Friday, October 7, 2011

Jabberwocky of the Day : How Do I Make My Child Autistic

On the website of the Autism Society of Kent County is a person calling themselves "z" who asks the following question -
I’ve heard that autistic youngsters are incredibly proficient and intelligent. What can I do to make sure my little one will be autistic when it is born?
I am not sure whether this person is serious but utterly clueless about autism or whether they are just being a complete ass.  But I think this picture is the appropriate response to questions like this.

Talk about completely missing the reality of autism.  And to make matters worse, someone actually tried to make the case for the "benefits" of high functioning autism in the comments -
High Functioning Autism does come with some beneficial benefits over the other types of autism. Generally, High Functioning Autism suffer with difficulties with social interaction. This usually does not adversely impact their ability to interact with others on a daily basis at a basic working level. Although they may be labeled as being overly serious or earnest, and to be lacking in the ability to converse in “small talk” conversation. ....
The person goes on for some length but seems to completely miss the point that autism - even "high functioning" autism is a profound disability that you shouldn't wish on your worst enemy let alone your child.  At least the other responses to the question seem to be based in reality, including the "answer" to the question at the top of the page-
"Have confidence in me. You do NOT want your kid to be autistic."
I second that answer, you DO NOT want your children to have autism.  But I think the simple fact that someone could even ask a question like that shows that the "autism gives me gifts" rhetoric can actually do some serious damage.

1 comment:

  1. Indeed - as does the use of the loathsome phrase "Aspie" for Asperger's Syndrome.

    Autism as a gift is fallacy created by people like Ari Ne'eman, Paul Wady from the NAS and Mark Ty-Wharton. People with a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome that nevertheless manage to have jobs, careers, wives and families - while people like me with the same diagnosis are homeless, unemployed, single and often with drug or alcohol problems.

    Science (the UK prevalence study), says that the average "Aspie" in the UK is poor, single, unemployed and not very brainy.

    This is the reality.