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I am an autistic woman who hates books!


I hate books.
I cringe just looking at them.
I won't read one unless it is a serious matter like reading the Bible, and I only do so for short bursts.
I opt for the audio version any time I can. This means there are tons of books I can't read, as there is no audio book or the audio book is very expensive as is the case on iTunes (usually $40.00 and up for 300 pages).
Reading for any length of time makes for a migraine.
I am a visual and aural learner. Words bore me silly. Black on white mush.
I won't even read a blog post past the 500th word.
I skim read after that.
I try to keep my own blog posts short and provide visual "breaks".

 How did I survive school?

 Textbooks were broken down into chapters, so there wasn't a whole lot to read for homework, which was accompanied by taking notes and/or a worksheet to fill out.

 Novels and plays were read in class. Kids took turns, myself included, reading brief passages.
If there was more book than class time, again, a couple of chapters were assigned for homework.

 There was an absolutely stressful time my sophomore year in which I had to read a very long story as a separate assignment. I obsessed about getting it finished every chance I got.

 I feared failure as that could mean getting held back. I obsessed over getting the best grade I could get, which was about a B average.

 The only time I enjoyed learning is if there was a filmstrip or video.

 I did enjoy writing and took a creative writing class. There was not much to read. The teacher didn't use a textbook. She gave oral assignments and assigned projects based on topics like, "What is your favorite band and why?"

 I tried to write a novel one summer. I couldn't manage different characters with different personalities. It was more than my brain could handle. I write best in short bursts and from my own point of view.

 I hated essay writing.
Poems, prose and later blog posts would go on to serve as an outlet for my creative brain.
I have written a PDF 29-page book combining blog posts and some biographical writing.

 I do better when I have a photo for inspiration. I write what I know and try to show rather than tell, two rules of writing I learned in creative writing class.

 I would be absolutely lost without spell check as my motor clumsiness makes for erratic typing and lots of typos.

 Some people like to write via speech using software like Dragon. I think best through my fingers. Speech isn't so easy.

 I've read lots about autistics loving to read. It is a disorder of opposites. I hate to read, but I thank God I can read.
I thank Him that I get to live in a country where every child is assured a free education. Where I can own a Bible in my home and not fear for my life.

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