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Do you think Autism has a negative image?

White_Dragon

One thought keeps cropping up and would like to get your views on this topic. Do you think Autism has a negative image in a general sense? Until recently I knew very little about it and from the little I did know I thought of TV programmes like the A word. More recently, now I am a bit more attuned to things, I've noticed on the media/TV that autism is portrayed as a mental health condition. Patience seems a more positive view and a bit of an exception. I watched unforgotten recently on ITV and there was a lad on that they clearly had problems but all they talked about was his autism. Then I was watching the news earlier on and there was a young girl who sounded like she took her own life but had previously been arrested as suspected far right terrorist. Again they mentioned she was autistic.

Maybe I am just seeing more negative cases?

Would be interested to understand what you think?

It seems like a real barrier to me in terms of being open about being autistic when its potentially perceived in negative way? 

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  • White_Dragon said:
    Do you think Autism has a negative image in a general sense?

    in a word, yes.

    The majority of people I have worked with and family members have little clue about it other than there is something wrong with autists "in the head" which brings an immediate avoidance from them and marginalisation.

    Most autists I have seen in the media fall into a fairly narrow category of mid-to-high functioning but with either a powerful intellect or/and special interests relevant to the show.

    I guess most of the rest of us just aren't interesting enough for people to want to watch - actually that seems about right.

    I think the younger generation i growing up with a lot more exposure and tolerance for autists so this has to  be a good thing. It does mean we have to wait while to older, more ignorant generations fade away into obscurity for widespread understanding to be the norm.

    I wonder how other countries will manage this?

    In Brazil there is little mention of it at all in the media and autists are largely pushed out of way as an inconvenience. This was a big part of why I took up mentoring school leaving autistic teens to teach them survival skills in the real world.

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  • White_Dragon said:
    Do you think Autism has a negative image in a general sense?

    in a word, yes.

    The majority of people I have worked with and family members have little clue about it other than there is something wrong with autists "in the head" which brings an immediate avoidance from them and marginalisation.

    Most autists I have seen in the media fall into a fairly narrow category of mid-to-high functioning but with either a powerful intellect or/and special interests relevant to the show.

    I guess most of the rest of us just aren't interesting enough for people to want to watch - actually that seems about right.

    I think the younger generation i growing up with a lot more exposure and tolerance for autists so this has to  be a good thing. It does mean we have to wait while to older, more ignorant generations fade away into obscurity for widespread understanding to be the norm.

    I wonder how other countries will manage this?

    In Brazil there is little mention of it at all in the media and autists are largely pushed out of way as an inconvenience. This was a big part of why I took up mentoring school leaving autistic teens to teach them survival skills in the real world.

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