This is a comment by Eagle34 on the post “Autism in Vogue“.
I actually want to take your opinion further Evan and add something people forget.
Autism is just a processing system, a different way of thinking and learning. The examples the Author signals out from working with Jason is just like any human being who is afraid and ignored: The boy was merely expressing discontent and fear due to, as the author observed, repeated overcorrection.
The problem is, we spend so much time looking at the behaviour and correcting it without digging in deeper. Because those “Behaviours” don’t come from out of nowhere. If there’s a serious issue going on, whether due to past traumas or a significant lack of a support structure for their processing system, then of course they’re going to act out. Every human being reaches their breaking point. And autistic people aren’t any different.
The more we start looking at autistic people as people just with a different way of learning and processing, then the less they’ll feel stigmitised and can contribute to society because from within lie some great talents that could be nurtured if we’d just quit our obsession with “Correcting Behaviour”.
I say this both as an autistic adult myself and someone who has worked with autistic people of all ages for years.
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I guess any processing system will do the garbage in – garbage out thing. I also often compare AST – NT to, say Volvo – SAAB (ignition key in different places (yeah, I’m in Sweden), both get you where you want but in slightly different ways) or Windows – MacOS.
**ASD
I’m rather torn on this issue. I have three kids with autism to greater or lesser degrees. I love them, unconditionally. I want their lives to be easier, and for that reason, I try to help them learn to reduce the “autistic behaviours” in public (my middle son shrieks, for example. It’s painful to everyone around him. Literally painful. My ears throb.) There are some behaviours that need to be modified in some people with autism (like fecal smearing). It is genetic, and it is affected by environmental triggers as well. My kids are happier and healthier on a strict… Read more »
Luna: “So, where I’m torn is that I don’t believe in just letting them be as they are with no dietary or bio-medical interventions, because those things help them feel better, and that suggests to me that it is a medical issue, not just a different way of thinking” The problem with bio-medical interventions and dietary stuff is that it’s used as the one and only solution to their needs. Yes, you may think it helps them “Feel better”, but “Feeling Better” is not enough. They need to be validated, supported and have a place of purpose. Otherwise, they’re only… Read more »
GAH. I had a whole response typed out for this, and it refreshed and it’s gone. I’ll try to re-create it. “The problem with bio-medical interventions and dietary stuff is that it’s used as the one and only solution to their needs. Yes, you may think it helps them “Feel better”, but “Feeling Better” is not enough. They need to be validated, supported and have a place of purpose. Otherwise, they’re only going to be dependent on the interventions and increase their likelyhood of further problems down the road as adults.” Oh my yes. I completely agree. Bio-med and dietary… Read more »
Luna: “And I have no idea why he shrieks. None. I’ve tried figuring it out. I’ve tried looking for common elements. I’ve tried everything I can think of. I’m definitely open to suggestions.” Maybe there’s something in the environment bringing up an association from the past? A trauma? There’s a suggestion. Look for what it is in the environment first. Look for the source. I know it’s tough working with what you got and for that I sympathise with your position, even though I’m not a parent myself. “I meant more like I didn’t want to force them to try… Read more »
No trauma, it’s happy shrieking. He does it with a grin. And he does it everywhere, anywhere.
Luna: “I’m very very tired of being attacked on this issue.”
When did I attack you? Aside from asking questions and stating my opinions in my response. Unless others were attacking you on the issue. But believe when I say it, I’m not those “Others” you’re referring too.
Luna, I just want to ammend regarding the fecal smearing thing. I’m not implying that your kids do that. Merely asking the same question: Why does an autistic child smear his feces? Where does the association come from?
You didn’t. I wasn’t referring to you. This is the first we’ve had any interaction. It’s the topic in general all over the web. It seems to be such a hot button issue that it brings out the fangs and claws almost immediately whenever anyone tries to have a conversation about it that isn’t just, “OH YES! You are totally right about everything!”. 🙂
Anthony: “In contrast, my collaborator in Freeport has an autistic child, and he is working hard to identify dietary and other therapeutic options which he believes reduce symptoms.”
I don’t mean to pry but has your collaborator examined other sources for the symptoms like psychological or issues related to any trauma? I’m not ruling out diet and stuff as that is a factor to development as well. But again, we can’t ignore the make-up of the child.
He has a serious case of myopia. Myopia is a good and necessary thing when looking for answers of this type.
This is complicated. Intrinsically, Autism is function. Within the framework of a (rather) rigid society, it can be dysfunction. People with mild spectrum presence often over-perform their non-spectrum peers. This is probably because of the general principle that “in a kitchen full of knives, the most important utensil is a spoon.” Thinking differently than anyone else can be a valuable edge in science and business. However, there are also cases where the critical thinking advantages are out of reach due to communication and social function issues. Why does it matter? Because in one case you treat, and in the other… Read more »
We live in a culture that wants a label or diagnosis for everything. From the standpoint of the medical community, once you create and a diagnosis, you can generate a revenue stream. When this is the priority, we suppress our more flexible human responses. And we miss the opportunity to stay curious and open to multiple interpretations.
Well the autistic community is taking that label back. Or rather, redifining it as a way of thinking instead of a disorder or illness. I forgot to mention in my comment, that autistic people, when supported can lead productive lives. There are many autistic people out there who don’t live off a revenue stream and are employed, whether via their own businesses or one of the many traditional jobs out there. We also are a great community, and the best thing an autistic person can do is learn through others with the same processing system. We call it “Self Reflection”… Read more »