Perceptions

Yeh it's mad. People from older generations come from a time where there were less autistic people and not much was known about it either. I dunno I mean a lot of young adults are autistic. But I mean it's not an identity at all. It's a diagnosed condition haha. 

Yeh it's mad. People from older generations come from a time where there were less autistic people and not much was known about it either. I dunno I mean a lot of young adults are autistic. But I mean it's not an identity at all. It's a diagnosed condition haha. 

I remember years ago, back when I was young and god was still in short trousers an elderly woman muttering about how they didn't have an ozone layer when she was young so why was everyone worried about it? I think many people just stop learning, stop being interested in the world, they restrict themselves to what they know, I think it's why "back to basics" is such a big thing for conservative voters, its trying to hold back time. I think theres a big element of jealousy too, maybe they're dyslexic or something and it was never recognised, because it more or less didn't exist when they were at school. Of course it did exist, just as ND existed, it was just unknown or thought to be a very small number of people affected, those who's ND is profoundly disabling.

I think there's also a class thing in Britain about such things, they're seen as something only effecting the middle classes and nobody else. I think you can see this playing out in the real world, parents who are educated and articulate are more able to advocate for thier child and of course they speak the same "language" as teachers and doctors who are educated to the same level. Poorer, less well educated people can and are put off from speaking out and advocating, by thier own lack of education, their social standing and are often ignored. A middle class child is dyslexic and working class child isn't expected to be academic and the parents are encouraged to accept this.

I think another thing with a lot of people is their concept of justice, which is often indulgence for oneself and punishment for every body else, so they deserve benefits and healthcare because they have something that can be seen or has been known about for a long time, and those with less visible disabilities are skiving and need a kick up the bum.

How ever I do think it's a conversation worth having, especially if we can gently challenge assumptions and bring people to the realisation that we're different, but equal and ignorance is the real enemy.