru pained eyes from alienated friendships/family, lost opportunities confusions, medical involvements. Liked your idea on elderly Autistics, finding how they survived with daily, immensely difficult adaptations to society's demands, their healing techniques, show this turmoil with humor, pathos.

[@delphoeneevenhuis5199]

Tolerance only ever seems to go 1 way in a social situation, that's 1 of my myriad reasons to avoid them! Having said that, making other people uncomfortable does matter. That's why we used to teach children their manners, though apparently that's child abuse now!🙄

[@ThomasHenley]

Hey guys, I have some important news to share with you, it's both exciting and disappointing at the same time. I've been wrestling with the idea for a few days now! Recently, I've been in contact with the University Of Manchester Media Relations team and they've informed me that they will help support the documentary with a BIG media campaign... however I've also been advised to hold off on the release of the documentary until further notice if the campaign is to work properly. I realise that many of you may be looking forward to viewing the documentary tomorrow and it really saddens me to hold back on its release at such short notice. I think following the advice of the media team is the best thing to do in this situation as it has the documentary will have the opportunity to be covered on some major media networks and stations. For those of you who are Patrons on my Patreon page, I have released the documentary on my Facebook group for the time being. I appreciate you all so very dearly and I couldn't ask for a better set of followers if I tried. I'm sorry to disappoint you at this instance, my goal is to raise awareness of these issues and hopefully have a positive influence on the world for autistic people. Personally, I feel like this opportunity comes once in a lifetime and this decision may affect the future of this channel at the least, and the future of the world at the most. I can't express enough how AMAZED I am with the positive response to my documentary teaser! I'm excited to see how far we can take this documentary, and I'm hoping that this will be the start of an important change in our society. Specialised mental health support for autistic people, policy changes in workplaces/schools, and sufficient education on autism at a young age could all be possible with YOUR HELP! Hundreds and hundreds of hours of my own time have gone into perfecting this film and making use of limited resources available to me. It's been a long process of learning, frustration, and late nights, but I can't tell you how good it feels to finally get this important story out in the public eye. Thank you for supporting my work, make sure to follow my social media for more info (@aspergersgrowth) and I look forward to sharing my documentary with you all! 🙏🙏🙏

[@steeneugenpoulsen8174]

The mature man interview gives me the creeps, because I was hoping my views was wrong, so hearing someone else echoing my internal thoughts out loud makes me concerned that I'm actually right and the world just suck, because it is full of normal people. It is the women liberation, gay rights, trans rights, jews rights all over again, autistic people might have to fight for there right to exist like those other groups has done and sadly most has failed, so unless someone find the fountain of youth like 10 years ago, I'm never going to see a better world.

[@partialwonder1311]

Sums it up wonderfully. You could replace most of the nonsense 'information' out there with documentaries like this one.

[@ThomasHenley]

💙💙💙

[@garyfrancis5015]

People ask me for years. What do people say when I say I had aspergers? My answer is I never just bring it up in conversation with the general public. If the family bring it up and say it about me then I can't control that. But I never away from you tube open up before the DSM5 change and say in introduction I have aspergers. So now with Hans Aspergers rescearch it's not much different. I keep it a secret I don't want the label, if others I see mild autism as it is now in me then that is humiliating especially when I'm masking so well. So it now just being autism it's another thing I just hide from most people away from online. Even on KZbin I just watch videos at first and not comment. So now it's me staying in autism closet rather than a aspergers closet as it was.

[@RoamWrite]

A lot of work went into this and it shows. Great vid mate 👍

[@robotictony3385]

Looking forward to this

[@rachh52]

I found the link to this on the Run Wild Manchester page. Honestly, I was just happy seeing the word Asperger’s in the title. I’ve rarely seen the experience of those with Asperger’s or mild autism diagnosis talked about instead of those on the more severe end of the spectrum. Not that they don’t need the understanding and awareness, it was just nice to feel seen. I think this is a good video for people who may not understand the subject (Or just don’t know that much about it) as it does bring up things that just aren’t usually talked about. For example, late diagnosis, masking (and it being more prominent in girls), the lack of support for adults on the spectrum and especially that people with autism can be empathic and affectionate. So often I see the stereotype of people on the spectrum that are aloof, don’t care, or don’t know how to love, and though other people’s emotions can be a minefield, a lack of empathy and feeling has never been my experience. So yeah. I’m glad that I got to watch something that mentions all of these things that have been part of my life as a female diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at 19. As well as experiences and opinions of both neurotypical people and people on the autism spectrum. Thank you.

[@ReiverBlue1971]

I can recommend a couple of channels that talk from our point of view at that, from my perspective, have offered some serious insights into why I feel like I do and that others also feel the same way. (IndieAndy, Connor Ward and Kevin Chapman (the chap of a family including Andy, a 15 year old lad with medium dependency autism) very much worth watching!). I'm also happy to discuss exploring autism and it's "wondrous variety" so give me a shout if you need to ;)

[@IndieAndy]

Hi Tom, this was really really great stuff! It was nice to see people just sharing their thoughts and experiences. I really liked Peter's input and fully agreed that if people were more tolerant then the issues we as autistics face would be less. This must have taken you hours upon hours to do so all I can really is that you so be really proud of yourself 😊

[@ThomasHenley]

I'm glad you liked it Andy! Yeah, it took me over 300 hours in total to get it to this standard, the equipment available to me was very minimal... I'm glad the hard work paid off though 😅

[@zenmodeplease]

This was so well compiled and touches on so many points- Thank you for sharing.

[@gavinredeemed3519]

An amazing video. Thanks so much for this..

[@jonbowzy511]

this was awesome and very informative. be good to have more in depth videos like this. any chance of a part 2?

[@FindingYourSerenity]

Been waiting for this since the trailer and it did not disappoint! Loved the people you interviewed and listening to their views.

[@ThomasHenley]

Thank you so much for watching it! 😊

[@user-qp1jh5vm8m]

Hello

[@jonbowzy511]

hi I really enjoyed the video too I'm an aspie and my obsession is learning about it. I must have spend years researching it and still enjoy it.

[@michellehenley5587]

This was amazing Tom you have worked so hard and I am very proud of you

[@susannastephens1177]

⁸⁸iui

[@lizgreen487]

This is brilliant and as a neurotypical thingy whatsit, its also really informative for me about a subject of which I'm really ignorant. Thanks for making it and thanks for sharing it.

[@katietri5234]

Love this really interesting and we'll put together. Brill.

[@Jedindy]

Thank you for making this!

[@ThomasHenley]

No worries, thanks for watching! 😁

[@Melissa0774]

As an American, I often wonder if British people even realize how much more enlightened about autism they are, than Americans, especially when it comes to the high functioning end of the spectrum. Their general awareness of autism and attitude about it is light years ahead of where it is in the United States. And I don't think they even realize or appreciate that. The guy towards the end of this video mentioned the fact that his organization helps surgeons and engineers who are autistic. I've often wondered if there are British people with an ASD, who would either not get diagnosed with anything if they'd been in the U.S, or would've been diagnosed with a garden variety mental illness instead. Are the diagnostic standards just that different between countries, or is it a matter of better acceptance or public awareness? Here in the U.S, people would have a much harder time believing that someone like a surgeon or even an engineer could actually be autistic. Only the lower functioning people really receive much attention and even the awareness and understanding for them is way less than it should be. I think what we desperately need in America, is for there to be a prominent celebrity that lots of people really like, to come out as autistic. And it really would be like a coming out too, because people with mental illnesses and disorders like autism, especially if they managed to build a successful career without people knowing, have to keep it a secret, similar to a gay person in the 50's. Here, as soon as people know you have a disorder like that, you face that kind of prejudice and discrimination. I wish there'd be a prominent American celebrity with autism, who would make a documentary showing the whole process when they got diagnosed and then they'd travel to the U.K and see some experts over there and talk about the cultural differences in how both countries deal with it. The documentary should also talk about how people with autistic spectrum disorders were unintentionally portrayed in American movies and TV shows in the days before it was a known thing. We need a celebrity to do for autism, what Oprah Winfrey did for the issue of childhood sex abuse.

[@teemadarif8243]

Thank you very much for presenting this 💖🌈🌻

[@charimonfanboy]

great video as always mate

[@ThomasHenley]

Thannnnkk youuuu 😁

[@chantelcuddemi7646]

As a neurotypical, I find this documentary very informative!

[@cherylbell8875]

Very good. Thank you.

[@ThomasHenley]

No, thank you Cheryl!

[@Katehughz]

Great job buddy ❤️

[@ThomasHenley]

Thank you sis 🥰

[@cherylyoke4872]

Being in team sports was difficult for me. I did better in balance beam, roller skating, ice skating, and dancing.

[@user-jb6hn1db8x]

Team sports were always a torment and PE teachers always seemed to be sadistic. They were just a forum for licensed bullying. The only thing I liked was cross-country running.

[@manmythmothman]

Very much enjoyed watching this. A great educational piece.

[@matthewanthonydecurtis3242]

I have Asperger’s and I’m also severely Autistic.

[@TheWilliamHoganExperience]

Welcome to the club, as my autism diagnosis specialist said. it was 2022. I was 57. More or less explained everything that's good about me, and bad about my life. The social blindness and the difficulties that causes. Fix THAT, and our lives become more manageable. Isolation is a 100% effective solution, but comes at a high cost for autistic people like me who like people. It was quite a brutal ride until my autism was recognized and I could start supporting it. Very brutal. Know yourself. Accept and love your autism, and don't let anyone near you who doesn't accept and support you for who you are. Go ahead - use the gift of "rigid thinking" (stubbornness) to assert your humanity. Make a rule about who's allowed into your circle of trust... You're autistic. There's not much to lose socially, lol.... You might even make a friend. It happens =)

[@kutay8421]

Why don't us all, move to a quiet city and be happy ever after ? I seriously question that. Dom't mind the religion, language, we are mostly not interested in material gain, nor into dramatic and excessive love affairs. So why not all ASD's gather somewhere on the globe ?

[@jonnybingham1]

Autism is not a learning disability. It seems that Rick Simpson did not understand that. No disrespect but the presenter of the programme has better communication skills than the coach who doesn't have autism.

[@jonbowzy511]

2:52 good description of aspergers

[@andreawisner7358]

The echoing made the tkd teacher hard to hear.

[@44bthknuckles]

yess change all

[@sheryl3274]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@earlofwickshire5416]

Message from the States to my fellow Aspies in the UK: "aaaaooouuugghhh!"

[@cherylyoke4872]

Yes, cut us a little slack…

[@thijsjong]

There is no answer on to why autism is on the rise. I dont believe it is just more autistics being found that were always present but not found 10 20 30 years ago. I think it are multiple things. Being born of older parents. So more mutations of genes. Less variaety of gut bacteria. This has been going down for decenia. One of my own speculations is that microoplastics may have a role. I am diagnosed at 34 y o. I am 52 now. If the portion of the population of autistics keeps rising the drawbacks for society can increase exponentailly. Autistics come with out of the box thinking and ingenuity. There exists an optimal mix of run of the mill people and eccentrics. It is overshooting the optimal ratio.

[@catherinecarter8987]

Social.

[@boywithadolphin]

Why are all these videos calling aspergers a disorder? It is a gift, so called normal people seem to have a problem

[@ThomasHenley]

Couldn’t agree more! However, this is a science media project so I had to use the medical terminology 😊

[@antinatalist9995]

@@ThomasHenley Do a social science media project next time, then you can critique the medical model of disability 🙂

[@marklewis7968]

Taekwondo Guy " I don't think having autism is a disability in life " Please Edit this out as he has no clue about what he is talking about, and its a major insult to people with a ASD, as most took years to accept their disability ...

[@delsingray5923]

Its only a disability in life because of the discrimination. So having it in of its self isn't. And yes I know it's a disability, because people are assholes to us, not because I accepted my disability (which it's not. It's a neurological biological genetic difference) The "disability" you're referring to is just being different. People will always pick on those who are different.

[@peterwallis4288]

He is just trying to be nice, about a topic he really does not understand. It annoys me when people who should know better say that. There is no need to edit it out.

[@Freedom2FlyDrones]

@3:45 "Do you like being autistic?" How can that be answered? Autistic people have no point of reference that was not autistic to compare being autistic too. How would typical people like me asking how they like being normal? Without any other existence, you can not answer properly. You will always get a biased answer framed in the existence they have. Poorly framed question. I'm autistic and I don't think the question brought anything to the video.

[@davef2975]

I must disagree with the emphasis that sports improves social skills of people on the spectrum. With ASD being a spectrum, Aspergers has a wide variety of traits that may or may not present in an individual. One possible trait of Aspergers is the difficulty in hand/eye coordination. Also, you are presuming that interacting in sports automatically "trains" an Autistic person how to interpret people, events, and interactions. I can personally attest, after much confusion, physical injury, and awkward interaction, I was just as confused with the things going on around me as when I was not injected in to a sport activity. Indeed, sports may be a bridge for some, but it is torture for many. Your quest took but a single step, and a small one. You interviewed those on the spectrum and those who worked worked with those on the spectrum. You did not explore the public at large who routinely are not aware they are (or may) be interacting with someone on the spectrum. To that point, I find your title misleading, you have not explored societal perceptions, only those who are knowingly exposed and interacting. To fully answer your own question, you need to look past the generality and look at the stigma of the term "Autism." Your challenge is complicated due to the constant changing diagnostic interpretation and the multi-generational evolution the public perception has (their "mental picture"). Ask "what is an Autistic Person" to those who are 10,20, 30, 40,. etc. and let them speak of what they know. I think you will find the older the person you ask, the more derogatory the perception becomes. At some point you will find the term Autism is immediately associated with mental and physical "inability." in my opinion, there will never fully be acceptance of "Autism." The only resolve is to banish the term, much as many other labels have been banished because of a long history of negative association and connotation.

[@alistairreed3514]

the guys in Woking, they're ok

[@user-ht9fr6eh9u]

Why put that type writer sound in???? Eurrrrrrghhhhhh

[@ThomasHenley]

I’ve received a lot of positive responses to the typewriter... plus I like it 😜

[@debbinator8642]

Using the term Aspergers Syndrome is truly tonedeaf. Noone on this prodiction did any reserarch, I assume.

[@no-ic5gw]

I tend to agree. The term was used in Germany to mean "autistic, but not enough to kill." It has some supremacist undertones for sure. I highly doubt it's meant with that intent directly, but I do think these little things shape our perspectives. It shouldn't be used anymore

[@Vixinaful]

I can tell you why theyre lonely. Noone wants anything to do with them bc theyre extremely verbaly abusive.

[@Vixinaful]

@@Earthian000 From 1977-2023 I have known around perhaps 350 of them or more, I didnt count, its been so many years and I was raised around them and had friend that had it and then partners aswell. Its super common in my country. Why do yo uask?