Prefacing this to say that Autism is real, my nephew is pretty strong (is that the word) on the spectrum and I have friends who have kids who absolutely need the help. On the other hand, I see LOTS of kids who are labeled as Autistic/'on the Spectrum' that are really just what we would have considered weird back in the day. The rare times I go on Facebook this chick I work out with is constantly bemoaning all three of her kid's having Autism. She brings them sometimes and they are normal, if maybe a little introverted. It's like their small disabilities are her reason for attention (Munchausen syndrome). At my buddy's funeral the other day I was talking to his15yo nephew who led the conversation with 'I'm autistic'. I was like 'ok, so?' Too many damn labels and too many rules. No wiggle room in society for kids to break out of a silo and be free.
I'm not clear what your post is about. Are you saying that we shouldn't be labeling people autistic? Autism has always been around even before there was a name for it. As you note people who are Autistic can be fully functioning members of society. I don't see anything wrong with acknowledging that they have that issue.
It’s OK to make fun of a weirdo, but kind of a dick move to make fun of someone with a condition. Sometimes you want to just make a joke at someone else’s expense, and that’s getting harder and harder to do without looking like an as*hole.
There are various levels on the spectrum - labeling someone as a weirdo is harmful and rude. Pretty much an ******* move. DD
Kids seem to want to have a diagnosis for everything. Some problems obviously are problems, but some are merely foibles. My daughter suggested I might need therapy for something; I just shrug.
What I understand from this is that Xerobull said folks around him are labeling their kids who are only introverted as autistic. I think there should be a proper assessment.
My theory is that autistic people seem to generally be happy, will usually have someone see about them and not burdened or aware of all the typical bullshit "normal" folk deal with it. The severely autistic kids just seem to laugh no matter what. Sometimes I wonder if an autistic life of laughing and smiling while being taken care of is better. Maybe us "normal" folk lost the genetic lottery. Go watch Love on the spectrum, a Netflix series. Really awesome show.
Autism should be labeled no matter where on the spectrum it falls. The way children on the autism spectrum experience sounds, touches, etc. is different than those not on the spectrum. Increased knowledge and awareness can help those around them and the children themselves. It helps everyone to be aware.
Don't use it as a crutch. As parents, my wife and I let our kids fail and don't make excuses for them. We certainly don't say, in front of them and other people, oh, they're just not (blank). Kids go along with these sort of labels and will use them as excuses to fail. Help them in positive ways. Agreed, it's important to get kids the help they need. But as I said above, downplay it to the kids. Build them up, don't use their disabilities to add another crutch. I'm a weirdo. I was called a weirdo as a kid. My wife calls me a weirdo now. I own it. I guess I'm a self dicking dick. Guess what? Autistic people are odd, extraordinary and weird. And that's OK. You're so reactionary, DD. It's weird.
Thanks for clarifying. I'm not sure saying someone is "Autistic" or on the "Autism Spectrum" is necessarily a crutch as those people can still be functioning and successful members of society. I do think we need to be aware of what shortcomings kids with those conditions might have but that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect them to do better and I certainly don't think that means they should be treated worse. I started a thread based off of some thoughts about this thread in Hangout about possibly teaching a kid who might be on the spectrum martial arts.
My wife seriously thinks I have autism. She says I am socially awkward and lack basic problem solving skills… what I think she doesn’t realize is that I just don’t give a **** about what other people think. If I think someone is an idiot, I will tell them. I am more of a dick than autistic.
Maybe, just maybe I have personal experience with the spectrum - and the harm calling a kid a weirdo can cause. And you can remove the maybe......there are all kinds of spectrum kids, Autistic, Aspergers, and many are socially inept, and are lonely and lack friends and relationships - and struggle with mental health, as they don't understand why people label them as strange and it makes them anxious and harms them in silent and not so silent ways. The Spectrum is not a joking matter, sounds like you didn't mean it the way it sounded, but please teach your kids that sometimes kids process information differently, or lack a bit of understanding, but to still reach out and be a friend. DD
I have a son who has had developmental delays. He was diagnosed on the spectrum as a toddler. He's now 11 and mostly normal but struggles a little more than normal in anything language related and his socialization skills are lagging. You really can't tell he's autistic and I really don't think he is anymore either. His doc changed his chart to pervasive developmental disorder. So to OP's point, he would be what people just used to consider a little odd. He's got a heart of gold and does make friends but I notice they're usually a little different themselves. Anyway...what I was really getting around to saying is that he has no idea about any of it. I don't tell him and when I have the conversation with any other adult, it's not when he's around and they know to keep it to themselves as well. I'm not ashamed or anything but I do it for his own good. I don't think the label would help him. As others have stated, the crutch or excuse would undermine the work ethic I'm trying to instill. He knows he's a little different but he's happy and he knows he's going to have to work harder than most to accomplish things others take for granted. I don't know how any of it will play out long term but I think I'm doing the right thing. The day may come we will have to have a conversation but I don't need to be doing it now. All that said, my son is barely on the spectrum if at all. If the kid is highly autistic, it may be best to have it out in the open as the potential for misunderstandings surrounding their behavior is high. It should be on a case by case basis.
I think it'll be an issue with more kids having screentime and less physical play time, you're going to see "symptoms" of autism without it really being autism. Might even argue masking children in schools contributed to this...along with parents that leave them to their own devices. Having said that, even if those children are on some remote end of the spectrum, it doesn't mean they can't overcome it or be encouraged to build skills to cover up for lost time. This is way different than kids who are on the spectrum and have a taller hill to climb in learning how to read people and form complex interactions that are even vague to "normal" or blended in folk.
