Not something "wrong"

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I have a stepson with As and what I truly believe that AS is a different way of viewing the world.. I think the difficulties are from trying to take people who have a completely different outlook and trying to force them to see things the way others do. I have a problem with it being called a disability or a syndrome.. I think that honestly it is probably a form of evolution . He was just diagnosed a couple of years ago and yes I see the difficulties he had as a small child , but I think mainly that was us not understanding how he looks at things. Now that we understand, of course we are still learning, he is very happy and learning in a way that makes him feel comfortable. I may be being naive, but I think its wrong to look at it as something that is wrong with people. I truly dont believe it.

You'll find lots of allies for those thoughts here. Not naive, at all.

Concur.

Ditto.

I'm not going to try to argue against the idea of Asperger's as an evolutionary jump but I'm curious; what would be the evolutionary advantage? Reason over emotion, perhaps?

Better adapted to computer technology

uh oh

not for us right brainiacs

I have often thought that ASD"s were an evolutionary jump. I'll state my one fact of reasoning.
People have always been social creatures, and being social creatures, we share germs easily. This is how many different plagues get started, people living in close quarters, sexual activity, and so on. When you have people with as ASD, they are more likely to stay to stay to themselves. Thus preventing some of the scenarios that disease and germs are spread.

I do believe you're right on the mark with this. It appears to me, after years of observation, that while there are some deficits that can occur in some AS individuals (as can be the case with *anyone*), the biggest problems we have as Aspies is the unwillingness of others to accept our differences with an opened mind, and instead trying to force us into some social mold.

I like to think our different way of thinking can be an asset to society, if society would allow us to be US.

I agree with you about myself and both my sons. I'm just fine left to my own devices, but force me out there with the world and I'm doomed

I feel that way most of the time but when a two hour meltdown occurs over something simple (last night it was because she couldn't watch the end of a show she's seen many, many times) I realize my daughter has some real limitations. I don't feel her only issues are society's expectations. She has low frustration tolerence, rigidity, and social anxiety, among other things such as sensory differentials, etc. While I think people with AS can have extreme skills, they also can have some extreme limitations that will need to be recognized. However, it is a huge spectrum and I can see how you would feel this way when looking at those who can function well on a daily basis.

I have to agree with this. I totally agree that my son has many wonderful strengths, but there's no question he has many challenges that cause his daily functioning to be impaired. He would not be just fine if the world left him alone. Admittedly he is still a child, but he's not capable of taking care of himself at the level of NT children his age. From what I've read and observed, I expect him to need care from his family quite a while past the time an NT child usually would. ( I'm totally okay with that, though worried about whether his father and I will be around to give it and what will happen if we aren't.)

I don't like the word disability, but I do think he undeniably has a handicap -- I usually stick to the term "special needs" because it sums it up very well.

Of course it's different for every person on the spectrum.

Although some believe it is an evolutionary jump...I dont think it is a jump but neither a setback either...just diversity. There takes alot of people to make this world...if we were all aspies, we would have a more humane world, but I doubt we would not get much done as aspies like myself enjoy thinking and special interests more than anything that is boring but productive. I think, however, we should recieve more respect for our gifts to the world, such as special intrests that blossom into real talents and our view of the world.

autism isnt something i see as wrong, but its not something i see as right either. to me, with the information i have now, it just is, a variation from the usual.

i dont see where there is any evolutionary jump involved. for the germ theory, humans are flourishing as a species, there is no need for our biology to develop a change to combat something that isnt even happening. i cant see it as an adaptation to our technological society either, since quite frankly, there are intelligent people without autism who have traits similar to the benefits but without the deficits.

a lot of how someone feels about this particular topic is going to depend on where they see the cause of autism lying. undoubtedly, for someone to agree they would have to see a genetic basis, probably a purely genetic basis. i cant see that as being true for all cases of autism, and therefore cant see a common basis for why autism exists in all cases.

Interesting!!