Neurodiversity and Autistic Pride

Mind Hacks points to several sites/articles about neurodiversity and the Autistic Pride movement, including the tongue-in-cheek Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical (ISNT), which has been on my radar screen since I started educating myself about Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) about eight years ago. If nothing else, read the faux DSM criteria for "Normal Disorders," in which  behavior that is seen as normal or typical by most people is pathologized.  It's a brilliant and thought-provoking turn-about.  I haven't kept up with what's going on in the ASD community, since Juniorette doesn't identify heavily as an Aspie, but I'd like to express my thankfulness for finding information and  a supportive online community when I desperately needed help at a time when I had to educate our family physician and  teachers about Aspergers. 

Comments

[rochelle]

Hi Douglas--I wouldn't say that ASD or AD/HD brains are superior, but there are components of those diagnoses that make us shine. As an ADHDer, I am a monster multi-tasker and am brilliant at last-minute wrap-ups on projects, papers, etc. But, Oh. My. God. Am I ever deeply ashamed of my ability to take care of my financial situation. If I could afford it, I'd hand everything over to an accountant to keep me out of trouble and to help me spend more reasonably and thoughtfully.

I hope to find you on IM some day, too!

[Douglas Cootey]

Great link. Thanks for posting it.

I can't say that I subscribe to his belief that the autistic mind is superior to the "normal" mind. I've bumped into this belief with people with AD/HD as well as Bipolar Disorder. It's a nice story to tell ourselves that we are the normal ones, but to use my own AD/HD as an example, can you imagine a TV station run by a guy with AD/HD? You'd never know when your favorite program was on. Something else that interested the programming director would be playing instead, or worse, he'd forget to run your show and there'd be static. LOL I understand, though, that "normal" people can be so insufferably insensitive, arrogant, and ignorant. And it is depressing to receive a negative diagnosis. There is that bittersweet moment when you realize you finally know what has been going on in your mind at the same time you learn just how completely "broken" you are. I can relate to the frustration that is the genesis of that website. And I have to admit I did enjoy reading about the Normal Personality Disorder. I just don't believe it benefits us to pretend we are normal when our dysfunctions disrupt our lives. It is better to recognize our limitations so we can work around them... Anyway, thought provoking link. Thanks for sharing.

I realize this is an old entry, but I'm hoping you'll find this comment anyway. Sorry I keep missing your IMs. I usually show up long after you have gone. Perhaps next time we'll get lucky.

~Douglas

~=~
http://thesplinteredmind.blogspot.com - Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude

[david king]

I have looked into this stuff, too. My daughter borders on aspergers, and two of my nephews have it big-time.