why aspergers is not autism please read

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I think a diagnosis always indicates, that the individual is in (at least some) need of support/assistence, because otherwise it would be redundant to give a label in the first place.
A depressed person for example needs medication or therapie and would not be helped with the advice to "light up a bit" (I found this in linguee as an expression saying to get into a better mood).

I am quite high functioning (Autistic) at times and moderate at others. I cannot understand the mindset people have that one who has Asperger's is trying to take legitimacy from the Autism Community by drawing attention away from the "more severely handicapped." People, get over yourselves. Both are part of the Community, now deal with it.

Well said.

Yes, as a society, we must recognise our common denominator of autism, regardless of where we are on the spectrum, and to share our various experiences with underlying dignity for each other.

Elephants and sea manatees are genetically closely related (subungulates) with a common evolutionary origin. Yet their phenotypic expression are markedly different! Analogously, we can know that classical autism and Asperger's Syndrome has common etiology, yet express quite differently.

Just a few years ago I attended an academic autism/AS research conference in Europe. A local couple attended as guests, listening to successive lectures. The lady revealed that her young adult son was profoundly autistic, candidly expressing their struggles. While they obviously loved their son, she was grappling with 'why'. She pointed to me, boldly saying, "why couldn't we have had her?" alluding to the fact that I am high-functioning. I was shocked, unsure how to console her. (Plus, trust that I have plenty of my own struggles).

With shyness, I quietly spoke to this woman. I told her that her son in fact held an important purpose: autistic genes have also given this world many of our greatest scientific advancements, that we all collectively contribute to carry our genetic lineage. She started crying, and put her arms around me. Afterward her stoic husband took me aside, thanking me - he said it made sense and consoled his wife.

My paternal uncle was profoundly autistic, mute and lived his entire life in an institution. Yet my father was neurotypical with AS traits. They looked like twins, and my family referred to them as doppelgangers.

In private to you all, I do struggle hard - my emotional capacity is rudimentary and I at times I can hardly contain myself. While I might express well outwardly, I have had episodes of locking myself into a room, screaming so hard that my throat is bloody raw. But I carry on - because I have to believe.

Learning to direct my autistic senses has been a boon to me. I have read Wrong Planet posts expressing sheer desperation, asking 'why.' I would wish to express to those who are struggling to never repress your autistic sensibilities, but instead use what you have been given!

Extraordinarily well stated, skibum

VioletYoshi, please know that you are welcome here and our members are supportive. And do recognise that many of our peers are struggling within themselves to acclimate to their own autism. We each may express that in our own individual way; doubtful any offense was intended. Being critical of each other is counterproductive.

I have done a lot of thinking about this, and I believe the main problem is denial from LFA people. They've practically ran people with Asperger's out of the Autism spectrum, and by making it so everyone falls under Autism it really is that hard to find support. It's completely reasonable to desire not to be around people with impulsive or aggressive behaviors, the reality is there are LFA people who have these characteristics. People with Asperger's have been told to tolerate behavior that frightens them because they are on the Autism spectrum, and must understand they have it worse, so you can't complain.

Pretending that it's as likely for anyone to exhibit the type of uncontrolled and unpredictable aggression some LFA people display isn't helping. Neither is calling Aspies elitist for having the audacity to feel they can go to a support group without being handled physically by others. It has been said people on the Autism spectum are more vulnerable to being in abusive relationships. This is because when a person with Autism crosses the line, everyone is supposed to ignore it, and say "They can't help it."

For years in Special Ed and the Autism community people with Asperger's have been told they have no right to complain, to say "This behavior from Autistic people makes me frightened. We've been conditioned to behave submissively, as the wife who says she fell down the stairs after her husband attacked her. The elitism claim was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Many people with Asperger's syndrome just stopped believing in asking for help, because they knew they would be shamed for not thinking of those LFAs who need it more.

I know many people will hate me for saying this, but it must be said. Aspies have spent their lives being told they don't need or deserve support, or having been shamed for saying no to the behavior of LFA people. The reality is LFA people have been driving the bus when it comes to support, the entire community was built around helping them. Then when Aspies say they need help too they have been rejected. If anyone bas been elitst it's LFAs towards HFAs and Asperger's people, by saying "Either you tolerate our behaviors, or get out!"

Stop speaking for anyone other than yourself. Please and thank you.

Why is everyone ignoring what I have to say? Is it common for Aspies to be silenced like this here? Why can't we discuss issiues witout picking on people?

No, considering most of the community is on that side of the spectrum. You're hardly raising points in a way that tends to lead to discussion. You're misdirecting your frustration and anger with a select few on a whole group of people and it's reputation damaging.

I don't know what the Autism community want from those like me, I guess we must accept our feelings matter to no one, and we are unwanted. Why can't we say no without being persecuted?

This is why I will never go to an Autism support groups again. I'd just be ganged up on for wanting to choose who I spend my time with, and who I don't. Maybe I am NT, I can understand why they find your insuferable denial of responsibility, reality beyond frustrating. You will ony find freedom once you stop using Autism as an excuse for everything, as I have. Goodbye forever.

I am sorry you've been hurt. Of course, I cannot know what you've experienced in terms of any support group....without any pretense, maybe you're transferring your hard feelings onto others who mean you no harm? Those with classical autism really do not have the capacity to be cruel. Anyhow, classical autism does present differently than Aspergers, of course, and our issues are necessarily different and may not even be comparable. The Wrong Planet is full of supportive members who do care for each other regardless of our individual needs.

Of course there is reason not to want to be around aggressive people but it seems like you are trying to suggest the vast majority of LFA individuals are agressive, impulsive individuals who are dangerous which is quite frankly a very inaccurate generalization. No if someone has autism its not expected that everyone lets them do whatever they want regardless of what it is....however in cases where the autism is a significant factor in a negative behavior it has to be taken into account. I am sorry 'you' where told to ignore aggressive behavior from others because others told you 'they have it worse so no action should be taken' but that is not what all LFA people or people who have loved ones with it think....so its nasty to act like LFA people in general are a problem over all.

And no it is said people with autism are more likely to end up in abusive relationships or be abused because we(HFA/LFA whatever in between) have vulnerabilities that make it more likely....as you can see you have aspergers/autism and suffered that, and you mentioned before a big part of it was parents of an individual with LFA not LFA people in general....the parents took advantage of your autism to talk you into something you did not want so quit stereotyping all LFA people as more aggressive and out to hurt people and excuse it with 'I have autism' based on the actions of a few individuals some of which didn't even have autism according to your last posts. The support group you went to seems terrible, badly ran and just downright not good.......that does not mean all LFA people are aggressive and that its always excused as 'oh they can't help it' its one support group why not report this one since its crap and look into finding a better ran one that is safe rather then claiming LFA people in general are essentially monsters. ANd what about all the people with LFA that have been pushed around, told to shut up and just ignore negative behavior from other people.......you think this doesn't happen to them?

Ok well people here who have never harassed you or anyone else should not be taking on responsibility for the fact someone who shares a diagnoses with them hurt you in the past. Should some random neurotypical on the internet I run into take responsibility for bullying i endured from other neurotypical people that weren't them? You are asking us to take responsibility for things we haven't done.....and I have Aspergers by the way....but WP cannot take responsibility for things none of us here did or took part in.