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How many of us are there really?

Dawn

The NAS says one in 700,000 or 1% of the population. Of course they can only count the diagnosed.

Thinking about my work team: 2 of us diagnosed and 'loud and proud' about it, one we know, but he doesn't choose to say, one more with kids with a diagnosis and has self diagnosed...out of only 11 of us? 

Not one but two of my ex boyfriends, with whom I am still good friends, have self diagnosed - yup! I see that. Well, they say like attracts like; probably why I'm so fond of them.

We are definately a small minority. If we weren't the world would be catering to us better, but not so small as just 1%, I'm sure. Obviously, I picked my ex-boyfriends, but I didn't pick my colleagues however it turns out I like them. I only had a hand in recruiting one of them.

So, what do we think? How many of us are there really, do you think?

Parents

  • I think there are considerably more.  More of a sizeable minority, i would imagine.  My own family has been flying under the radar for decades and the diagnositc criteria leave much to be desired.   

    Of course, this also means that many of the most used stats are probably wrong too, if they're just drawing on an unrepresentative proportion of the overall autistic population. 

    This also leaves me wondering whether the NAS, NHS and various autism charities are catering for the whole community.  I often feel overlooked (in spite of considerable difficulties over the years and also going back generations within my family) and I think this feeling is rather common, judging from responses to my posts in various forums. 

    It's probably set to change, of course, but it feels to me as though we're still very much at the beginning of a new wave of developments in this area.  I'm hoping that, unlike in the past, these developments will be autistic led. 

  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    Oh I do hope so. I'm curious about everything now. So many questions yet to be researched.

    But for all there are more of us, the world is NT designed...how big a majority are they? Or is that we just haven't been able to participate in the design?

    We do know this runs in families though. Thoes genes are there for a reason and have something to contribute to the whole.

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  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    Oh I do hope so. I'm curious about everything now. So many questions yet to be researched.

    But for all there are more of us, the world is NT designed...how big a majority are they? Or is that we just haven't been able to participate in the design?

    We do know this runs in families though. Thoes genes are there for a reason and have something to contribute to the whole.

Children
  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    Yes indeed, there is a pace and noise of life in our times which is super hard for us, but not good for anyone.

    Personally, I suspect we are a relatively small minority, albeit bigger than anyone has a handle on. I also think the edges of the spectrum are blurry and there are a good many folks who aren't autistic, but not exactly neuro typical either.

  • in reply to Dawn

    I honestly believe that their perceived majority will be steadily eroded as more and more people realise they're autistic or otherwise neurodivergent.  I'm sure there'll be plenty within my own family, once the penny drops.  Yes, the world is NT designed, but we're gathering force and, after all, there are many non autistics who are very unhappy with this design too.   

  • in reply to Dawn

    I have a crazy hypothesis

    our families are guardians. at least where mine is there is something LOL

    it's based on assumption that a phenotype with so many genes inside, cannot be robust for so many generations, so it looks like artificial modification

    i am bit of a fan of conspiracy theories, with one of my friends 

    except someone erased our memories