Let's get one thing straight,
there may be lots more diagnosed auties today but
auties always existed. Many of them were 'accomodated'
by society as 'eccentrics', 'hobos', 'bag ladies'
and 'simple folk'. Autie families barely noticed
the 'wierdness' of their relatives because they
'just took after so and so'. When one was a throw
back to some obscure earlier relative once upon
a time, then they stood out- sort of what's 'wrong'
with you. Those more severely effected were locked
away in asylums. Today we have labels, political
correctness and, sometimes, funding. We also have
a more demanding society, a more in your face, watch,
wait, expect, overcontrolling, progressively urban,
educated, qualified, literate and multitrack society
of 2.5 kids instead of the more usual 10 where an
autie kid or two probably got lost to half bring
up its feral self.
The professional world has also grown. Strings of
professionals have found niches in the field of
'ASDs' from music therapists, to chiropractors,
from naturopaths to opthamologists, from Dolphin
programs to aversion 'therapies', from physiotherapists
to educators, from spiritual healers to psychologists
and the ever present category of psychiatrist. And
of course, let us not forget that strange group
of ever increasing generations of 'translators'
made up of adults with 'ASDs' who have written books,
given lectures, workshops or helped councel and
advise parents, non-autie professionals and sometimes
mentor or advocate on behalf of their sometimes
more challenged or newly diagnosed peers. (oh yes,
by the way, for those who are interested I'm back
doing on-line consultancy for those who need me-
see www.donnawilliams.net
under 'about autism').
For some parents and people with 'ASDs' getting
a label is sometimes an entry into a new social
world, a belonging. For others it is a separation
from the non-autie world, an alienation, even a
shattering of dreams and expectations and that's
not just the parents. There are some older children,
teenagers and adults who have been helped a lot
by getting a label and good counselling about what
that label means with emphasis on ability, inclusion,
on personhood and equality in the face of difference.
For others getting a label has rocked their world,
causing detachment from those they once were able
to relate to, withdrawal from activities which once
gave belonging and pleasure. And its not so simple
as poo-pooing these folk as though they just fear
being 'abnormal', 'disabled' or 'like those people
with AUTISM'. It can be something much simpler.
In turning up the lights on being a label, someone
who is monotracked, capable of pinpointed obsessional
focus to the exclusion of all else, suddenly illuminating
themselves as a label, means they lose sight of
that most important but mostly assumed and never
spoken of other label - being a person, a human
being, among other diverse and unique human beings.
Yes, that world of human beings does have a kind
of 'normality' drive sometimes, like a big wave
of media made reality which can make us feel we
are the only version of wierd there is, but I promise
you, I've had the luck and misfortune of watching
many wonderfully wierd and diverse people and many,
in fact most of them were not on the autistic spectrum.
Some were comfortable with being unique and part
of life's colorful pallette of behavioural mutations,
others were simply oblivious and assuming, for all
kinds of diverse reasons. Some were defensive in
a 'them' and 'us' drama. Some were the most welcoming
people I was lucky to meet. The thing is, when we
get all caught up in our differentness to the point
we get precious or defensive about it, we lose our
freedom, our opportunity and part of the adventure.
So my label is just a word and I am a person.
With warm feelings... Donna *)
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