post from Autism Discussion Page

Post Reply New Topic

Differences vs. Disabilities!

In previous posts, regarding the controversy over the labels “high and low functioning” and “IQ and autism”, we explored that there are two main dimensions that have to be taken into consideration when talking about autism. There are two dimensions that interplay in how the person’s ability to function will play out: (1) autism symptoms (sensory processing issues, rigid inflexible thinking, processing differences, executive functioning problems, communication differences, social and emotional difficulties) and (2) Intellectual or cognitive impairment (limitations in being able to cognitively process information, understand, learn, and adaptive to environmental demands). As discussed in previous posts, a person can be “higher functioning” intellectually, but still have severe symptoms of autism, as well as a person can be more impaired cognitively (lower functioning) with less severe autism traits (more flexible, less sensory issues, easier time socially connecting, etc.). The whole confusion over “low and high” functioning has been because of the misunderstanding of how these two dimensions overlap. Granted, yes, this labels are misleading and only tend to devalue the person. However, to a good understanding of these two dimensions (autism traits and cognitive impairments) is needed to truly understanding how to help the individual.

There have been a lot of discussions and arguments around if the autism traits are a disability or simply differences (different abilities). I think for purposes of discussion here, let’s define “differences” as a different way of processing and adapting, and “disabilities” as limitations in being able to adapt. For example there are both sensory differences in autism, and sensory disabilities. For example, common sensory differences in autism would be better acuity of sensory detail, heighten sensitivity to sensory stimulation, strong perception of sensory patterns, unbiased perception of sensory stimulation, and strong sensory memory. Granted, some differences (e.g. sensory sensitivity) can be a strength in one situation, but a deficit in another (sensory overwhelmed). Whereas there are strong sensory differences in autism, there are also sensory disabilities. Deficits or disabilities can occur if the person has strong fragmented or distorted sensory “integration” difficulties, which interferes with the person’s ability to integrate their senses effectively. This can greatly effect their ability to adapt to the world around them in any environment. When you cannot consistently integrate your senses effectively it greatly effects all other functioning. In autism, individuals almost always have sensory differences, but sensory integration disabilities (distorted, fragmented perceptions, integration problems) vary substantially in severity.

The same holds true for cognitive differences. People on the spectrum, process information “differently” in that they are often more concrete, fact based, detailed thinkers, with strong associative and static memory. In these areas they are stronger than the global, more inferential, thinking patterns of neurotypical people. NT people tend to process from general to specific, and people on the spectrum tend to process from specific to general. People on the spectrum tend to be more factual and less biased in their thinking, then the more global, inferential thinking of NT people. NT thinking tends to be more abstract, whereas spectrum thinking tends to be more literal and concrete. Neither bad nor good, just different.

However, there are some processing disabilities that affect autism in varying severities. People on the spectrum can have strong disabilities in rapidly processing dynamic, multiple information simultaneously. They have difficulty processing information coming rapidly from multiple sources (or multiple senses) at one time. However, once the information flow slows down and is given sequentially, the processing improves drastically. Also, people on the spectrum have varying degrees of weaknesses in the areas of “executive functions” which consists of the abilities to control attention, inhibit impulses, organize, plan, and monitor a course of action, and multi-task. These can be seen as a disability because they do greatly limit the person’s ability to adapt. These too can vary in severity among people on the spectrum.

We all have strengths and weaknesses, and come packaged a little differently. Unfortunately, since autism is a minority in society, their differences tend to be quickly labeled as deficits (disabilities), because they do not fit the general norm. Different often first stands out as a deficit, or weakness. This is where, like for many minorities (people who are different), society can severely limit people on the spectrum. We need to embrace the differences, and foster their development, not interpret them as deficits. Since their differences, can be strengths that we miss, their value to society can be great. All we have to do is look at some of the major contributions people on the spectrum have made to art, science, and technology. The more we can learn from the way they view the world, the better our world can become. Their strong perceptual and detailed qualities can, and have, dramatically improved the quality of living for all of us.

So, in bridging the two cultures, since the mainstream culture is neurotypical, we need to help those on the spectrum accommodate and compensate for their disabilities (more sensory friendly modifications, changing the information flow for them, respecting their tendency to become overwhelmed in our environment, avoid strong social demands, etc.) and foster their valuable differences. By embracing everyone’s differences, can we all benefit more strongly. We have to be open to differences mean strengths, not weaknesses.