There is no denying that the abilities of Autistic Savants are fascinating. However, in recent years,I’ve grown more than tired of hearing about them. That’s not through any fault of the Savant themselves but because due, to their prevalence in movies and TV shows, it has become common place for people to expect ALL autistic people to have unusual abilities, like these remarkable people.
Today’s article aims to celebrate these unique members of our community so that, next time a friend, colleague or family member tells you they are autistic, you’ll know that, if they’re not on this list, then there is no need to ask them about supernatural powers.
What is Savant Syndrome?
First theorised in 1973 by Dr J Langdon Down (the same Dr Down where Down Syndrome comes from), Savant Syndrome is a condition which, for a long time, was known by the much more offensive name of ‘idiot savantism’ – thanks doc, real P.C..
Although Savant Syndrome is usually portrayed in the media by a mentally or physically disabled person demonstrating a talent which goes far beyond that of the average Joe, the true definition of a savant is actually more vague than you may think, encapsulating anyone who can do anything which doesn’t fit with what might be expected of that individual’s capability.
Despite this, Savant Syndrome has become synonymous with autism over time, due to the simple fact that over 50% of all Savants recorded are on the spectrum (that, and you know… Rain Man).
What people don’t realise though is that, just because half of Savants are autistic, that doesn’t mean that half of autists are Savants. In fact, Savants make up a minuscule amount of society and only 50% of that small segment are autistic. This makes the odds of an autist being a savant about as likely as an autist not being asked whether they are a savant at least once in our lives.
That said these wonderful people and their amazing talents are part of our autistic community and should be celebrated.
6 Astonishing Autistic Savants:
In celebration of this rare condition, here are 6 astonishing Autistic Savants from throughout history: who they are, what their ability is and what they are like as a person. This should hopefully demonstrate not only how rare Savantism is but also humanise these people who can sometimes be depicted as emotionless geniuses:
1. Kim Peek
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
Possibly the most renowned ‘autistic savant’, if you don’t know Kim Peek from his countless television appearances, you will surley know him as the inspiration for Raymond Babbitt, the savant lead character in Rain Man.
Like many Autistic Savants, Kim Peek had a below average IQ, scoring just under 90 on most tests. However, due to Peek’s missing ‘corpus callosum’ (yeah, I have no idea what that is either), Peek’s brain was capable of making connections that others could not. This, amongst many other feats, allowed Peek to read entire books in a short space of time, scanning 2 pages at a once (using each eye to focus on a page). As if that wasn’t already impressive, Peek was then capable of reciting the entire contents of a book word for word.
It’s understood that, by the end of Peek’s life, he knew the entire contents of around 12,000 books – a talent which he greatly enjoyed showing off to whoever was interested.
Although not confirmed, it has been suggested by many, that since Kim Peek’s passing in 2009, this ‘autistic savant’ may not have had autism at all, instead having FG Syndrome.
2/3. Flo and Kay Lyman
(Photo Credit: Extraordinary People)
Even for Autistic Savants Flo and Kay Lyman are unique, as not only as they are the only female autistic savant twins, but they are also the only two savant twins who present the same abilities (yes, that means there are other Savant twins out there).
Capable of recalling the exact day of any given date, Flo and Kay Lyman are classed as Calendrical Savants, a title given to those who can instantly remember details such as the weather and the events of what took place during any given day of their lives.
The abilities of the Lyman twins don’t stop there however, as both Flo and Kay are also capable of telling you the name of any artist behind any song from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s…. as well as what Dick Clark wore in any episode of the $100,000 Pyramid.
Aside from their many abilities, the twins also have a great sense of humour, something which can be seen throughout the documentary: The Rain Man Twins (God I hate that title).
4. Daniel Tammet
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
The youngest autistic savant you’ll find on this list, Daniel Tammet (age 39), has the enviable ability of being great at everything whilst simultaneously being an all-round nice guy.
Unlike most Savants, Daniel Tammet is highly self-aware, being more than capable of holding a lengthy conversation (even when in a situation which crack the most confident of us – like during his many appearances on TED Talks).
Regarding Daniel Tammet’s Savantism, Tammet has the ability to physically see numbers and answers to calculations within 5–10 seconds of being asked an equation, an extraordinary ability which is only matched by Tammet’s other talent of being able to learn languages at an outstanding pace; something which was demonstrated when Tammet taught himself Icelandic in just 7 days!
Apart from speaking 11 languages fluently, possessing a brain which makes short work of any maths question and giving talks and presentations worldwide, Tammet is also extremely charitable, as seen when he achieved the world record for the most digits of pi remembered (22,514 digits in five hours and nine minutes) to raise money for epilepsy (and I can’t even remember where I put my keys 2 minutes after entering my house!).
Tammet isn’t without his troubles though, as being autistic has caused him to be heavily dependant on his routine. As he points out, he can become massively overwhelmed and agitated if he doesn’t drink a cup of tea at the same time every day (how very British!). Although Tammet state this means he could never have a 9-5 job, I believe it’s a pretty fair trade off for the abilities he possesses.
5. Thomas Wiggans
In my opinion, the story of Thomas Wiggans is possibly the most interesting one you’ll find on this list and also the most sad. Born into slavery in 1849, Thomas Wiggans was almost killed by his owner when they realised that, due to his blindness, he could not complete the the work for which he was purchased (on a side note, this is where his nickname ‘Blind Tom’ comes from, a name I will not be using as it doesn’t quite sit right with me).
One day, whilst exploring, Wiggans started playing a piano which was located on the plantation he worked at. This is when his savant abilities began to show. Despite being mostly non-verbal, Wiggans could play great symphonies almost immediately and by the age of 3 he was being taken to preform in concerts all around America. Over time Wiggan’s musical abilities developed to the point where he could play two separate songs, on two different pianos, whilst singing a third all.
Although Wiggans took great joy in playing his music, the rest of his story is less than joyous and I won’t be going into further detail here. If you do get a spare second, I would 100% recommend researching Wiggan’s life, as his story is very interesting.
Now the subject of countless books, various TV programs and one Elton John song, Thomas Wiggans will perhaps be remembered best as the first African American to perform in the White House.
(As Thomas Wiggans lived before the concept of autism (or savantism) ever existed he does not have any official diagnosis. However, from what is known about his life posthumously, it is widely accepted that he was indeed an autistic savant.)
6. Stephen Wiltshire
(Photo Credit: ODN)
Stephan Wiltshire is a highly celebrated autistic savant who has shown incredible ability when armed with his artistic materials. Diagnosed as mute, until the age of 3, Wiltshire was drawn to art as a way to express himself when words could not.
Stephan Wiltshire has the extraordinary ability to draw a perfect representation of anything he sees from memory. This ability which gained him much notoriety In 2014, when a video featuring Wiltshire painting the Singapore landscape (after only seeing it in a helicopter for 20 minutes) went viral.
Before his popularity began to soar in 2014, Wiltshire had already developed a name for himself in the world of art, creating incredibly detailed illustrations of some of the world’s most picturesque landscapes, which he often sold to raise money for charity. This generous behaviour, along with his Savant abilities, got him quickly noticed and in 1989 Wiltshire appeared on the front cover of You magazine, standing next to Dustin Hoffman, the lead actor in Wiltshire’s favourite film: Rain Man
Carry on the Conversation.
Maybe it’s because they are the closest thing to superheroes are community gets or maybe it’s because I’m just jealous of their awesome abilities, either way I find Savants astonishing. Let me know if you would like to see a further breakdown of what a Savant is in the future by using the comments below. Alternatively, if there are any other Savants that I’ve missed today, feel free to add them in a comment below.
As always, I can be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.
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Thank you for reading and I will see you next Saturday for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
