The Autistic Generation Gap

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Adaptation is a really good word to describe it. I do not think a person's abilities or achievements should be a method on assessing their level of autism or how it effects them overall. A lot of people are not what they seem on the surface. It is like when someone sees someone park in a handicap spot and then walk away from their car like nothing is wrong with them. When in fact they have an artificial leg.

I actually really don't like the way that people are portrayed on tv that supposedly have Asperger's or high-functioning ASD. It's always implied, not directly stated, but they are portrayed as super-human quirky nerd geniuses. It's ridiculous.

Like Bones. Her character is excellent at almost everything. A genius. And her poor social skills are quirky or cute to others. Like "Oh, jeez, there goes Bones again, hahaha." She has no sensory issues or problems with eye contact. She's just really literal and somewhat insensitive. That's the sum of her autism disabilities. Big deal.

I guarantee that I'm not seen as quirky or cute. I'm not loved and admired for my talents and accepted by others. I'm a weirdo, lazy, over-emotional, rigid, anti-social, etc.

"Lively" does describes and enhances the effect the adjective "red." Hence, it's an adverb in this case.

Especially if it can be deduced that the "redness" in the ball is "lively." It can be--based upon such things as the angle of the sun, as well as the intensity of the "red."

If it was merely a "lively" ball, then it would be an adjective. Or if the "lively" merely describes the ball.

^Yes, on reflection I think you're both right - the word lively can indeed be said to have an adverbial force in the above example, though its regular use is almost exclusively adjectival. It's still fair to say though that an adverb can only qualify ('give life to') a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

Dealing with the public perception of autism is a challenge we all face, and I think it's great we're talking about it.

I learned years ago never to tell anyone I'm bipolar, because their perception of it is limited to characters they've seen on TV, who are volatile, out of control, destroying the lives of everyone around them.

The public perception of autism presents a truly bizarre challenge though. I'm not nearly as functional or socially adept as Sherlock or Bones - and yet most people would say I'm just quiet and awkward, but not autistic. Therefore it's only wishful thinking on my part, because I want to be cool like Sherlock or Bones, instead of the pathetic mess that I am.

So I'm learning from all this, that the public perception of autism is either the stereotypical Kanner type, or the Sherlock or Bones type - but those who fall between those two extremes are simply 'awkward'. Well, okay then.

The reality is that I would rather be seen as 'quiet and awkward' than some kind of Munchausens wannabe, so I'm learning to make peace with that. My doctors and immediate family know the truth of my challenges, but to everyone else I'm just quiet and awkward, and that's all right with me.

I agree, I think it's good to be open-minded, instead of stuck in one's rigid viewpoint. Hopefully in time the public perception of autism will eventually align more closely with the reality of autism. I do think one day we'll get there!

You are 'rigidly open-minded', in that your logic code dictates that you update your viewpoint, if new evidence presents itself. I think that's a good way to be.

A lot of people just want to insist they're right, regardless of evidence or logic. To me, that is the disorder.

And yes, we have a long way to go, in getting the public to understand the reality of autism. I think we're in a better place now, than 10 years ago - and over the next 10 years, I hope it will improve even more.