katy_rome wrote:
About the original question in this topic - I read all the differing answers and it seemed to me that everyone clearly had a valid point, from their own perspective on the different positions on the spectrum. It's something I've been considering, and re-considering, and researching, and wondering about while reading, so I've followed this with interest.
It seems to me that people with ASD are born with something, yes. Heredary, yes clearly. We have it in our family. Sensitivity? Non-conformity, inability to pretend to be something they're not? Extreme empathy? Something beyond, or at least different from what other people have, generally speaking. And THAT is positive, I believe. The autism that can then come out of that given certain conditions, is NOT positive. It can lead to great suffering, most of all for the affected person themselves.
What makes the difference? I think (and I know this is not really a fashionable perspective, in particular from the point of view of defensive parents) that environmental factors make the difference between a positive and negative life experience, or experiences through life. These could be anything from birth or hospital trauma, illness, to parenting and schooling, relationships, friendships, immediate surroundings, community. Some are unavoidable, whereas others are avoidable in some situations. I'm making a detailed list, slowly, and would be grateful for any and all suggestions.
I tried to illustrate my answer to the question 'can we drop the D' - with the answer 'that depends'.. see below:
Nah, didn't work like that - I'll get back on this tomorrow ..
So, I was saying.. yes, environmental factors. I think there's not enough readiness to question, you know, basically the entire basis and setup of our society
, when considering what environmental factors affecting autism might be.