By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

Before Jimmy King was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a developmental disorder on the Autism spectrum), his parents knew only that he was different from other kids.

“I was a bit shy and didn’t interact with others much,” said King. “I always had my head in a book and didn’t pick up on social or nonverbal cues.”

If King’s parents wanted him to go to his room, they would point, and he’d think, “Yeah, that’s my room,” but didn’t realize that he was actually supposed to go there.

Idioms were beyond his comprehension.

“Someone would say, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs,’ and I’d sit by the window and watch for the cats and dogs.”

When the animals failed to appear, King became very disappointed and depressed. Embarrassed, too. A small embarrassment may mean very little to most people, but it can cause someone with Asperger’s to cry uncontrollably and turn inward.

Before King was diagnosed, his parents didn’t treat him any differently than his two brothers. And that would frustrate them because of his lack of social cues.

“Looking people in the eye was always a struggle for me,” said King. “It was nerve-wracking. Talking in public was difficult; I would talk in hushed tones.”

It took a lot of work with para-educators as well as speech therapy and IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) to get him to where he is today — a confident young man who works as a dietary aide at a nursing home and who is pursuing a second career in acting.

“Once in a while, I’ll go back to being unsociable,” said King. “Mostly I’ve overcome those obstacles. I look people in the eye now, talk to people calmly. I’m a happier person. I feel like I’m just a regular person.

“But no matter how normal I might feel, Asperger’s will always be a part of me.”

Listen to King’s VOICES conversation here.

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