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Journey through Life The experiences of a techie aspie

Journey through Life The experiences of a techie aspie. Scott M. Robertson. E-mail : smrobert@andrew.cmu.edu AIM : hppalm. About Me. Currently : master’s student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh Studying human computer interaction

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Journey through Life The experiences of a techie aspie

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  1. Journey through LifeThe experiences of a techie aspie Scott M. Robertson E-mail: smrobert@andrew.cmu.edu AIM: hppalm

  2. About Me • Currently: master’s student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh • Studying human computer interaction • HCI is a multidisciplinary computer science-related field concerned about designing computing systems to support human needs and usability issues • Upcoming: starting a Ph.D. program at Penn State in late August • Will study information science and technology • Will be doing research on educational technology for students with learning disabilities/special needs and assistive technology for people w/ disabilities in general • AIM: to become a college professor

  3. CMU Photo by Sebastian Stueker

  4. Penn State Provided by psu.edu

  5. Family • 2 siblings • Older brother (Jeff)=web page developer at ABC News Online in NYC • Older sister (Lori)=special education teacher at school for students with learning disabilities (Lab School) in Washington, D.C. • Parents run small engineering business that manufactures heaters for machines (ex. cooking) • Parents have 2 yr old poodle called Sam • Named after Uncle Sam since we got him in November of ’01 2 months after Sept. 11 • He’s the greatest when I do get to see him

  6. Pets make good friends

  7. Growing Up • Grew up in Wayne, NJ • town of about 55,000 ppl. in northern part of state • my family’s house is in a private lake community called Pines Lake • Born in Chilton hospital in Pequannock (where Derek Jeter was born) Photo by Lynn Brescia

  8. Early years • Did not talk much until age 3 ½-4. Then came out in full sentences • Very delayed motor skills • Did not walk until age 2 ½ • Did not enjoy interacting w/ ppl. • Did not make eye contact • Did not like to smile or pose for pictures • Hated haircuts

  9. Elementary School • Mainstreamed in elementary school • Labeled as neurologically impaired • Not diagnosed w/ autism, so they used this label • Received pullout services for OT, PT, speech, & resource/skills room • Did well academically but had few friends • One best friend named Ziggy • We still keep in touch Provided by wayneschools.com

  10. Middle School: The Evil Empire • Sixth grade at the local middle school was uncomfortable • Got all A’s in classes but picked on & teased constantly • Stopped liking school & became very unhappy • Parents didn’t know what to do

  11. Private School Helps • My parents enrolled me in a private school called Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, NJ for 7th grade • 30-minute drive meant about a 45 mins-1hr. bus trip each way every day • Still had trouble making friends but teasing largely stopped and I liked school again

  12. MBS Provided by Morris County Online

  13. MBS (Cont.) • I spent 6 years at MBS (7th thru 12th) • Co-editor-in-chief of yearbook senior yr. • Ironically named “most shyest” as the editor • French: • 5 years of French mostly because of flair for writing and grammar • Exchange trip junior yr • 3 weeks in France w/ a host family & then hosted my exchange student • Inducted into French Natl. Honors Society • Inducted into Cum Laude Society junior yr.

  14. Special Interests->Jobs • My special interest is computers • I’ve been messing around w/ computers and software since my Grandpa took me under his wing when I was 8 • Earth science teacher in H.S. taught CS1 jr. yr. • Fostered my love for programming software • Went on to also take CS2 senior yr. • Chose to major in computer science in college

  15. RPI: A good fit • College advisor in H.S. suggested RPI as a good fit for me • RPI=Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY • Has good LD services • Good engineering & computer science programs • Applied early decision to RPI in October • Accepted in December

  16. Bump in the Road • In the summer of ’99 my mom sent to RPI’s LD services office the IQ test I had taken to get the SATs w/ extra time • Was not classified as LD at MBS, so needed this for documentation • The LD services director believed I would flunk out first semester • My IQ tests much lower than my real intelligence • My mom cried at the news • I had nowhere else to go since I had been accepted early decision

  17. Bump in the Road (Cont.) • My mom convinced the LD services director that I could make it through • I got straight As through my first year & ½ • In fact I received As in all but one class during my time at RPI (I got a B in Modules of Computation)

  18. RPI: My Home for 4 yrs Photo by Dustin Kirk Photo by Scott Robertson

  19. The Little Professor Syndrome • While taking class called Minds & machines freshman yr, read a book called Mindblindness by Dr. Simon Baren-Cohen of Cambridge • Research for a paper on the book led me to realize I had Asperger’s Syndrome • Explained so much in my life • Others out there just like me

  20. Clubs for spare time • In beginning of sophomore yr. I joined student newspaper (The Polytechnic) as a staff writer for news section • News coordinator for most of semester & then an editor thereafter • 2 semesters: Associate News Editor • 2 semesters: Features Editor • last semester: Contributing Editor (third in charge)

  21. The Poly • The Poly become second home of sorts • I had office keys so I could study there and come & go as I pleased • Made many good friends • Interviewed 100s ppl. for stories • Administrators, staff, coaches, students, local citizens • Good for developing better sense of ppl’s viewpoints

  22. Graduation (May ’03) • Worried about tripping at commencement but did just fine • Graduated Summa Cum Laude (3.96 GPA) w/ B.S. in computer science & minor in human factors psychology • Faculty procession gave me congratulations as they left since most knew me from Poly interviews • Sad to leave RPI but needed to move on

  23. HCI program • HCI program focuses on group work • Very difficult because requires complex social & communication skills • Exponentially harder than one-on-one interaction • I see it as a challenge to improve on my social skills • Done well so far in master’s program

  24. My Teaching • Autistic Support Class: • On Fridays I teach at an autistic support class at Langley H.S. in Pittsburgh • We discuss social skills and work on activities of interest to them (ex. photography) • Summer Computing Workshop: • I’m a staff instructor at the computing workshop at Carnegie Mellon for young students with cognitive disabilities • I teach computing and writing skills to the students • Kids are really great at both & fun to work with

  25. College Students w/ ASDs • Achieving in Higher Education w/ Autism & Developmental Disabilities (AHEADD) is a new initiative to provide non-academic supports for students w/ AS/HFA at universities & colleges in Pittsburgh • We have a grant from the Pennsylvania State Dept. of Education • CMU will provide meeting space • We will start assisting students in September • I hope to promote the model nationwide

  26. Contact Me • E-mail: smrobert@andrew.cmu.edu • AOL IM: hppalm • Cell: (973) 464-6315

  27. Questions?

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