Published on 12, July, 2020
When I woke up yesterday morning I had never heard of Sia or the film Music (Yeah ok! I was born in the 60s and am behind the times, it would seem, lol). Goggle tells me that Music has been a bit controversial. I watched the film last night I see why. No, "crushing" autistic people "with love" mid meltdown is the last thing anyone should try. Bloomin' dangerous! No, she didn't pick an autistic actor and yes, the character Music does only seem to be there to further the stories of the other protagonists. So, ooooh yes, I do see why.
Anyway, Sia was brought to my attention because apparently, she has just announced that she is late diagnosed autistic! That said I see posts here a year old on the topic, so I'm a bit confused.dot.com as to how recent this really is.
Sia says she's on autism spectrum two years after Music controversy | Metro News - dated this week
With that the Metro approached the NAS for comment on being late diagnosed from some actually late diagnosed people. Amanda and I from the Now I Know campaign obliged. Actually, I quite like the article. They've picked three very different experiences. And it is great to be given the chance to open public eyes, so I'm happy about that.
What it's like to be diagnosed as autistic as an adult | Metro News - today
I'm curious now though to see whether and how perceptions of Sia might have changed. And whether people think it will be helpful for the public to know her story in the same way that other public figures disclosing their diagnosis, say the lovely Chris Packham, Christine McGuiness, Melanie Sykes and Fern Brady, have done.
I understand Sia later apologised for her approach in Music and recognises now that she is both in recovery from alcoholism and getting to know her autistic self. As a Spiritualist, I do rather believe that the path of change and growth is open to all, and we don't have to suffer forever for their mistakes. We've all made them, after all.
So, what are folk's feelings about the latest celebrity autism reveal, given the context?
Cool I'll go give those a try on Youtube. :)
'Elastic Heart piano version' is beautifully moving - also 'Alive acoustic version' - speaks to me in particular
Maybe it's just because I don't follow that genre but I have never heard any of her songs as afar as I know.
Will give it a miss from the sounds of it, although I did read an article where it said she apologised eventually and edited the bad bits out and put a disclaimer at the start of the film. I don;t know if this is true. It's a shame that she made the mistake with the film in the firstplace though....like I said, she's such a great musical artist
Good for her, not only for exploring herself and finding answers that hopefully bring her comfort but also huge thanks for making it public which undoubtedly will help lots of other people and hopefully bring more awareness and understanding.
That's exactly how I had to explain it the other day, co-occurring conditions are not critera for Autism, they are their own thing, but a problem is people think they are caused by autism or guaranteed to also happen, this is what I have gathered from what people mean when they say "you don't seem autistic, my cousin is autistic and he has - insert list of things that aren't actually autistic criteria" which causes more medicalised demonising of autistic people imo.
Also (sort of related infodump sorry) I don't believe all co-occurring conditions are equally as heritable as autism anyway (AKA reason 5 why I think 10k is a futile waste of expenses) I've been able to pin point a single highly suspected Autistic Grandmother as the source of all criterial meetable traits in my cousins and estimated around 1/2 to 1/10 of all cousins (and their parent on that bloodline) depending on how nitpicky you want make the arbitrary cut off point for suspected/not suspected autistic. And an interesting thing is we all developed some kind of IBS symptoms as we left our youth, but the co-occurring condition none of the kids, grandkids, or great grandkids have is epilepsy, which Nan did have. My family is also full of people who even if they don't meet enough criteria are eccentric personalities and all of them are bright but then almost all except were pants in the structure of academia, it's only as academia in further education gets more accessible we are all going back and getting or certificates etc. But yeah there is a reason I always felt normal even when the other kids at school treated me like I wasn't, and it's because among my family my autistic self is normal.
It seems Autism Spectrum is being used separate from 'condition'. Even ADDititude magazine (New York) is still talking about out-dated "research" in Autism. IMO the US has far to go still.
I like her music and knowing about her personal life a little more makes me feel less alone and gives me hope that I might be a singer one day too.
And because she's famous, being autistic at school is suddenly so much cooler which is awesome.
Both dyslexia and autism can impact upon co-ordination. I am dyslexic and autistic.
Mine is awful but for years thought that was just about my dyslexia. Only when I realised I am autistic did I figure out my whole sensory world was way, way different in a way that far exceeds what people who are dyslexic normally experience.
It's not just spatial / visual perception, but the proprioception too. I really can't track a ball to catch it, my run is laughable and I can't cope being turned upside down. PE was a nightmare.
Yes, many autistic people find sports very difficult.
Dawn are you saying this about autistic people? I hated PE at school but always tried my best. I was never any good at catching or throwing a ball. Even to this day.
Wouldn't recommend Misic though. Doesn't do much for autistic people, but we all live and learn
As did I. I was bullied by games mistresses and kids for it.
Dyslexia can affect co-ordination and when diagnosed dyslexic at 18 concluded that was explanation enough...more than that though, since I turn out to be autistic.
A lot of us can't catch balls.
Confusing for folk, I think. No dyslexia, dyspraxia etc are not on the ASC "spectrum", but are related neurodivergence with a few elements of commonality. The general public might not know this.
No, I wouldn't have coped with such infantile play nonsense either. It absolutely doesn't mean we don't have imaginations though. I can imagine a new crochet sock design in fantastic detail.
Like all the other gubbins from the diagnostic manuals, they could of deficit when really it's difference. No we don't have communication deficits. We communicate just fine amongst eachother, we just do it by our rules rather than NT's, etc.
Maybe in colloquial speech but again I don't think doctors use the term that way even in the US. And thats the point. IF she says a doctor has diagnosed her as 'on the spectrum' I think it's pretty unambiguous what is meant.
Thankyou for this thread Dawn, I love Sia! I haven't seen Music but I deeply listen and disect Sia's lyrics and I just knew she was autistic as her lyrics spoke to me so deeply. I'm so pleased she is 'out'. What a great artist!
Agree.
It seems "On The Spectrum": in the US equates to NeuroDivergent.
I am starting to have seen enough to start making one of those "tier memes" of autistic representation I've seen.
OK - I appreciate your correction of my understanding Peter. Thank you.
Not really the DSM five which is what is mostly used in the UK for diagnosing and coding autism was actually created in the US and is used extensively by US medical practitioners. And it’s very clear in DSM-V that autism spectrum condition and ADHD are ttwo separate conditions. a clinical professional would not refer to ADHD as on the spectrum not in a professional context, not even in the US.