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We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month.

Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label.

We
are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know
about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are —
the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope.

Today we’re talking with “excellent student” and “big history geek” Aaron

What would a one-sentence description of yourself sound like? 

A history loving autistic child.

Do you have a website? 

Yes I do. My website is called Bertram’s Blog.

What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? 

I am an excellent student and a big history geek.

Do you have any autistic superpowers? 

What are they? I think my ability to remember things history is a superpower. I remember history information, and I also remember certain events in my life.

What are some situations that make you happy, or satisfied? 

I feel happy or satisfied when I am playing Minecraft, when I realize that a got a high score on any of my work, when I have just read a book, and when I write.

What are some situations that make you sad, or anxious? 

I feel anxious when I am in a large group. I feel sad if I get a bad test score. I feel anxious when something is hard, and I might not understand it easily.

Are there specific topics you find particularly compelling? 

My areas of interest are History, writing, and reading. I am especially interested in the American Revolution. I have plenty of time to study what I want because I am homeschooled.

What are your preferred ways to be social? 

I like to play with a single person or a small group.

What traits do you prize in a friend, or companion? 

I prize being able to play with them. I prize the playing itself and not the social part.

Are there parts of your life you wish were easier? 

I wish that it was easier for me to read other people’s faces. I wish the social part of life was easier.

What’s the next big goal you have for yourself? 

My next big goals are to finish Algebra and to complete my second book. [Aaron’s mom Sarah writes: “Aaron wrote The Grand Hotel during NaNoWriMo 2011. He’s hard at work on the next installment of the series.”]

What does bliss feel like to you? 

It feels happy, sometimes quiet, and without other people.