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?
Questioning authority certainly seems to be a trait of mine (self diagnosed asperger).
I too though in life have proven to be highly skilled, innovative, a valuable talened man, I was streamed to secondary school, I’m okay with that, yet because I’m average at maths would never be allowed to progress to professional engineer status. Our school didn’t teach to English ‘O’ level, only to CSE standard. Therefore in 1974 any sort of college education was a complete no-no. Not helped by ars*hole parents. Yet I can easily read books intended for HNC connected with manufacturing/production engineering. And I’m more talented than most people in the job. Yet I cannot work among others due to the way my brain is wired. Makes life doubly difficult.
I think I agree that perhaps asperger’s isn’t a form of autism. I think this whole “spectrum” thing has gotten nuts, becuase it’s so broad. Which is exactly why I use “high functioning autism” to describe my child. I never thought it would offend anyone, but now see how it does, but then I’m left with nothing. Yes, of course, he’s a PERSON, a CHILD, a sweet BOY, but when I’m trying to help people understand his differences, high functioning autism seems to be something they (and I) can make sense of. Perhaps I just don’t need to worry about explaining him to anyone else, but I want people to recognize the special things about him, and autism is one of those things.
Does behavior follow language or is it the other way around? If we change the language about ourselves and our children, will other people follow and celebrate the uniqueness of the person? It’s hard to say. I guess I’m sticking to HFA for now until I can figure out something better. Perhaps I just need more courage.
D
Right!!
Intersting post.
wilddaisy33,
I forgot to add that people have gotten nuts over how easily they take offense. The only reason I bring up thoughts about what might be offensive is because words can subtly steal power away from one group of people and give it to another.
I totally agree with you one that this whole “spectrum” thing has gotten nuts too. We need labels to describe what we’re talking about, but it seems that too many of the wrong people are getting to pick the vocabulary for those labels. Once something gets established, to change it is hell. My husband told me once, “Be careful what you start because that’s what will be expected of you then.”
I think too many people are into things that are none of their business.
There is something wrong with society when autistic people and/or family members of autistic people feel like they have to explain behavior. I think, “Shame on those who make others uncomfortable if they don’t explain! Who died and made them god?!”
We all need more courage, but uniting together I think will bring that much needed, long overdo courage. Behavior follows language AND language follows behavior, but only one originally leads. Maybe you’ve heard of people who do amazing things because they didn’t know they couldn’t? Words are so powerful that it makes me believe language takes behavior and puts it on a road to go in the direction the author wants. Language can’t make an autistic person into a neurotypical one, but it can make an autistic person either purposeless or a person with a purpose in life. It’s not for the world to decide what purpose someone else is here for.
I know from my own life that once demeaning words were washed out from my brain to clean up my act, it was as if I was set free out of prison because of being wrongfully condemned. If something like that can turn my life from going downhill into an upwards direction, then why not multitudes of others also?
Dearest Friend,
How did this world ever get so screwed up?! I think the wrong people get to be in charge too much! It’s unbelievable and inexcusable that someone like you, who has so much to offer, is unappreciated as much as you are! If the world insists on being so foolish, then it’s their loss!!!
Vicky,
I do consider AS as being a part of the autistic spectrum. I’m just not as convinced that AS should not have its own category separate from autism yet.
My Aspie group just discussed the idea yesterday about AS and chores. We could not figure out if it was possible to tell whether or not someone with AS might not use AS as an excuse for not doing household chores. I think the reason it couldn’t be resolved is because AS people are smart enough to know if and/or when they can use it as an excuse. I can’t speak for others, but I do know for myself that my conscience would bother me too much if I practiced using AS as an excuse to not do something; plus, I believe if I did such a thing, it would backfire on me and cause me to weaken my ability to tell when I’m deceiving myself. I would hate losing touch with who I am, because then I would not trust myself (it would be a self-betrayal since invalid excuses are a form of deception).
I know for myself, I easily do forget to do chores because I also easily lose track of time. It happens because I get so absorbed into what I’m doing and my mind detests mindless tasks. Rewarded behavior is repeated and human nature is as such that people don’t remember things which are unimportant to them.
Neurotypical people might not ever understand the degree to which AS people get ‘deeply into’ whatever it is that has their attention. It’s as if NTs function on another wavelength.
“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 verses 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.”
I have Asperger’s Syndrome. I am autistic.
I don’t really understand how it’s possible to not consider AS a part of the autistic spectrum. I have been mistaken for a low-functioning autistic or mentally retarded person in the past (yes, I dislike and disagree with those terms as well) as a result of certain behaviours. My nephew (diagnosed with LFA) also exhibits these behaviours. He and I have a lot in common in terms of the difficulties that we have. With the exception of personal hygiene, his self-care skills (preparing simple meals, making a hot drink, doing laundry, etc.) are actually better than mine. My mum has just come into the room to remind me that I have forgotten to put my laundry in the basket for her to attend to – something that she has been trying to teach me to remember for the past fifteen years at least.
The only other significant difference between my nephew and I is that I express myself verbally and people take the trouble to listen to me, whereas he is labelled as ‘non-communicative’ because he’s almost non-verbal. Yet we are both quite obviously autistic.
Oooooh so there might be a reason behind my utterly detesting and thinking it pointless to the n’th degree – housework that is. Simple solution: no-one enters here (haven’t) and put 40w bulbs in. Do you know the old Quentin Crisp quote re dust ‘after four years it doesn’t get any thicker’ or something like that, well in fact at the workshop I have twenty five year dust and it does get thicker.
Remember, I’m only self diagnosed. Yet I always seem to be in a rush. Nothing seems gentle or easy, except perhaps the hours here spent at the pc. About 4-1/2 hours a day. In three sessions of two, one half and two hours. That is the honest factual figure. Yet I still manage to have a most interesting and creative garden, full of interesting plants, mostly seed raised by me – without a cold frame which makes it harder. I read a little, learn a language, occasionally create art and make my own wage. So, its all balanced and to my own satisfaction.
I felt very aspi on Friday with the difficult customer.
Hey Friend,
I like your plan! Practically no one does enter my house (other than my family), so having only 40w bulbs would end up being a punishment to me. I don’t care one hoot about such things as dust or mud. The only reason I was contemplating spring cleaning this decade was because I thought my kitties might enjoy watching the birds outside through a cleaner window. The windows don’t look too bad so long as the sun isn’t trying to shine through them. The east side plasters road dirt on all those windows, so when the morning sun hits their panes, it’s kind of challenging to look out the window. That’s one of the great joys of living in a dumpy unfinished house. The other is that there is much less maintenance work — for example, how can you paint a house that never had or will have siding?
I’m going to have to figure out a routine that balances with the other things in my life, especially with my computer. I want to always be able to answer everyone’s comments and read more blogs, but because I haven’t developed a ’system’ yet that works for me, my life is kind of disorderly right now. I absolutely must find a way to pace myself differently!
You reminded me of something interesting and funny that I noticed among those in my A.R.T. (Aspies of the Round Table) group. When the question was asked, “Who likes to cook?”, nobody raised their hand.
Patience,
You’re not only intelligent, but also very wise! Ugh yes!… tests can be awful! People who give them don’t realize the destruction they can cause, but unfortunately I don’t think they care a whole lot (otherwise they wouldn’t do such things!).
“There are so many adults that have grown up convinced they’re less intelligent than what they are because of tests.”
Absolutely! My girlfriend has cerebral palsy, and one of her symptoms is monocular vision. Her depth perception is pretty crappy, basically, and she has a hard time with visual questions like “which of these, when folded, makes a cube?” common to IQ tests. Consequently, despite being quite brilliant, she tests anywhere from slightly below to slightly above average. She had to take a lot of these tests as a kid because of her motor issues, including a stutter, and now thinks she’s less intelligent than her peers because of the results. It doesn’t matter that she’s a gifted writer or historian. She feels stupid because of these tests.
I, on the other hand, am about as smart as she is, but perform brilliantly on such tests. I’m consistently ranked in the 98th percentile for intelligence, yet I’m, in practical terms, as smart as she is. Ugh. Awful tests.