Erikka Askeland: Could autism be a blessing in disguise?

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An aspie friend mailed this to me. I think it's a perfect capsule of all the things that are becoming a more mainstream portrayal of autism, specially aspergers. Well, atleast a mainstream picture on the liberal/progressive/huministic side.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/erikka-ask ... -1-2461742

maybe it is a blessing for a few.

It depends on so many things.

For some, AS can provide an alternative way of thinking or a impassioned special interest that can lead to a successful life. If they can learn to cope with the social aspects of it, even more of a successful life. If that alternative thinking or special interest gives you a competitive advantage, then yes it's a blessing.

If your AS keeps you from making friends or relationships, needing care, unable to do basic life skills or work, then no, it's not a blessing.

Dangerous to make assumptions.

Um, that was only the title of the article. There was something more in there.

"Being an imaginative, empathetic type-"

I'mma stop you right there.

*head'esk*

Implying that people on the autism spectrum can't be imaginative. AHAHAHAHA Satoshi Tajiri [one of her examples]. Implying that you are actually imaginative. Implying that you're empathetic.

Now that that's out of the way, it was pretty clear what she was talking about from the title of the article. Sure, it can be.

Ok, maybe I missed it because it was towards the end of the article. But overall I feel it's a nice summation of the current view of autism/aspergers. We've come a long way since the early days of autism awareness.

They shouldn't be interchangeably using the words autism and aspergers. It's amazing that in the article, they talked predominantly of Aspergers, but said autism in the title. I'm sick of these dirty tricks.[/quote]
You do realize that some people with autism are actually higher functioning than those with an asperger's diagnosis, yes?

And they are a small percentage. They shouldn't just be saying autism.

Guys,

The official terminology will be Autism Spectrum Disorder, soon. Aspergers will no longer exist as an official diagnosis along with PDD-NOS. Given this fact, i suspect terminology will be used interchangibily.


TheSunAlsoRises

Yes. I would be a horribly boring person, possibly a horrible person, without it, since I would have developed the conformist, homophobic, and snobby attitude of people at my elementary/middle school. I would be a white, middle class, American kid who had not dealt with any type of adversity, and, thus, would not have the strength that comes from going through Hell and coming out alright. I would never have had the time to read all of the amazing books that I had time for in elementary school because I had close to no friends. I never would have fallen in with my "awkward" group of friends in high school, and would not have known some of the most amazing people I've ever met. Hell, I probably wouldn't be dating the same amazing guy. I also probably wouldn't have a tested verbal IQ of 146, which runs along the same line of my family as Aspergers, and while I don't ascribe much merit to IQ scores, I do get good grades in most subjects without much effort.

Find a cure and I'll refuse it.

Maybe revisit that thought if you ever have a non verbal developmentally disabled child. Because that runs along with the Phenotype like you have (and certainly has been the case for me), it really is two sides of the same coin unfortunately.

the article was mentioning jim henson… which makes me think of this apple add, full of other people suspected to be on the spectrum, including the narrater himself.

here's to the crazy ones...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA[/youtube]

A toast to the crazy ones.....


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KscChA1DxAk&feature=related[/youtube]



LoL.


TheSunAlsoRises