Growing up without an autism diagnosis was challenging. Luckily, I could use video games to relate to my neurotypical primary school mates.
I used Pokémon, Spyro and Crash Bandicoot to socialise with my mates, being one of the guys. Life was fun until I moved from Lithgow in NSW to the Blue Mountains.
My games were no longer cool, and I was bullied for my differences and individuality. My Catholic teachers said, “love one another as God has loved you," but love can’t block a punch. In my depressed and anxious state, I turned to video games.
Starting with Jak and Daxter, I discovered an escape from the depressive world of school, into the vibrant and luscious atmosphere of this game. As I played, life became brighter as these two buddies showed me how people really should socialise. As the bullying got worse, so did Jak’s story in the game’s sequel.
At school, my only friends joined the cool group, and that group regularly tormented me for my social quirks. One student ordered me over to him, before pretending to come onto me sexually. I had another kid cyberbully me while I tried to play an online game. My birthdays were worse. Only one or two people would come, and I just felt more hurt. At least I could always relate back to Jak and his wily mate, Daxter.
When I discovered how much the kids in the cool group hated me, my depression became despair. Around this point in time I received my autism diagnosis. At the same time, Jak was cured of his dark poisons by the magic of light eco (imagine the Force from Star Wars, but they are tiny clouds).
With the help of my parents, my therapist and my video games, my confidence slowly started to return. I graduated and started TAFE. Autism mentor and genius, Berinda Karp, got me my first gig advocating for autism. In my first speech for these transitioning young adults, I knew exactly how to get to them. One mention of Pokémon and everyone was excited!
Dr Anthony Warren liked how passionate I was about advocating and hired me. Dr Tom Tutton saw my passion and skills for engagement/talking, so together we set up a mentoring program with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect). The end goal, to help autistic people learn social skills by using video games. I’ve helped plenty of teenagers and adults, and we are now looking for new mentees.
Aspect Western Sydney heard about my work and asked if I could mentor students in a Blue Mountains school. It was the very school I was bullied at.
My anxiety attacks returned, but I realised something. There was a video game I was afraid of, Abe’s Oddysee. I had played Abe’s Oddysee once when I was younger and back then my autistic mind had blurred reality with fantasy.
“FREEZE,” the ‘slig’ screamed, before shooting me. I screamed, running out the front door.
Now, years later I entered that world again, this time using mindfulness and the coping strategies I had taught myself and my mentees to overcome my fears.
Eventually, I finished the game and thought it was brilliant. Abe’s Oddysee’s tale spoke of how over consumption and corruption can damage our environment. Playing the sequel, I discovered its message of addiction, and how community can overcome that struggle.
Returning to the school, I saw students who were just like me, but there was something different. By playing video games, they formed their own community. Being a teacher’s aide for two years, I’ve seen them go from fighting each other, to becoming friends and developing skills.
Whenever new matters, like mental health, autism, or even video games, arise in a community, they receive a negative reception for being against the norm. Game series like Overwatch, Pokémon and Tell Tale Games (Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy) celebrate diversity, but we are far from achieving ‘Neurodiversity’ in games.
As I write my book ‘Aspie Discovery’ I wrap up each chapter with coping-strategy based advice. By using video game analogies, neurotypical and atypical people can understand how to handle bullies, anxiety attacks and time management.
When we get multiple positive representations of mentally different people, the world becomes more neurodiverse. All stories are relatable though. So if you see someone playing a game, ask yourself, what does this game mean to them?
