Where my education fails me: autism and loneliness
Most of you know that I have had an expensive and privileged education, in all senses of the phrase.
asperger asked a vibrant question. A vital one I should say.
The last time I tried to go seriously into the autistic mind and heart and soul ...
let's say it did not end decently for all involved. (but it made me most powerfully aware of self-advocacy and its power, so I learnt something in the end).
I was a frequent poster in a community which focuses on the work of an author well-known in the psychology and special education fields.
They had a significant autism forum, to which I would often contribute with what scraps of knowledge I did pick up.
So in January 2002 I ask: "Do you think autistic individuals are emotionally disturbed?"
(knowing quite well of course that what can look like emotional disturbance to a neurotypical pattern of behaviour/thinking is most probably not on the preponderance of evidence).
As a girl (this was the late 1980s) I received some very mixed messages about "alone" and "lonely" as they are connected to people with the diagnosis of autism. An autistic sense of being, to get away from the psychology altogether!
This is obviously not the late 1980s now. This is 2006. But that people should ask that question and think about it shows there is something enigma-like about the whole thing. That somebody should say that he doesn't mind being lonely and assume others are the same - what are the foundations for that assumption? I should like to know. I suppose they are rooted in personal experience. When you take a state of being for granted, it is quite easy to assume that others are the same.
I would like to restate the question specifically to my friendslist, particularly those who have never spoken on these subjects before.
I do realise this is a most personal and intimate thing.
And that you may not quite like someone parading her knowledge like this, and trying to come off humble.
Thank you to moggymania for her wisdom at what must be a very difficult time for her.
asperger asked a vibrant question. A vital one I should say.
The last time I tried to go seriously into the autistic mind and heart and soul ...
let's say it did not end decently for all involved. (but it made me most powerfully aware of self-advocacy and its power, so I learnt something in the end).
I was a frequent poster in a community which focuses on the work of an author well-known in the psychology and special education fields.
They had a significant autism forum, to which I would often contribute with what scraps of knowledge I did pick up.
So in January 2002 I ask: "Do you think autistic individuals are emotionally disturbed?"
(knowing quite well of course that what can look like emotional disturbance to a neurotypical pattern of behaviour/thinking is most probably not on the preponderance of evidence).
As a girl (this was the late 1980s) I received some very mixed messages about "alone" and "lonely" as they are connected to people with the diagnosis of autism. An autistic sense of being, to get away from the psychology altogether!
This is obviously not the late 1980s now. This is 2006. But that people should ask that question and think about it shows there is something enigma-like about the whole thing. That somebody should say that he doesn't mind being lonely and assume others are the same - what are the foundations for that assumption? I should like to know. I suppose they are rooted in personal experience. When you take a state of being for granted, it is quite easy to assume that others are the same.
I would like to restate the question specifically to my friendslist, particularly those who have never spoken on these subjects before.
I do realise this is a most personal and intimate thing.
And that you may not quite like someone parading her knowledge like this, and trying to come off humble.
Thank you to moggymania for her wisdom at what must be a very difficult time for her.