Published on 12, July, 2020
Sorry to ask but the more I read all of you, the more I wonder. I take part in this forum because I am the mum of an autistic boy who has sever language delay, stimming, meltdowns, shuttdowns etc.. however I am an astrophysicist and in my career I have worked with many people with small quirks and we were all working together in this very open minded rational atmosphere without anyone refering to an autistic label. Sure my office mate was always making the same joke and switching the lights in the same order and unplugging his things I'd be there or not but I never made a fuss about it.. I just reminded him I was still there and he would very kindly switch on the light again for me. Just to say, has society become so normative that no more quirks are allowed because all sensitive rational people (most scientists are by nature) have, as far as I have seen (nearly 50 years old, lived in 5 countries and met loads of scientists, engineers and the like. Is society excluding this way of thinking more and more? Or is there more that I do not get? What is the border between autism and hypersensitive rational (which tend to go hand in hand)?
Annie,
I can't quite grasp what you are trying to ask - or intimate - in your contribution above.
I am, however, pretty damn certain that no one here wishes to try and define borders between various outward manifestations of autism. This is simply a friendly and supportive community where like-minded folk can converse and share their thoughts and experiences.
Many of us are not blessed with a "very open minded rational atmosphere" in our daily lives - or even if we do - we don't have people who understand our brains nor share the various challenges and struggles that we encounter during our days. We might have outwardly "small quirks" only, but have you ever considered what is going on beneath our exteriors within our weird and wonderful brains? Are you aware of the suicide rate known to exist for autistic folk - both great and small?
From what I can see, people here are generally just talking. That's a good thing. I hope that is OK with you.
Thanks for raising your words.
I am deeply concerned about the suicide rate and that's why I am asking whether the problem does not lie on the other side, ie society. My son was picked up due to language delay mainly but when kids were not forced to school he wouldn't have been noticed. Many scientits in history had non classical chidhood deveopments. My question was really an open one. What pushes society to label autistic people?