I'm currently engaged in a minor disagreement on the Autistic_Spectrum Yahoo! group. One person there believes a few things that I disagree with. First, she says that Asperger Syndrome is distinct from autism (which was once a widely held view, but has now largely fallen into disfavor). More importantly, she believes that those with AS are "less disabled" than autistics. I disagreed, and someone else posted an excellent quote in support of what I was saying. I'm reproducing it here, from "Reweaving the Autistic Tapestry; Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, and ADHD" authored by Lisa Blakemore-Brown wherein she quotes Patricia Howlin:
Although often described as a 'mild' variant of autism, the symptoms of Asperger Syndrome are, in many cases, just as pervasive and as devastating as those of less able children. However, because of their relatively high cognitive ability, and their apparently competent use of language, this group of children is often least well served or understood. In fact, many have extensive linguistic and comprehension difficulties (especially involving abstract or complex concepts); their understanding of the more subtle aspects of social interaction is often profoundly limited, and their obsessional interests and behaviors also prove a barrier to social integration. However, only a minority receives any specialist provision. Most have to cope in mainstream with little or no help. The children's good vocabulary; and their well-developed obsessional interests, frequently give the impression that they are capable of far higher levels of achievement than is actually the case. Others' expectations of their social and academic potential tend to be unrealistically high, and when these expectations are not met the children are viewed as negative, unco-operative, unmotivated, or rude and manipulative. Seemingly so close to 'normality' there is constant pressure for them to 'fit in' in ways that would never be demanded of a less able autistic child. This can lead to enormous pressure, resulting in extreme levels of anxiety and stress, which in turn further impede social and educational progress. Because of their very uneven profile of skills and deficits, these children may require even more highly specialized help than those with global learning difficulties.
Posted by Zathras at October 30, 2004 09:11 PMNo one in the group said aspies are not part of the spectrum. That is a jump you made on your own. Get to know someone with an actual autism diagnosis, such as my 2 sons, before you decide whether there are significant differences in abilities. I would be more than happy to point out specific examples if you would like. Furthermore, if you are in fact refuring to something I said, I never said aspies are "less disabled". Another jump on your part. It is, by the distinctions of the 2 diagnostic criteria, a higher functioning disability. Those with Asperger's Syndrome, including myself, can function on a higher level than someone with a diagnosis of Asperger's. That is the diffinative difference between the two. Here is a link to the diagnostic criteria for each, as stated in the DSM-IV: http://www.autism-biomed.org/dsm-iv.htm
Posted by: Calm Rapture at October 31, 2004 02:12 PM"Those with Asperger's Syndrome, including myself, can function on a higher level than someone with a diagnosis of Asperger's."
.... with a diagnosis of Autism.
Please keep in mind that the DSM is hardly infallible -- it is created by flawed human beings who recognize that paradigms sometimes need to be revised or discarded. (The process for creating, editing, and deleting entries is also highly political... witness, for example, that homosexuality used to be listed as a disorder, but now it isn't.) AS wasn't even an entry in the DSM until the early Nineties, but that hardly means that you weren't an "Aspie" before the DSM was revised.
As to "less disabled" and "higher functioning disabled", those seem to me to be two different ways of saying the same thing.
Finally, I never said that there is no difference in abilities; quite the contrary, I think that all autistics are different from each other in a wide variety of ways, some having abilities that others lack and vice versa.
The quote struck a chord with me, in particular, because I am one of those highly-intelligent "Aspies" who has always had greater expectations placed on him than he is able to meet. I deeply resent people telling me that just because I'm intelligent, educated, and articulate, that I'm "less disabled" than other autistics or, worse yet, that I'm actually not disabled at all.
Posted by: Zathras at October 31, 2004 04:03 PM"Get to know someone with an actual autism diagnosis..."
Not to point out the flaming obvious, but he's *engaged* to a diagnosed autistic.
Posted by: Moggy at October 31, 2004 04:19 PM