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Through the glass wall

Travis Breeding writes to bring down misconceptions about Asperger’s Syndrome

By Jim Mount

Fort Wayne Reader

2010-02-04

Imagine yourself in a bubble as the world passes by, seeing a world that you are both a part of and separate from. You want to reach out and touch that world but every time you try your hand meets the cold, clear glass that marks your isolation.

This is the world of Travis Breeding but he's found a way to get through that cold, clear glass.

He writes.

Breeding has Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of Autism that is likened to “Invisible Autism.” Breeding describes it as a “neurological disorder where people who have Asperger’s have trouble functioning in social situations, they don't have understanding of the social norms, the unwritten rules that you just know but people who have Autism don't.”

According to the National Autistic Society, people with Aspergers have difficulty relating to others in three main areas; Social communication, interaction and imagination and this is often referred to as the “Triad of Impairments.” To what degree these impairments affect people with Aspergers vary from individual to individual but they all have the same effect of inhibiting social relations and compromise efforts of people with Aspergers to both communicate and understand social messages.

Meeting Travis Breeding, you wouldn't think that he struggles with this disability; in fact you would probably see a college kid making his way in the world, and that perception would be half-right. Travis Breeding is also a soon-to-be-published author on a mission to educate the public about Autism/Asperger’s.

“It's a little different,” Breeding says of growing up having Aspergers, “I could tell that there was something preventing me from having normal friendships and normal interactions with kids my age. It's like I was always on the outside looking in. I could see what was going on but I didn't know how to have that interaction with people. I was looking at life through a bubble and always trying to pop that bubble but I never could.”

At twenty-four years old, Breeding was only diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome two years ago. This new awareness of himself has put him on a mission that he has only recently begun by writing a book, Living Without Knowing Who You Are, an autobiography of his life living with Asperger’s. Breeding says it goes into production in March and should be out by December from Tate Publishing. “It's basically my life story about being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of twenty-two,” Breeding says of his book. “My goal is to educate people and teach the general public about what Autism is and how to better interact with people who have Autism and to have a better understanding of the condition. It wasn't until last year when I started thinking about writing my story and I wrote it over the course of three or four months. ”

Breeding, aside from breaking into the field of professional writing, is also a full time Communications major at IPFW and does various speaking engagements relating his own experiences growing up with Aspergers. With the chief characteristic of the disability being the social isolation, it's a wonder that Breeding can bring himself to the podium, but he does it. “It's kind of intimidating but something that needs to be done.” Breeding says of the public speaking. “When I'm doing public speaking I know that I'm speaking to people who know Autism so that makes it more comfortable. I also apply the concept of not worrying about what other people think, I just work at keeping the confidence up in myself.”

With one book on the way, Breeding looks to be continuing on his career path with a second book in the conceptualization stage. “I'm getting ready to start a second book called “The Reality of Living in Two Worlds”, Breeding says, “It's a book that will go into greater detail about the differences of people with Autism and how they deal with rejection from the outside world.

“People with Autism tend to imagine and create make-believe worlds because of their isolation from the outside world.” Breeding continues. “Their struggle to balance these two worlds is pretty much what the next book is about.”

Dealing with rejection is something that Breeding hopes to empower those who struggle with Asbergers/Autism. “The important thing for people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome is to be okay with who they are, to accept themselves and that's a challenge due to the fact that they can get rejected a lot by peer groups.”

Speaking from his own experiences, Breeding says self-awareness is the key. “Now in my life, I've pretty much become aware of what's going on, I know I have Autism, that's the situation I have to deal with and I'm okay with it. I'm pretty much able to live a normal life.”

In spite of a obstacle that can be incredibly debilitating, Breeding has found a way to cope with Aspergers and refuses to let the condition hinder or dampen his aspirations. With a Facebook page, speaking engagements and his first book set to go into print in March, Breeding has hopes for the future, establishing a career, getting married, having kids and just living a normal life.
“My main goal is to teach the world about Autism,” Breeding says, “and perhaps someday produce a movie or a musical about Aspergers/Autism.”

With the pen as his hammer and the power of imagination, Travis Breeding writes to bring the walls of isolation surrounding Aspergers and Autism crashing down.

For more on Breeding, visit: www.travisbreeding.webs.com