3 ms·

>I am autistic, pretty much all of the people I know are autistic I'm not trying to tell you what words you should and shouldn't use; obviously in your circums

>I am autistic, pretty much all of the people I know are autistic I'm not trying to tell you what words you should and shouldn't use; obviously in your circumstance it's a word more likely to cause a political schism and lead to misunderstandings. Most people, though, live in a NT-dominated culture where the terms "Aspergers" and "Autism" both carry extremely different connotations. One invokes images of an aloof professor who has misunderstandings but means well, the other invokes images of a child that screams and shits themselves. In this instance, describing yourself as "Autistic" has real negative consequences that can be greatly ameliorated simply by making a slightly different language choice. The history of the word is irrelevant.

zozbot234 5y ago
> invokes images of a child that screams and shits themselves This is a generalized problem with the self-proclaimed neurodiversity/"autism rights" movement, though. They do very well at expressing the wishes of reasonably high-functioning folks with autistic traits, but don't seem to relate to the kids who can't speak intelligibly and spend their time banging their head against the wall any better than everyone else. Saying that "we shouldn't talk about low vs. high functioning autism, because it's more complex than that" feels like a cop out.
- whatshisface 5y ago
  What is there to say about low vs. high functioning autism? People with low functioning autism can't be helped by social movements about recognizing human diversity, they can be helped by medical research and support for their parents. High functioning autism probably can't be helped by social movements either (what's the plan, to talk everybody out of using the subconscious screening system that makes them not like people with neurological disorders? can the discomfort that is felt when someone with MS is making jerky movements be reasoned out of people's guts?) but that's another question. Maybe this debate is nothing more than a sink for the energies of people who honestly care but can't change anything, keeping them occupied until medical science sends the whole issue the way of dwarfism.
  - zozbot234 5y ago
    > they can be helped by medical research and support for their parents. Many people in the "autism rights" movement oppose these things, often with strident rhetoric. They view any "medicalization" of the condition they happen to share with their lower-functioning fellows as inherently inhumane.
    - whatshisface 5y ago
      That sentence was in reference to helping low-functioning people with autism.
fao_ 5y ago
> Most people, though, live in a NT-dominated culture where the terms "Aspergers" and "Autism" both carry extremely different connotations. All the more reason to use "autism" and push people to understand it's dynamic nature.

zozbot234 5y ago

> invokes images of a child that screams and shits themselves This is a generalized problem with the self-proclaimed neurodiversity/"autism rights" movement, though. They do very well at expressing the wishes of reasonably high-functioning folks with autistic traits, but don't seem to relate to the kids who can't speak intelligibly and spend their time banging their head against the wall any better than everyone else. Saying that "we shouldn't talk about low vs. high functioning autism, because it's more complex than that" feels like a cop out.

whatshisface 5y ago
What is there to say about low vs. high functioning autism? People with low functioning autism can't be helped by social movements about recognizing human diversity, they can be helped by medical research and support for their parents. High functioning autism probably can't be helped by social movements either (what's the plan, to talk everybody out of using the subconscious screening system that makes them not like people with neurological disorders? can the discomfort that is felt when someone with MS is making jerky movements be reasoned out of people's guts?) but that's another question. Maybe this debate is nothing more than a sink for the energies of people who honestly care but can't change anything, keeping them occupied until medical science sends the whole issue the way of dwarfism.
- zozbot234 5y ago
  > they can be helped by medical research and support for their parents. Many people in the "autism rights" movement oppose these things, often with strident rhetoric. They view any "medicalization" of the condition they happen to share with their lower-functioning fellows as inherently inhumane.
  - whatshisface 5y ago
    That sentence was in reference to helping low-functioning people with autism.

fao_ 5y ago

> Most people, though, live in a NT-dominated culture where the terms "Aspergers" and "Autism" both carry extremely different connotations. All the more reason to use "autism" and push people to understand it's dynamic nature.