Why are people with aspergers treated so poorly?
Our current culture celebrates extroverts & social prowess. I'm guessing it's rooted in whatever has also made capitalism our preferred economic system and celebrities our heroes? It's like the alpha sales people took over and convinced everyone that being popular and the life of the part is the only viable way to be - at least in popular culture. Since we lack those abilities, we are seen as, "less than", and the current culture does not publicly value accommodation or appreciation for outliers (unless of course they become wildly successful and then it is that image of them that is celebrated). A bunch of chimps, that's what we are.
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“For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.”
―Carl Sagan
There are many reasons for this. Some of them are:
- there is a sustained and well-funded campaign of propaganda to depict ASD people as afflicted with a disease
as bad as leprosy. It is funded by Autism Speaks
- the failure of the autistic community to mount an effective counteraction to the propaganda.
- the idea many autistic people seem to have that it is hopeless to try to educate people, the media, institutions
- the kinds of research topics that are selected for study. No-one really challenges this thoughtfully with Cicero's famous question: cui bono? Who benefits?
-the dissemination of false ideas by some careerist academics. They have invested years of study and funds in wrong theory and will never admit they are wrong because it would be academically embarassing.
-an uneducated media
-the lack of seminars et al and other initiatives as public education programmes devised and delivered by capable and knowledgable ASD people who are well informed to general, media and other specialist audiences. (Please don't say we can't do this; we can). Those who don't have the skills to deliver them could help with background stuff like fundraising, photocopying, etc - all those tasks that make up a group effort.
-the consistent way that some spectrum people consistently reinforce the myths and stereotypes. You can see some examples on WP every day. eg: "Who would ever want to be a friend of a person with Aspergers? We suck at everything, we are hopeless, we are losers, we are unemployable, etc etc etc" This is what Autism Speaks wants. Really wants..
-the idea that people on the spectrum - as individuals and as a group - have no power.
The best way to give away your power is to believe that you have none.
I don't think anyone means us any harm. I think our struggles and autism in general is just misunderstood and unheard. I think those of us who have a voice and can use it fluently should start speaking up. We need to make an effort to let the world know who we are and help them understand us better. I think that's the only way society will better adapt to us.
We can't just be silent typing and griping about all our problems on WP and expect something to be done about it. We gotta stand up and speak up and quit hiding. I plan on becoming a public speaker as an autism and anti bullying advocate, I feel like I have an obligation to do it. Too many kids have way too hard of a life growing up in public schools and just growing up in general and something can be done about it.
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