The individual in my life with whom I most easily communicate is my cousin who has autism as well.
When he and I talk, conversation flows in a way I don’t experience with others. It’s a joy to talk to him, and effortless - we think in similar ways in terms of our manners of processing information, our communication styles, our curiosity, our enthusiasm, and our interest in going deep.
I am curious about whether I would have the same synchronicity with someone with autism who was not my cousin. Does the fact that he and I are so closely related mean that ‘our autisms’, so to speak, are more similar than they would be otherwise?
I should note that this is my maternal cousin, and that my mother, his aunt, is the member of my immediate family whom I believe most obviously manifests autism. She is in her early 80s and has never been assessed.
What are your thoughts about whether family members can have similar ‘autisms’?
Have you experienced this situation in your own family circle, and if so, how were your and your family member(s)’ ‘autisms’ similar?
Elizabeth
