Autistic Yada, yada?and one parent's point of view? Seinfeld

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yup

autism politics is a bunch of people fighting trying to make there definition of autism the only valid one

I deleted my previous response to this, as I felt it was unduly rude. I apologise if you saw it. Parents of HF autistic children do have legitimate struggles and I don't think a greater struggle invalidates the lesser struggle. I guess my jerk reaction was rude because I find your attitude towards the parents of low-functioning children to be highly judgmental, completely inaccurate, and unkind, and it's been an overall difficult couple of weeks, but that does not justify me doing the same thing right back at you. I haven't experienced what you described at all (it seems to me that there are many programs for HFA in our area), but obviously the fact that I don't have a HF autistic child could partially explain our different experiences. I think what you described is unfortunate, if that is indeed the case, and I hope they can create more programs for that target group. Likewise, I hope you can extend some charity to parents of LF children, most of whom really are just doing their best, just like you probably are.

"Zero sum game" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum_game is pretty much the way of American politics not just Autism Politics in the last couple of decades.

No they didn't hated high functioning autistic people, why would they?



How do you come to this conclusion? I have never met a single parent of a low functioning autistic child that thought this. I think that maybe they are bit jealous and perhaps hope that their kids will be high functioning. I guess its possible that this might fester and become a hatred as you describe but I have yet to see it happen in the real world. These bitter people would be a small minority in my experience. Most parents I have met are completely sympathetic to all people on the spectrum regardless of were they are in relation to their own kids. I know parents of kids that probably are higher functioning than my son and I know parents of kids that are clearly lower functioning, I feel nothing but love and empathy for all of them and their kids. I know that this love and empathy is returned. I have yet to meet the really snotty parent who differentiates between "grades" of autism. They might exist somewhere, there are dick heads in all walks of life, but I would say they are a very small minority. Well certainly in my experience any way.



Again most parents of low functioning autistic kids I know didn't like the DSM changes. The reasons for this is because it tended to trivialise their kids condition. With severely autistic kids having the "same" condition as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and now Seinfeld they are concerned that this will mean people will think that this is how their kids are. When their kids don't do amazing things in science, business or the arts they feel like they will be judged as bad parents. Most parents of low functioning autistic people are pissed off a the DSM changes.



Please tell me that was an attempt at dark humour?



Nope. This is a battle between parents and a some misguided changes to the DSM which lumps very different parts of a spectrum together under one condition. Its confusing to the public and so lessens their understanding of all parts of the spectrum.



This would seem sensible.



I agree but they are different to those on he lower end. Also the challenges for parents are generally higher with lower functioning autistic kids. Hopefully most higher functioning autistic people can go on to lead indapendent lives. This is not true for many low functioning autistic people who will remain dependent on their parents until their parents die.

Also is there not a danger that all these celebrity autistics actually diminish the public's perceptions of those challenges?

Imagine the following scenario:

Joe public is seeing all these highly successful people "come out" as autistic and starts to think that autism is not that big a deal. The notion would be that if Seinfeld can succeed with autism then why does the aspergian down the road from me seem to have so many problems holding down a job? Maybe they would just think he is lazy or stupid? He tells me its because of his autism but clearly that can't be the whole story cos it didn't hold Seinfeld and all the other celeb autistics back so what is that guy moaning about? Maybe he is just using autism as an excuse for his failures?

That's the danger of celebrity autistics self diagnosing and coming out. It can be a good thing but too much of it trivialises the very real problems faced by all autistic people.



Again I hope this is an attempt at dark humour or sarcasm but unfortunately I suspect you are actually being serious. Parents of low functioning autistic kids get judged all the time. Perhaps more so now because of the lumping together of all parts of the spectrum. As societies "understanding" of autism becomes more attuned to the aspergers end of the spectrum there is a very real danger that parents of low functioning kids will be judged more harshly. If Joe public perceives typical autism to be Steve Jobs or Seinfeld or Sheldon from big band theory then when confronted with a low functioning autistic kid how might they judge their parents? They might well think that they are obviously rubbish parents and that their child's inability to "succeed" in life must be due to some fault in the parent. The perception may be that autism ain't that big a deal is it? If all those celebrity autistics can make good careers and get on with life then clearly little Jonny's problems can't stem from his autism it must be down to sh***y parenting. Right? And so they will be judged.



Indeed. I agree there is much work to do. But please don't dismiss the plight of others because of this. Just because you get s**t does not mean the s**t other people get is any less stinky. Low functioning autistic people and their carers get a whole world of hurt as well. They are judged, they are harassed, they are shunned, they are excluded by society and often abused.

Thumbs up for this answer.

Yah, harsh much.

I saw plenty of judging, this weekend at the local mall.

A 12-15 something LFA was having a full bore melt down in the middle of the food court. Not a whole lot of sympathy being passed around for a 5'6" 150 lbs+ teen flaying and head banging on the floor.

I never felt so bad for the teen and his family, especially after security was called.

It broke my heart.