Just what the world needs, more loose terminology that’s subjective and inflicts subtle bias. If it’s not complicated enough with “high-functioning autism” and “low-functioning autism,” then there is the controversy of Asperger’s being a form of autism versus it not being one. Personally, I’m still divided on this part. I lean more towards believing that Asperger’s Syndrome is not a form of autism, but maybe that will change as I learn more.
Meanwhile, I’m stuck having to work with terms I don’t feel comfortable with. Until a better vocabulary structure can get established for describing autism (if it’s even possible to change thanks to how stubborn people can be, myself included), I will temporarily compromise. Hopefully others will come up with ideas on developing a proper language to replace what’s misleading people now.
Labels like ‘high-functioning and low-functioning’ have their place and purpose, but the problem is that unless a person is at the receiving end of the label, most likely s/he will be unaware of what impact it has. What happens to one person, actually affects everyone sooner or later. The whole human race is in the same boat, so when people are careless about others and don’t think about them much, then the result is chaos. It’s a dilemma because humans by nature are self-centered. That’s why this world will always have war and disease.
Back to the functionality of people . . .
Who gets to decide what level another person is placed upon in regards to fitting into this world? Can’t people see that to measure another person’s functionality is basically judging their value? How many people would not mind being referred to as being ‘low’ functioning, ‘retarded/slow learner,’ or as being a ’special needs’ person? How demeaning!
People should appreciate those who don’t conform very easily. It’s the non-conformists who provide the best displays of the Pygmalion Effect (self-fulfilling prophecy). Everyone basically lives up to what they believe about themselves, but it’s those who ’swim against the tide’ that can teach the most. They can because they’re usually the ones who don’t buy what others are selling too easily. I used to live my life totally brainwashed because of what other people had me believing about myself. I was told I’m too stupid to go to college by my high school guidance counselor. I could go on from there, but won’t. My point is that if a child believes he is ‘low’ functioning and the world reinforces that, then unless a miracle comes along to convince him otherwise, he will live that self-fulfilling prophecy out in his life. That’s the consequence everyone will then have to suffer just because some people were thoughtless, ignorant, judgmental, and probably arrogant too.
Along the same lines of misjudging, I (and some others) see what problems tests cause. Testing is okay for the most part, but they also can do a lot of damage. There are so many adults that have grown up convinced they’re less intelligent than what they are because of tests. Tests are a two-way street. Often times the creators of tests are the ones who are deficient in intellect. When that’s the case, then the ones who are made to take ‘their’ tests end up being judged wrongly and then are duped into believing what’s not true because they’re not allowed to question the questioner!
Oh yeah . . . that reminds me of something else twisted around about Asperger people. People complain because Aspies question authority. Duh . . . well what if someone sees something wrong? They’re supposed to keep quiet so they don’t cause humiliation? Forget that! I’ve had my fill of keeping quiet. If I see something wrong with the picture, I’m going to try to straighten it out on the wall. Otherwise, everyone will keep looking at a crooked image. Is it wrong to have a nature that gets disturbed over things out of alignment?
We need more of a variety of words to describe the different ways that different can mean. Either I’m too tired to think of them or maybe they don’t exist in the English language. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to re-think the impact a word can have. After all, “the pen is mightier than the sword,” right?
