SCHAFER AUTISM REPORT "Healing Autism:
No Finer a Cause on the Planet"
________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Vol. 9 No. 61
On Taking Back Autism
Some additional notes on the subject by L.S.: The criticism that the
autism vs. autistic debate is divisive is not without merit. Because this is
most certainly not my intent, I need to focus tighter on the subject in an
effort to avoid doing so.
Presently, anyone with a mental disorder can label themselves as
"autistic", presumably to avoid whatever stigma attached to their actual
particular diagnosis. Who is to know otherwise who is really autistic? The
differential diagnoses in these areas can be quite difficult for the experts
(let alone for any amateur.) We are starting to witness ugly sociopath and
sometimes violent behavior from people who claim to be "autistic". They
display behaviors that have little similarity to any disorder on the
spectrum, Asperger's or autism. The immediate source of concern from myself
and other parents over the proper use of spectrum labels is our witnessing
of some of these self-diagnosed "autistics" banding together for political
advocacy.
The thrust of their advocacy is to redefine autism as not being a
disability, but rather a lifestyle that society should learn to accommodate
and not treat or "fix". They have already had some success at this in the
media, to our horror. These "autism" squatters pose a direct threat to our
children through their attempt to define autism disorder as something other
than disabling. Clinical autism by definition is disabling and our children
will be cheated if the public is lead to believe otherwise, If anyone has a
better way of dealing with these autism identity snatchers than our effort
to "take back autism", we'd like to hear it.
No one had problems with anyone on the spectrum calling themselves
"autistic" before these exploiters started to take advantage of our loose
usage of the term. This is what is behind our fears. Their efforts to make
everyone and themselves feel better about autism by redefining it innocuous
will come at the expense of everyone on the spectrum. -Lenny Schafer
[bold mine]
We are starting to witness ugly sociopath and
sometimes violent behavior from people who claim to be "autistic". They display behaviors that have little similarity to any disorder on the
spectrum, Asperger's or autism. The immediate source of concern from myself and other parents over the proper use of spectrum labels is our witnessing of some of these self-diagnosed "autistics" banding together for political advocacy.
The thrust of their advocacy is to redefine autism as not being a
disability, but rather a lifestyle that society should learn to accommodate
and not treat or "fix". They have already had some success at this in the
media, to our horror. These "autism" squatters pose a direct threat to our
children through their attempt to define autism disorder as something other
than disabling.
OK
*do my best deniro*
you talking to me? you talking to me?
LOL
How Now what does he mean by violent??? I think he is refereing to AF and aspies like us indirectly??? am I wrong????
On Taking Back Autism
Some additional notes on the subject by L.S.: The criticism that the
autism vs. autistic debate is divisive is not without merit. Because this is
most certainly not my intent, I need to focus tighter on the subject in an
effort to avoid doing so.
Presently, anyone with a mental disorder can label themselves as
"autistic", presumably to avoid whatever stigma attached to their actual
particular diagnosis.
This is such a strange thing to say, does he think that society in general has no stigma attached to autism? But if someone is depressed, they would say I have autism instead to avoid a stigma? Where is his logic in deciding, with no evidence to show at all, or even one example of a person found to be doing this, that it is happening on a scale that people need to be concerned about? Very puzzling.
Who is to know otherwise who is really autistic? The
differential diagnoses in these areas can be quite difficult for the experts
(let alone for any amateur.)
Does he want people to have to prove via medical records their diagnoses, in public, just so that he can feel happy? Would he share his full medical history? New people who aren't diagnosed and realise they are on the spectrum come to forums and groups across the internet, and some seek a diagnosis and some don't for whatever personal reason. That has nothing to do with Schafer, why should he assume such personal matters are his business?
We are starting to witness ugly sociopath and sometimes violent behavior from people who claim to be "autistic". They display behaviors that have little similarity to any disorder on the spectrum, Asperger's or autism.
Again, no examples given, is he referring to the SUV arsonist here? Does he think that people with autism can never be violent, does he think that NTs are never violent?
The immediate source of concern from myself and other parents over the proper use of spectrum labels is our witnessing of some of these self-diagnosed "autistics" banding together for political advocacy.
Here he seems to be talking about a specific few groups, including AFF. I have no idea why he chooses to talk about violence, and then about this. Is it a pathetic attempt to scaremonger?
The thrust of their advocacy is to redefine autism as not being a
disability, but rather a lifestyle that society should learn to accommodate
and not treat or "fix".
He's kind of getting the point, in a very basic sense, but its not a lifestyle, its simply who we are.
They have already had some success at this in the media, to our horror. These "autism" squatters pose a direct threat to our children through their attempt to define autism disorder as something other than disabling.
He makes a leap that anyone who is involved in self advocacy for autism, is not actually on the autism spectrum at all and its "squatting". He gives no reason for this leap, he has made a jump from some people supposedly wanting autism as a label because there is no stigma on it, to then the same people being self advocates, and the same people not wanting to be seen as disabled. Wouldn't these people have chosen a different false label thena nd saved themselves a lot of trouble? There is zero logic in his argument.
Clinical autism by definition is disabling and our children
will be cheated if the public is lead to believe otherwise, If anyone has a
better way of dealing with these autism identity snatchers than our effort
to "take back autism", we'd like to hear it.
He is essentially wanting to control the views and actions of adults with autism, with the aim of "protecting" children with autism. He seems oblivious to the fact that some adults with autism have kids with autism too, and are wanting the best for their own kids. A society than can accept differences and not condemn. One incident springs to mind, a woman in a shop who whilst complaining about my son who happened to spin an item that he shouldnt have touched, said that if hes got autism and is "mental" he shouldnt be allowed out of the house. He was about 4. You can imagine my horror, the level of ignorance needs desperately to be tackled, can Schafer not see that autism advocacy is needed to help the next generation of autistics.
No one had problems with anyone on the spectrum calling themselves
"autistic" before these exploiters started to take advantage of our loose
usage of the term. This is what is behind our fears. Their efforts to make
everyone and themselves feel better about autism by redefining it innocuous will come at the expense of everyone on the spectrum. -Lenny Schafer
This seems a cry to turn back the clock, stop autistic adults helping themselves and having some power within their lives, the same thing was done with women who wanted the vote, and african-americans wanting equality.
Presently, anyone with a mental disorder can label themselves as
"autistic", presumably to avoid whatever stigma attached to their actual
particular diagnosis.
Oh I see, he is not actually talking of people with a diagnosis, then. Strange, that he "forgets" to mention that when he is ranting about those evil Aspies :roll:
Notice how he often uses "our children"? I wonder why he doesn't talk about autistic adult. :roll: ?
Notice how he often uses "our children"? I wonder why he doesn't talk about autistic adult. :roll: ?
[sarcasm]But surely, the miracle of ABA etc. etc. cures those poor children, so none grow up to be autistic adults[/sarcasm]
Seriously though, it is ludicrous the extent some parents go to to convince themselves and others that their precious child has been "cured" from autism.
I mean, I have nothing against helping a child achieve his or her potental as long as the child's well-being is considered, but just think of the thousands of "cured" autistics who grow up, probably even never told about their autism, not understanding why they still feel so different from everyone else!
One lady who was brought up to believe she had "recovered" from autism has recently caused a lot of offense on a German AS community because her lack of "obvious" autistic symptoms from late childhood onwards was assumed to mean she had "recovered", and as such had grown up crammed into "normal" belief systems, leading to behaviour similar to that Schafer tries to make us believe "all advocates" are like (aggressive, extreme black and white thinking, picking fights everywhere, offending and abusing members etc.).
If she is anything to go by, it seems his proposed methods are just going to produce more of the very type of people he is trying to "keep out of autism".
Perhaps we should initiate some kind of libel action against him.
Perhaps we should initiate some kind of libel action against him.
On what grounds, exactly?
Thing is, he was overgeneralising and not mentioning names.
There's no way you can prove who exactly he meant, and if you try to sue him, then you are identifying yourself as someone fitting his overgeneralised description, and tus "confirming" his presentation of us.
And to be honest, anyone who DID fit that description, in my view, deserves it. If anyone believes that there are no Aspies with the kinds of personality disorders he is describing then they are deluding himself - his fault is not that he condemns "those kinds of people" (I agree with him insofar as yes there are some nasty people who have AS, who are making things very difficult for others both AS and NTs - that in itself is not a lie!).
He is not unfair because he dislikes vindictive, manipulative etc. individuals, most people do!
He is being unfair because, to get what he wants (the cash), he tars a large group of people with a brush that only fits a few individuals, so as to "discredit" all voices that criticise him, rather than only those who actually correspond to the type he describes.
The smarter thing would be to point out that the majority of people in our position have nothing to do with the picture he paints, and to point out that, while having AS does not prevent people from turning out nasty and vindictive, neither does being NT, and that he is giving an unrealsitic portrayal of people with AS if he takes a few nasty or vindictive individuals and presents them as "this is what they are all like".
I'l be blogging this for sure - I've just signed up for the SAR email but in the meantime could anyone who has this report forward it to me kevleitchATgmailDOTcom please
Noetic - that was actually kind of a half hearted attempt at sarcasm :p
Roughly interpreted : That guy is a prat and needs to shut up.
Noetic - that was actually kind of a half hearted attempt at sarcasm :p.
Oops.. well with the crap he spouts it would have made sense that people WANTED to sue him :wink: