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Hans Asperger

Senor

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/hans-asperger-aided-and-supported-nazi-programme-study-says

I have to say that since I first read Steve Silbermann's book 'Neurotribes' about a year plus ago, I have been wondering if it was entirely the case that Asperger tried to keep his subjects away from the Nazi euthanasia programme. This morning's headline is thus no great surprise. And as Sachs-Cohen and Silbermann have already indicated their belief in the emerging facts, I'm not about to get too emotive about it. Regardless of DSM-5, my diagnostician decided it was still a valid term for an older adult who had lived for some years with some knowledge of that label. And I'm not about to avoid that label, myself. I suppose I might as well be the first person on the forum to ask what happens next, because I would guess that not everyone will be quite so philosophical about it as me. I have to admit, I have never really taken very kindly to 'aspie'. I find it a bit patronising; but I'm now wondering if some of that discomfort is down to the fact that I have sort of half expected that the hero thing was not quite the full story. And Kanner, for all his input, wasn't beyond criticism either.

''Carol Povey, director at the National Autistic Society in the UK’s Centre for Autism, said: “We expect these findings to spark a big conversation among autistic people and their family members, particularly those who identify with the term ‘Asperger’. Obviously no one with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome should feel in any way tainted by this very troubling history.” 

Parents

  • I have just discovered (entirely by accident) that there is a book just three days away from publication. The author is Edith Sheffer. 'Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna'.

    https://www.amazon.com/Aspergers-Children-Origins-Autism-Vienna/dp/0393609642/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=

    A very brief preview read indicates that the author has been in contact with Czech. I also briefly noted that she has a son diagnosed Asperger's, but it would appear both parent and son question that label's usefulness somewhat. I have read Czech's paper twice, but still haven't really found myself too much at odds with either the author or his subject. That might work out the same with this book, I imagine. I probably will try to read it, but not perhaps too soon. Having already had some contact with folks who question the label of a diagnosis on the spectrum, I kind of reckon this book also probably isn't really going to change my outlook that much; although there may well be some benefits from critiquing certain stereotypes.

  • in reply to Senor

    We should stop saying “Asperger.” It’s one way to honor the children killed in his name as well as those still labeled with it. - Edith Sheffer

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/opinion/sunday/nazi-history-asperger.html

    I'm concerned that this book could be the most prominent watershed in the evolution of AS and psychology in general since the publication of Uta Frith's book in 1991. The biggest difference is that Uta Frith is from the medical profession and set out to first and foremost publicise a medical condition rather than honour a person. Edith Sheffer is an historian who appears to have first and foremost written a book to vilify a person and obliterate his name from both formal use and respectable conversation.

    It's possible that Asperger Syndrome could become an offensive term like referring to people with Down's Syndrome as a Mongol.

  • in reply to Arran

    So what definition should take its place then? Should we go back to 'childhood' schizophrenia' as it was called before the 80's. Borderline autism? PDD Nos, or just HFA?

    I mean those who may be verbal, gifted, but who may otherwise end up having a bad time on the school playground and who might not do well at interviews - not disabled in the way autism can look when it is lining up cars snd head banging, but might without some kind of understanding, might end up drawing the short straw in life, in all kinds of ways?

Reply
  • in reply to Arran

    So what definition should take its place then? Should we go back to 'childhood' schizophrenia' as it was called before the 80's. Borderline autism? PDD Nos, or just HFA?

    I mean those who may be verbal, gifted, but who may otherwise end up having a bad time on the school playground and who might not do well at interviews - not disabled in the way autism can look when it is lining up cars snd head banging, but might without some kind of understanding, might end up drawing the short straw in life, in all kinds of ways?

Children
  • in reply to nexus9

    That is a good question. The issue is now political football.

    What the medical profession refer to it is one thing, but what the media and society refer to it is another. The medical profession might end up with a lengthy and descriptive term for AS referring to it being on the autism spectrum whilst AS remains a recognised popular or colloquial term for the condition. If the term AS is banished from the mainstream media, and ultimately society, then what term replaces it could have far reaching consequences.

    I do not think that the mainstream media has been particularly favourable towards people with AS by labelling them as computer hackers and the like. The longer term outcome of Herwig Czech (which unlike Lorna Wing, Uta Frith, Tony Attwood, or even Luke Jackson has quite frankly done nothing for people with any form of ASD) remains to be seen but it will also be determined whether large ASD groups like the NAS stand their ground or buckle under pressure of the media and society in order to protect their image and reputation. Are they going to purge Hans Asperger's name from their literature?