BS: April is Autism awareness month

Subject: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 10:34 AM

April is Autism Awareness month. The latest numbers are showing that it affects one in 110 children - and one in 70 boys. I hope that someday we attack this situation the same way we go after cancer or HIV. And that this awareness of the situation breeds more tolerance toward those dealing with autism.

Recently I've started performing puppet shows with two friends for elementry students to promote awareness of autism. And I've been very pleased with the questions these little ones ask after the show. It's their generation that will grow up with autism all around them. Tolerence can be taught at a very early age and these kids seem to get it.


Light it up blue

Robert MacNeil's upcoming autism series.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 10:54 AM

April 8, a local fireman's fundraising group is holding a dinner dance to create a trust fund for my niece Hailey who suffers from severe autism. She has support people in 7 days a week to help her stay connected - a monumental task for her parents who adore her.
Tolerance, empathy and research, Wes.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 10:59 AM

I've been managing an apartment house for the last six months. In that time, three different people with self-described autism have applied for apartments. One of them we accepted. It didn't end happily- she had other issues and we required her to move.

The other day another woman filled out an application. I liked her and would accept her into the building. However, since the last episode, the owners are very wary and say no.

We do accept people with chronic alcoholism, and every day we admit people who are not upfront with individual quirks and shortcomings and history.

Is it a characteristic of an autistic person that they readily admit their diagnosis? From here, it seems so.

Thank you for this, Wesley.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 11:16 AM

I would think the apartment owners can be prosecuted for asking the question, let alone denying access to the rental property. Fair housing laws are there for a reason. I'd be careful, Ebbie, and start looking for another employer if this is your only one.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 11:58 AM

Wesley, congratulations on your puppet show idea.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Mysha
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 12:01 PM

Hi,

Somewhere near the end of March, people mess with the time, here, for no good reason. While I'm still suffering from summer time lag, on the 1st of April, people mess with their trustworthiness. And somebody of infinite wisdom apparently felt that this would not be enough, and made 2nd of April the yearly day to have all newspapers and magazines tell me I'm so different from most other people that meaningful relations in my life are next to impossible, and trigger as much of the pain and anxiety as they can reach from one or two pages, while at the same time completely ignoring the majority of their subject by addressing the parents, as if Autists die in puberty.

Are you telling me I'll be going through hell for a whole month now?

Bye,
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Mysha
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 12:10 PM

Yes, Ebbie,

Most youngsters are taught by their parents that they should always tell the truth, a clear, black and white issue. Most of you will eventually decide that you're not going to follow that guideline, as it's a grey world you live in. But would you decide the same way if your world really was black and white, and there were no white lies?

But I'll stop for now; I'll need my strength for tomorrow's newspapers, "Thank you for observing Autism Awareness Day."

Bye,
                                                                  Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 12:37 PM

"I would think the apartment owners can be prosecuted for asking the question, let alone denying access to the rental property. Fair housing laws are there for a reason." Stilly

Trust me, child, I have NEVER asked, nor would I think of it. That's my whole point- are most people with autism typically that honest?   Alcoholics generally are not so forthcoming nor are many people with alarming histories.

Right now, in Juneau, Alaska, it is a tight rental market and we have been full most of the time for months. I do accept applications from everyone. There are people depicted in those files that I would never rent to, whether because of knowledge acquired by word of mouth or because they came in drunk or for a host of other reasons. Autism hss not been one of those reasons.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 01:39 PM

My niece has Asperger's, a type of mild autism. Bless her, she's doing extremely well at University with a lot of support from her tutors and fellow students, but life is not easy for her, as she finds interacting with others difficult. She can be a little strange and comes out with odd remarks and behaviour, but she is almost genius level in Maths, and plays the piano to concert standard, performing concertos with orchestras etc. It's brilliant Wesley and Ebbie that you both work to help folk with autism and their families. We all need to learn more about the condition and how to give support. Also, more research is needed into the causes.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 03:24 PM

Dear Mysha,

Thank you for your honest, wise and deeply heartfelt words above. I think they will touch all who read them.   

With kindest wishes
Lizzie

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 02:48 PM

Very interesting questions from this Parade Magazine article:

Who will care for Dana?

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: KT
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 03:51 PM

Yesterday we had an Autism Awareness Walk, which happened to be dedicated to the memory of my cousin, who left us a few weeks ago.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: olddude
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 07:01 PM

They are lighting up Niagara Falls in Blue also

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 08:34 PM

Mysha,
I don't know you but from your posts I gather that you are either autistic or have Asburger's Syndrome. If so, you are considerably higher functioning than my niece who communicates through a keyboard only with constant support from professionals seven days a week in her home and at a special school as well. Recognizing her special needs with Autism Month is a blessing for her, her parents and the thousands of other people affected by autism.
As has been discussed here numerous times, autism is a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Some complete college and go on to have brilliant careers. Some like my niece fight a constant battle just to remain connected with today's reality - by that I mean the world she survives in. I sometimes wonder if it would be kinder to let her slip away into her own reality.
You have already formed relationships with people here on Mudcat. The description of "so different from most other people that meaningful relations in my life are next to impossible" fits many with autism. Maybe not you.
Recognizing the burden autism places on many families is a good thing. Making the public aware so that they can at least empathize if not support local families dealing with autism is a good thing. If it means that parents will remind their children that each of us is different and we need to accept each other, it is a good thing.
If it means that people will be made aware of successful individuals with autism who contribute daily to make this a better world, that is great.
As part of Autism Month the newspapers and online sites have been featuring stories on autism. Friday featured a young boy who is a genious in Physics and is revisiting Einstein's theory of relativity and expanding on it. He is solving equations that have baffled experts for years. His story hopefully will open doors for others.
Just some musings.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 10:57 PM

Mary, thanks for that well thought out post. I look forward to the day- if I am 'somewhere else' I hope I can watch! -that humankind finds and fixes the chromosonal anomalies that result in so many ailments.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 11:21 AM

Hi, Olddude. I too read the article in Parade Magazine. I couldn't put it down.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 12:00 PM

Ebbie,
My gut tells me that autism is related to something in our every day environment. Artificial flavors or dyes, cleansers. Wax on vegetables. Something we take for granted that at the wrong time in a pregnancy produces anomalies. My 2 cents.
I remember children in my childhood with Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy but not autism or even Asberger's.
No babies suddenly disappeared from view when they proved to be "damaged". This is a recent epidemic and when the cause(s) is discovered, we will be horrified. At the same time, given the existence of evidence of genius for math and music among autistic adults and children, there may be something positive to come out of it. A new look into how and why the brain develops.
SINS, musing.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 01:24 PM

Years ago at a Temple Grandan lecture we were shown two maps. One was of the areas in the US with high degrees of pollution. The other was of high incidences of children born with autism. They overlapped to a dramatic degree.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 01:42 PM

Whilst autism is on the increase, it's also been around for centuries, and many of the great artists, scientists, composers, mathematicians will have been on the circle of autism so long ago.

Whilst it's all very well to dream of removing the problem that causes it in the first place, it is also extremely short-sighted to do that, because to remove the autistic gene from human-kind is also to remove many of the geniuses who have contributed so very much to the creation of the world we now live in.

I've said this before and normally everyone yells at me for it, but it's true.

Another reason autism is on the increase is not to do with pollution at all, but technology...and again, I've put this down before too...Computers play a very big part in the world of many people on the autism circle. Once, they would have remained on their own, and happy to be so, more often than not, but now, folks are meeting up via computers, folks with like-minded brains (not just autism either) and they're marrying and having children with double the genetic history, so the gene is getting stronger and stronger alongside increasing in numbers...

Add to that the craziness of massive innoculations all going into tiny babies at one time..along with pollution and there's the answer...but the world NEEDS those with minds which are very focussed, highly intelligent, highly creative, because without them, we're pretty doomed as a race, sinking into a Beige World of Invisibility...

Temple Grandin is a wonderful woman and she sees through all the crap, knows how much every different type of brain is needed in the Great Plan of Mother Nature...


The thread from last year...a lot of emotions in here, so take care if you're easily upset...

'A Wish for Autism' thread


Mysha, this is the starting post of mine, from that thread...and it sums up why I think Autism Awareness of any kind is so important:

>>>>>>A Wish for Autism
From: Lizzie Cornish 1 - PM
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 12:29 PM

The words below are from my friend's Facebook page, which she posted very recently.

Her name is Deborah Harvey, and she is an incredibly talented writer and photographer. Many of her blogs on Myspace will bring tears, both of joy and laughter. She is the mother of 4 children, 2 of whom are on the Circle of Autism..

This is her wish:

"My wish for 2010 is that people will understand autism is not a disease; people with autism are not looking for a cure but for ACCEPTANCE....93% won't copy and paste this, will YOU make this your status for at least one hour" - Deborah Harvey

I have it on my page, please...take it to yours too and help spread this Wish around. <<<<<<



Lovely to hear about Niagra Falls, Dan...that's an inspired and inspiring idea..

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 01:46 PM

I agree that we are causing the incidence, and as was said above, we will be appalled at the chain of events that we've taken for granted. Unfortunately, not all results will be as clear-cut and dramatic as the Thalidomide effects so it could still be a long while. Or not. It is always possible that next month, next week, tomorrow someone will publish the shocking information.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 01:49 PM

I remember children in my childhood with Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy but not autism or even Asberger's.

That's because the 2 syndromes weren't "identified" or named at that point.

Doesn't mean the conditions didn't exist.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 02:00 PM

Correct, Greg.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 02:27 PM

That may be - especially for Asbergers, with its milder effects- but there is a huge difference between the affect of Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy and autism. In my day- and I am 75 - I knew no one who was, or who had, a child with the unique problems that come with full blown autism.

It is true that there were no special classes in my schools for 'different' kids so it is quite likely they would not have been in my schools, but it is also true of my church and of my neighborhoods.

The perceived explosion of autism is not solely the result of more extensive knowledge.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 02:41 PM

Isn't is said to affect boys more often? mg

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 03:19 PM

The evidence seems to indicate that boys are affected about four times the rate girls are. Maybe that in itself is an indicator about the 'condition'.

Autism spectrum disorders bring me to tears, because I know now that my daughter inherited it from me. If it would help her I'd pour a few gallons of gas on myself and light a cigarette. But I know it wouldn't help her.

I can't post to this thread anymore. Hurts too fucking much.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 03:33 PM

{{{{ hug for 999 but very lightly, OK?)}}}}

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 04:28 PM

I can state unequivocally that, for myself, being poisoned environmentally created several of the symptoms of autism: a marked decrease in my auditory processing ability - in a group situation, I rarely understand anything and in movies almost nothing; a severely increased sensitivity to loud noise, especially high pitched sounds and to bright light and flashing lights. These are each a result of changes in the brain.

This resulted in a better understanding of my clients with autism as well as one with brain damage from hypoxia and one who is developmentally delayed. Brain differences had similarities in each of us.

Hugs for everyone who has these difficulties and who have friends or relatives with them. I live with enough frustration to drive me to tears and serious anger. My heart is with all those who suffer these brain differences.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 04:44 PM

I have wondered if the world will start looking at autism and Aspergers as two different issues all together.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 05:08 PM

My daughter who is Autistic, upon seeing this thread did not want to know. She just wants to get on with life and wished people would be far more understanding about it, and be kind to her and treat her like normal.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 05:49 PM

The perceived explosion of autism is not solely the result of more extensive knowledge.

Absolutely true. Its also the product of desperation and wishful thinking.

It is completely understandable that parents would wish to find an explanation - however fanciful - for a merciful providence having inflicted this horror upon their children.

Be that as it may, there is as much (if not more!) evidence that the condition is the result of children being abducted and experimented upon by space aliens as there is that it is caused by environmental factors or vaccination, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 06:00 PM

And Greg is the expert folks. We're hearing it directly from the horses....mouth.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 06:40 PM

No, you're hearing it from the scientific community & reflecting the reality of the situation, Wes.

I can understand that you don't WANT to hear it, but its a fact all the same.

Rave on.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 06:42 PM

What facts? What ARE you going on about?

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 08:55 PM

Guest,999,
I promise you that when all is known your genes had little or nothing to do with your daughter's autism. IIt took a while but my nephew has figured that out for himself.
Greg,
Autism was not a diagnosed illness when I was a child. I agree. My observation is that there were bno children exhibiting the extreme symptoms of autism we see commonly today. I lived in a small community where a birth was commonly celebrated. Occasionally, Down's Syndrome appeared. But no children in school or in the neighborhood exhibited the behaviors of autistic children we see everywhere today. AND no babies suddenly disappeared. Sever autism as we know it today did not exist. At least not in the NYC neighborhood where I grew up.
A child who flapped or rocked or did not speak would have been noticed. Again, I remember several children with Down's Syndrome and several with cerebral palsy.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 09:20 PM

Arthur itis,
I understand your daughter's frustration and wish to get on with her life. I work with some people who are functional autistics. They hold jobs critical to the success of my company. They are different but have managed to mix in with others. Others have come to accept their "peculiarities" and respect their talents. Keep in mind that this is a company where "different" is a qualification for being hired.
My niece will never survive alone in a "normal" setting. SHe is severely autistic and her parents are setting up a Trust Fund to be sure she is safe when they are gone.
Again there are many levels of autism.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: bobad
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 09:33 PM

Autistic brain organized differently

People with autism use their brain resources differently, which may explain why some show strong abilities in remembering visual details, a new study suggests.

Researchers in Montreal reviewed 15 years of data on the way the autistic brain works when interpreting faces, objects and written words for 357 people with autism and 370 non-autistic individuals.

The study in Monday's issue of the journal Human Brain Mapping concludes the brains of autistic people show more activity in the temporal and occipital regions at the back that perceive and recognize patterns and objects.

"We have a natural tendency to think that first, autism is an illness, and then illness is a disorganization," said study author Dr. Laurent Mottron of the University of Montreal's Centre for Excellence in Pervasive Development Disorders.

"Here what we see is that autism is a reorganization. We have a specific pattern with specific functions, and which corresponds to their performance at the behavioural level," he added in an in interview. The areas of the brain that perceive and recognize patterns and objects are more active in autism, says Dr. Laurent Mottron.

The findings suggest the areas at the back of the brain are more highly developed in some people with autism.

They also showed less activity in the frontal cortex than non-autistics, said another study author, Fabienne Samson, of the same centre.

The frontal areas of the brain are involved with decision making, cognitive control, planning and execution, Samson said.

The research was funded by Autism Speaks, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and Quebec's health research funding agency.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 09:51 PM

Having brought up an autistic son for 15 years I am undertaking a book about his life.

It has been a fantastic journey.

Sure I have seen the fear, predjudice and ignorance of people's reaction to autistic people as well as the great affection, joy and understanding.

That my son is brilliant sure helps but OMG out in public ...all the girls who are constantly hugging him!?!?

Well shit, that never happened to me in High School. He has a great wisdom about knowing who he is and that he is different. He has an internal dialoge that began during the first 6 years of silent life when he could speak to himself but not out loud.

There is magic and mystery in him that deserves a book.
Not just for parents of the autistic but for people who first think to discriminate without grounds or even a fraction of the hyper awareness of an autistic person.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Mysha
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 10:59 PM

Hi,

"Thank you for your honest, wise and deeply heartfelt words above. I think they will touch all who read them."
Well, probably not so much wise words; more a way of trying to cope with the frustration of this Autism Awareness Day. Heartfelt, yes, I guess so. Honest, well it's kind of difficult for me not to be.

So far it's quite mild this year. Maybe because of the weekend, or maybe this month thing is spreading the load? I may have to review my assessment of the whole month idea.


I've also read and viewed about half of last year's thread: "A Wish for Autism". It's indeed highly emotional, but not about autism, but about who is right. Do you really think you're doing sons, daughters, nieces and nephews any good that way?

I know it's a general Mudcat issue - I come here to play sometimes because you have the largest field, but it's always full of big boys fighting and girls pulling each-other's hair out, and if I try to play sooner of later someone will start yelling at me. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. - and I understand that Autism must be really scary for you that don't experience it yourself, but frankly: You all ought to be ashamed to let that happen to a thread asking for good thoughts!


And, yes, I have Asperger's Syndrome, and, no, I have no problem with people being made more aware about Autism, because I know others are far worse off than me and need all the help they can get. My problem is with having a single, unwisely-picked day where everyone will bombard us with coverage, which also seems to be an excuse to ignore Autism for the rest of the year.

Is Autism a gift or a curse? To an individual it's not a gift, as there's no way to refuse it. To society as a whole it may one day be, yet I wonder if we would keep it. Is it a curse? Whether rightly so or not, society seem to want to get rid of it but be unable, so yes, it's a curse. To me? Automatically, I would say "yes", but it's not that simple: Over-sensitivity to me is in the balance: I have to flee my house sometimes because of the sounds coming from the neighbours, but I wish I could share with the whole world the feeling of cycling out towards the setting sun and then cycling home towards the full moon rising! The mental skills and weaknesses, well, those are what make me who I am, and I have no need to change that. What I want to get rid of is the need to comprehend the hidden (to me) workings of human society. So, to me it might not be a curse in a society able to deal with autism. But can we burden society with ever more systems to deal with those outside the norm; Blind, deaf, lame, autist ..? Or is there a way to create a society that really encompasses everyone?


I do see the advantages of Autism awareness, where it can make or help personal development. Those others that I know of all keep developing through their lives, and it would be good to have support for that. Without such, I tried two studies, but the most difficult course, required for each trimester, always turned out to be "Mysha", and eventually I would flunk that. But, a few years ago I didn't even dare to sing solo, and now Bradfordian has persuaded me to send him a recording of me singing, though not very good and with a cold. And for years vacation could not be different from going cycling, and this year I hope to travel by aeroplane to America. And I'm thinking, if I have any money left afterwards, maybe I'll try the Open University to see of things are better now. Maybe there's a top to how far an autist can develop, but if so, I haven't reached that yet.

Bye,
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 03:19 AM

I was a bit hesitant to join in with this because with my son it is still an ongoing issue. Not his condition so much, we are passed the whys or hows now it is more of an uphill struggle with people and 'professionals' surrounding him who are supposed to be in the know. Speaking as someone from how it is here in the UK (South Gloucestershire) it would be helpful to have teams who came together in agreement of support. I have had experience of the odd person on the team saying something completely different that hadn't been agreed to at all at the meetings. It is not always just about Autism everyone has a different story to tell about personal experiences and how they have been treated.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 09:42 AM

My observation is that there were bno children exhibiting the extreme symptoms of autism....

Sinsull:

I'm sure that you are sincere in relating your childhood observations.
However, anecdotal "evidence" is not scientific evidence and conclusions based upon it are illogical and unreliable at best.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 10:24 AM

Greg, this isn't scientific evidence either.

I didn't know any autistic people when I was growing either. There was the kid in high school who used to spend his lunch hour spinning around in front of the building. Kids whispered about him and laughed at him, but nobody just asked him "why do you do that" maybe if they had, the way a little kid without fear of offending someone would have, things would have gone a bit better.

Those of us who aren't autistic don't talk to those who are. Or, put more simply, we're afraid of what we don't understand. We're afraid of exposing our ignorance.

Everyone is different. Someone I worked with who taught autistic kids said the axiom was "once you've known one autistic kid, you've known ONE autistic kid." Most of us who aren't autistic have some quality we feel doesn't let us fit in, but maybe we don't feel as isolated. It's hard to judge what goes on in anybody else's head that we can't say other people DO feel isolated. We feel sorry for people because we'd feel bad if we were in their position. We aren't, and somebody else's life may be just fine to them.

"Awareness" is a good thing if it cuts past some of those uncomfortable questions we dare not ask, but it doesn't help us get to know people. It just helps us see what we understand is normal isn't the same for everyone. It helps us be more open. After that, talking to people in our lives, and listening gets us further.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 10:36 AM

"However, anecdotal "evidence" is not scientific evidence and conclusions based upon it are illogical and unreliable at best. "

Greg - care to share your thoughts on the matter? I've seen what you disagree with but I don't think I've seen your views on the subject.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 10:53 AM

When I was about twelve, a psychologist documented me as having Asperger's. (He never told me personally, nor did I hear from him again). My current doctor has his notes, and I was seeing another psychologist regularly for years. It was quite some time later that I saw another a doctor who said the same thing, and sent me to a psychiatrist who had more expertise in that area. He said I had either that, or a Cluster A personality disorder or P.S. (1-3 in that order) My current specialist is looking over all of those notes, and hasn't informed me of any changes in my diagnosis yet. I have a mild form of it.

I noticed that somebody mentioned rocking. I have been told that other
mental health patients have rocked and stopped. They never told me
it was linked to Asperger's. What I believed, was that when my mother was pregnant with me, she used to rock my sister to sleep, and I was in the womb rocking. After I was born, I continued to rock to soothe myself, because I grew accustomed to it in the womb.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 11:14 AM

Jeri, I think we're talking at cross purposes. I dodn't know any autistic people when I was growing up, either-- because there was no such thing as autism then. It hadn't been identified or named.



I've seen what you disagree with

No, Wes, you've seen what the scientific community & persons capable of logical thought disagree with. Nothing personal about it; I'm not part of the equation..

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 11:22 AM

This thread is fascinating. I especially respect those who are sharing their experiences and their thoughts about those experiences. In contrast to what Greg F said about anecdotal versus scientific evidence I would imagine that everyone would agree that a person who lives with a particular condition has the ultimate anecdotal evidence, and absolutely no one could say it was not of the greater value.

That is as true of Asperger's and autism as it is of psoriasis or brown hair or musical talent We live anecdotally - if there is such a word- and sharing anecdotes is basic.

Maple Leaf Boy, not that it has anything to do with Asperger's, your story reminds me of a friend of mine. He told me that when he was a little boy and got upset his mother would stroke his head, and that later in his life when he became upset he would stroke his own head, and that it helped. :)

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 11:55 AM

So Greg - One more time - what are your views? Do you have any insights or knowledge to share on this subject?

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 12:48 PM

There has been "scientific" evidence of autism as far back as 1934, and we still don't know jack shit about it. The real problem is that autistic kids were lumped into other categories and generally labeled schizophrenic or mentally retarded, not very illuminating terms when applied to autism. Teachers were some of the last to know.

In the world of psychology/psychiatry there have been further studies that are more helpful. So your remark isn't quite accurate, Greg.

SINSULL--thank you for that.

As a child I spoke very little until I reached the age of twelve or so. I overheard myself described as stupid, undisciplined and retarded. It wasn't until I was about thirteen that I spoke in what could be recognized as real language. My IQ was about 30 points higher than any teachers I had and the school result shocked the shit out of the school and the teachers. But we all know that 'for instance is not proof'.

But science hasn't helped any of us all that much. If it hadn't been for the acceptance of me by my grandfather and grandmother I would have killed myself before the time I could articulate. I don't expect anyone to understand, nor really do I care if anyone does. I know what my life was like in those years, and none of the scientists or doctors could figure out wtf was 'wrong' with me. Societal attitudes were a BIG part of wtf was wrong with me. Even these days--I'm 63 now--I can go without talking for days and I don't see anything amiss with that. But I still see societal attitudes that disgust me beyond most people's comprehension. I don't care for sympathy nor do I like it. It's another word in the dictionary located between shit and syphilis. If so-called science would put 1/1000th the money into a study of autism and the disorders associated with it that it does into pharmaceuticals and weapons research we'd have this figured out in ten years. I gave up expecting miracles when I was a kid. I don't expect them today.

I have heard teachers—when I was a teacher—ask how they could fix certain kids. All I could answer was "why do you want to 'fix' the kid"? You a mechanic or a teacher? Jaysus, we still ain't out of the dark ages. Parents of autistic children are crying for answers, but because no one has yet figured a way to make a buck out of it—well, the answers will remain speculations. Does this situation anger me? More than anyone will ever know. In my world, one not shared with too many people, the LACK of scientific research says more than the studies. We do live in a world that doesn't give a shit: a world that has thrown away some great minds and along with that the hopes of too many people.

As we speak, there is a reactor that was designed by science, a reactor that we were assured was safe. In the parlance, 'tell it to the marines.' Science itself has been bought out by big business and even bigger conglomerates called multinationals. I have little trust for the thing so many people seem to revere. And given "science's" recent past, I don't know that I'd trust what science says, anyway.

imo and no offense meant to anyone.

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 12:54 PM

There was a programme on the BBC Radio 4 this morning with two brilliant guys on the spectrum. Worth listening to this evening, or online.

Asperger's conversation

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: Penny S.
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 01:05 PM

Back in the 50's I was briefly at a school where there was a boy with odd behaviour. I thought he was a bully, and could not understand why the teachers cut him a lot of slack. (To my disadvantage, as he picked on me, the change in his environment.)

With hindsight, inservice training, and a succession of ASD spectrum pupils, I suspect that he was autistic.

I also suspect that more extreme children went to ESN schools, such as they were.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: April is Autism awareness month
From: maeve
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 01:14 PM

Mysha- Thank you for your posts. I hope I get to hear your song.

Guest 999- I remember gentle Joey in first grade, a cousin, other family members, so many children with whom I had the pleasure of spending time as a teacher...I have no trouble remembering what it feels like to be apart and alone.

I am glad to know them, and you. Thank you to all who feel they are "other" yet allow someone else to see the world from another perspective.

Maeve