I hope the proposed changes to the diagnostic labels of autism in the DSM V are clarifying. I am getting tired of explaining repeatedly on and on into infinity that high-functioning autism is not low-functioning asperger's or any other such term which implies that HFAs have lower levels of function than aspies. Seriously. It gets pretty annoying to constantly have to convince people that my level of function is not inferior to theirs when I am consistently one of the highest functioning members of any autistic community I join (including those communities dominated by aspies.) Not always the highest, and I certainly have some major issues, but there is really pretty much nothing I can't do! Had I never been diagnosed I would have lived my life as an NT,gone to school, got a career, got married, had kids, yadda yadda yadda, and no one would have been the wiser, it just would have been more difficult. You cannot resolutely write me off as lower-functioning than people with asperger's just because my diagnosis is "autism" instead of "asperger's." That's not what those words mean and I am tired of having to explain it.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
I read an article today about a protest in Ohio against Autism Speaks, and I wanted to share it with you. I've copied the text, and the link to the original webpage is below, which has pictures of the protest.
I knew that the neurodiversity movement had opponents, but I never would have imagined that these people would encounter the kinds of things they did. This is an important read.
Protest Against Autism Speaks in Columbus
On Sunday, October 10, ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State protested Autism Speaks' Walk Now for Autism on the Ohio State campus, a protest that lasted four hours and attracted media attention from ABC-6, 10TV, and independent journalists. (See the end of this post or click here for video footage of the protest.)
Approximately 15 Autistic individuals and cross-disability allies protested Autism Speaks' lack of family and community support, its high executive pay, its lack of Autistic representation, and its eugenic aims. Protesters heavily emphasized that Autism Speaks only gives 4% of money raised to families and local communities.
During the first half of the protest, protesters faced incoming traffic and held signs with slogans such as Listen to Me, I Have Autism, First Class Autistic, Second-Class Citizen, and Autism Speaks Does Not Speak for Me. Several interested individuals approached the group, some kind and supportive, others not. One such negative encounter involved a walker who claimed that Autism Speaks can't have Autistic leaders or board members because Autistic people are incapable of making important decisions.
During the second half of the event, protesters faced 18,000 walkers, many of whom were far more belligerent than those encountered during last year's protest. One walker screamed, "Are you all stupid?! You're all stupid!" This particular walker lunged toward the protesters and had to be pushed back by a friend and a walk official.
Others screamed, "You're a bunch of idiots!" and "How do you sleep at night?" Additionally, toward the end of the protest, a car full of walkers swerved at ASAN-OSU's faculty advisor as though they were going to hit her, and then drove off laughing. When protesters engaged in a dramatic reading of Jim Sinclair's "Don't Mourn for Us," a group of parents booed and yelled, "Go home! You suck!"
Protesters chanted at several intervals, with slogans such as Nothing about us without us! We don't need a cure! and Autism Speaks needs to listen! At one point, a group of cheerleaders grew quite loud in their chants, and protesters responded with, 2, 4, 6, 8, Autism Speaks discriminates!
Campus police and certain walk officials took great care to protect ASAN's first amendment rights, for which the protesters are incredibly grateful. So too did State Representative Ted Celeste stop by, listen, and share kind words with the protesters. The reporters were also very gracious and willing to listen.
ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State thanks those who were involved in the protest, including those who attended and those who assisted in planning. Individuals across the United States called and wrote cross-disability allies and Columbus media affiliates on our behalf, and many more spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media. So too did international members of the cross-disability community provide support and encouragement. Thank you. We appreciate all that you do.
http://asancentralohio.blogspot.com/2010/10/protest-against-autism-speaks-in.html
I knew that the neurodiversity movement had opponents, but I never would have imagined that these people would encounter the kinds of things they did. This is an important read.
Protest Against Autism Speaks in Columbus
On Sunday, October 10, ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State protested Autism Speaks' Walk Now for Autism on the Ohio State campus, a protest that lasted four hours and attracted media attention from ABC-6, 10TV, and independent journalists. (See the end of this post or click here for video footage of the protest.)
Approximately 15 Autistic individuals and cross-disability allies protested Autism Speaks' lack of family and community support, its high executive pay, its lack of Autistic representation, and its eugenic aims. Protesters heavily emphasized that Autism Speaks only gives 4% of money raised to families and local communities.
During the first half of the protest, protesters faced incoming traffic and held signs with slogans such as Listen to Me, I Have Autism, First Class Autistic, Second-Class Citizen, and Autism Speaks Does Not Speak for Me. Several interested individuals approached the group, some kind and supportive, others not. One such negative encounter involved a walker who claimed that Autism Speaks can't have Autistic leaders or board members because Autistic people are incapable of making important decisions.
During the second half of the event, protesters faced 18,000 walkers, many of whom were far more belligerent than those encountered during last year's protest. One walker screamed, "Are you all stupid?! You're all stupid!" This particular walker lunged toward the protesters and had to be pushed back by a friend and a walk official.
Others screamed, "You're a bunch of idiots!" and "How do you sleep at night?" Additionally, toward the end of the protest, a car full of walkers swerved at ASAN-OSU's faculty advisor as though they were going to hit her, and then drove off laughing. When protesters engaged in a dramatic reading of Jim Sinclair's "Don't Mourn for Us," a group of parents booed and yelled, "Go home! You suck!"
Protesters chanted at several intervals, with slogans such as Nothing about us without us! We don't need a cure! and Autism Speaks needs to listen! At one point, a group of cheerleaders grew quite loud in their chants, and protesters responded with, 2, 4, 6, 8, Autism Speaks discriminates!
Campus police and certain walk officials took great care to protect ASAN's first amendment rights, for which the protesters are incredibly grateful. So too did State Representative Ted Celeste stop by, listen, and share kind words with the protesters. The reporters were also very gracious and willing to listen.
ASAN-Central Ohio/Ohio State thanks those who were involved in the protest, including those who attended and those who assisted in planning. Individuals across the United States called and wrote cross-disability allies and Columbus media affiliates on our behalf, and many more spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media. So too did international members of the cross-disability community provide support and encouragement. Thank you. We appreciate all that you do.
http://asancentralohio.blogspot.com/2010/10/protest-against-autism-speaks-in.html
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Bullying
I don't think I need to tell anyone that bullying has been pushed to the forefront of the media lately, and specifically teens who commit suicide as a result of bullying. Given this, I feel compelled to share my own story in the hopes that it will be enlightening to others.
I was bullied relentlessly for almost all of my childhood. And it was never for anything in particular, it was just that I was "weird." I remember wondering what that could even really mean, and wishing they would be more specific so that maybe I could change whatever it was that made me so unlikeable. And when I wasn't being tormented, I was being shunned. Completely. I didn't have a friend in the world to reaffirm that I had value in the world of my peers.
I developed major depression. I don't think I ever seriously considered suicide, but I know I thought about it. Honestly I don't remember much from that time period, I guess I've blocked it out. I wonder if I would be alive today if things had continued on the way they were then. I am not sure that I would be. But in 9th grade, something intervened, and that is what I want to tell you about.
When I was fourteen I discovered Twisted Sister. Yes, the guys with the big hair from the 80's. I listened to their music and it seemed to be all about loving yourself and not caring about what other people think, and how you and what makes you happy are more important than anything anyone else can say to you. Not exactly a novel concept, I am sure I had heard it before, but for whatever reason THAT is what got through to me. THAT is what made the difference. I learned from Twisted Sister to separate how I view myself and my value from how I am treated by others.
This turned out to be a valuable skill. You may have already put the pieces together yourself, but I'll spell it out. I discovered as an adult, just this past February in fact, that the "weird" that got me shunned as a child and teenager was actually autism. It's not something I am going to grow out of, and unfortunately it is not something that adults handle much more gracefully than school children. I will probably always be bullied in some way, for the same things I was bullied for as a child. It may not ever really get better.
But now, it has almost no effect on me. It still hurts and it's still disappointing when people aren't kind to me, but I don't internalize it anymore. I know my value and nothing anyone can do or say can take that away from me. And I got that from Twisted Sister.
I wanted to write this because I see so many people feeling like they are powerless to help their children and their friends to cope with bullying. There is a way to get these kids through alive. It doesn't have to be some grand and complex cure-all that swoops down from the sky to save the day. It doesn't have to be something that we dismiss as unknown or out of reach. Little insignificant things can change a persons life, and you never know where the light at the end of the tunnel for someone is going to show itself. It can be a hug, a kind word, a dinner with family, an off the cuff remark, a coach, a priest, a grandparent, a pet, a sport, or even a musician. It doesn't take the hand of god coming down from the sky to smite bullies to get kids to develop the self-esteem and self-assurance to get them through life. All people, but kids who are dealing with bullying in particular, need to be exposed to as many positive influences as humanly possible. Because you never know when some seemingly insignificant little thing is going to make the difference, and it only takes ONE moment to change a life, and in some cases, to save one.
We can all be a part of the solution to this problem. You may be a parent, a friend, a neighbor, a coach, whatever-- whatever you are, you are something to someone. Use that relationship as an opportunity to be a positive influence. Because you never know if you could be the one that makes the difference. We have all seen enough news stories about children being put into caskets in their prom dresses because they were bullied to death before even graduating high school. We've seen enough. Don't let yourself be made to feel like you are helpless. You are not. It only takes the one positive influence that manages to break through. Just the one. That can be you.
And, on the other hand, it just takes one person, one moment, to shove someone that is teetering over the edge. Maybe one seemingly insignificant little mean thing you did can mean life or death for the person you are bullying. Don't be an idiot. Don't think that because you can make a mean comment about someone and forget about it five minutes later, that means that the person you hurt will ever forget. You never know, you could be the one that pushes a person to the breaking point. Just because you didn't purposefully stand right behind them and shove does not mean that what you did was not significant. Grow up and choose to do right by other people. Just as one person, one positive influence, has the power to save someone's life-- you have the power to push someone to end theirs. This is your chance to evaluate the way you treat people and whether or not you like what you do to the people around you. This is your chance to change. Take it.
I was bullied relentlessly for almost all of my childhood. And it was never for anything in particular, it was just that I was "weird." I remember wondering what that could even really mean, and wishing they would be more specific so that maybe I could change whatever it was that made me so unlikeable. And when I wasn't being tormented, I was being shunned. Completely. I didn't have a friend in the world to reaffirm that I had value in the world of my peers.
I developed major depression. I don't think I ever seriously considered suicide, but I know I thought about it. Honestly I don't remember much from that time period, I guess I've blocked it out. I wonder if I would be alive today if things had continued on the way they were then. I am not sure that I would be. But in 9th grade, something intervened, and that is what I want to tell you about.
When I was fourteen I discovered Twisted Sister. Yes, the guys with the big hair from the 80's. I listened to their music and it seemed to be all about loving yourself and not caring about what other people think, and how you and what makes you happy are more important than anything anyone else can say to you. Not exactly a novel concept, I am sure I had heard it before, but for whatever reason THAT is what got through to me. THAT is what made the difference. I learned from Twisted Sister to separate how I view myself and my value from how I am treated by others.
This turned out to be a valuable skill. You may have already put the pieces together yourself, but I'll spell it out. I discovered as an adult, just this past February in fact, that the "weird" that got me shunned as a child and teenager was actually autism. It's not something I am going to grow out of, and unfortunately it is not something that adults handle much more gracefully than school children. I will probably always be bullied in some way, for the same things I was bullied for as a child. It may not ever really get better.
But now, it has almost no effect on me. It still hurts and it's still disappointing when people aren't kind to me, but I don't internalize it anymore. I know my value and nothing anyone can do or say can take that away from me. And I got that from Twisted Sister.
I wanted to write this because I see so many people feeling like they are powerless to help their children and their friends to cope with bullying. There is a way to get these kids through alive. It doesn't have to be some grand and complex cure-all that swoops down from the sky to save the day. It doesn't have to be something that we dismiss as unknown or out of reach. Little insignificant things can change a persons life, and you never know where the light at the end of the tunnel for someone is going to show itself. It can be a hug, a kind word, a dinner with family, an off the cuff remark, a coach, a priest, a grandparent, a pet, a sport, or even a musician. It doesn't take the hand of god coming down from the sky to smite bullies to get kids to develop the self-esteem and self-assurance to get them through life. All people, but kids who are dealing with bullying in particular, need to be exposed to as many positive influences as humanly possible. Because you never know when some seemingly insignificant little thing is going to make the difference, and it only takes ONE moment to change a life, and in some cases, to save one.
We can all be a part of the solution to this problem. You may be a parent, a friend, a neighbor, a coach, whatever-- whatever you are, you are something to someone. Use that relationship as an opportunity to be a positive influence. Because you never know if you could be the one that makes the difference. We have all seen enough news stories about children being put into caskets in their prom dresses because they were bullied to death before even graduating high school. We've seen enough. Don't let yourself be made to feel like you are helpless. You are not. It only takes the one positive influence that manages to break through. Just the one. That can be you.
And, on the other hand, it just takes one person, one moment, to shove someone that is teetering over the edge. Maybe one seemingly insignificant little mean thing you did can mean life or death for the person you are bullying. Don't be an idiot. Don't think that because you can make a mean comment about someone and forget about it five minutes later, that means that the person you hurt will ever forget. You never know, you could be the one that pushes a person to the breaking point. Just because you didn't purposefully stand right behind them and shove does not mean that what you did was not significant. Grow up and choose to do right by other people. Just as one person, one positive influence, has the power to save someone's life-- you have the power to push someone to end theirs. This is your chance to evaluate the way you treat people and whether or not you like what you do to the people around you. This is your chance to change. Take it.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A must read...
Exclusive: First Autistic Presidential Appointee Speaks Out
When Ari Ne’eman walked onstage at a college campus in Pennsylvania in June, he looked like a handsome young rabbi presiding over the bar mitzvah of a young Talmudic scholar.
In truth, Ne’eman was facilitating a different kind of coming-of-age ceremony. Beckoning a group of teenagers to walk through a gateway symbolizing their transition into adult life, he said, “I welcome you as members of the autistic community.” The setting was an annual gathering called Autreat, organized by an autistic self-help group called Autism Network International.
Ne’eman’s deliberate use of the phrase “the autistic community” was more subversive than it sounds. The notion that autistic people — often portrayed in the media as pitiable loners — would not only wear their diagnosis proudly, but want to make common cause with other autistic people, is still a radical one. Imagine a world in which most public discussion of homosexuality was devoted to finding a cure for it, rather than on the need to address the social injustices that prevent gay people from living happier lives. Though the metaphor is far from exact (for example, gay people obviously don’t face the impairments that many autistic people do), that’s the kind of world that autistic people live in.
Now, as the first openly autistic White House appointee in history — and one of the youngest at age 22 — Ne’eman is determined to change that.
Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/exclusive-ari-neeman-qa/all/1#ixzz11bUrmXGc
When Ari Ne’eman walked onstage at a college campus in Pennsylvania in June, he looked like a handsome young rabbi presiding over the bar mitzvah of a young Talmudic scholar.
In truth, Ne’eman was facilitating a different kind of coming-of-age ceremony. Beckoning a group of teenagers to walk through a gateway symbolizing their transition into adult life, he said, “I welcome you as members of the autistic community.” The setting was an annual gathering called Autreat, organized by an autistic self-help group called Autism Network International.
Ne’eman’s deliberate use of the phrase “the autistic community” was more subversive than it sounds. The notion that autistic people — often portrayed in the media as pitiable loners — would not only wear their diagnosis proudly, but want to make common cause with other autistic people, is still a radical one. Imagine a world in which most public discussion of homosexuality was devoted to finding a cure for it, rather than on the need to address the social injustices that prevent gay people from living happier lives. Though the metaphor is far from exact (for example, gay people obviously don’t face the impairments that many autistic people do), that’s the kind of world that autistic people live in.
Now, as the first openly autistic White House appointee in history — and one of the youngest at age 22 — Ne’eman is determined to change that.
Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/10/exclusive-ari-neeman-qa/all/1#ixzz11bUrmXGc
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
