tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post8443533085593535461..comments2024-01-28T00:21:38.809-08:00Comments on We Are Like Your Child: Don't "Aspie" MeAlyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413844178426365789noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-58625024064225880422014-11-21T08:45:24.281-08:002014-11-21T08:45:24.281-08:00I agree with almost all of the post except this pa...I agree with almost all of the post except this part:<br /><br />" Leaving the Aspie label behind is not just a matter of altruism, either. "Aspie" is a diminutive form, and it diminishes us to accept it as an identifier. It reinforces, through its connotations, a sense that we are somehow naive about the world or that we lack something that we just won't ever develop. Even as it sanitizes us and presents us as "employable" or "no longer disabled", it provides an avenue for others to view us as highly specialized children with adult work efforts (at worst) or sexless workaholic nerds whose interior lives are dominated by narrowly tailored hobbies and not the business of adult life (at best). We should accept neither."<br /><br />This sounds a bit prescriptive and victim-blaming to me, like while I don't define myself as an aspie anymore, I still sometimes use "autie" which according to that paragraph, I guess I shouldn't use either, I think everyone should be able to choose their preffered word as self descriptor, as long as they aren't oppressing or dismissing others by this choice of words.<br />Some of us also like to present in way, or like things that are considered childish, we shouldn't be blamed fot that.<br />If people consider us child-like for this kind of ridiculous reasons, they deserve the blame, not us.Ole Ferme l'Oeilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07632467869395776084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-90182130160605794882014-07-15T12:40:23.869-07:002014-07-15T12:40:23.869-07:00Where is your promised article on "The Myth o...Where is your promised article on "The Myth of 'Overcoming'?"KateGladstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07062492442607584456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-15959135912004318272014-04-16T10:06:54.467-07:002014-04-16T10:06:54.467-07:00Great post. I learned I was autistic only after my...Great post. I learned I was autistic only after my son was diagnosed. Suddenly there was a framework in which practically my entire life made sense. <br /><br />I recently gave a talk at The Warren Center here in Dallas, and the people were hungry to learn what it feels like to be autistic "from the inside." People hear descriptions of autism all the time, but rarely to they get it properly defined, as someone who is autistic can do.Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-80246118336794362482014-02-19T19:40:09.600-08:002014-02-19T19:40:09.600-08:00I love this post, thank so much. I feel similarl...I love this post, thank so much. I feel similarly about autism parents and the way that they often try to call their child "high functioning" as a way of trying to distinguish their child from all those OTHER "more" autistic children. I know many of them arent even doing it consciously, or thinking through what that sort of "otherness" language and mentality does, and I know so often it comes from a desire to protect their children from the judgement that comes from people around the label autism, but its still just not right and I have committed not using terms like high and low functioning with my daughter. When people ask me "what kind" of autism she has or "where she is on the spectrum", looking for those sorts of qualifiers, I instead redirect them and talk about her strengths and the challenges she faces, and remind them that there is now one diagnosis: autism. <br /><br />Also, I LOVE that you are encouraging autistic adults to mentor kiddos with ASD- I am hoping to get to know more autistic women who could do just that for my daughter when the time is right. And I guess I must be the odd parent out because I dont read these essays and think, "well, thats not like my daughter", I think, "how blessed I am to have a chance to hear a little more of what might be going on for her". So thanks for sharing!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10412744189611967954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-66031096115952310852014-01-11T06:30:47.349-08:002014-01-11T06:30:47.349-08:00I REALLY liked your blog post. That said, I wish i...I REALLY liked your blog post. That said, I wish it hadn't centered around the Aspie debate because I'd love to show the whole 'we are like your child' bit to parents of recently diagnosed children, who probably don't even know there is a debate about Aspies (or what the word means, or possibly even that there was a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome prior to the most recent DSM). And I think this whole idea of 'my child isn't like you' isn't limited just to Aspies - many people/parents apply it to any successful autistic person.<br /><br />I run a website explaining autism and I'd love to link to a version that addresses that issue, of the disconnect between how parents view their children and adults on the spectrum as a whole. Would you be willing to guest write an article, or do you have any other blog posts I could link to that focus specifically on that?<br /><br />If you do and/or are interested, please email me at autismandu@yahoo.com. Thanks so much!!!BigSisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06702952107220122111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-45687532632980936752014-01-10T12:28:52.198-08:002014-01-10T12:28:52.198-08:00Hi, I'm a parent. Your post resonates with me...Hi, I'm a parent. Your post resonates with me. Thanks for sharing it. My son (5-yrs) has an autistic diagnosis along with some others. His development has been significantly impacted but all means no halted. But that is not who my son is...his diagnoses. He is a boy that loves to be tickled, run, jump and more... But at this time he is non-speaking --- He may not be able to have any functional language come from his mouth BUT with his speech generating device, he is verbal. Now his vocabulary still needs to grow and his desire to communication improved but he has language. We work very hard to provide him with the opportunities and supports to be successful in his environment. This is exactly what I desire for my other two sons too and I don't think any of them will have same "pathway" along life. I'm a parent that is looking for guidance and input. I'd like to limit the judgment that I often read about as it isn't very constructive but then again it can be enlightening too. I recognize adults on the spectrum and hope that we could come together more with each other. I'm looking for experiences of others so that I can help create the right supports for my kiddo. Current on my goal list is to understand how to teach a non-speaking individual how to read....I believe he will and it will probably be a trial and adjust and revise process but having some more insights from Adults in my son's community would be such an asset. Leveraging ourselves together could provide supports across the population. Suggestions on how to make a connection ...I'd love to make one. Thanks again. Jannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16370144430043433040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-49620459423397376572014-01-07T14:53:02.946-08:002014-01-07T14:53:02.946-08:00This is so well articulated. I know my blog focuse...This is so well articulated. I know my blog focuses on identity and community and so I'm likely "part of the problem," but I have always felt a weird aversion to the Aspie lingo, and I think you've just described exactly why, in a way I haven't yet been able to explain. Thanks very much for giving me so much to think about. Nattily @ notesoncrazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17434342155467926787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799087240760337340.post-19736919474019955672014-01-07T08:25:06.161-08:002014-01-07T08:25:06.161-08:00I completely agree with literally everything in th...I completely agree with literally everything in this fabulous, fabulous piece, but still have a lingering (personally-relevant) question/issue: <br /><br />I'm guilty of preferring to use "Aspie" instead of "autistic" when talking to NT people, especially adults and authority figures. But it's not because I prefer the term. I feel that, for me, "autistic" is a more personally, socially, and politically appropriate label. But in situations where I have to deal with NT people, I know that I read relatively "high-functioning," "verbal," even "sociable" to them. And I find that if I verbally identify as "autistic" in front of/around most NT people, they usually assume that I'm "exaggerating," or even completely mistaken about my life/self/disability. But if I identify myself has being/having Asperger's, people's reactions are completely different, and usually much less suspicious/argumentative. <br /><br />Obviously, this has to do with inaccurate and discriminatory ideas of what it means to be autistic, and intellectually, I'm all for messing with people's assumptions about who autistic people are. But emotionally, I often just don't have it in me to either completely justify my entire diagnosis to random fuckers, or to sit back while they tell me how I "don't count" as autistic (something I've had to work hard to stop telling myself). <br /><br />I feel uncomfortable just walking around using labels I don't like, that perpetuate stereotypes and oppression that I despise, and that have direct negative effects on my quality of life. But I honestly have yet to figure out an alternative; when I get stressed and pressured by other people, I lose language and meltdown, and I'm especially prone to this when people question my identity/disabilities. I don't think, in those situations, I am even capable of speaking coherently enough to change anyone's mind about what "autistic" means. But I want to be able to call myself who I am. So I don't know what to do. Any and all suggestions/advice welcome; I've been puzzling over this in my head for a while, and this post made me think real hard on it. EWhetsellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01163709665753220878noreply@blogger.com