Whenever the subject of autism is brought up, there will inevitably be various opinions expressed regarding its causes or treatments, “need for a cure” and impact upon society. In almost every case, the need for the autistic to become more “normal” is assumed. Often the topics of “abortion on demand” and the elimination of the disabled from society are included. Sometimes a “side-show” discussion about various savant manifestations follows.
The medical literature is replete with descriptions of the autistic’s inability to understand neurotypicals, although there is rarely any mention of the neurotypical’s inability to understand autistics (unless it is in reference for the need to further study various autistic deficiencies).
ALWAYS the need for compensatory strategies and behavioral management is emphasized. But there doesn’t seem to be any viable understanding of the impact successful compensation and behavior management can have upon the long range success of the autistic in society.
I remember when people actually believed abortion on demand would decrease the prevalence of unwanted children and single parent homes. Instead we have the attitude that life is cheap and a drastically reduced economic support base for society as the aging “baby boomers” approach retirement age. I remember when computers were supposed to improve efficiency so much that eventually everyone would be working only four days a week. Instead, the expectations have increased to such a degree that it is no longer possible for most businesses to function without computerization.
The more “normal” an autistic appears, the more society expects “normalcy. Compensatory strategies may “hide” the neurological differences so well that others “assume” they understand the autistic when they don’t have a clue. And society becomes less flexible and tolerant of anomaly the older one becomes.
We are told we aren’t acceptable “as is” and must become more like others in order to function in society. Our cognitive styles are automatically determined to be inferior and we are told to think like “normal people” do. Self-appointed councelors earn themselves “brownie points” then discard us as they acquire more promising projects.
Sometimes the better we are at compensating, the harder it is to function in society, especially as we age. Maybe our society can learn from more “primitive” societies where autistics are more readily accepted and sometimes even revered.
Just a thought.;
Filed under: Autism Spectrum Disorder
