Using Game Thinking to View ASD with a Different Perspective

Anyone who knows me knows I love video games. As an 80s kid, I grew up in the golden age of Nintendo and Playstation. I’ve played games my whole life- The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Mario Brothers, Mega Man, etc. Some of my fondest memories are playing Zelda with my Mom, her screaming to “Get him in the butt!” (for those enemies you have to hit from behind). To this day I play games. Jenni can attest! I even keep detailed spreadsheets on some of my favorite characters and the progress I’ve made toward leveling them to their max.

Faced with the diagnosis of ASD, I can’t help but liken this new experience to that of one of my favorite games.

Ocarina of Time, released in November of 1998, is credited by many as the greatest game ever made. I was 14 when it came out, and it has left a lasting memory on me throughout my life. One of my favorite mechanics in the game is something called Hero Mode, or the Master Quest. Basically, it’s an option to make the game more difficult. Less hearts, more difficult enemies, harder puzzles. It’s much, much more difficult, but the challenge makes it that much more rewarding when you win.

Well, that’s how I’m beginning to feel about Desmond and his ASD. It by no means makes him less. In fact, I think it makes him more. Raising him will simply be more challenging, and conversely that much more rewarding an experience. The game is harder, but it’s still the same game, and every accomplishment we make along the way is that much more meaningful. When offered a choice in a game, I would never choose easy mode. The harder the challenge the better!

One example: When Desmond was a little less than a year old he began to use less eye contact with us and not respond when we called his name. At the time I didn’t notice much at all. Desmond was just being Desmond. When we started therapy though, that was one of the first things we started working on, and watching him respond to the therapies has been truly inspiring. Now he uses eye contact almost all the time when we’re playing, and he responds when I call his name 90% of the time. It’s a unique sense of pride and accomplishment now when I call Desmond and he looks up and smiles at me. I have to wonder if I would appreciate a look, a smile, or a hug as much if it didn’t come in the face of adversity.

Today Jenni and I begin ABA training at the University of Washington. I am thrilled and excited to learn all sorts of new methods for helping my little Fox Man learn and grow in his own unique way. I feel like a character in an RPG about to level up some skills to better help in the quest! Alchemy? No. Blacksmithing? No. Lockpicking? Maybe. Fathering? YES! Max out those skills, please.

Start New Game
Choose Difficulty:  easy    medium    hard    pro
Begin!