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why is everybody Aspergers today?

clover

20 years ago I  usually met autistic children from the most disabled end of the  spectrum .My son didn't quite fit in ...he had language  and the challenges he presented were lessened by this. Now I meet ,well, usually the more able group ! Is it in this  area  the "autistic epidemic" is increasing numbers  most rapidly ? Where is everyone else?

I am glad that the needs of the  more able /Aspergers group is being understood and recognised but I have a problem......my adult autistic son  who is mildly learning disabled and autistic is now automatically assumed amongst their number and he isn't!!!!! Aspie drop-in centres etc aimed at vocal, outward going young able people are not for him ...he doesn't play complex computer games ,or wish for a friend among his own age group. He likes the world of the learning disabled (with autism specific support ,to slot him in).This seems difficult for some(unfortunately, including occassionally  those  who have the  "key" to resources) to understand.  I am left wondering if Aspergers is now the "face and voice" of autism.

  • Yes, the problem I am experiencing is related to the way the knowledge and understanding of the autistic spectrum condition developed over time.  It seems to me that the more disabled group were the first to be identified and their disabilities (or “clearly identified disabled perspective”..) became synonymous with the term autistic .Later the condition was observed to include  some new people...the able autistic/Aspergers group .No problem so far! Then this new autistic sub group grew quickly in number and energetically sought a high public profile to correct their previous neglect and misinterpretation. This resulted in the situation being reversed....their  difficulties ,needs and characteristics have seemed to become the defining criteria of all people with an autistic condition who live in the community .So it is assumed that all autistic people who catch buses, read newspapers, and speak must be  Aspergers and have an ability to live a more or less normal life with the minimum of support . Not a useful confusion!

  • Former Member
    Former Member

    I think the problem is the way the understanding of of the condition of autism developed.  At first it was seen as something that only showed itself in children at an early age. Later the work of Hans Aspergers suggested that some individuals who didn't show the early signs of autism (lack of speech/slow speech development, learning difficulties) were actually on the spectrum and could be high-functioning.  Later still it was recognized that adults who had managed to live an outwardly more or less normal life were on the spectrum with Asperger's Syndrome.

    It's probably all much more complicated than  this but it's the way that I (as a non-professional) understand it.

    The result appears to be clashes of needs and maybe, Clover, you are correct in suggesting that we need to go our separate ways in order that all autistic people may get the help and treatment they need.

     

  • Interesting to read your reply. It gave me a glimpse into the world and priorities of a group,the more able/ Aspergers, with whom I am unfamiliar.

     I know we(the autistic community)are supposed to be all singing from the same hymn sheet but I'm not!!!!! I have a real battle on my hands to persuade the Learning Disability powers -that -be to skill up and become more autistic aware .Without this my son cannot access what they offer and there is no where else for him to go! Sometimes I fear that  ,as you rightly describe them, the more vocal supporters of the more able autistic have assumed that all is well in other camps. This wouldn't be a problem if the more disabled group had a "voice"too....we could slug it out or something ...

    Perhaps the time is coming for us to go our separate ways? In the meantime thanks for your interest.

  • Possibly there is a real danger that as attention focusses on Aspergers and adult diagnosis, that may detract from full autism and from people with a clearly identied disabled perspective.

    I guess I'm guilty of being fairly voluble over the distinctions surrounding aspergers syndrome between significant impaired and whether achieving or being motivated detracts from being significantly impaired.

    But the debate mostly seems to be about private diagnosis and self-diagnosis undermining the resources of NHS diagnosed aspies.

    Certainly the abler end is likely to be more vocal, but they are a group that has not been taken seriously by health professionals up to now, and need to obtain greater recognition.

    But understandably that has knock-on effects on those severely limited by the disability. I think we all perceive the able end as being disadvantaged, but mustn't lose sight of those with very limiting autism.