Seeing the World Differently: Being a Visual Learner and Hands-On Learner with Autism

When people think about learning, they usually think about reading books or listening to someone explain something. But for me, learning has always looked a little different.

As someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I’ve realized that I’m a visual learner. That means I understand things best when I can see them. My brain processes images, scenes, and details in a way that helps me remember things clearly.

Sometimes it feels like my mind works like a movie screen. When I think about a memory, I don’t just remember the idea of it—I can almost see the moment again. I remember where I was, what things looked like, and even small details other people might not notice.

Growing up, I didn’t always realize this was a strength. In school, learning was often based on lectures or long explanations. But when teachers used pictures, demonstrations, or showed how something worked, it suddenly made a lot more sense to me.

Being a visual learner has shaped the way I experience the world. It’s one reason I enjoy writing and storytelling. When I write, I often picture the scene in my mind first, almost like I’m watching it happen.

Autism is often talked about in terms of challenges, but there are also different ways of thinking that can be powerful strengths. Visual thinking is one of them.

For many autistic people, the world isn’t just something we hear or read about—it’s something we see in vivid detail.

And sometimes, seeing the world differently can help us understand it in a deeper way.

• Daniel Gillespie 

As for me I’m more of a Hands-on learner 

Than a visual learner 

I like to work with my hands 

And be focused on certain tasks

Without any distractions 

Sometimes I can get distracted by things 

And I’m not really good at multitasking 

Or listening to two people at once 

As someone who has been diagnosed with 

ADHD as being on the spectrum 

There are certain medications 

That helps with it

And now

My focus has been getting better 

Than it was a few years ago 

As well as my mental health 

And my confidence 

And i also have some fidget toys 

If I needed something to play with 

For leisure 

For example 

When I was working at EUMA 

I was doing deliveries on the truck 

With donations from the thrift store 

Moving furniture and accessories 

and hanging up clothes 

And putting them on display 

As well as when I got back from the building 

I go back to my office 

And work on the computer doing data entry 

And sometimes I’ll vacuum the building 

Or do sum yard work outside 

With my co-workers 

While doing these tasks 

They allowed me 

To have my headphones on for music 

As long as I was able to communicate 

With my coworkers and that it wasn’t 

A distraction 

But it wasn’t a distraction 

It was more so of white noise 

Blocking the outside world 

Helping me staying focused 

While doing my tasks 

Still keeping a smile on my face 

• David Gillespie