Autistic Culture

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I had posted about this last week, but didn't get much response, so I thought I'd try again.

What does "autistic culture" mean to you?

(It's for a video I've been asked to make for a conference forum in November.)

The culture that is for autistics, done by autistics and to autistics

(not sure if this is the right phrasing)

Not a cult topic

There is no one culture, mindset, lifestyle, economy, community, etc that homogeneously defines anyone on the spectrum. Those on the Spectrum are a motley crew.

However, I believe there are certain traits that many aspies have that set them apart. Check the DSM IV for a list of the traits used in Dx. there are certain behaviours that AS people show that make them different from NTs.

Whitetiger, you must know enough about being an Aspie to use some of your own experiences.
Certain groups and clubs and organizations that help and support us can be a wealth of information.

There is no one Aspie size that fits all.

It seems to be largely a cyber/salon but it's not unique in that respect, so I don't know.

I'm going to be drawing a lot from my own experiences and knowledge. I thought the vid would be richer if I could express different points of view within it. I also wanted to find out what people feel absolutely must be included.

Also don't forget "Autistic Culture is OUR culture-the culture that WE create to be free of NEUROTYPICAL influences. The NT majority has control of the majority of the world and can force their mental patterns and social laws on it. This is OUR world-the world of the neurodiverse-and we will REFUSE to let the neurotypicals make one step into our hallowed territory!. The Autistic Nation stands strong and will not let the neurotypicals destroy us as they went to."

something along that lines.

We are all alone together!!

lol!

The autistic culture is typically atypical.

I think we're to scattered to develop a culture, which is a word referring to a collective, which we don't have. I'm not sure if we wold develop a culture even if we could.

I once found a bar that had wall-to-wall books, wing-chairs (sp?), quiet, and sparsely populated. I was thrilled, but it didn't last long - sparsely populated doesn't make money.

Do businesses know how to pitch to people with Asperger's? Could they find us if they had something we want, like a bar or restaurant (serving Asperger-friendly meals)?

A culture largely based on the internet because we couldn't barely stand to be around each other as a real life group.

An oxymoron.

whitetiger asks,

Autistic culture would probably be fairly similar to general culture, just probably slightly statically more likely to cover distance and detachment from other people.

I feel like as we develop support networks, in person and via the internet, we define for ourselves what it means to be autistic, via the traits we share and the way we communicate. We also define what it means to be in relationship to NT's.

Any other thoughts on the subject?

Maybe one little definition of the autistic culture is that it's a way of life that for the most part must be lived by routine and predictability in order to keep the unpredictability of society at arm's length, thereby protecting against sensory overload.

I think that in some ways it's a solitary life, in that while most people seem to spend a great deal of their time visiting others, we seem to spend a great deal of our time visiting ourselves.