http://readerswithautism.com/2010/08/humor-and-the-child-with-autism/
By Richard Finegan
Anyone who spends much time living or working with children with autism will have experienced their quirky senses of humor. Others may be surprised to discover that a child with a flat affect and monotonous speaking voice can be intentionally funny. And appreciate humor for humor’s sake.
An example:
Summer school, an art project–students are stenciling each letter of their first names on separate squares of paper, then using colored pencils to ornament each letter. Stars, squiggles, stripes, polka dots, a beach scene–whatever strikes their fancy. The squares will be placed on the wall showing each kid’s personalized signature.
Midway through this project, which took part of three days, the teacher had an idea: “You know, we can take the letters and make them look like an animal, like A for Alligator.” Then he holds up the letter from his own name that he happens to be working on at the moment…an N.
One, two, three seconds elapse.
“…or Nalligator!” he says. We all laugh, sitting around the table together.
Alejandro (not his real name) sits quietly for perhaps 30 seconds, then smiles and says in a voice louder than normal:
“Nunafish!“ Students, staff, we all crack up. But Alejandro is on a roll…
“Nooster,” he adds, still grinning, and finally…
“Nabbit!”
Enough said?
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[...] If someone tells you kids with autism don’t have a typical sense of humor, check this link about Alejandro. [...]