Autism (aspergers) and culture.

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Hi,
Wanted to share my son´s (15 years old) story.
First of all we live in a Scandinavian country, and its an island which pretty much gives it up.
My view may be controversial but I think the whole diagnosis of autism is not very good, and actually can be destructive, and is more of a cultural phenonemon, like many of the "diseases" and "medical" conditions that have smuggled their way into society.
Today there is no room for being different!! which in itself is a paradox if you look at how society likes things to be portrayed.
My son was diagnosed with mild aspergers after the school, which had no accommodation for him, decided that he had some kind of condition that took away their responsibility to educate him.

He always was eccentric and very good student. He was highest in the country in a standardized test when he was 11 years old. Took iq test at same age, and was in the 99.98 % percentiale rank in the WISC test. Played musical instrument, the piano, and did 99/100 in a very difficult test at age 13. Took a course in physics in a community college at 12 years of age, and got an A. He was basically thinking like a 14 year old when he was 7 years old.
Of course he hated school because he did absolutely nothing there, NOTHING!! !., but all we had to hear throughout the years was that he needed to improve this and that, which was of course (in a hindsight) complete BS. Their responsiblity was non existent.
He went to one autistic evaluation and it was decideed he was not autistic. Than his depression and boredom in school increased and some behavioural issues(very mild in retropect), and the school demanded 2nd opinion, and voila! he was diagnosed, and suddenly the school had no responsiblity; it was his fault. In a hindsight it destroyed him. Its just a game. A grown ups game.
Nothing against autism, but this grey area where you are not autistic, and not "neurotypical" is very wide. Of course that view doesn´t suit the social narritive that is prevalent today, at least not in my country.

Also there is no council or therapy for aspergers students. Everybody has to be in the some kind of a box, because the system cant handle it otherwise.
In my country everything is "problemized", but in aspergers case its problemized and no solutions, or alternative thinking.

Ok, what about beginning to help the group that is not being helped (having aspergers or not) that is 90% of the population, that is boys. And also if thats the case, than isn´t there much change of misdiagnosis in males?
All you get is a stamp, and prognosis that you are much more likely to have all sorts of problems, and really dont have a hope......
Its really a hack. It means well, but horrible in practise.

Your opinions are welcome. Maybe its different in other cultures.
Regards, John

It's interesting that being diagnosed with autism relieves the school system of responsibility to educate a student. Here in the U.S., the school system resists the diagnosis, because that would demand that they provide alternative and additional programming, which can be very expensive to the school budget.

What became of your son?

Hi,
Nice avatar, "golden girls." Just to start with some light hearted material.

Well, its simple. He was put on risperdal. Few months later he tried to commit suicide 13 years old. He has been recovering since, and has had extensive physical therapy. He is now almost cured from his paralysis from that attempt, but still has some issues about his hand and eyesight, still its like a miracle.
This whole thing has of course not helped his education, but its an ongoing struggle.
His mind is working fine, but still has some fatique but its always getting better.
Still of course no reaction from the "wellfare system" its a joke.

I'm glad he survived. Adolescence is hard on everybody, but extremely hard on people with autism.

You are missing the point. If he had had an appropriate educational placement, and not this medicine, than probably not that attempt. Get it??

Your son’s story seems pretty unique, I feel bad for everything he went through, but I don’t think you can draw broad conclusions on autism as a whole based on it. If the school is failing your son, it’s their fault, not the diagnosis of autism. the school system isn’t always going to be on your side or do whats in your best interest, and you might need to stand up to them and advocate for what your son needs. If they can’t provide that, you should consider other options, like moving him to a different school. Anyway, if you just want to vent about things this is a great place to do it!

You don't know that.

Also, set up an IEP; Individualized Education Plan, if you haven't; the school MUST conform to it

It's basically the needs for the student, specifically for Special Needs kids

For example, I had some of my School Tests modified to make it easier on me, and there was almost always a Teachers Aid in the room to help me if I needed the help as well

Do you know that?

It is highly possible because if I look back, and see the development of his depression. He was never, or very seldomly challenged in school. At the same time he was an eager learner. Then in around 6th grade his bad behavior increased. The first years were fine, never any problem. Than he just got more bored and bored. He just didnt see any point being there.
Here in Iceland we have this educational policy "school for everybody". That policy is totally bankrupt, and everybody knows it, except some idiotic politicians(of course they know it, but use it to practise their mambo jambo).

What else happens around 6th grade, besides incorrect educational programming? Hormones - puberty - and an increase in bullying, cliques and exclusion throughout the middle school years.

Yes, but what do you think about girls being underrepresented in the aspergers population? If we accept that, we run into all kinds of problems about diagnosis criteria.
Also the gap between aspergers, and "neuro typical" is pretty wide in my opinion, but of course, it is very narrow in the "system". The system wants answers, that can take away their responsibility, i.e. about children like my son.
The educational philosophy is totally bankrupt here in Iceland. It is based on so called "school for everybody". Probably the most horrible policy for my son´s education.

Also there is this stigma about some child being ahead of others, that is that egalitarian approach. Just that in itself ruins everything, and never really attacks the roots of the problem. In that respect the situation here is probably among the worst in the world. We basically copy/paste Sweden´s policy, but dont have a clue how to implement it.

I am pretty sure he would have gotten more attention in almost every country. The educational system here is so flat.
Iceland is also a world record holder in the use for drugs for all kind of mental conditions, especially in children.
Also my point is that children and teenageers are diagnosed, and there is no policy or program......

Not at all "attacking" autism, just saying that it can be dangerous to "love" that condition, and here the discussion is very narrow, and I cant see myself going into that.

Yes, I hear you. I dont think that was the reason. It happened more gradually than that. Also we changed schools before 5th grade, and there was no bullying (thank god) or exclusion, but he had a hard time making friends. Nobody had the same interest as him, and that interest was not "typical" aspegers, very broad.
There is also the danger. I.e. his math teacher was worried he didnt write down his problems , and of course ahhh,, that was a sign of, yeah maybe aspergers......, not that he was dead bored, and could do that problem in his head 5 years earlier.
This is just so crazy

Can you home school or cyber school? Here in the US many people are now doing that. That way the parents are really personally involved in every aspect of the child's education. And the child can move along at his pace rather than at the pace of the classroom. Is this an option for you? I wonder if you can even use cyber school programs that are based in the US.

Your son is obviously profoundly gifted; you should look it up on the internet.

http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/topicType/5/entryType/1
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
https://sengifted.org/

http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/

It don't mean he's not asperger, of course, but it do sound like his diagnosis was based on flawed criteria.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/twice_exceptional.htm

In face value "education for everybody" is not the same as "same education for everybody", and universal education is what allow a society in which someone like your son can find learning materials without having to be part of a wealthy elite; a society in which everyone is academically educated allow for easier access to books and various educating materials, without having to been part of the higher class.


It's not something that only exist in Iceland.

Wow this is the first time that I heard that a Scandinavian coutry is behind the US in something educational. The US used to do that until a little law called the individuals with disabilities educational act came into focus in 1974.
The posters are very correct, your son may or maynot be high functioning or just so advanced that he cannot relate to his typical peers.
Also public education only works for 68 percent of population (standard bell curve) and people that fall below or beyond that will not be served well. Excpet we have a law that protects the lower quartile just not one for the upper. Your son may need a more specialized education catered to his needs the public schook cannot offer him. Private school.

Thanks for the input,
Yes, the school system here is in most ways behind the US school system. I have personally tried both of them, it varies of course. Its a wide subject, but here the system is like an institution, or a "storage room" to meet parents needs. Maybe harsh, but its reality. At the same time there is this misunderstood egalitarian philosophy.
Also widespread use of drugs like I said earlier. If one look into it, it really is one big mess.

Private schools are non existent in Iceland, and not an option. Everything is according to the curriculum.
He can read advanced english, and scientifc text, but still he needs to read some boring textbook in English, and if he doesn´t do it he is not behaving properly.
My point is that there can be negatives about using these labels to extensively, and some people pick them up, and use them inappropriately.
And if people in the system know that the use of drugs is always around the corner, than the system will definitly not change. Is it too much to ask to want to have that discussion?

There are also positive things. He is also taking some online courses, i.e. in Khan academy, and Coursera, and I really think Youtube with all its material has just done so much for him.