why do so many 'auties' buy into the thinking of 'neurodiversity is good'crap?

Question

Why do so many autistics allow themselves buy into the idea that 'autism is a wonderful thing' BS.Where can having a disability like that actually lead U too eventually.Well I have a high -fuctioning version of it and I still don't care for it as it isolates from the rest of humanity and denies me to get experience life like normal people.

Answer 1

My step son is autistic and he experiences like a "normal" person. What IS normal?? You sound like you are your own worst enemy and you are holding yourself back.

Answer 2

'Neurodiversity'? That is a concept I have not heard before, but I am sure it will spread far and wide eventually.



Even though I agree with the previous answer about making a choice and have a positive outlook on life, I think I know what you are saying. Personally, it sounds like another euphemism to make differences in people more politically correct. But, however good the euphemism is, what you said is true - the disability/condition still "isolates [you] from the rest of humanity and denies [you] to get experience life like normal people"



It might sound good, but reality is - the moment you have a label, society will likely put up a barrier. Everyone will say that people who have disabilities should be part of the inclusive community with full participation, but really - would you want to live next to one?



The word "diversity" here will only encourage people to see DIFFERENCES in people.



That's my opinion and everyone is entitled to it.

Answer 3

You must be have Asperger's Syndrome, as that is the highest functioning form of autism and at times it is a pain in the neck to deal with. Luckily the world thinks that I am "normal" but there are times where I feel like there are two standards: a very high one for me and then a lower one for somebody that is supposed to be normal! I also know that stress can easily aggrivate it. Yes at times it can isolate you from the rest of the world but only if YOU let it. I have very good and dear friends that forget that I do have a mild retardation and treat me just like I am normal and I feel like I am a normal person. I can drive, I have an Associates degree, and I know more that one moron at work and know when to not to cuss.

Answer 4

I agree completely. My husband is an Aspie, and he says he'd get rid of the disability part of himself in two seconds if he could. He's a fantastic guy, and it drives him nuts that he can't handle calling for a pizza half the time, or when he sees that look on my face that says, "you were just zoning out and not listening again, right?"



We try to strike a good balance between "NT world" and "Aspie world" and accept each other as we are. I don't mind at all having to "drop and run" when I have any little criticisms or difficult feelings to share, but I think it kind of embarrasses him to have to hide in the bathroom to avoid a tantrum. I think it actually bothers him more than me at this point - I know I have my own little quirks and flaws that he puts up with, and hey, I'll take *his* flaws over any other guys. It does seem like "The Autism" is kind of it's own beast to be handled in our lives, though.



He's had a hell of a time at work, because his new boss is very vague about what he expects. He's an incredibly strong person to go to work every day and watch other people "get it" so easily, while he feels like an idiot having to come out and ask what the dress code is, for example. Thankfully he is blessed with a very high IQ and he does phenomonal, award-winning work. (He's a designer.)



I really hit the roof when fellow Aspies criticise me for wanting to help my moderate-severly autistic son. As if I'm selfish for wanting to help my little boy learn to say "want juice". Before we intervened with sign language, play therapy, supplements, enzymes and a tiny pinch of ABA, my child literally had no control over his environment and did not care that I existed. Now, he smiles constantly, can ask for what he needs, and loves to play with his parents. He even can get through a trip to the grocery store without a meltdown. How exactly have I been "denying his true self"? (As one woman told me) His true self is adorable....and disabled. I'm trying to help him, and I have my husband's full blessing. Hell, he wishes someone would have helped him a looooooong time ago.

Answer 5

Here is an article about neurodiversity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity There are many levels of autism, some people may be able to develop normal friendships, but also have some of the positive things such as honesty, following rules, not giving into peer pressure, having knowledge of one subject, treating everyone the same, and the other good things.

Answer 6

Your response is fairly normal of adult and near adult auties discovering that they have a level of autism.

These ideas help us to cope and value our lives which is important to our well-being.

What good does it serve for anyone to beat theirself up over ideas?

How can they ever be productive that way?



I didn't come to realize that I am HLF autistic until I was 23

Looking back I can see how just about ever instance of intolerance I encountered was linked to behaviors I can now link to the disorder.



I can see now how it truely is and always has been a different way of being and thinking.



It is very much functional and useful to me, and others who are not autistic just dont understand my way of thinking and doing. And I am ok with that now.



There is no good way for me to connect with NT's and have them understand me, so I don't try anymore.



It has been very positive to my life to come to terms with this "Asperger's Syndrome" although I spent 2 years in denial and anger over the whole deal.



And being able to get along with other people has been much much easier having an understanding of, and recognition of my behavioral issues that create problems.



You are not isolated from the rest of humanity. There are MILLIONS of us.

Millions.

Answer 7

I'm tempted to not answer this, since you've flamed me already, but my reply might be useful for others.



I think autism is neutral more than wonderful. It's the defining aspect of who I am, and to cure autism would be to destroy me.



The reasons you've listed for disliking it aren't inherent to being autistic. They come from living in a society not designed for anyone except NTs, and from being surrounded by bigots.



Autism doesn't have to be isolating. If you're willing to get to know other autistics, we tend to be able to communicate with each other better than with NTs. Also, it's possible to get to know accepting, non-bigoted NTs. They're not all that plentiful, but they're around. Non-autistics are just as communicatively disabled as we are - they can't understand autistic body language, and tend to have trouble empathizing with us! It's just that there are more of them around for them to build social connections with.



The life experiences you're restricted from, I'm assuming are social, maybe romantic. I'm going to re-iterate the thing about being surrounded by bigots. If you've been unable to be hired for a job, hiring processes are not designed for autistics. If you've had trouble at a job, then that probably comes from the job not being structured in an autistic-friendly way.



It is possible to structure things to be more autistic-friendly, and hopefully it's possible to make people be less bigoted. Being autistic doesn't lead anyone to one specific point, but neither does being non-autistic. It's harder for us to be conventionally successful, but, if we find the right people and situations, we can find a job, develop friendships, and get into relationships, and be generally happy. (I don't mean to imply that there are certain things one must do in order to be happy though, it's certainly possible to be happy without fulfilling the expected life checklist.)

Answer 8

both albert einstein and bill gates are said to be aspies.so....you can focus on the negative in life, or focus on the positive. with your mind, you may struggle in some areas, but i can almost bet, that you excel in others.

the thing about life is...we all, every day, make a CHOICE about how we are going to deal with what we have been given.you can choose to be critical, sit on a pity pot, and feel sorry for yourself, or...you can accentuate the outstanding qualities you already have, work on your problem areas, and think positive.

you decide.

Answer 9

Is there a certain reason you publish the same question over and over again? I don't remember any of us neurodiversity people starting a question over and over again and then flaming the people who don't agree.