Inklusives Interview: Autism

Autism and me - Interview with Benjamin Jan Kronberg:

Autism - there is hardly a diagnosis about which more half-knowledge is circulating. Autism in particular is often defined as a so-called "nerd syndrome" or "geek syndrome", at least since the portrayal of characters like Sheldon Cooper from the US TV series "Big Bang Theory". It is often assumed that all autistic people are particularly gifted in the scientific/technical field and have difficulties in social communication and interaction. Although some characteristics can be found in autistic people, there is no classic autistic person or certain characteristics that every autistic person meets.

We spoke to Benjamin Jan Kronberg, who first received his autism diagnosis during his studies:

What are you studying at H-BRS?

I study Mechanical Engineering Product Development in Faculty 03 (Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Technical Journalism.
What disability or chronic illness do you have?

I have Asperger's autism.

What should other people know about autism?

Autism is not a disorder, it is a way of life. Many autistic people have strengths in science and technology. Some autistic people are very good at learning languages. "Autistic people are allowed to be who they are. (Nicole Schuster, Quarks & Co | What is different about Nicole? Begegnung mit einer Autistin | Show from 04.11.08 ) Nevertheless, the environment should respond to the special needs of autistic people. Even the education in kindergarten should be different.

What does autism mean for your everyday life?

Many autistic people organise their everyday life in such a way that every day is the same. That is not the case with me.

Actually, every day is different. Asperger's is a specific form of autism. That's why sometimes it's not noticeable at all. But I do know, for example, that I can't distinguish looks and facial expressions of other people very well.

What effects does autism have on your studies?

I keep failing exams because I need more time to work on them. I am not well organised. You study for months for a module exam. This requires a lot of forward planning and you have to think intensively about what can actually be covered in the exam.

Once you fail, all your learning is for nothing and you have to start all over again. It was a little better at the Gymnasium: a bad exam only slightly reduces the overall grade.

On contrary, I don't lack discipline.

Are there also positive qualities that you associate with autism? If so - which ones?

I would say I have good analytical skills. I never had much trouble with mathematics. I have also always been able to learn languages well. I never found it difficult to sit down and learn vocabulary.

What is one prejudice about autism that you would like to clear up?

Many people think that autistic people are cool or cold. But that is only partly true.

For example, when I pursue my hobbies, I feel very alive. Autistic people can also be very sad or in a bad mood when they react to certain events.

What do you wish other people would do when dealing with autism?

At university, a module exam should be made up of several partial exams.

With a single exam, you can't see whether someone can do the topics or not.

With several partial exams, you are also not set back so far and you have the opportunity to correct deficits. If someone fails an exam, it should also be possible to get the missing points afterwards, for example by taking a re-examination.

Because with the system as it is now, there is almost nothing you can do about a failed exam. I would like all professors to make the solutions to their exercises available. In addition, the focus in the exam should not be so much on the last exercise/lecture.

Do you already know what path you would like to take after graduation?

I would like to go into aviation, the automotive industry or rail transport technology.