Do most people even know what AS is?

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I am reading Chrissie Hynde's autobiography. She mentioned the Aspergers type collection of old rock music magazines by British rock writer Nick Kent.

[quote="kraftiekortie"] Rain Man is an exceedingly high-functioning autistic person to these people.

quote]
Why do you keep spouting this nonsensical ass-backward statement?

When folks (the rare ones who have any notion at all about ASD spectrum) think of a high functioning autistic, or an aspergerian person they think of Sheldon Leonard on the BBT.

If they hear about a LOW functioning autistic they think of the Rain Man.

The public does NOT think of Dustin Hoffman's character as "high functioning". Quite the contrary. He is the poster child for the opposite end of the spectrum from Sheldon Leonard.

And the reason that they think of him as low functioning is because he IS low functioning. He doesn't live independently, and functions on the level of a grade school kid. He just happens to have the one savant ability to do certain counting feats way beyond what most adults can do- so he is called "idiot savant" (not a 'high functioning savant").

Is the issue that you are aware that most people think of the Rain Man as low functioning, but you disagree, and think of him as "fantastically high functioning" , and you're on a crusade to over turn his public image? If so then you cant seem to keep it straight which thing you're talking about (what the public thinks, and what you think).

The last time this came you said that the rain man is "fantastically high functioning", and the reason you gave was "that he can talk". That was it. That was the ONLY reason you gave. That reason makes zero sense. There was a Down Syndrome 20 year old guy who grew up across the street from me who could speak as well as the Rain Man (about on the level of five year old). No one on the block (including his family) considered that guy on my street to be anything other than "ret*d" and "low functioning".

The Rain Man character is low functioning in both the public mind, and would be considered that in real life.

You're acting like this is MY opinion.

This is the opinion of the GENERAL PUBLIC I have encountered.

Where did you get the idea that I BELIEVED THIS?

Come on, Man....please give me more credit than this!

Most people don't know what it is.

I got the idea because that's what it sounds like you're saying-that's why I asked- to get it straight which thing you're talking about (your opinion, or most of the public's opinion).

And that's why I am trying to sort out what you keep saying.

Okay- I myself think of the Rain Man as the stereotypical "low functioning" autistic. But if "most people you encounter" think that he is high functioning -then that is indeed shocking news to me (that folks think that).

And I am surprised to hear that.

People tend to think of the old image of autism--of the child off in a corner somewhere, stimming, or spinning objects, or squealing. This child is nonverbal, and is quite resistant to any sort of intervention. I've known these types of children.

This is slowly changing---but that's the image of autism that people still seem to have.

You still have shrinks who do not believe a person is autistic if the person initiates social contact at all.

There really was no conception of a "high-functioning" form of autism until the 1980s.

Probably every country has its own type of ignorance. Here there is the weird idea that autistic people have out of control tantrums 24 hours a day, 7 days a week sort of thing.

I think the origin of this persistent idiocy was a very publicised case many years ago where a mother murdered an autistic daughter (who was a young teenager). The defence offered at the murder trial was that "no reasonable person" could be expected to live with that, and she was found not guilty. In delivering the verdict, the judge not only exonerated but praised her (as I recall). It was a long time ago, in the 1980s I think.

That was the first time I read anything about autism in New Zealand's major newspaper, and the myth took hold. There has been some progress since (but not enough). Asperger's Syndrome is a bit more understood now (it has had a more positive press in the past few years, because of world champions like Nigel Richardson, the Scrabble genius) though generally people have multiple misconceptions and mostly still echo the false stereotypes and myths which are legion on the internet.

However there has never been a lobby group here (like Autism Speaks in the USA) which actively tried to demonise AS people and intentionally spread falsehoods for political and financial reasons.

Most people know just enough to think they understand autism. And that's often worse than if they knew nothing.

Good post.

Rain Man's doctor at the care facility specifically said that he was high functioning. So that's where people would get the idea. Of course the catch is he was a high functioning level 3. I have seen much lower functioning level 3 than Rain Man. He could talk, wrote in a journal and I'm assuming Charlie didn't have to bathe, dress and diaper him daily. As is the case with most low functioning level 3.

Sadly enough, most people are that poorly educated on AS. All they do is throw around stereotypes and generalizations that not only hold no truth whatsoever but also insult us and make us look like heartless robots.

Experts would label Rain Man high functioning because he has above average intellengence. Because his charactor would not be that functional in real life is a reason functioning labels are falling out of favor among autistics and proffessionals. He would be labeled ASD severity possibly level 2 or maybe level 3 depending on who is diagnosing him without conginitive impairment but with speech impairment.

I believe RainMan was extremely high functioning. He spent a huge portion of his life in an institution, never having known anything other than that literally for decades. Then all of a sudden he can be whisked off for a constantly changing life on the road with a total stranger and a brother he last saw as a baby, losing in one moment, all of his routines, possessions, comfort items, and relationships, not having any idea where he was going and what was going to happen next. Then to put on a suit, walk into a sensory nightmare casino and stay composed. And to adapt to each daily dramatic change of location as well as he did, and emotionally bond with Charlie. You think that's low functioning? REALLY? Think again. How many of us could have done as well as he did if we had been institutionalized that long? How many of us could do that now? I dare say, not many.

Last edited by skibum on 27 Sep 2016, 7:41 am, edited 2 times in total.

Dustin Hoffman's character was based on a savant named Kim Peek who actually didn't have Autism.

Exactly, "the real Rain Man". But I don't think the movie RM was all that far off the mark for a frictional character in a movie drama. While if he were real was high functioning for someone with severe autism, I don't think he would have been able to survive on his own at all. That's what it comes down to for me and classifies me as Significant Special Needs. That below average performance IQ. So high functioning in some ways but low functioning in others.