Strictly speaking: Braintree man with Asperger's finds his voice in Quincy Toastmasters
QUINCY – Clive Wan has Asperger’s syndrome, and for those on the autism spectrum, social situations can be difficult. Typically quiet, he joined the Quincy 675 Toastmasters Club in 2016 to gain confidence when speaking.
“I don’t have a lot of social interactions,” Wan said. Yet the 34-year-old Braintree resident became president of the club, which meets at Quincy College.
Scott Sucy, of Braintree, said, “When it was time to nominate someone to be my successor as club president, I wanted to choose someone who not only would be an excellent president, but would also benefit personally from serving in that position as well.”
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The Quincy 675 Toastmasters, a chapter of the public speaking club Toastmasters International, has been helping its members improve their confidence and presentation skills for more than 70 years. Each week, members can be found sharing a night of speeches, critiques and camaraderie.
Wan has come a long way. His early talks to the club were full of statistics. While talking, he’d hold his hands clenched by his side and look up at the ceiling. Over time with positive feedback, he trained himself to make eye contact and to adopt more natural body language.
A fear of public speaking is common, whether it’s speaking in a group, making a work presentation, or leading a project. Wan's hard work won the hearts of his co-members.
Wan is a process engineer studying flow rates and pressure within industrial pipe systems. As a child he attended special education classes and transitioned into mainstream schooling. Wan has two degrees in chemical engineering: his bachelor’s from UMass-Amherst and a master’s from Cornell University.
Toastmasters teaches many ways a speaker can engage an audience. One time, Wan challenged himself to give a humorous talk. He shared how, as a child, he studied maps. It was a fascination that annoyed his mother, who saw it as a waste of time. She thought he should read books instead.
Then one day in 2017, his family flew to Seattle to visit his aunt and uncle. Driving from the Seattle airport, their GPS did not work and his family’s smartphones had run out of battery power. But Wan came to the rescue. He guided his dad to the right freeways and exits, all from memory. There was laughter when Wan ended his speech.
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“I told my mother that I guess it was good that I wasted all that time studying maps,” he said.
Wan has good spatial skills and said, "Asperger’s can be more focused on things that form a pattern. Visually, colors, shapes and patterns are easier to remember.”
Each speech is evaluated by a club member and Wan worked to incorporate the evaluator’s suggestions for natural gestures, effective pauses and a smooth flow of words.
Wan said focus is difficult.
“People with Asperger’s think too much about their surroundings. I can overthink things or hyperfocus on distractions.”
While his progress is remarkable, Wan's public speaking only takes place at his club.
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“It’s socially awkward. It’s hard to make friends. Toastmasters makes me comfortable because I have a social group to go to. I wish I could take the initiative to go out and actually talk to people rather than staying at home.”
Perhaps things are about to change. Wan's presidency ends in June and he volunteered be the new director for Toastmasters Area 64, which requires him to visit and interact with other clubs.
What advice does he have for those who would like to befriend him?
“We think in different ways," he said. "Realize what the advantages and positive qualities that people with Asperger’s bring to the table.”
For more information about Quincy 675 Toastmasters, go to quincy675.toastmastersclubs.org.
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Milton resident Suzette Martinez Standring writes Bright Side, a good news column featuring information on the South Shore and the people who live here. If you have an idea for a future column, reach her at suzmar@comcast.net. Also, visit www.readsuzette.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Braintree man with Asperger's finds his voice in Quincy Toastmasters
