Understanding Autistic Perception and Communication: A Unique Lens

By Aaron Freed, Behavioral Teaching Solutions

Photo by kylefromthenorth™️ on Unsplash

Human perception and memory shape how we interact with the world, but autistic perception often diverges from neurotypical norms, influencing communication in profound ways. As an autistic individual, I’ve explored these differences in my unpublished book, weaving personal experiences with insights from the film Moonlight (2016). This blog post draws from those reflections, emphasizing how shared humanity transcends differences, as captured by John Berger’s quote: “The strange power of art is that sometimes it can show that what people have in common is more urgent than what differentiates them.”

Neurotypical perception often filters sensory input linearly, prioritizing certain stimuli. In contrast, autistic perception can be holistic, processing details simultaneously, which may lead to sensory overload or unique communicative styles. For example, I connect my experiences to Moonlight’s narrative, finding universal themes of identity and belonging.

This perspective echoes Berger’s idea, a quote I rediscovered on a shirt from Pine View School’s Drama League, where I crossed paths with Moonlight producer Adele Romanski.

Reflecting on language, I find case systems like Latin’s offer clarity neurotypical communication sometimes lacks.

They force intentionality, a trait I believe society could embrace to foster better listening. By understanding autistic perception, we can bridge communication gaps, celebrating both differences and shared humanity.

References

Berger, J. (1972). Ways of seeing. Penguin Books.Choi, B. (Director). (2016). Moonlight [Film]. A24.Grandin, T. (2006). Thinking in pictures: My life with autism. Vintage Books.

Note: Excerpts from Aaron’s book are forthcoming, with personal elements adapted for clarity. For more insights, visit Aaron Freed’s website.