In Their Own Words - Technology Allows Autistic Kids to Tell About Their Experience
Naoki Higashida, a 13-year-old Japanese boy with autism, learned to express himself through writing with the
help of a computer. His book,
The Reason I Jump,
provides an amazing window into his world.
The book consists of his answers to a variety of questions which reveals his great depth of understanding
and self-awareness. For example, when he was asked “Why do you do things you should even when you’ve been told a
million times not to?” he responded
“It may look as if we’re being bad out of naughtiness, but honestly, we’re not. When we’re being told off, we feel terrible that yet again we’ve done what we’ve been told not to. But when the chance comes once more, we’ve pretty much forgotten about the last time and we just get carried away yet again. It’s as if something that isn’t us is urging us on.
You must be thinking: “Is he never going to learn?” We know we’re making you sad and upset, but it’s as if we don’t have any say in it, I’m afraid, and that’s the way it is. But please, whatever you do, don’t give up on us. We need your help.”