What do we measure with IQ tests? Measuring non-autistic people by [the autistic] type of development would often find them failing miserably and appearing to be thoroughly ‘subnormal’ by ‘autistic’ standards. (Donna Williams) Before we can discuss IQ tests and the way they are used with autistic population, we have to define what intelligence is. What is intelligence? And here we have a problem: there is no single definition of intelligence that has been universally accepted

by Peter Myers Savant syndrome is the condition in which individuals with serious neurodevelopmental disabilities or other central nervous system disorders have some ‘islands of genius’ that stand in marked contrast to things they cannot do. Individuals with savant syndrome are often able to perform tasks better than ‘normal’ people. Previously, savant syndrome has been classified either as congenital or acquired (Treffert 2009). In congenital savant syndrome , the extraordin

When Wednesdays are blue, numbers are as cities, and 5 + 2 = yellow … After one of the ‘incidents’ (panic attacks), Alyosha attempted to give his explanation of what had happened: “In the shop I heard black, then the word broke down into pieces and they entered my eye. I became blind because everything was black.” At the time I was bewildered with his explanation, and placed his ‘reports’ into the category ‘confusing’. However, in 2011, I came across the account by Brian King

During a science lesson, the teacher shows a picture of a plant and explains what different parts of the plant do. ‘The root holds the plant in the soil and takes in water; the petals attract insects…’ Johnny, a boy with autism, seems to stare at her and listen to the explanations. However, his attention at the moment is directed to the play of light on the teacher’s earring; the colour changes each time the teacher moves her head. A few days after the lesson, Johnny goes for