The Dawn of Autistic Space - Excerpt from NeuroTribes

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I was reading that section 2 days ago, Mr. Silberman is a good ally and writer.

It really does show how far we've come, from a table to full blown events on multiple continents, this site, and retreat centers like Ocate.

Among all the accounts of autism, 'Neurotribes' is certainly the most lucid to date. Steve Silberman writes with a directness and honesty that is similar to Tony Atwood's; and, being gay, he has personal experience of discrimination, of what it is to be seen as 'Other'.

One of the most memorable parts of the book are the chapters on Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner. Asperger comes across as the most intuitive, empathetic and altruistic of the two, while Kanner seems to have taken a somewhat unsubtle, black-and-white approach, often fuelled by personal ambition. One can't help thinking that the lives of people with autism would have been greatly improved had Asperger's 'spectrum' theory been introduced earlier. History can be very cruel.

I have just finished reading this book and I recommend it to everybody on the autism spectrum. Although the subject matter is scientific, the style is not the least bit dry or "textbook." It is immensely readable and sometimes even has the pace of a thriller. The early days of autism study make for a sad story populated with countless misunderstood children and adults, but the progress made to date offers great hope. It's a wonderful book, and I don't use that word idly. So high-tail it over to your library and check it out, everybody!

Sincerely,

"Higgie"

Thanks, folks. I really appreciate it!

Thank you, Steve! We stand to benefit much more from your work than you do.

Thanks Steve. I'm new to the site. Learning a lot. It all makes more sense now. Will definitely try to get book. Hi to anyone else on this not so lonely planet.

Yes indeed, Thank you Steve Silberman.,

It felt a bit of a homecoming when I read "Neurotribes" this year.

My tribe.

Another thank you.
I know you have taken a lot of heat and criticism for bieng an elitist and at this time there seems to be a backlash against Neurodiversity here at Wrong Planet and elsewhere. My hope that in 10 or 20 years your work will be understood to be the seminal work it is and that Autism as mostly or all about impairments will seem as antiquated as the idea that gays should not be teachers because they are going to poison the kids minds.

I am very straight and around your age and it seems the ND/Autism rights movement today is where the gay rights movement was when we were teens in the 1970's. Getting some positive press(you have had a big role in this) but still a big stigma about it.

As I am straight I will not pretend to understand what it was like for you back then. I can say when I was bullied it was not because I was autistic because as you so well documented nobody would recognize somebody like me as Autistic, but because different equaled gay so that is who they thought I was.

But look at where the LBGTQ community is today!! While no two situations are alike your communities should serve both as an inspiration and as a teacher for ours.

Well, I don't know. I am, of course, autistic but managed to stay under the radar through all those exciting times.
This book offers me no hope at all - I was fifty two when I learned of autism and fifty seven when the diagnosis became official. I live in a world where there are a few percent of people in my age group probably autistic, but vanishingly few of them know it. I know from experience that learning at a late age is difficult, I work in an organisation where difference is accepted and autism doesn't exist, I am downtrodden, ignored and forgotten. And, perennially, left out. Through the period your work highlights the glittering stars of, millions like me lived, worked and died. Yes, I'm glad the world is learning. Just sorry it's too late for me.

Besides dying knowing who I am I do not not expect much if any tangable benifit from other people from the neurodiversity movement. In the UK they are making a concerted effort to understand and help adult autistics. In the USA tentative efforts are beginning for YOUNG ADULTS because they are seen as potential productive employees and the wave of kids diagnosed because of the expanding criteria are or becoming young adults frightening parents who give to Autism "charities" and research organizations. Either way it will take a generation for the knowlege to be aquired, spread, people to figure out what to do the knowledge and the inevitable resistance overcome. Overcoming resistance will be the hardest thing to do and where the whole thing can come undone.

All we can do is try the best we can to move things forward for future generations. I am glad the most of the people in the early to mid 1940's decided to pay it forward and not say wow I have really bad luck to be born at a time when I am going to be drafted and lose prime years of my life if not my life, get shot at, have my city leveled etc.

For all the talk of there being a community, I've never experienced it or seen any evidence of one actually existing. An internet community does not equivalate to a real life one, I don't feel like it comparable to the real gay or deaf communities.