Autism and Creativity

       In many descriptions of ASD I hear how people on the spectrum have a hard time "thinking outside the box" and prefer sameness, routine, and repetition. In some ways it sounds more like a description of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. I'm not saying this is a lie with no elements of truth, but it doesn't mean we are boring, always stubborn, and narrow-minded. This is another example of how Autism can be a paradox. Some of the world's most creative artists have ASD and can color outside the lines just as eloquently as anyone else. Sometimes the sense of detachment can be an asset giving people freedom from social convention and the herd mentality.