Aspies For Freedom

attention-tunnel Wrote:

At present, there is no coordinated approch on how to change public images on AS. However, here are some suggestions of what to do:

Join the Asperger Adult Pictures Project
On this website, normal looking people with more or less normal careers who have an Asperger diagnosis are displayed. They want to change the image of people with autism and how it is portrayed in the media by offering this alternative view. The gallery is here:
http://www.isn.net/~jypsy/AuSpin/a2p2.htm

Translating Asperger articles
One of the things I am doing is to translate good English language article on Asperger into other languages - because parts of world having no access to English research news really is much more behind than the English speaking world at present. If anybody wants to help translating from Englisch into someting else, please contact me!

International Asperger Consens Statement
There is a great difference in people's images and ideas about the autistic spectrum. ADHD scientists have recently published an "International consens statement" on ADHD to make their point. Maybe a International consens statement on Asperger could help us to better communicate our concerns and define a standard that is open to debate?

Movies on/with AS
One thing the website http://www.aspergerinformation.net is doing is to collect movie titles that deal implicit or explicit with autistic spectrum disorder (Amelie, American Beauty, Rain Man, Manhatten and many others).

Introduction to Asperger
I wouldbe helpful to have a guide throught the online and offline Asperger community that provides interested people easy directions if they wish to educate themselves about Asperger. Ideas on how to do this well?

Defining Asperger ourselves
On of the things I would like to do is to open a wikipedia type of site that enables Aspies to write a book about AS. Similar to OpenSource programming, the site would enable Asperger people to work together and define themselves. From time to time, a printable pdf file could be released similar to an open source programming group who would release new software code. And Aspies would define themselves, instead of leaving it up to the medical community to find words about them.

Asperger News Channel
Did some of you ever think about an Asperger News Channel, where all sorts of news are broadcasted, but for an AS audience? That would for instance come with a slightly different usage of language and a different approch in explaining social interactions (eg. politics) to enable AS to take part in it better. I am sure there is room for ideas?

Famous Aspies can help
Maybe another way of rebranding Asperger is to get support by famous people believed to have traits associated with Asperger. For instance Bill Gates, Woddy Allen, Andy Warhol and many other contemporary artists and scientists.

Aspies who do fine can help
It would also be helpful to portrait people in public who are in the autistic spectrum, but manage life and work just fine. This might broaden the image of the medical community who are only confronted with the small portion of AS people who for whatever reason go and see a doctor. For instance, lots of Asperger people drive research in Universities all over the world. Sillicon Valley is another example where people with AS seem to be.

AS competence centres
Maybe one way of helping Aspies in need is to concentrate on selected local areas and focus the energy of increasing public awareness and medical support there. These centeres might take a lead in helping Aspies according to their needs and other areas can benefit fro their experience. Maybe we can identify or urge selected colleges or universities to take a lead in offering Asperger friendly acoomodation and eduction?

What do you think?

We've got a long way to go yet. If I have told anyone I have autism, they generally get this blank look or say "but you look normal" or "isn't that some kind of mental illness"? So it will take a really concerted campaign to change those views in society and I fear it is very much of an uphill battle.

.....Yeah, I'd say this guy showcases a negative view of Autism pretty well.

Think Asperger, think acceptance....

good idea...

I was reading some of the I Hate Autism Web pages earlier today.  People don't hate Autism when it is good (makes you a kick butt computer programmer), they hate it when it is bad for their kid (social rejection, not dating, won't be offered a job)

So in that, that is autism + NTs who can't accept it.

My differences seem predominantly beneficial (occupationally and academically).  I have always had strengths in computer programming, math, science, and foreign language.

The few weaknesses seem to be a hardship with social expectations of fine-tuned conformity to customs I can't imitate or understand, and the widespread belief that we are handicapped at work or in relationships.  Where I work they are able to use me where they can and let someone else out front do the social greetings.  So the relationships thing does worry me but the work thing doesn't.

The parents might as well wish there was a magic wand to fix social prejudices.  Because they can't fix autism either.

You can blame one, the other, or maybe both.  But the way people make things sometimes is a barrier to other people.  Like my third floor flat.  If I was in a wheel chair I wouldn't be living there, no sir.  And it was a *** moving everything in there and I want to stick around as long as I can.

Job interview.  That was made for NTs.  Just like stairs were made for people who can walk (and fat people who can walk, painfully).

At least we have a theoretical chance to make things a little better in society if people get the message.

It is not like, lose weight and people will not have prejudices.   Weight loss is quite possible.  Easier than removing prejudices.
But removing prejudices is the only shot we will get with autism.  We can't rip out someone's nervous system and transplant in a new one.  You might as well kill the guy trying, it won't work.

You could try developing the conscious mind as a back door way to try to process nonverbal information and situational awareness.  Sociology helped me.

I guess growing older is the best way to make the best of a poor neurological system.

Look, I hear the parents.  Being passed over on Prom night is no fun.  Being passed over for job opportunities is no fun and not fair either.  The possibility of being beat up for being different, or God forbid, violated because someone thinks it is all right to do that to someone who is different?

Those of us who have advantages in our genetic package are lucky.  Wired magazine suggested that math, science, Asperger are on similar genes.  A blessing and a curse.  But a curse for the NTs who will not understand and will miss out on the undeniable gifts we have.

tenaciouscj Wrote:

I do not tell anyone that I have autism. I tell them that I'm autistic Smile

i don't why they think that we are unhappy (i think the porcentage of unhappy aspies is the same that unhappy NT's ) well at least for me and other 2 aspies i know in person we have a positive view of life, maybe nt's need even more empathy :p, just kidding, when i was a child i use to be like this kid in the photo, yes, but i wasn't unhappy i just Only liked to be alone sometimes and to think, is that bad?

PS, the first photo scares me :s

Hello,

Yes, these images are far too negative, and the first photo frightens me as well. Also, from the FAAS site:

�Feelings of rejection and loneliness play a major role in the lives of the family members of an individual with Asperger�s Syndrome. Their feelings are not validated, acknowledged, or even recognized by the afflicted person.�

What???!!! I do not know about the rest of the members here, but this is definitely not the case with me or my family. In addition, it makes us sound cold and unloving, which we most certainly are not.

Will

I think Mom handled our disabilities very well. She sure wanted children and she was getting older. And we did have computer jobs at the end of her life.

I think Dad was ashamed of AS not only in us but in himself. Maybe he was trying to apologize his last week but he was not able to talk very well. If he was Asperger, he was lucky. Married at 26, government employee, good enough retirement to cover himself and the missus.

Hey!

You ppl scatter all the good old threads all over the forum by posting in 'em!

It's nice to know where to find them.

Amy,

The first image (faaas) you posted is quite acurate isn't it? Acurate for how ''helping'' can be experienced that is. It's not the Asperger thats the problem. It's this "helping hand" splitting the head. That's were the problems really start.

Wm Wrote:

Hello,

Yes, these images are far too negative, and the first photo frightens me as well. Also, from the FAAS site:

�Feelings of rejection and loneliness play a major role in the lives of the family members of an individual with Asperger�s Syndrome.��Their feelings are not validated, acknowledged, or even recognized by the afflicted person.�

What???!!! I do not know about the rest of the members here, but this is definitely not the case with me or my family. In addition, it makes us sound cold and unloving, which we most certainly are not.

Will

My daughter (diagnosed at age 13) is also a happy kid, seldom depressed. When she is down, though, she doesn't take it out on people, she just sleeps more.

Re disclosure, I agree with you in that I am beginning to suspect my daughter's teachers may be judging her school performance too much based on her "label". In the fall I intend to give them the bare minimum about Asperger's. I also emphasize her above average IQ (which my husband yells at me about- saying it then confuses them when she struggles with some of her work).

Wm also wrote: �Feelings of rejection and loneliness play a major role in the lives of the family members of an individual with Asperger�s Syndrome. Their feelings are not validated, acknowledged, or even recognized by the afflicted person.�

That is an overstatement. It may be intially true, as it was in our household, but little by little we have educated our daughter about how to show compassion when she can't feel the empathy. She does feel empathy though. She can't stand it when I cry for example. Being a Pisces and a redhead and partly Irish I tend to cry from time to time. I cry when I hear the anthem, for God's sake!

MY biggest obstacle right now is trying to convince my husband and son that our daughter's, his sister's, future is NOT hopeless, that she will be just fine. I just can't seem to convince either of them yet, but then they don't do the research, spend hours online reading and becoming educated like I do. I, I therefore am the one feeling lonely and it has nothing to do with my daughter but everything to do with my other two NT family members!

Hey all, Im sick to death of N.T. people assuming that all of us are just putting the entire being or having a Mental Disablity on. Everyone assumes that it's all just Attention Seeking I have Aspergers Syndrome and I don't look Physically Disabled and there are still some people in this world who assume that anyone with a mental disablity whether it's minor or a major mental disablity they should all be put in a Mental Institution and thats final. Is this due to the fact that some NT's are basicly scared or fear the unknown these NT's just don't know how to take us or what to do or how to comunicate to us? They freak out and call us all these names such in my case by some of my down the road neighbours Crazy, Weirdo,Nutter,Pyscho,Spastic,Dumb,Peanut,Loopy,Retard is it because that these people just won't step out of the square box and accept people that maybe abit different alot of people are still judgemental even in their Adulthood which is rather sad really very Immature and pathetic I thought when you become an Adult you accept people just the way they are and not judge them for being alittle different. It really sickens me. I'm sick to death of being stared at and ridiculed for being the person I am and for my disablity I feel the public should be educated alot more with people with not only Mental Disablities but people with Disablities altogeather and they should have a better understanding. Thats my two cents worth.

anbuend Wrote:

attention-tunnel Wrote:

Join the Asperger Adult Pictures Project[/b]
On this website, normal looking people with more or less normal careers who have an Asperger diagnosis are displayed. They want to change the image of people with autism and how it is portrayed in the media by offering this alternative view. The gallery is here:
http://www.isn.net/~jypsy/AuSpin/a2p2.htm

That is a mischaracterization of the project.

It is not only for people who look normal, and not only for people with an Asperger diagnosis. It is called the Autistic Adults Picture Project, not the Asperger Adults Picture Project, and it is open to anyone on the spectrum regardless of appearance or specific diagnosis.

Is it still okay to join this website? I would like to.

aliengirl Wrote:

anbuend Wrote:

attention-tunnel Wrote:

On this website...
The gallery is here:
http://www.isn.net/~jypsy/AuSpin/a2p2.htm

... It is called the Autistic Adults Picture Project, not the Asperger Adults Picture Project, and it is open to anyone on the spectrum regardless of appearance or specific diagnosis.

Is it still okay to join this website? I would like to.

Sounds inviting to me, so, why shouldn't you?

Sweet zombie jesus.
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/myths.php

If you read the script, it is complete rubbish.

Quote:

They need to know that these children are sick.

yeah, that sounds like a loving parent

How about some images of what some Aspergians do best?
1. Computer programming or scientific research
2. Good citizenship, truthfulness, perseverance, honesty

Pages: 1 2 3

tenaciouscj

Moon Baby

Shrek

aufzusein

Ayreon

Wm

Shrek

Ivar T

hyke

Ellen

roadie

aliengirl

Yigal

amadkiwi

Shrek