I tell the uninformed that I’m Autistic, Level 1 (fka Asperger’s), because there is still a ton of ignorance and stigma in the world.
A lot of people still think having Autism means you’re just like Rain Man.
Kim Peek was initially diagnosed as an autistic savant. It wasn’t until a few decades after the movie came out that his diagnosis was revised to FG Syndrome.
The point is, the average person doesn’t know any of this. But they’re aware of Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal, and associate that with Autism.
True, but this was in the 80s when the high-support flavor of autism was the only recognized type. Asperger’s was a separate thing. It wasn’t recognized as a spectrum disorder.
And his performance is SO good, that almost 40 years later a lot of people still associate it with what autism is.
Because of the guy, but also because functioning labels (also outdated/problematic btw) try to make it seem like there's a better and worse type of autism to have.
Lots of people tend to use high/low support needs instead, to more accurately represent what a person may need.
I'm not happy with high/low support either.
If we keep saying every autistic person is different, why would we qualify our functioning / support needs as if there are only 2 kinds ?
If we keep saying autism is a spectrum, why pretend that support is al we need ?
For those who don't know, Hanz Asperger was a Nazi who sent "lower functioning," Autistic children to death clinics while studying the ones he deemed "smart,".
They were about to put me in disabled school but my mom insisted putting me in normal school i got bullied alot but my grades good
They only care about the surface
Agreed. It's Autism Spectrum Disorder now, or ASM. Or "neurodivergent". I've had to educate some people about it recently and most of them were receptive and understanding about it, at least!
Comments
This is no way excuses his behaviour of course but it is a fascinating fact.
Fuck him
A lot of people still think having Autism means you’re just like Rain Man.
The point is, the average person doesn’t know any of this. But they’re aware of Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal, and associate that with Autism.
And his performance is SO good, that almost 40 years later a lot of people still associate it with what autism is.
But on the other hand... why would you not show interest in / read up on the community you belong to, right?
I'm fairly online and if I missed this memo, a lot of other people will have too!*
*Not to defend anyone who _has_ had the memo and continued to say it
Lots of people tend to use high/low support needs instead, to more accurately represent what a person may need.
If we keep saying every autistic person is different, why would we qualify our functioning / support needs as if there are only 2 kinds ?
If we keep saying autism is a spectrum, why pretend that support is al we need ?
They only care about the surface