tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post1774224656072934672..comments2024-03-19T08:40:36.481+11:00Comments on Life with Aspergers: Autism - The Politics of Hate and CureGavin Bollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13833941398375568706noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-19883773435810979272012-03-23T06:40:13.784+11:002012-03-23T06:40:13.784+11:00"...Continuing our racial example, suppose we..."...Continuing our racial example, suppose we live in a hot country with little shelter and we wish that our fair-skinned child wasn't so susceptible to sunburn. Note; we don't wish for her to be black, just safer.<br /><br />"We accept that we can't change the child and we do our best to counter the problem with suntan lotion, a hat and dark glasses..."<br /><br />THIS IS A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE. Seriously, it's happening in Australia and New Zealand right now!<br /><br />"...Our schools and workplaces are full of bullies who not only won't understand but who will act against or exclude your child. In fact, often children on the spectrum are segregated, like other persecuted groups in our history..."<br /><br />*And* I recently saw an adult on the spectrum (Cube Angel in the comment thread at http://autismgadfly.blogspot.com/2012/02/autism-in-workplace-neemans-at-it-again.html) demand that society accomodate urges to yell at one's coworkers, grope one's coworkers, ask one's coworkers instrusive questions, etc...like other persecut*ing* groups in our history.<br /><br />What we really need to do is crack down on bulling behavior in schools and workplaces, no matter if the bully's excuse is "but I'm white" or "but I'm male" or "but I'm neurotypical" or "but I'm Aspie."<br /><br />"...Maybe we need a cure for social popularism..."<br /><br />By definition, that would be a cure for wanting to have friends and liking the friends one has.<br /><br />"...Society doesn't think you need a cure when it needs their computer fixed..."<br /><br />Except the parts of society that don't like being harassed in the name of Asperger's in the computer-fixing classes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-25630630849495811222012-03-23T06:39:54.372+11:002012-03-23T06:39:54.372+11:00"...Continuing our racial example, suppose we..."...Continuing our racial example, suppose we live in a hot country with little shelter and we wish that our fair-skinned child wasn't so susceptible to sunburn. Note; we don't wish for her to be black, just safer.<br /><br />"We accept that we can't change the child and we do our best to counter the problem with suntan lotion, a hat and dark glasses..."<br /><br />THIS IS A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE. Seriously, it's happening in Australia and New Zealand right now!<br /><br />"...Our schools and workplaces are full of bullies who not only won't understand but who will act against or exclude your child. In fact, often children on the spectrum are segregated, like other persecuted groups in our history..."<br /><br />*And* I recently saw an adult on the spectrum (Cube Angel in the comment thread at http://autismgadfly.blogspot.com/2012/02/autism-in-workplace-neemans-at-it-again.html) demand that society accomodate urges to yell at one's coworkers, grope one's coworkers, ask one's coworkers instrusive questions, etc...like other persecut*ing* groups in our history.<br /><br />What we really need to do is crack down on bulling behavior in schools and workplaces, no matter if the bully's excuse is "but I'm white" or "but I'm male" or "but I'm neurotypical" or "but I'm Aspie."<br /><br />"...Maybe we need a cure for social popularism..."<br /><br />By definition, that would be a cure for wanting to have friends and liking the friends one has.<br /><br />"...Society doesn't think you need a cure when it needs their computer fixed..."<br /><br />Except the parts of society that don't like being harassed in the name of Asperger's in the computer-fixing classes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-21757500235740149412012-03-15T12:54:36.767+11:002012-03-15T12:54:36.767+11:00Hi Gavin,
Thank you for your comments, and I compl...Hi Gavin,<br />Thank you for your comments, and I completely understand your analogies of the "black" "white" people. My son has Aspergers and we have dealt with similar issues all his life - used to break my heart, but now we have understood that we cannot educate the masses. We just navigate our way around a little better.PSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03881922415754124622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-48080989124800867742012-03-13T13:01:53.021+11:002012-03-13T13:01:53.021+11:00sorry.. agree to disagree with this one.... its so...sorry.. agree to disagree with this one.... its so easy for us parents of higher functioning aspies, to say.. my son IS my son, he doesn't need curing. But for those kids who can not speak, rock, self-stim, cause harm to self and others, suffer from pica, and other physiological symptoms of autism, those parents grieve for the child they do not have. Who would not cure THAT child so he or she would one day be able to look in their mother's and father's eyes and say "I love you."?? or even settle for a snuggle without being pushed away.NCFriendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17963605277951213571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-29243247033668803332012-03-12T22:05:41.980+11:002012-03-12T22:05:41.980+11:00Unfortunately, differences are still not tolerated...Unfortunately, differences are still not tolerated in society - and the medical community is guilty of this also. I'm left-handed, and at primary school I was forced to write right-handed - that was the only way. In medieval times LH people were associated with the devil, so I'm grateful things have moved on a bit since then - but society is still quick to label differences as freakish. Whilst I admit it would be good if I could be 'cured' of Aspergers, and be able to function 'normally' in society, I've grown up feeling different and would rather have pride in being who I am than sell my soul and be reprogrammed - which I know wouldnt work anyway. Instead of hating myself for being abnormal, I'm learning to feel good about myself for being different - aspie-pride!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12073537258927176670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-41721082415746217492012-03-12T03:54:39.661+11:002012-03-12T03:54:39.661+11:00Thank you for your bold statements. I agree whole...Thank you for your bold statements. I agree wholeheartedly! We chose to see all 3 of our children as gifts from God with their own individual characteristics. Our "Aspie" as one pointed out below is no different than our 4.0 pre ap self starter. He has his own set of "quirks" and our goal is to help him learn to be the best adult he can be. No cure needed! We just all need to stop worrying about labels and just be the best humans we can be!Kristanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-59246252781807411762012-03-11T08:30:30.061+11:002012-03-11T08:30:30.061+11:00I don't know that ASD is something that is cur...I don't know that ASD is something that is curable like a sickness. I don't feel like I could be cured of it anymore than I could be cured of being tall. And if there was a cure I wouldn't be me, and I have become accustomed to me.Pennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12735745787631065552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-43488301250990704032012-03-10T10:32:09.906+11:002012-03-10T10:32:09.906+11:00I absolutly love and respect what you are saying a...I absolutly love and respect what you are saying about this spectrum. My son is 7 years old and he was diagnosed last year around summer time and I did not get the paper work stating everything till august. I am looking foward to reading everything that you have to say. I need all the advise I can get. I was 18 when I had my son and had no clue what I was seeing in him. Now after 7 long years the light bulb abouve my head is turned on and listening (very sad on my end) I also know that I was in denile and listened to those who knew NOTHING about what was being seen in my son. All anyone did was label my son as bad behavior, spoild rotten child, ODD, and very disruptive. If you (at 3 years old) couldnt understand your mommy and your mommy not understand you... wouldnt you be upset, and angry, and hateful, and resentful? Again I am looking foward to reading everything this blog has to say, I can already tell it will be alot of help! Thank you for your time DLRDesireenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-88961512672517578972012-03-08T07:08:32.333+11:002012-03-08T07:08:32.333+11:00Very well written piece which definitely hits the ...Very well written piece which definitely hits the nail on the head (excuse the idiom).<br /><br />I especially get the bit about a cure. It really winds me up when people try selling books about curing autism when the reality is that either the cured person either never had an asd in the first place or the strategies being used are successfully keeping certain behaviours under control on a temporary basis.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07376961677961706881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-20799265497478956622012-03-07T20:19:57.798+11:002012-03-07T20:19:57.798+11:00I don't think we can compare race or sexuality...I don't think we can compare race or sexuality to disability. While all may be innate to the persons identity and lived experience, autism does manifest as difficulties that go beyond social impediments. There are neurological challenges that go beyond just difference and cause suffering in themselves. Neither race or sexuality do that.sharon Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492764403059640967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-18459094009390339022012-03-07T20:05:04.358+11:002012-03-07T20:05:04.358+11:00I so understand this blog and it just reminds me o...I so understand this blog and it just reminds me of a prayer wrote to God, I stopped praying to God to heal or cure my child, but I started praying for myself that I accept him and learn to love him as he is.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10823808861519688323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-25025486543766166162012-03-07T05:07:18.351+11:002012-03-07T05:07:18.351+11:00I self-diagnosed as an Aspie well into adult-hood,...I self-diagnosed as an Aspie well into adult-hood, having grown up ascribing my lack of eye contact, fear of loud noises, and over-fixation on electronics as simple "nerd-ism". Through the lens of this article, do we need a cure for nerds? Maybe we need a cure for social popularism. Like a psychotropic mind-expanding drug that helps people realize that genetically engineered corn has less nutrition, and pure-bred dogs have a high incidence of hip dysplasia. Society doesn't think you need a cure when it needs their computer fixed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-32288943357491666192012-03-07T01:54:26.290+11:002012-03-07T01:54:26.290+11:00Thank you so much for this...you've put into w...Thank you so much for this...you've put into words what I couldn't. My son is AMAZING! His Aspergers is a gift and I love seeing the world through his eyes. I wouldn't want to cure that at all, just like I wouldn't want to cure someone from being an athlete or a librarian.<br /><br />But, agreed, I can only speak from my own experience. I have friends whose lives are turned upside down and inside out by autism, and I might feel differently if that was our case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-82239616733744351012012-03-06T20:14:18.500+11:002012-03-06T20:14:18.500+11:00Brilliant !
I don't hate Autism, I don't ...Brilliant !<br /><br />I don't hate Autism, I don't hate people who want to cure it but I do hate the fact that some people think a "cure" is even necessary.<br />I was just thinking about it the other day, if I got cured of my Autism would I still be me? As what many think of as personality traits are the very things that get picked up on the diagnostic criteria. <br />I hate the thought of others wanting to fix me because I don't think I'm broken.<br />I agree we need to teach people to understand and accept us for what we are not for what they want us to be.<br />excellent post !KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07115470143671384801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-58934481628656064902012-03-06T20:05:32.736+11:002012-03-06T20:05:32.736+11:00Rather than repeat what Nicomachus wrote -- I was ...Rather than repeat what Nicomachus wrote -- I was going to make the same point re homosexuality -- I'll just give both Nicomachus and Gavin a big thumbs up!!The Rambling Taoisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04730292897416827840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-14774095932239431262012-03-06T18:32:04.977+11:002012-03-06T18:32:04.977+11:00Lets try not to align autism with race or sexual p...Lets try not to align autism with race or sexual preference, i think thats comparing apples with oranges so to speak. Autism is a disability. Lets say then, downs syndrome is also a disability. Do people want a cure for down syndrome? Just asking.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-60667917992770523532012-03-06T13:58:55.211+11:002012-03-06T13:58:55.211+11:00I loathe the idea of searching for a cure, not sol...I loathe the idea of searching for a cure, not solely because it is somewhat offensive, but because it's like trying to find a cure for being gay. There's no way a person could take a pill and not be gay anymore, no medicine that will make men attractive and women unattractive, or vice versa. (There are medical ways to make <i>all</i> people unattractive, but that isn't making the person straight.) Homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is in your brain, in the way your body works and reacts. There's no medicine for it.<br /><br />Same with autism. It's not a disease with germs that can be fault. It's not a condition that spreads and worsens or gets better. People simply learn to do things better or better adjust. Autism doesn't go away or clear up. It's always there, and it will always be there, because autism is how the brain works. Trying to find a cure for autism is pointless because it cannot be cured. Similar to how fears cannot be cured; medicines can help fight the symptoms, but to overcome a fear, you need some sort of therapy (not necessarily the kind with a couch and a therapist, mind you), as well as hard work. People with autism can learn to do all sorts of things and can have more comfortable lives, but it doesn't happen, and will never happen, through a pill or surgery or anything like that. It only comes about through hard work and perseverance. There is no way to make an autistic person suddenly not have autism, and I'm sure there never will be. That's why searching for a cure is a waste of time. It's much better to work towards coming up with therapies and techniques to help autistic people.Nicomachushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14666907547909938845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-82761048057188145882012-03-06T13:16:38.969+11:002012-03-06T13:16:38.969+11:00I guess I am somebody who did grieve after my firs...I guess I am somebody who did grieve after my first child's diagnosis, not for me, but for her, the difficulties she has to face that will be with her her whole life. I love her exactly how she is, I just hope she can find a happiness within herself. There is no doubt her life would have been easier without aspergers, less lonely perhaps. I think it's crushing when aspergers only became evident when she turned 4, the readjustment of who we thought she was in terms of social skills, to seeing these difficulties unfolding. It's a tough thing for us to deal with, what must it be like for her...I wonder if she will like or hate aspergers...that's what's important for me and only time will tell...lAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4841851020927689161.post-72744325809039829822012-03-06T10:36:22.490+11:002012-03-06T10:36:22.490+11:00This goes right along with my thoughts. Thanks!This goes right along with my thoughts. Thanks!Josephine Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16066019694484465650noreply@blogger.com