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Autism’s First Child

theatlantic.com

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Re: Autism’s First Child

#21

Post by startup_spouse »

Mz wrote: post #15
startup_spouse wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really curious. What about reading this article made you think of Elling and what you refer to as "mentally challenged folk"? Maybe I'm missing something (I haven't seen the movie, but from the imdb link you posted, no mention of autism)... but it seems to me like you're saying "having autism = being mentally challenged". Am I misinterpreting? I hope so :(

Some people with autism are severely mentally retarded. In fact, classic Kanner's syndrome (the original autism) generally also means severe mental retardation. Other people are labeled "high functioning autistic" (also called "Asperger's Syndrome") and can be very intelligent but have some challenges in areas like social skills. Still, most their social difficulties are, essentially, a form of being mentally challen…

Yes, some cases are severe. But not all. Which is which is why I, personally, don't think the whole lot should be referred to as "mentally challenged". But that's just my opinion.

I'm an Aspie and don't consider my social deficiencies to be a form of being mentally challenged. I just see my brain as being wired differently than others. I excel at some things my husband is terrible at. He excels at other things I'm terrible at. It doesn't make sense to arbitrarily assign me with the mentally challenged label in that context. In protest, I reject the label :) If we met, you probably wouldn't even know I was an Aspie. I've been told I don't "look like" someone with autism. I don't know what that means, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with stereotyping and labels.

I also say "autistic". I don't care if Jenny McCarthy thinks it sounds like I'm calling myself cancer. Even if she is hot ;)

I'm not saying you're guilty of this, but for many of us (Aspies, Auties) it feels like other people label us and we're not allowed to even engage in a discussion about our own label.

Re: Autism’s First Child

#22

Post by Mz »

startup_spouse wrote: post #21
Mz wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people with autism are severely mentally retarded. In fact, classic Kanner's syndrome (the original autism) generally also means severe mental retardation. Other people are labeled "high functioning autistic" (also called "Asperger's Syndrome") and can be very intelligent but have some challenges in areas like social skills. Still, most their social difficulties are, essentially, a form of being mentally challen…

Yes, some cases are severe. But not all. Which is which is why I, personally, don't think the whole lot should be referred to as "mentally challenged". But that's just my opinion. I'm an Aspie and don't consider my social deficiencies to be a form of being mentally challenged. I just see my brain as being wired differently than others. I excel at some things my husband is terrible at. He excels at other things I'm te…

The way you asked the question, I assumed you simply didn't know. :-)

I have heard Jenny McCarthy referred to on autism email lists. But I am not actually familiar with whatever her position is. Actually, I have no idea who she is either, other than someone controversial in the autism community.

To quote Madonna: "I hate labels. They are too limiting." But, as I often add in such discussions, we still need some means to talk about and think about such things, and that generally means labeling them.

Re: Autism’s First Child

#23

Post by startup_spouse »

nkurz wrote: post #11
startup_spouse wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really curious. What about reading this article made you think of Elling and what you refer to as "mentally challenged folk"? Maybe I'm missing something (I haven't seen the movie, but from the imdb link you posted, no mention of autism)... but it seems to me like you're saying "having autism = being mentally challenged". Am I misinterpreting? I hope so :(

Watch the movie first. The description doesn't really do it justice. Separately, though, if you ignore some of the connotations, it does seem fair to call autism a "mental challenge".

I will definitely have to watch it.

Yes, a "mental challenge" just like it might be a mental challenge for someone without my skill set to do something that I excel at naturally, yet I don't call them "mentally challenged". But that's not the issue.

There are some people who, when using "mentally challenged", are relying on your implicit understanding of those connotations to communicate something else. It is by pretending those connotations aren't there that we now have stereotypes about autism, etc. It's why people tell me I don't "look like" I have autism.

So, in that sense... I don't think it's fair. But I'm an Aspie and that renders my opinion on the matter of my own labeling inconsequential ;)

Re: Autism’s First Child

#24

Post by startup_spouse »

Mz wrote: post #22
startup_spouse wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, some cases are severe. But not all. Which is which is why I, personally, don't think the whole lot should be referred to as "mentally challenged". But that's just my opinion. I'm an Aspie and don't consider my social deficiencies to be a form of being mentally challenged. I just see my brain as being wired differently than others. I excel at some things my husband is terrible at. He excels at other things I'm te…

The way you asked the question, I assumed you simply didn't know. :-) I have heard Jenny McCarthy referred to on autism email lists. But I am not actually familiar with whatever her position is. Actually, I have no idea who she is either, other than someone controversial in the autism community. To quote Madonna: "I hate labels. They are too limiting." But, as I often add in such discussions, we still need some means…

Mea culpa. I should have been more clear about that :)

Jenny McCarthy was on MTV back in the day. Also in Playboy. Her son is on the spectrum and she believes it was caused by vaccinations. She doesn't like when people refer to people with autism as "autistic" because she thinks it's the equivalent of calling someone with cancer "cancerous". I respect her passion for helping her son, but I disagree with her. It's a fine balance: parents of small children with autism want to fight for their children's rights and protect them... but sometimes it's the parents themselves who are placing these kids in a tight box that's very limiting. Try to avoid that with your kids (yeah, easy peasy, right?).

Labels are indeed a necessary evil in order to talk about anything, really. In an ideal world, I'd like it to be a label that was mutually agreed upon, not forced on me. But, I think my vote should count for a bit more ;)

Please feel free to contact me if there's anything I can shed light on regarding your kids and ASD :)

Re: Autism’s First Child

#25

Post by Mz »

startup_spouse wrote: post #24
Mz wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The way you asked the question, I assumed you simply didn't know. :-) I have heard Jenny McCarthy referred to on autism email lists. But I am not actually familiar with whatever her position is. Actually, I have no idea who she is either, other than someone controversial in the autism community. To quote Madonna: "I hate labels. They are too limiting." But, as I often add in such discussions, we still need some means…

Mea culpa. I should have been more clear about that :) Jenny McCarthy was on MTV back in the day. Also in Playboy. Her son is on the spectrum and she believes it was caused by vaccinations. She doesn't like when people refer to people with autism as "autistic" because she thinks it's the equivalent of calling someone with cancer "cancerous". I respect her passion for helping her son, but I disagree with her. It's a f…

Please feel free to contact me if there's anything I can shed light on regarding your kids and ASD :)

Thank you for your kind offer. My "kids" are 20 and 23 and are doing quite well. I've given plenty of advice myself over the years to other folks with kids like mine. :-)

Re: Autism’s First Child

#26

Post by startup_spouse »

Mz wrote: post #25
startup_spouse wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mea culpa. I should have been more clear about that :) Jenny McCarthy was on MTV back in the day. Also in Playboy. Her son is on the spectrum and she believes it was caused by vaccinations. She doesn't like when people refer to people with autism as "autistic" because she thinks it's the equivalent of calling someone with cancer "cancerous". I respect her passion for helping her son, but I disagree with her. It's a f…

Please feel free to contact me if there's anything I can shed light on regarding your kids and ASD :) Thank you for your kind offer. My "kids" are 20 and 23 and are doing quite well. I've given plenty of advice myself over the years to other folks with kids like mine. :-)

Oh that makes me immensely happy to read! It's always a good feeling when other 20-somethings with ASD are doing well :)

Re: Autism’s First Child

#27

Post by McP »

dbrannan wrote: post #9
someperson wrote: post #5

"Certain words and phrases captivated him, and he would loop them aloud endlessly: trumpet vine, business, chrysanthemum. " I want to know more about this idea. I think we can agree that words like BIZ-en-Ness and CHRYS-ant-THENUM have a strange ring to them compared to the rest of the English language when pronounced aloud. (Also that word, "ALOUD") From my experience, I'd expect most people as kids had at least one…

Aluminum!

Aluminium!

Re: Autism’s First Child

#30

Post by dbrannan »

someperson wrote: post #29
dbrannan wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good grief, I can't even spell it!

If you're not being sarcastic: http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/aluminium.htm

Now that was fun, thanks. I find it annoying that I am taught to spell a certain way, but then the British keep reinventing spellings with "s" instead of "z" and adding an "i" in there just Americans on their toes.
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