The channel four programme had a pretty good go at showing autism, more specifically what used to be referred to as Aspergers.
But where were the more mature autistic people. Those over 45? Those over 60? And I know I may have dropped off a bit during the programme so will have to watch it again,but there didn't seem to be a 'control' for the tasks. Just saying they had problems when presented with change. I would like to have seen how a neurotypical behaved and coped in these circumstances. To me, as someone autistic, I still don't know how a NT picks up when interrupted, when I take ten or 15 minutes to get my thoughts focused again.
There also was an over representation of females although I know part of the raisin debtor was to show women are under represented in diagnosis. The speed dating bit I didn't get at all apart from to show that autistic people don't have green skin.I can make a good job of pretending I'm something I'm not for ten minutes if I keep to a script but sooner or later the script will vary to another play for which I haven't learned the lines and then the problems will start..
Yes, generally we do look like everyone else. However until people are not judged on appearance and superficial traits we will always have a problem in society. A society that supposedly welcomes truthfulness and open speech is greatly phased by someone autistic who tells it as it is. And until this can be addressed we will always have a problem in the NT mind.
