How to help a roommate with Aspergers

[NikkiDee]

Hello everyone,
I am looking for some advice and I hope that people can give me their honest feedback/insight.  I just came to realize that my roommate has Aspergers.  He didn't diclose it to me and I honestly don't think he was ever diagnoised, but his symptoms are text book.  

As far as roommates go, I can't complain too much, but my problem is that he has no common sense.  I have been constantly having to remind him to lock the front door when he leaves or goes to bed for the night; you was the dishes with hot water and soap, not a damp paper towel; you don't use spraypaint in the house; turn off the oven when you are done and pick-up after yourself!!!  I always feel like a nagging mother, but some of them are safety issues.

I don't know if I should continue to point out these things to him or should I place post-it notes all around with reminders written on them?  Any suggestions on how to help him (and me) out?

[MM]

I commend you on your paitence with this person I wish I lived with a person like yourself.  You may have to yell at him to get it through to him write it down on paper and all walk him through the process of developing "common sense"  It is a pain in the arse for us higher functioning auties/aspies as it seems to be taken away from us but if he can see the logic behind what he is doing he will probably commence to think with common sense.  I would advise you to advise him to go get himself diagnosed and to have treatment commenced.

I have driven several of my room mates insane in the past and its a horrible process and very painful.  Alcoholism did not help neither.

[Aspergers Girl]

Hmm I can be like that sometimes.

I guess you could try the notes, and see if it works. The safety things are a huge issue. Really needs to be sorted. Does he say why he doesn't lock the door? Or is he just forgetful?

[Shiroi Tora]

I know the examples of what you had posted were just that...for the safety issues...you cannot rely on memory...you must make sure.  The lock issue can be easily solved by getting auto locks for the doors.  It would mean every time you shut the door it would lock....so then the danger would arise that he would constantly lock himself out.  The stove, if electric, can easily be solved with timer cut off.  For gas, well, the larger danger comes if the pilot light, or as in ours, the electric spark start doesn't ignite the gas on the first try....you could fill the apt. with gas...which would endanger many others through explosion besides fire.  How about having him just use the microwave until he has mastered his routine (the key to having him do things).

So far as the memory in general...I am the same way with most things.  I have a set routine and strict placement of objects that I must take with me.  By engineering my departure...planning ahead of time as to what I will need on the morrow...and placing the needed items at THE location...I make it almost impossible to forget them.  The problem comes if I get distracted from my set routine.  If I don't restart from the beginning...I run the danger of forgetting something.  Establish a sacred routine for him to follow....a path to follow to ensure all things are done....something that doesn't vary.  With this...the problem of memory is eliminated.  The problem I have with notes...I forget to look at them or update them.  I look for objects in my routine.