Keith Newton
Keith discovered Asperger Syndrome
at the age of 36 – unwillingly at first – at the insistence
of his partner, Sarah Hendrickx. After a period of denial came acceptance
and a desire to know more: ‘it was quite possible I was weird:
I was curious’. Keith now fully accepts that Asperger Syndrome
‘fits’ his characteristics and life experiences and is glad
to know that his earlier difficulties had a reason: ‘it’s
not an excuse, but an explanation’. Keith finally decided to seek
a formal diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome at the age of 41.
Keith has spent most of his life alone, requiring a large degree of
solitude in order to maintain his successful working life. Bullied as
a child and young adult, Keith learned to avoid people, who he believed
were mainly hostile. He obtained his degree in Electroacoustics and
established himself as a Software Engineer. Outside of his work, Keith
has had virtually no social contact for most of his life, only having
his first relationship when in his 30’s.
He has recently bought a small, remote farmhouse in France, where he
plans to spend his days tinkering and growing vegetables
With his current partner, Sarah, he co-wrote 'Asperger
Syndrome - A Love Story' (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007) about
the differences in having a relationship where one partner has Asperger
Syndrome.
Keith shares his thoughts and experiences at seminars and presentations
on Asperger Syndrome and is fascinated and bewildered by the level of
interest in his experiences: ‘I’m just me’.
