The rise of autism as an “identity” is in part a side effect of the “woke” project to rename or redefine anything associated with a scientist whose personal views or positions don’t comport with present-day standards—specifically, the decision to abolish “Asberger’s syndrome” and fold it into simply the “Autism spectrum.” In some circles…
The rise of autism as an “identity” is in part a side effect of the “woke” project to rename or redefine anything associated with a scientist whose personal views or positions don’t comport with present-day standards—specifically, the decision to abolish “Asberger’s syndrome” and fold it into simply the “Autism spectrum.” In some circles it has become downright fashionable to identify as autistic, and while it is mostly young people who are formally diagnosed as autistic/ASD, there has been something of an explosion in the number of middle aged or older people, often highly accomplished, newly identified as autistic. There really should be a separate name/category for people who successfully navigate life with only minor issues (feelings of inadequacy, social anxiety, etc). I’ve never really seen a clear explanation of what these people have in common with the severely autistic. I do know there is an in-between of sorts, I have an autistic cousin who didn’t learn to speak until his teens, and for many years spoke in an odd, mechanical way and mostly about obsessions. I saw him again when he was in his 30s and working, he presented as basically “normal” by then—he clearly had the benefit of affluent parents and the best education available. Some of the most severely affected may not be able to make such progress, but it would probably be helpful to have better language to describe this rather than just “spectrum” which is so vague as to be almost meaningless in describing whatever autism is.
I agree that better language would be useful, but I'm not sure that the tragedy of the abolition of 'Aspbergers' should be put on the shoulders of the modern 'woke'. It was a misstep that has cost the profoundly autistic dearly, but it happened a while back and most of the people in the modern political fight weren't part of it.
All we achieve by blaming this on them is encouraging anyone who is "against" us on either issue to ally in opposition to both causes.
The rise of autism as an “identity” is in part a side effect of the “woke” project to rename or redefine anything associated with a scientist whose personal views or positions don’t comport with present-day standards—specifically, the decision to abolish “Asberger’s syndrome” and fold it into simply the “Autism spectrum.” In some circles it has become downright fashionable to identify as autistic, and while it is mostly young people who are formally diagnosed as autistic/ASD, there has been something of an explosion in the number of middle aged or older people, often highly accomplished, newly identified as autistic. There really should be a separate name/category for people who successfully navigate life with only minor issues (feelings of inadequacy, social anxiety, etc). I’ve never really seen a clear explanation of what these people have in common with the severely autistic. I do know there is an in-between of sorts, I have an autistic cousin who didn’t learn to speak until his teens, and for many years spoke in an odd, mechanical way and mostly about obsessions. I saw him again when he was in his 30s and working, he presented as basically “normal” by then—he clearly had the benefit of affluent parents and the best education available. Some of the most severely affected may not be able to make such progress, but it would probably be helpful to have better language to describe this rather than just “spectrum” which is so vague as to be almost meaningless in describing whatever autism is.
I agree that better language would be useful, but I'm not sure that the tragedy of the abolition of 'Aspbergers' should be put on the shoulders of the modern 'woke'. It was a misstep that has cost the profoundly autistic dearly, but it happened a while back and most of the people in the modern political fight weren't part of it.
All we achieve by blaming this on them is encouraging anyone who is "against" us on either issue to ally in opposition to both causes.