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Autism as a superpower: Pros and Cons

Steven

Hello, everyone. :) 

I'm awaiting assessment. Seeing as I so often view things literally - I'm the kind of person who frequently needs to be told very obvious things...sometimes with finger-puppets...before I actually realise them, I went in search of autism paraphernalia on Amazon, Ebay etc etc. So, naturally, I assumed that the neurotypical world might be much the same as me: needing to be told explicitly that I am (potentially) autistic by means of badges, t-shirts, massive flags and so on. I also assumed that I actually am autistic, despite not yet being officially so. These mute accessories would overcome the difficulties I have, generally, with conversation and also explain to people why I'm often 'slow on the uptake' or silent on occasion.

The items for sale were so bold in colour, so confusing in their various manic displays that I felt like I'd taken LSD. I needed Paracetamol and rehab after viewing the t-shirts alone. More seriously, I was surprised to see so many slogans on the merchandise which were similar-ish to the following:

'Autism is my Superpower'

'Blessed by autism'

'I'm austistic - what's your effin' problem?'

I just didn't know precisely how I felt about such slogans. On the one hand, I think it's truly brilliant that such positive statements are made and encouraged; on the other, I myself certainly don't feel like a superhero or particularly blessed - quite the opposite - and I'm uncomfortable with defiant attitudes (as expressed in the 'problem' slogan) even though, undoubtedly, some unkind people deserve to hear such words of defiance. Perhaps I've misunderstood, and the more positive slogans and dynamic designs are meant to help quite young people with ASD to feel better about themselves? If so, that's a truly lovely sentiment and very important too. I just wish that I could recognise the more positive aspects of ASD in my experiences of daily life.

How do you all feel about these seemingly common (judging by hundreds of online goods at least) attitudes? And do they fittingly represent your own experiences of autism?

if I've misinterpreted this apparent phenomena, please accept my apologies; I'm just interested to read different, more up-to-date and perhaps more educated opinions than mine. I'm aware that I'm ignorant of many things regarding ASD and, often, I fear that this ignorance shows.

Thanks.

Parents

  • If you actually look at a lot of the original superhero stories in comics or even mythology, the thing is that it is actually a more appropriate analogy than it first appears.

    The X-men were feared and faced lots of discrimination and efforts to control and normalise them, they often struggled to control their powers and had to go to a special school.  Lots of superheroes live a very lonely life, for fear of someone close to them getting hurt.

    Superpowers keep people seperate from "normal" people.  There was a whole thing in Agents of Shield about people with superpowers being referred to as "Inhumans."  And there's discrimination and control and other bad things going on there too.  

    It really is a good tool for satire and expression of how it feels to be different and "other."

    So yes, for me being autistic is a superpower, but it doesn't always mean what other people think it means.

  • in reply to Glitter

    Really good points there, I think. :) I should've given the subject far more thought before starting the thread.

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