Autistic Daily

Donna Williams, host of Oddpod, had the chance to sit down with Asperger’s expert Tony Attwood for an hour long podcast.

Here are a few clips from the interview where Tony discusses the problems that occur when a neurotypical partner might feel abandoned in a relationship with an Asperger. Tony suggests that NT partners might benefit from changing their beliefs that their partner is responsible for all their social pleasures.

“And so, with a couple, I’m very concerned that anyone would make the suggestion that that those with Asperger Syndrome are by nature then unable to have good relationships with their partner or be good parents. I mean, that’s a terrible insult to those with Asperger’s because some of my friends and people that I know with Asperger’s Syndrome, I know that they are very good parents, they are exceptionally good parents, and they can be exceptionally good partners. So having Asperger’s Syndrome means that there are certain interpersonal confusing areas and difficulties, but they’re not insurmountable, and you can work on those.”

“It’s a problem of…A difficult relationship may make one or both partners depressed. But that’s a typical phenomenon. I don’t think it necessarily needs a specific label that is exclusive to those with ASD.”

“It’s putting a lot of responsibility onto one person, who then becomes confused over, “What does my partner expect me to be? She’s expecting me to be someone that I find very difficult to be and is artificial.” So, if the person wants a greater social life, etc., well, they get a social life, but [go to a?] party on your own.”

Read the entire transcript of the interview or listen to the podcast at oddpod.donnawilliams.net.

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