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Playing the Autism Card

Anthony

This is something which bugs me a lot so I’ve decided to voice it - I’ve seen it in here and in the world around me and it seems to be happening more and more - people playing the autism card. For absolute clarity, I wholeheartedly believe employers etc should make reasonable adjustments for ASD where there is a genuine need, but too often I am seeing people try to use their autism as a means of getting more or justifying actions which aren’t right.

As someone on the spectrum, I don’t want to stand out, I don’t want others thinking I’m getting specialist treatment or get away with stuff because I’m autistic. Drawing attention to the autistic cause negatively isn’t going to help anyone, least of all ourselves.

For example people have posted on here saying they feel they should get to break social distancing/ lockdown rules because they are autistic (despite the fact that this puts them and others at risk), a year or two back I knew an autistic guy who set off an alarm because he didn’t get his way, the real reason was because he was annoyed at someone and generally throws his toys out of the pram when he doesn’t get his own way - his defence was ‘I am autistic’ - so I challenged him on this, and he eventually conceded that he used his ASD to cover up for his behaviours. The same I feel applies to violence or other bad/ anti-social behaviour - there is a huge difference between a trait being activated and a learned behaviour to deal with it. If someone says ‘I hit that person because I wasn’t coping with a particular trait being triggered’ - that’s a fair statement. To say It hit that person because I’m autistic’ is not - I accept there are links and I gave more sympathy for young children on this one who don’t understand law, social norms and values etc but as adults we have to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions. 

So yes we should (if we want to) disclose ASD so as reasonable adjustments are made, but I wish people would stop misusing autism as an excuse where it shouldn’t be used. I worry people will tire of ‘but it’s because I’m autistic’ to the extent that genuine needs will get brushed aside - so everybody loses. 

*Rant over*

Parents

  • I don't know the circumstances of the individuals who have caused your rant, But if they are using their autism to get away with stuff then I am also upset..... I have serious physical disabilities that have left me in an electric wheelchair, My local council keep trying to force me into housing in unsuitable areas where we would live in constant fear, My local autism service has even told them in writing they can't do that as I will feel a constant drive to defend myself..... The council won't listen, They just keep saying "it's a bungalow, It's suitable for your disabilities".....

    People who use their autism to get away with stuff make it harder for those of us trying to get adjustments we need to live in peace as nobody will take us seriously.... 

    Like I said to start with, I don't understand who caused this rant, Or if it is simply a misunderstanding..... But my statements about others unfairly using their autism to get away with wrongdoing still stand!

    Stay well peoples

  • in reply to Me

    Thanks for commenting, in truth it’s a few instances in recent years by different people on the spectrum - I’m all for reasonable adjustments but so me people give all those with ASD a bad name for using their condition to justify things which in truth shouldn’t be blamed on the autism. 

Reply
  • in reply to Me

    Thanks for commenting, in truth it’s a few instances in recent years by different people on the spectrum - I’m all for reasonable adjustments but so me people give all those with ASD a bad name for using their condition to justify things which in truth shouldn’t be blamed on the autism. 

Children
  • in reply to Anthony

    I actively avoid situations that could cause me to break the law, This is hard with me being in a wheelchair as I keep being forced into housing around people who are violent, Thieves, & "chavs" who like to show off to their friends attacking the disabled & elderly..... I have 2 choices: Break the law with the measures I would have to take to defend myself & my family with my limited physical abilities....... Or live with bars on my windows & doors as a prisoner in my own home..... I have been forced repeatedly in the past to defend myself & lost control when attacked, Even though they attacked me with weapons I felt bad after I regained control & found I had dragged them to the floor with me & bounced their heads off the floor leaving them unconcious, I did try & regain control of myself before I injured them so badly but they said they were going to burn my dogs while I slept.... I was arrested, Released without charge, But I know in situations like that I can lose control hurting myself with my physical problems, & others.....

    I have spent the past 5 years stuck on my bed with only my girlfriend as company, Our friends stopped coming round years ago because they were attacked coming in & out of the area on different occasions, One of my carers was kidnapped by a group of them threatening to break his knees after throwing a freshly opened can of beer at my face, & Then punching me in the face whilst I was blinded going down the street on my mobility scooter home from the shop around 7 years ago.....

    I am unsure if the council aren't taking the effect areas like this have on me with my autism feeling under constant threat seriously because they don't understand the serious impact it's having on my mental & physical health with me not sleeping or eating properly because of the high levels of anxiety & fear....... Or if the council aren't listening because others just use their autism as an excuse to get away with doing as they wish.....

    We need more understanding in the world, & If all people see is people on the spectrum doing wrong & blaming their autism to get away with it, That is what the world is going to think about all of us.....

    Like I said before, I am unsure why my local council is ignoring the advice of the local autism service, My doctor, Government policy, Myself, & my housing solicitor..... But it does seem they are discriminating as I feel the information they have from professionals that have been working with me for many years leaves no doubt of my needs, But they choose to ignore my autism, I can only guess that they have had bad experiences with other autistic people as I have been nothing but polite in the face of what I would describe as abuse, Rudeness, & Smugness..... I cut contact with people like that rather than let my autism take over & be used against me, & I resume contact when I have calmed down.....

    I can't see as to how I have been unreasonable in any way neither can any of the professionals I have copied into all of my emails with th council, So yeah.... They must just not like autistic people in Leeds

    Sorry for the long ranting reply, But I would ask anyone that reads this.... Please don't blame everything on your autism, It'll make things harder for you in the future, & the rest of us