Are autistics better treated today than 20-40 years ago?

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Do you feel autistics are better treated/more understood today than in previous decades/generations?

Both answers are the same - "A Little" is a subset of "Yes".

Poll does not include "No", "The Same", or "I Don't Know".

Please revise poll.

I added no but forgot to add "the same" and "I don't know". I'm trying to edit the poll but it won't let me because the poll edit options have disapeared. What can I do?

I am in my early 50s. The autism/Asperger's spectrum was not recognized as such when I was a child, although it definitely existed. I knew of a few other people with similar problems to my own. People on the spectrum were diagnosed as having emotional or behavioral problems, and it was felt that with the right treatment over time, that we could be cured. Pardon me a moment, while I die laughing--through my tears. I had this condition then, and still have it now. Over the years I have developed coping mechanisms for some of my problems, but I am not cured. I don't believe there is a cure. There are treatments that may help for when we are too depressed or have too much anxiety, or get too obsessive/compulsive, but there is no cure.

As for whether we are treated better now than way back when. My answer is that it is mixed. It is good that we are no longer thought of as having a curable emotional/behavior problem, as our real problems are now given some recognition, and are sometimes taken into consideration in school or at work.

Unfortunately, the general public doesn't have a very clear idea of what spectrum problems entail, and tend to think of all of us as being similar to or having the potential of, the few spectrum people who have committed horrible crimes.

In any population of people there are always going to be a few bad apples. That does not make the whole barrel rotten. Unfortunately, the general public tends to think in terms of events they have heard about, or read, or watched in the media, so we all get painted with the same brush as the spectrum people who have committed horrible crimes.

So, my answer is that society's reactions to us now are better in some ways, but not in others.

Unfortunately, not all doctors are up to date on Autism/Asperger's, so it is important to find one who is, when looking for help with it.

I imagine that we are. People usually respect us more than they would have, 50 years ago.

I say no.


In the UK tolerance of the disabled and compassion in general has fallen markedly in that timeframe, the job market has become hugely more competitive & flexible making things hugely more difficult for autistics trying to earn a crust. Poverty has risen and the share of wealth possessed by the poor has fallen so basically, we have less chance of ever working, a life of poverty and an NT population filled with hate and derision that blames the weak and the poor for all wrongs in society.


And education has turned all 'group work' social crap instead of STFU and do your work on your own.

Well, I'm no longer afraid of being institutionalized for being what I am, I have to say "Yes".
But there are caveats here, as the Great Recession (BS, this has been a depression, if Bush & Obama hadn't taken those drastic steps we'd have 40% or more unemployment. Etc, etc.) has gone on, people in the US have become less sympathetic & a bit more selfish towards the disabled. Which is understandable when you fear for your own livelyhood.
There is a bit more understanding & awareness of autism these days, but it could certainly be better.

Sincerely,
Matthew

I think things are improving slowly as general awareness grows.