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02 Aug 2010, 8:44 am
Here is a book review which might interest many of you.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/s ... 412781&c=1
_________________
Health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
I am not a jigsaw, I am a free man ! Diagnosed under the DSM5 rules with autism spectrum disorder, under DSM4 psychologist said would have been AS (299.80) but I suspect that I am somewhere between 299.80 and 299.00 (Autism) under DSM4.
02 Aug 2010, 10:07 am
CockneyRebel
Veteran
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 121,605
Location: In my own little country
02 Aug 2010, 10:07 am
It's about time. This book will help us, to get into the 21st century. People will begin to see us, in a much better light, soon. 
02 Aug 2010, 1:33 pm
Quote:
This quietly spoken book is at its strongest when examining the ideology itself and outlining the arguments in its favour. It is sensible in examining how other cultures, past and present, have accepted forms of neurodiversity, and it is wise in its critique of the use of normative standardisations to identify objectives in education and society in general.
Wonderful. Sounds like a fascinating book.
Quote:
Armstrong is also perceptive in his adoption of the evolutionary term "niche-construction" to explain how different environments can be preferred by different groups of living creatures, which in itself suggests the benefits of adapting environments to human needs rather than expecting individuals to adapt to inflexible environmental demands.
Huh? Sounds like you're discussing wheelchair ramps.
Quote:
However, the book has its limitations. One is a matter of context, particularly for the British reader. There tend to be strong polarisations in attitudes in the US to neurodiversity
Yeah, we're polarized here in the US. All 27 neurotypical Americans who know what neurodiversity means are dead set against it.
Quote:
the book is laudable, but it is slightly counterproductive. It creates a drive to adhere to a "strengths" agenda, to counterbalance what may be understood, and often is understood in the US, as a deficit - or, as one parent of a child on the autism spectrum described her child, "a toxic train wreck".
Describing your child as a 'toxic train wreck' is not referring to their 'deficits'. Its just a way of saying 'I'm going to be the next parent to murder my child for being Autistic'
Quote:
"Tell us where any difficulties may be!" I shouted at the book, so loudly that the man upstairs came down to ask me if I was OK. He wanted to help. Helping is a natural human instinct.
Uhm...assuming 'the man upstairs' is not a reference to God, shouting at a book is likely to get you classified as one of the 'neurodiverse'. And helping is not necessarily a natural human instinct if you're an Autistic human.
Quote:
Another problem with the book is that the tone never alters. It is well written, but bland; it lacks visceral passion. The range of literature to which it refers is impressive, but Armstrong's frequent recourse to quoting other authors is distancing.
Hmm...monotone...meticulously detailed in its documentation...off-putting...sounds familiar...sounds...neurodiverse...
Quote:
There are few acceptable ways of writing about what is perceived as disability. One is to write poignantly about your personal experience of your own pointed shard of glass. Another is to give respectful space to the often-competing voices of the neurodiverse, allowing their human heterogeneity to speak for itself. It is a pity that Armstrong, despite his stab at explaining his own recurrent bouts of depression, failed in the poignancy test because he did not show us the shard, and failed in the voice test because he listened to the words of the famous, rather than those trying to negotiate the construction of their niche.
Alas, our apparently perfect marriage was over before the end of the honeymoon.
Alas, our apparently perfect marriage was over before the end of the honeymoon.
Pointed shard? Stab? Marriage over?
"listened to the words of the famous, rather than those trying to negotiate the construction of their niche"
WTF?
I guess I'm just going to have to read the book, this review makes no sense whatsoever...
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