I was browsing on Facebook and found a link to this article community.scope.org.uk/.../
I thought of Scope as the rebranded name for what was ''The Spastics Society''. I didn't know that there's a possible link between ASD and Cerebal Palsy, tho I think some of the signs can be present in both. I know my mum has said I'm clumsy, and I do seem to have a clumsy/awkward gait at times. I kow that when I go to aqua aerobics after the session there's stretches and I find balancing on one leg difficult. I know I'm right handed, but is it possible to be right footed as well (just I think that's my better foot) I'm not used to stairs at home , having lived in properties without stars since 1998.
I don#t know why , but maybe I seem to have a more negative connection with the word ''autism'' than I do Aspergers think of autism as more severe and Aspergers less so , tho people with both conditions can be very capable. I think Violet's piece is really good, tho I do wonder why it's on Scope's website, I know she's writing as a guest. I know Scope changed their name in 1994 as ''The Spastics Society'' was perhaps to un PC. Thinking about it back to the 80's I know ''Spastic'' was often used as an insult by schoolkids as was ''Joey'' after Joey Deacon, who has CP and he was featured on Blue Peter in 1981 for the International Year Of The Disabled''. Tho far from making the lives of disabled people better, tho that seemed to spectacularly backfire with the nations kids. Maybe I see ''spastic'' and ''joey'' in a negative light as I was called those names. I gather I was trying to fit in at a mainstream junior school as my ASD wasn't diagnosed until November last year. As a kid I always felt I had a clumsy gait, or if upstairs sometimes my parents would say I sound like a ''herd of elephants''. I know I was bullied at school physically in addition to the insults.
I think in conclusion perhaps Joey Deacon might have come across as ''simple'' or I think he was mistakenly believed to be ''mentally subnormal'' OUCH those phrases sound really offensive, and would be considered as such today. I can't help but think that living in an institution doesn't exactly allow disabled people to thrive. I must admit some of that article seems a little contadictory as on one hand it says Mr Deacon lived in ''Caterham Mental Hospital'' tho it says he and three friends bought themselves a house to live in, with money raised from the sale of the book. For younger members here's some info on Joey Deacon en.wikipedia.org/.../Joey_Deacon
I thought Violet#s piece interesting and that of the commentators, that got me thinking about disability and the changing attitudes, once it was ''Lock them away'' I think it was only in 2008 that I found out the later to be Edward VIII and George VI had a younger brother Prince John, tho I think he died as a teenager. I hads the song ''Spasticus Autisticus'' by Ian Dury and the Blockheads I don;t think so as Ian himself was disabled, and I think people asked him to write a song for International Year Of The Disabled, and I personally find the violins and sympathy, and wrapping the disabled person up in cotton wool or shutting them in institutions offensive. I think that song was Ian's ''Up yours'' to negative portrayal of disabled people !!! I do agree with him that the IYOTD seemed to be counter productive, given ''Joey'' and ''Spastic'' were used as terms of insult at the time en.wikipedia.org/.../Ian_Dury