For now advocating for some years and meeting numerous autists, it’s the sad truth for autistics too. Autists don’t know what autism is. Therapists are doing a bad work at explaining and many parents hide the fact their kids are autistic. These people can’t empower themselves on a lifetime basis without having the right support.
The first step is to deconstruct what people told them and define autism again or for some, or define autism for the first time, both in an non medical model and in accordance with the neurodiversity paradigm. After defining, you can begin the work of empowerment on this basis.
This is what I mean. You’ve said it in a much clearer way then I could have. The hard part is going to be defining it. Autism is, from what I understand, huge and nebulous. It’s not impossible though.
I’ve been learning project management myself. Trying to get a certification. This is also a huge subject that is constantly growing and changing. As such defining what it is has to have built In subjectivity. Having concrete standards on such a thing is at best messy, but we can do it.
Autism shows in very different ways in each person. It’s very, if not impossible to define it with traits and characteristics.
But, we can acknowledge it’s a different way to experience the life, the environment, and a different style of mind. It’s a valid neurocognitive functioning variation.
It’s a progressive (after European definition) view of autism. You can find it in the works of schoolars like Monique Botha, Robert Chapman or Damian Milton. All three are autists.
Autism isn’t reserved to the medical domain anymore. In fact, the research are moving to sociology (double empathy problem), anthropology and philosophy (story based education) as the day to day issues of autists are social and cultural rather than medical.
For now advocating for some years and meeting numerous autists, it’s the sad truth for autistics too. Autists don’t know what autism is. Therapists are doing a bad work at explaining and many parents hide the fact their kids are autistic. These people can’t empower themselves on a lifetime basis without having the right support.
The first step is to deconstruct what people told them and define autism again or for some, or define autism for the first time, both in an non medical model and in accordance with the neurodiversity paradigm. After defining, you can begin the work of empowerment on this basis.
This is what I mean. You’ve said it in a much clearer way then I could have. The hard part is going to be defining it. Autism is, from what I understand, huge and nebulous. It’s not impossible though.
I’ve been learning project management myself. Trying to get a certification. This is also a huge subject that is constantly growing and changing. As such defining what it is has to have built In subjectivity. Having concrete standards on such a thing is at best messy, but we can do it.
Autism shows in very different ways in each person. It’s very, if not impossible to define it with traits and characteristics.
But, we can acknowledge it’s a different way to experience the life, the environment, and a different style of mind. It’s a valid neurocognitive functioning variation.
I like that way if thinking of it. I’m a big supporter of story based education so we can actually teach others with this idea.
It’s a progressive (after European definition) view of autism. You can find it in the works of schoolars like Monique Botha, Robert Chapman or Damian Milton. All three are autists.
Autism isn’t reserved to the medical domain anymore. In fact, the research are moving to sociology (double empathy problem), anthropology and philosophy (story based education) as the day to day issues of autists are social and cultural rather than medical.