Living a life less ordinary with Asperger's

Loud noises and crowds can cause sensory overload and anxiety for lecturer Stuart Neilson, who has Asperger Syndrome, he tells Colette Sheridan

FOR Cork-based Stuart Neilson, restaurants and pubs are mostly out of bounds and he finds large shopping malls particularly difficult.

Such places result in sensory overload and anxiety for Neilson who was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome five years ago at the age of 46. Neilson, a mathematician, works at UCC’s adult continuing education department, lecturing on the new course in mental health and autism spectrum studies. It’s part of a disability studies course at the university which was introduced last September. There are about 130 students taking part in the course. As well as the students on campus, others take the course in Bantry and Limerick.