John Elder Robison

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John Elder Robison
John Robison, individual with Asperger syndrome, autism activist, May 2011.jpg
Robison in May 2011
Born (1957-08-13) August 13, 1957 (age 66)
Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation Memoirist
NationalityAmerican
Period2007–present
Subject Memoir, autism
Notable works Look Me in the Eye (2007), Be Different (2011), Switched On (2016)
Children1
Relatives Augusten Burroughs (brother)
Website
jerobison.blogspot.com

John Elder Robison (born August 13, 1957) [1] is the American author of the 2007 memoir Look Me in the Eye , detailing his life with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome and savant abilities, and of three other books. Robison wrote his first book at age 49.

Contents

Early life

Robison was born in Athens, Georgia, while his parents were attending the University of Georgia. He is the son of poet Margaret Robison (1935–2015) and John G. Robison (1935–2005), former head of the philosophy department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. [2] During his adolescence, Robison suffered abuse from his father and mother. Robison later dropped out of high school. [3]

Personal life

He married three times [4] and has one son. [5]

He is the elder brother of memoirist Augusten Burroughs, who also wrote about his childhood in the memoir Running with Scissors . [6]

He was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at age 40. [7]

In 2011, Robison was featured on an episode of Ingenious Minds , which discussed some of the transcranial magnetic stimulation experiments he underwent to improve his social cognition. [8]

Career

Robison has had several careers. In the 1970s, he worked as an engineer in the music business where he is best known for creating the signature special effects guitars played by the band KISS. In the 1980s, Robison worked for electronics manufacturers Milton Bradley Company (electronic games), Simplex (fire alarms and building control), and ISOREG (power conditioning systems). Robison wrote his first book at age 49. [9]

Books

In Look Me in the Eye, Robison describes growing up with no diagnosis of his autism, but aware that he was different, and how he was first diagnosed by a therapist friend when he was 40 years old. After writing that book, Robison became active in the planning of autism research and in autism advocacy. [2]

Robison is also the author of Be Different (2011), a how-to guide for grown-ups with autism; Raising Cubby (2013), the story of raising his autistic son; [10] and Switched On (2016), which tells the story of his participation as a research subject in brain studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. [11]

Automobiles

Robison runs a successful car specialty shop. [9] He is the founder of J.E. Robison Service Co., Inc. in Springfield, Mass. Robison Service is an authorized Bosch Car Service Center that specializes in high-end European automobile service and restoration. Robison Service is also part of the Springfield Automotive Complex, which is also home to the TCS Auto Program, a licensed special education high school that teaches life skills in the context of a working commercial auto complex. The school is a partnership of Robison and Tri County Schools, a part of Northeast Center for Youth and Families of Easthampton, Mass. [12]

Advocacy

Robison is active in the autism rights movement. He volunteered at Autism Speaks as a member of their treatment and advisory boards, saying that he was interested in helping remediate the disabling aspects of autism. He resigned in 2013 following an op-ed released by Suzanne Wright, a co-founder of Autism Speaks. Robison and other members of the autism community criticized Wright for proclaiming that families affected by autism lived in "despair" and in "fear of the future". [13] [14] Robison has said that "disabilities are problems, but that doesn't mean that autism is a problem." [15]

Since 2012, Robison has been the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Robison is also co-chair of the campus neurodiversity committee, which is housed in the president's office of diversity. Robison co-teaches neurodiversity courses at the Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. campuses. [16]

Since 2012, Robison has served as a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The committee is responsible for producing the Strategic Plan for Autism for the federal government, and the Annual Summary of Advances in Autism Research. The committee reports to the secretary of Health and Human Services, who oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) autism programs. The committee also coordinates autism efforts with other government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Within the IACC and other government committees, Robison is known for taking the position that people with autism should have the lead voice in defining autism research goals. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asperger syndrome</span> Neurodevelopmental diagnosis now categorized under Autism Spectrum Disorder

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome, formerly described a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The syndrome has been merged with other disorders into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is no longer considered a stand-alone diagnosis. It was considered milder than other diagnoses that were merged into ASD due to relatively unimpaired spoken language and intelligence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurodiversity</span> Non-pathological explanation of variations in mental functions

Neurodiversity is a framework for understanding human brain function and mental illness. It argues that diversity in human cognition is normal and that some conditions classified as mental disorders are differences and disabilities that are not necessarily pathological.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism rights movement</span> Disability rights movement for autistic people

The autism rights movement, also known as the autistic acceptance movement, is a social movement allied with disability rights that emphasizes a neurodiversity paradigm, viewing autism as a disability with variations in the human brain rather than as a disease to be cured. The movement advocates for several goals, including greater acceptance of autistic traits and behaviors; reforms of services - i.e. services that focus on improving quality of life and well-being instead of suppression and masking of autistic traits that are adaptive or not harmful or imitations of social behaviors of neurotypical (non-autistic) peers ; the creation of social networks and events that allow autistic people to socialize on their own terms; and the recognition of the autistic community as a minority group.

High-functioning autism (HFA) was historically an autism classification where a person exhibits no intellectual disability, but may experience difficulty in communication, emotion recognition, expression, and social interaction.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrong Planet</span> Online neurodiverse community

Wrong Planet is an online community for "individuals with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences". The site was started in 2004 by Dan Grover and Alex Plank and includes a chatroom, a forum, and articles describing how to deal with daily issues. Wrong Planet has been referenced by the mainstream U.S. media. Wrong Planet comes up in the special education curriculum of many universities in the United States. A page is dedicated to Wrong Planet and its founder in Exceptional Learners: Introduction to Special Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manuel Casanova</span> American professor

Manuel F. Casanova is the SmartState Endowed Chair in Childhood Neurotherapeutics and a professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. He is a former Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Outpatient Psychiatry and a Professor of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology at the University of Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Societal and cultural aspects of autism</span>

Societal and cultural aspects of autism or sociology of autism come into play with recognition of autism, approaches to its support services and therapies, and how autism affects the definition of personhood. The autistic community is divided primarily into two camps; the autism rights movement and the Pathology paradigm. The pathology paradigm advocates for supporting research into therapies, treatments, and/or a cure to help minimize or remove autistic traits, seeing treatment as vital to help individuals with autism, while the neurodiversity movement believes autism should be seen as a different way of being and advocates against a cure and interventions that focus on normalization, seeing it as trying to exterminate autistic people and their individuality. Both are controversial in autism communities and advocacy which has led to significant infighting between these two camps. While the dominant paradigm is the pathology paradigm and is followed largely by autism research and scientific communities, the neurodiversity movement is highly popular among most autistic people, within autism advocacy, autism rights organizations, and related neurodiversity approaches have been rapidly growing and applied in the autism research field in the last few years.

<i>Look Me in the Eye</i> Book by John Elder Robinson

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's is a New York Times bestselling book by John Elder Robison, chronicling the author's life with Asperger syndrome and tough times growing up.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum. ASAN advocates for the inclusion of autistic people in decisions that affect them, including: legislation, depiction in the media, and disability services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism Speaks</span> American advocacy organization

Autism Speaks Inc. is a non-profit autism awareness organization and the largest autism research organization in the United States. It sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright and his wife Suzanne, a year after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. The same year as its founding, the organization merged with Autism Coalition for Research and Education. It then merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research in 2006 and Cure Autism Now in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ari Ne'eman</span> American autism rights advocate

Ari Daniel Ne'eman is an American disability rights activist and researcher who co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in 2006. On December 16, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that Ne'eman would be appointed to the National Council on Disability. After an anonymous hold was lifted, Ne'eman was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to serve on the Council on June 22, 2010. He chaired the council's Policy & Program Evaluation Committee making him the first autistic person to serve on the council. In 2015, Ne'eman left the National Council on Disability at the end of his second term. He currently serves as a consultant to the American Civil Liberties Union. As of 2019, he also is a Ph.D. candidate in Health Policy at Harvard University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Plank</span> American actor

Alexander Plank is an American autism advocate, filmmaker and actor. He is known for founding the online community Wrong Planet, working on FX's television series The Bridge, and acting on The Good Doctor. At the age of 9, Plank was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. Plank started Wrong Planet at the age of 17 in order to find others like him on the Internet. After the popularity of Wrong Planet grew, Plank began to be frequently mentioned in the mainstream media in articles relating to autism, Asperger's, and autism rights.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) describe a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the DSM-5, used by the American Psychiatric Association. As with many neurodivergent people and conditions, the popular image of autistic people and autism itself is often based on inaccurate media representations. Additionally, media about autism may promote pseudoscience such as vaccine denial or facilitated communication.

Gunilla Gerland is a Swedish author and lecturer on the topic of autism. Her written works include Secrets to Success for Professionals in the Autism Field: An Insider's Guide to Understanding the Autism Spectrum, the Environment and Your Role and her autobiography A Real Person: Life on the Outside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Mitchell (writer)</span> American writer and blogger

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The history of autism spans over a century; autism has been subject to varying treatments, being pathologized or being viewed as a beneficial part of human neurodiversity. The understanding of autism has been shaped by cultural, scientific, and societal factors, and its perception and treatment change over time as scientific understanding of autism develops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Cook O'Toole</span> American writer

Jennifer Cook (formerly O'Toole) (born October 24, 1975) is an American author and speaker. She is known for her six Asperkids books, which have been translated into six languages and include the winner of the Autism Society of America's Book of the Year Award. Her memoir Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum is a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, a "Best Book" title winner by Publishers Weekly, and named a "Best Memoir" and one of both the "Best Autism Books of All Time" and "Best-Selling Autism Books of All Time" by BookAuthority. She is the on-camera autism expert in Netflix's series "Love on the Spectrum US."

<i>Switched On</i> (book) Book by John Elder Robison

Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Awakening is a work of nonfiction by John Elder Robison, chronicling the author's participation in a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation study along with its after effects.

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a United States federal advisory panel within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It coordinates all efforts within HHS concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

References

  1. ↑ Robison, John Elder (August 13, 2007). "It's my birthday. I'm 50 today". Look Me in the Eye. John Elder Robison. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Robison, John Elder (2007). Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's . New York City: Crown. p. 304. ISBN   978-0-7393-5768-2.
  3. ↑ Robison, John. "About John". Look Me in the Eye. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Robison, John (18 March 2016). "An Experimental Autism Treatment Cost Me My Marriage". New York Times. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. ↑ Sullivan, S.P. "Action/reaction: How Jack Robison's chemistry lab led to an indictment from the DA". masslive.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Life Matters: My Life with Asperger's: John Elder Robison". ABC.net.au. ABC Radio National. November 12, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  7. ↑ Neary, Lynn (May 25, 2011). "One Family, Three Memoirs, Many Competing Truths". NPR.org. NPR . Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ingenious Minds: John Robison". Discovery.com. Discovery Communications LLC. February 24, 2010. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Gonsalves, Susan (March 5, 2016). "Show the world we're valuable, author with Asperger's says". Telegram.com. Paul Provost. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  10. ↑ Hertzel, Laurie (March 19, 2013). "John Elder Robison's new book takes a fresh look at autism". StarTribune.com. Michael J. Klingensmith. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ Nutt, Amy Ellis (March 18, 2016). "What it's like for someone with Asperger's suddenly to connect with the world". WashingtonPost.com. Fred Ryan. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ "TCS Automotive Program". NCYF.org. Northeast Center for Youth and Families. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ Robison, John Elder (November 13, 2013). "I resign my roles at Autism Speaks". Look Me in the Eye. John Elder Robison. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  14. ↑ Diament, Michelle (November 14, 2013). "Noted Self-Advocate Cuts Ties With Autism Speaks". DisabilityScoop.com. Disability Scoop LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  15. ↑ Gwynette, Frampton (24 November 2019). "John Elder Robison: Why Autism Is Not A "Problem"". The Autism News Network. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "John Elder Robison: Scholar in Residence, Co-Chair of the Neurodiversity Working Group". WM.edu. The College of William & Mary. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Overview". IACC.hhs.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
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