Gorham native, Charlie Remy (Cheverus ’03), an Electronic Resources Librarian/Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is dedicated to spreading information and dispelling myths about Asperger’s syndrome, a neurological disorder on the autism spectrum. Remy was formally diagnosed when he was 23 while attending graduate school at Simmons College in Boston where, in 2010, he earned a MS degree in Library and Information Science. Remy, like all those on the spectrum, is so much more than his Asperger’s diagnosis: he is smart, generous and kind, hard-working and very brave.
According to experts in the field, Asperger’s Syndrome is one of the most misunderstood developmental disorders on the autism spectrum and is fraught with stereotypes and prejudices. Remy believes that it is important to confront these myths head on. To that end, he has presented at conferences, taken part in panel discussions, and written about autism and libraries.
Photo courtesy of C. RemyAccording to Remy, “Autism is a neurological difference that should be embraced. It is not a cruel disease in need of a cure.” Asperger’s Syndrome is a unique way of seeing the world that comes with its own set of strengths. Indeed, people with Asperger’s tend to have unique abilities including impressive attention to detail, a strong work ethic, excellent verbal skills and high intelligence. Most children with Asperger’s grow up to be highly functioning adults who are capable of leading independent lives. Remy said, “The reality is that each person with autism has different strengths and challenges – when you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
Asperger’s can also present challenges. Typically, children struggle in social situations, and may be more comfortable relating with adults than with peers. They have difficulties expressing emotion and reading non-verbal social cues such as facial expressions or body language. This makes every personal interaction stressful. Making friends can be daunting and they may be targeted by bullies.
Some researchers have found that rather than feeling too little, children with Asperger’s actually feel too much.
They are hypersensitive to new feelings and experiences so they can easily feel overwhelmed, causing them to withdraw or have meltdowns. Children with Asperger’s may focus obsessively on a specific, and often unusual, topic. They may also have difficulties with fine and gross motor activities.
Remy’s advice to parents, teachers, family and friends is that they “… balance empathy and understanding while also challenging individuals on the spectrum to get out of their comfort zone. This is where growth occurs and, although it can be painful and difficult at times, it’s beneficial.” He encourages parents to embrace their child’s obsessive special interests, as in most cases, this energy and passion can be channeled into something very beneficial to society.
Remy has always loved libraries which influenced his choice of a profession. “My parents exposed me to the richness that libraries offer starting as a young child attending story hour at Baxter Memorial Library. I’m so thankful for my parents who instilled the value of lifelong learning and libraries at such an early age,” he said. As a young boy, a patient librarian taught him how to use the Internet at Scarborough Library. His positive experiences continued through his undergrad program at Elon University (North Carolina), where he graduated in 2007 with a BA in Spanish and Gender Studies. During that time, he attended a month-long program in Santiago de Compostela, Spain and also studied for a year at Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile.
As the Electronic Resources and Serials Librarian/Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Remy is in charge of all aspects of E-resources (ebooks/e- journals/streaming video and audio, etc.) which make up the bulk of the acquisitions budget for the University library. He said, “This subfield of librarianship is constantly changing with new business models, content/formats, technology, and standards emerging. I enjoy facilitating our users’ access to scholarly content.” Remy has faculty status and has been on the tenure track for the last six years. He has submitted his tenure and promotion dossier and is awaiting the final decision in the next few months.
Remy has been fortunate to have had several mentors who have guided him. He has fond memories of Donna Anderson, a special education teacher at Gorham Middle School, who was a positive role model for him as a teenager. Remy said, “She was kind, hardworking, ethical, intellectually curious, and a world traveler. She was a tireless advocate for students with different kinds of disabilities during her 30+ year career in the Gorham schools.”
Remy lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he owns a home in a location that affords him a nice balance between urban amenities and the natural beauty that surrounds the area. Thanks to a municipally-owned electric company that provides fiber optic internet throughout its service area, Chattanooga has some of the highest internet speeds in North America, starting at 100 mbps and going up to 10 gigabits per second.
In his free time, he likes taking long walks/hikes, speaking Spanish, and keeping informed about current events. He enjoys domestic and international travel and sitting on his front porch when the weather’s nice. He can be reached at remycharlie@gmail.com.
He is the son of George and Heidi Remy.