Over at his blog, Harold is fretting about the possibility of Autism Twitter Day really being a stealth-Neurodiversity attack:
What exactly does “positive” autism awareness mean? Is that concept consistent with “realistic” autism awareness?
Well, yeah. Look Harold, sooner or later you’re going to have to bite the bullet and accept the fact that a sizeable percentage of the autism community are interested in pursuing positive autism awareness. This means reflecting _one_ reality of autism – that there are positives to autism and they should be celebrated and that awareness of these positives is something that should be raised. This is reality. _One_ reality.
Another reality is that autism has its downsides too – we all live it, we all know that. Now, if Harold (or whomever) wants to do his own “negative” autism awareness day then – good luck to him. Personally, I’ve had enough of that but I recognise that it – just like the positive side of autism – is a reality. Harold goes on:
Still I can’t help but wonder when I see the adjective “positive” used to describe autism awareness whether it is an attempt to censor the discussion, to promote an unrealistic, feel good picture of autism
Yeah, damn that evil censoring positivity. Sometimes autism (take a deep breath Harold) _does_ feel good. It feels good to be involved in my childs life on many occasions. And as for censorship Harold, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve tried to comment on your blog only to note no comment has ever made it past your censorship. You, by contrast, continue to remain free to comment here.
Here’s the thing Harold. You don’t want there to be _any_ discussion of positivity in my opinion. You refuse to believe such a thing exists. You see autism = bad. End of story. The terrible truth Harold is that you are the censor. Anything that doesn’t contain a hefty dollop of misery isn’t ‘reality’ for you. Well, cool, whatever you like. However, please don’t try and dictate to everyone else – who clearly see that autism has many sides and many realities – what we should and should not talk about.
Left Brain Right Brain 
When Autism Family Adventures posted “I am putting together an event at Twitter to promote positive autism awareness….”
“Autism Reality NB said…
Good idea.
November 24, 2008 12:25 AM ”
I look forward to his positive input.
Breaking news Kev:
Since you (and jypsy who quotes out of context) are frequent visitors to my blog site you know that I often post pictures and anecdotes of my son who is a happy fun loving boy. He brings us great joy every day.
I distinguish between my son and his autistic disorder (2 pediatricians’ assessments) assessed with profound develpmental delays (a clinical psychologist specialized in working with autistic children and professor of psychology (emeritus)).
Autistic Disorder is … a disorder. Perhaps you could tell me which of the following social, communication and behavioral delays,impairments and abnormal functioning which define autistic disorder you consider to be positive?
Source: DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, of the American Psychiatric Association.
Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autistic Disorder
1. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3):
1. qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity
2. qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
2. in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
3. stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
4. lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
3. restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor manners (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
2. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years: (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social communication, or (3) symbolic or imaginative play.
3. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett’s Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
I’m sorry. Since my quotes and the link don’t give the context, what exactly was the “good idea” you were referencing there?
Ah, this is one of my bugbears – I’m very much against comment censorship:
I can understand comments being moderated for libel or abuse, but not allowing dissent seems fundamentally wrong to me. I’ve had comments rejected by homeopathy and anti-vaccination forums, and seen others complain about a Tory MP (Nadine Dorries) and a certain media nutritionist not allowing comments that disagreed with their blog posts. PETA also refused a comment I left on one of their posts complaining about misinformation on their blog. As far as I am concerned, barring comments is a sign of untrustworthiness – if you wish to censor dissenting comments then it looks like you have something to hide. If someone argues with me on my blog, I leave their comment up so people can see both sides and judge for themselves. Those who censor dissenting comments are really no better than the chiropractors who threatened to sue a New Zealand journal – or the Society of Homeopaths threatening the Quackometer. I’ve seen bloggers threatened with lawsuits over copyright and libel (the threats were unfounded and pretty outrageous, IMHO, and the bloggers quite rightly ignored them). If you feel you have to shut people up rather than debate with them then just how strong are your arguments?
I think in this specific case Harold has a slightly odd idea of what censorship is – he seems to think that someone having their say equates to censoring the opposite viewpoint. This reminds me of the argument that I’ve seen before that when you criticise someone’s ideas you are somehow against free speech – pointing out that someone is wrong in fact is not the same thing as preventing free speech, what these people really want is ‘the right to free speech without having anyone espouse an alternative view’.
There are scientifically documented, replicated findings about characteristics associated with autism which I think most people would consider “positive.” Harold is engaging in denialism by pretending these don’t exist.
That’s not what truly matters, anyway. You can be positive about anything, and it makes sense to be positive rather than negative. It serves a purpose. Some people talk in positive ways about Down Syndrome, for example, and Cerebral Palsy, which always involves brain damage.
Am I wrong or did our friend, a father who (as all, many, of us do), gets “great joy every day” from his son, not write something positive about autism in his comment?
jdc
I don’t disagree with your principles concerning censorship.
I think though when a “community” autism discussion is organized on the theme of autism “awareness” that restricting the “awareness” to what someone considers “positive” is inherently contradictory (autistic disorders are defined by negative criteria)and constitutes shaping and censorship of the discussion.
If negative, or realistic, depictions of autistic disorder are not included in the discussion because they are not “positive” then that constitutes censorship.
And it misrepresents the nature of autistic DISORDERS.
I find Estee (who also censor’s comments that don’t suit her view on autism) and Harold to both be negative in their ways to the issues and education of children with autism.
Harold, firmly believes the ABA crap I was fed that without ABA the child is a failure. The child can only learn by that method. That his child is more autistic than mine but mine is currently spinning in the kitchen making vocal noises and is acting VERY autistic. YET, while his is off to sit in a corner all day b/c nobody’s taught him to cope and learn in a regular classroom, mine is off to a regular Gr 2 classroom, full inclusion, where both parent, teacher and EA are working hard to teach him. He is learning, he can add, sub, read and spell at grade level. Language comprehension and discussion beyond mands/demands is minimal… but coming daily. He got THREE handwritten birthday notes from his best friends a couple of weeks ago. Yes, the child that barely speaks, has friends.
Perfect, wonderful, amazing… I’m taking it… b/c I’m not going to wallow in the fact I had another stained pair of underwear last night before a full BM on the toilet.
I am enjoying the fact he goes to gym – inclusion, small group – and has an amazing time.. not perfect, but he’s learning there too. That he’s just mastered playing 2 fingers, one on each hand, on the piano together… working on it since Sept… Yes, I know it’s been 4mths… but I’m pleased.
Estee is as dangerous. She thinks he son should just evolve. That society has to come to him, he should not have to learn to reach out to society. If you aren’t willing to use his computer… you’re nobody. That the school – and Harold thinks this way too – should do all the work and make all the accommodations.
See… I sit somewhere btwn neurodiverse and cure. I believe that the children deserve to have a childhood – live, laugh and play (Mercedes Lackey) – that they deserve and require an education.
I also believe that 50% of that job is mine. Currently for the first time ever, both boys have proper programs, proper supports, and are getting the best education I can give them in their school setting. And you know, the eldest will be fine in the end (got an A in French!!!), little boy may always require supports. But I’m going to continue to LIVE WITH autism, not FOR autism and we’re going to enjoy life the best we can… even when I’m finding another clean pair of underwear for a 75% toilet trained 7 year old.
S
Joseph please point to one of the crieria used in defining autistic disorder as set out in 299.0 of the DSM-IV that you consider “positive”?
Harold, what are you doing? Quoting the DSM IV gives us the official base for a diagnosis. It tells us absolutely nothing about how a person lives their life.
Ask yourself the question Harold – ‘why am I _so desperate_ to quash any idea of there being any positivity to the autistic experience?’
Mr. Doherty, I’m sorry. Since my quotes and the link don’t give the context, what exactly was the “good idea” you were referencing there?
Has anyone considered that Harold isn’t interested in discussion, that perhaps he is interested in only commenting to generate “click bait” for his website? That’s been my conclusion.
I’m not even going to challenge the adequacy of DSM-IV as “the definition” of autism. I could just point out the obvious: There are characteristics of autism that are not in the DSM-IV.
Harold, I can see that you value consensus authority positions, uncritically and lacking understanding (at least when it’s convenient to do so).
But I’m just going to quote one of the criteria you cited.
Now tell me, if no one in the world had ever had this characteristic, which major innovations of the current era would have been possible?
I often wonder if we might bring, say, the family from Little People, Big World into a discussion like this.
Is dwarfism a “negative” thing? Is life easy for someone with this disorder? Is socializing a breeze? Do some assume people with dwarfism are mentally retarded just because they’re different? Are there difficult, painful, expensive medical problems associated with dwarfism? Why would two people with dwarfism marry and pass this horrible genetic disorder on to their children? What could be positive about being freakishly small, deformed, and in physical pain? Forget being “positive,” let’s be realistic: dwarfism sucks and we need to find a cure!
This is a worthless endevour.
Harold can only consider autism to be a disorder, based on a rather literal reading of the DSM criteria. The idea that it can be a condition with positive and negative manifestations if utterly beyond him.
Harold needs to consider what diagnostic criteria are and how they come about. He has obviously not done this. There is no utility in seeking out his opinion on this matter until he provides evidence that he has done so.
DSM entries follow on from the description of conditions that exist in observed reality. They will only, by their nature, list the main or common value-negative traits of a person with the condition. They do not, unless stated, imply that the person is limited to only those traits.
Harold is more than welcome to his 1990’s era idea that a person is entirely seperate from their condition (even though people without these conditions are allowed to claim ownership and identity over these traits when they exist in the ‘normal’ or ‘superior’ range), but to deny others the right to identify as autistic is censorship no matter which way he cuts it nor how much he tries to point the finger back this way.
Maybe it’s the prizes that are the “good idea”??? Can anyone else see what else is in this post, aside from my initial quote “I am putting together an event at Twitter to promote positive autism awareness….”, that Mr. Doherty says is “out of context” that he is responding to here with “good idea” ?
Sometimes autism (take a deep breath Harold) does feel good.
How would you know how autism feels, Kev, when you have never had it yourself. You don’t think Harold has joy from being involved in Connor’s life? You seem to have a narrow view of things without any first hand experience of what it feels like to have autism (as I do) nor do you have first hand experience of how Harold feels about being involved in his son’s life.
You’re right I’m not autistic Jon but I know how it feels to have autism in my life and sometimes – a lot of the time – it feels OK to me. You’re also absolutely right I have no idea of how Harold feels about being involved in his sons life. I don’t think I claimed I did did I?
I’m really sorry that Harold feels no positives about autism, but that doesn’t excuse him for assuming that because some of us do we’re not representing autism realistically.
I have probems with this DSM stuff:
“qualitative impairment”
Impairment is a quantitative notion: one aspect of functioning can be more or less impaired than another aspect of functioning. But qualitative is not about that: it’s about ‘different-ness’… it’s about hows and whys, not ‘how much’!
As far as I understand things, if something’s qualitative, it’s not impairment, it’s difference. If it’s impairment, it’s quantifiable… and if you can’t quantify it, you can’t call it impairment. Basics of research methods, really.
CS: “Has anyone considered that Harold isn’t interested in discussion, that perhaps he is interested in only commenting to generate ‘click bait’ for his website? That’s been my conclusion.”
I think you’re absolutely right.
He doesn’t give a shit aobut considering anything that doesn’t agree with his own viewpoint. I’ve given my opinion on him elsewhere, and I remain convinced of the accuracy of that opinion. And, considering that he’s a lawyer, I’m glad I’d never have to rely on his services. He’s incapable of understanding a viewpoint that isn’t in his own head.
farmwifetwo
Your comments are hateful and offensive. And they are untrue.
1. I do not believe as you falsely allege that:
“without ABA the child is a failure. The child can only learn by that method.”
I have never said any such thing and you can not link to any source for your false statement.
Please retract this falsehood.
2. I have never compared your child to mine in terms of the severity of their autism conditions as you suggest in the following statement: ” That his child is more autistic than mine but mine is currently spinning in the kitchen making vocal noises and is acting VERY autistic.”
3. Your comments about my son are factually wrong and offensive. You lack character to make such statements about my son:
“YET, while his is off to sit in a corner all day b/c nobody’s taught him to cope and learn in a regular classroom, mine is off to a regular Gr 2 classroom, full inclusion, where both parent, teacher and EA are working hard to teach him.”
Please retract these offensive, incorrect statements about my son.
Kev
Are you suggesting that apart from the DSM criteria for an autism diagnosis there are other characteristics specific to autistic disorder?
If so what are they?
Joseph and David Andrews (M. Ed.) (Distinction)
If you are not talking about autism disorders as defined in the DSM when you refer to autism what in the heck ARE you talking about?
No Harold I’m trying to get you to see that a diagnostic criteria can’t be used to measure a quality of life or outlook upon life.
That’s the first one that immediately sprang to my mind. I list that among one of my son’s greatest strengths.
Here’s one that ended up getting left out of the DSM-IV. http://the-newrepublic.blogspot.com/2008/11/enhanced-perception-in-autism.html
Understanding some of the realities of the implications in those diagnosis criteria brings out some more.
Sorry Harold, you are just being a “glass isn’t even half full”, buzzkill poopy-head. 🙂
P.S. About the “disorder” word’s baggage that you are so quick to drag out. The problems it has matching to the full “reality” of matters is behind the use of ASC (Autism/Autistic Spectrum Conditions).
Looks pretty safe to assume there was nothing at all out of context with my original comment.
However, given this conversation, I can’t imagine Mr. Doherty has anything to contribute to Autism Twitter Day, no matter how good an idea he thinks it is, or thought it was at the time.
Besides Harold, there are other ways to be positive. I’ve interpreted it as sort of a count your blessing, morale booster thing. Whether it is because of or in spite of autism.
As you know at times the world of autism, even for “tourists” like you and me, is a disheartening slog. I took this as a remedy for that. Just be happy and bring some pics. 🙂 I’m going to try figure out twitter to sign up. Maybe I’ll be able to get some pictures from my son’s school Christmas concert today. Being around new people gets him really, really revved up so they should be interesting (if maybe a little blurred). 🙂
How can someone be such a high-level advocate, yet not be aware of the discussion of non-DSM autism traits? Something is not adding up here.
I don’t understand . . . when an autistic kid has difficulty or does something unacceptable it’s “autism”, but when an autistic kid brings you joy he’s . . . what, not autistic at the moment?
WTF? First of all, the DSM-IV traits are not specific to autistic disorder. Neither are all required for an ASD diagnosis.
As to an example of a characteristic that is very common in autistics and which does not appear in the DSM-IV: enhanced sensory perception. Some recent papers on this:
“Eagle-eyed visual acuity: an experimental investigation of enhanced perception in autism.” (Ashwin et al. 2008)
“Brief Report: Eye-Movement Patterns During an Embedded Figures Test in Children with ASD.” (Keehn et al. 2008)
“What can we learn about autism from autistic persons?” (Chamak et al. 2008)
“Neurophysiological correlates of relatively enhanced local visual search in autistic adolescents.” (Manjaly et al. 2007)
Also, Harold is always mentioning characteristics which he thinks are intrinsic to autism, and which are not part of the DSM-IV. It’s a pattern with him. If it’s convenient, take one position, agree with authority. Adhere exclusively to the DSM-IV. If it’s not, take a different position, ignore the DSM-IV, doubt authority.
An example is self-injury. BTW, I haven’t seen any evidence that self-injury is associated with autistic traits (i.e. independently of cognitive disability and/or distress).
Whenever someone utters a positive word regarding autism or autistic people accomplishing something Mr. Doherty will be there to attempt to smear mud on your words. Nothing bad or ugly written about autism has ever been too ugly for him. I know he will put on a mask and say it is censorship if something positive is not offset by something negative. However, I challenge anyone to recall an occasion when he has insisted that something very negative be offset by something positive.
Regarding censorship in a broader context; I feel that most blogs should utilize the delete key far more than they currently do. We all have seen posts hijacked with off topic comments. Also, I never go to Mr. Doherty’s site because I am not interested in his negative outlook, but I do defend his right to have a blog. However, if every other blog deleted his comments it would not bother me at all.
farmwifetwo,
Do you know Estee? Have you ever had a conversation with her? Of course she encourages her son to reach out to others. She has worked very hard with him on his communication skills for that very reason. Just because someone doesn’t labor under the delusion that an autistic person can be separated from the thing called “autism,” that is no reason to make such unfounded assumptions.
“See… I sit somewhere btwn neurodiverse and cure. I believe that the children deserve to have a childhood – live, laugh and play (Mercedes Lackey) – that they deserve and require an education.”
What does education have to do with Neurodiversity and/or Cure philosophies? Does anyone here disagree with “children deserve to have a childhood – live, laugh and play – that they deserve and require an education.” ?? How is my educational philosophy different from yours? They seem quite similar but wouldn’t that put me half-way to a pro-cure philosophy? Most people insist I’m part of the evil ND.
FWIW, I think your comments about Conor & Estee are way out of line.
Harold,
It’s a broad spectrum and you seek to mis-represent almost all of it.
I would not presume to speak for parents like you and Kev, and you should not engage in pathologising the lives of, perhaps 80% of those on the spectrum.
The problems relating to HFA are largely from without. People like you in fact.
Tyler, sorry I’ve not got back to you on your comment on The New Republic, I’m in the middle of some hard-core activism in Baron-Cohen’s back yard.
“Sometimes autism (take a deep breath Harold) does feel good. It feels good to be involved in my childs life on many occasions.”
Kev:
How could you possibly know how autism feels??? Do you have autism??
Bottom Line: What you’re describing above are two completely separate experiences; the former can only be observed and therefore, you cannot say “sometimes autism does feel good” when you have absolutely no way of knowing that it does.
I left a comment on his other post on autism twitter day and noticed it is not there, says 0 comments.
I mentioned that my kids are on opposite ends of the spectrum, one severe and one higher functioning.
I don’t get why he is posting about it on his blog when no one really on twitter will find it, he should be having discussions with the folks on twitter. Makes no sense to me, but I have dozens more prize blog posts to do.
Kelli Ann –
One does not need to be autistic to trust what an autistic person explains to them about “how it feels” to be autistic. I’ve heard a full spectrum of descriptions of the lived experience – do you expect people like Kev and I to disbelieve that which is being told to us?
Kelli Anne, were you even one iota more observant you would see I’ve answered that very point above you. Happiness and comfort in one’s own skin are observable. Also (as Steve points out) I’ve lost count of the number of autistic friends who have confirmed that very thing.
I find it actually quite painful to read the opposition to Kev’s comments. Without even realising it his opponents are also arguing for the dismissal of their own opinions, because they too don’t have autism, although having autism would explain Kelli Ann’s self-inferred lack of ability to read emotions and feelings.
I can’t believe that saying “Sometimes people with autism can do some things well and can be happy on occasion” should attract such a dismissive response from such high-level people. It’s even more unbelivable that they got to such a high level with such 1990’s thinking.
Kev after the bluster of the comment title you never did answer the question. What is positive about autistic disorder?
I agree that a person can be positive in dealing with autism, in trying to be positive about helping your child overcome the deficits associated with autistic disorder. A person can also be positive about one’s child loving the child as he, or she is, without embracing the confused logic that autistic disorder itself is positive it is not.
Autistic disorder is a medical diagnosis. That is why it requires a literal interpretation of the DSM, not an “artistic, creative” interpretation.
It is interesting to note the number of “positive” autism commentators on this thread who lowered themselves to personal attacks on me, even though, judging by the comment title, I was invited here to comment.
Have a good day all you, ahem, positive, people.
Proclaiming something ‘a personal attack’ doesn’t invalidate it as an observation of your attitudes and skills, Harold.
“Autistic disorder is a medical diagnosis. That is why it requires a literal interpretation of the DSM, not an “artistic, creative” interpretation.”
You have been told why this interpretation is limited by the nature of what a diagnosis is, Harold. Stop trying to censor those of us who pay attention to things outside of the DSM. It wouldn’t even be true if everyone took the literal view, as some of the traits can potentially lead to positive outcomes.
This shouldn’t even be such a shocking revelation to a person of your level, Harold, it’s certainly nothing new to the rest of us.
You have your view, allow us to have ours.
Dedj
The subject of this comment, the title of which is addressed to me, is supposedly Kev’s answer to my request for information about what people perceive to be positive about autism.
Autism, whether you like it or not is a medical condition, a mental disorder, defined not by personal whims, fancies or ideologies but by medical authority – the DSM.
If you are going to assert that “autistic disorder” consists of something positive, other than what is referenced in the DSM please refrain from personal animosity and demonstrate, by reference to authoritative sources what those positive attributes are. So far no one, including Kev, has done so.
I have not censored anyone in this discussion and it is silly for you to pretend that I have.
Have a nice day, Dedj and please on Autism twitter Day … keep it real.
The DSM is not a medical authourity – it is a diagnostic manual – the clue is in the name, Harold. It is, however, published by an American based authourity which may be where your confusion lies.
It holds no power outside of any medical authourity that is not ascribed to it, and only describes the common features of any condition.
You have been provided with ‘positive’ references and other indications that autism has features not in the DSM. To pretend these don’t exist because they’re not in the DSM is short-sighted and ignorant of how DSM criterion emerge and are defined.
To state multiple times, including in the last post, that we may only use one and only one definiton of autism, is an attempt at censorship regardless of how you deny it, Harold.
None of the major autism authourities have any trouble with dealing with the concept that there may be traits amongst people with autism that share the same aetiology as their diagnostic traits.
I fail to see why the concept that autistic traits may occasionly have a positive outcome utterly stumps you. None of the autism agencies here in the UK have as much trouble as you seem to be having.
Is this even worth continuing? You seem to be unable to see the difference between symptoms and outcomes. As this distinction is key to this discussion, I fail to see why your opinions should matter.
Again, I have to remind you Harold, observations and remarks do not become irrelevant or untrue simply because they are about a person.
Here’s a question for Harold – I know of a person with autism who is considered a skilled organ player.
He has done this through developing his special interest (part of his autism diagnosis) in organ playing. He may also have the enhanced perception mentioned above, which may be related to his autism.
Why is this not a positive thing? It’s not a matter of autism vs person – his special interest led directly to his diagnosis, so why should we pin this on something seperate from him when he got this skilled precisely because it was his special interest?
I know of more examples, and a person in your position should know of countless examples. Why you don’t is a complete mystery.
I wasn’t aware you’d posed such a question Harold. Now that you have I can give you an answer.
The most recent example I can think of is the young lady who felt that her vocal skills were made very much better due to her autism. Thats pretty cool – and pretty positive.
On a more personal level, my autistic child has been laughing xyr head off tonight watching and rewinding 7 sec bursts of xyr favourite DVD. Xe loves doing that – a very autistic behaviour.
I understand why you feel it necessary to fall back on the DSM to hide behind your stance of their being no positives to autism but really it is a cowardly act. Just like your refusal to allow anyone who doesn’t toe your line to comment on your blog, pretending that a diagnostic criteria can possibly govern how a person or family lives their life on a day to day basis and the enjoyment they get from it is both spineless and indicative of your fear about what positivity truly means. You trade in pity and fear Harold.
On a separate note, I’d like to apologise to the comment above from farmwifetwo regarding your son. I’ve only just spotted it. If you’d like me to remove it, please say so either here or send me mail.
Harold, you keep reciting the word “disorder” as if it were a mantra. However, “disorder” is not, and never can be, an objective fact. As explained so well by cultural anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker in his book Unstrange Minds, it is a cultural value judgment and, as such, is inherently subjective.
Dedj
Don’t waste your time treating Harold’s questions as if they were genuine. In al the ways that count he’s a troll. Consider his demand for respect from farmwife. it’s enough to make a dedicated cynic nauseous. Since when has Harold had any trouble with falsehoods? He emits them with monotonous regularity. See his ongoing diatribe contra Mottron and Dawson. The man has trouble lying straight in bed.
If he had any interest in an honest dialogue, he could answer the following simple question. Why, especially after claiming an advanced understanding of censorship on this blog, does he routinely censor comments on his blog?
>> Kev after the bluster of the comment title you never did answer the question. What is positive about autistic disorder?
Other people here, including myself, certainly had. Or do you want a specific example?
Inside of 3 months my son went from never having touched pen/pencil to paper to writing double line text, and another month or so to single line text in a number of different specific fonts (used depending on context). He did this because he had decided to focus on it. He spent hours everyday pouring over paper writing words, usually with drawings to create sort of simplistic comic book. There are very few four year-olds with that sort of ability to focus on a task.
Now not every spectrum kid will do that specifically, muchless do that at 4. But the point is that that particular trait, while it can get in the way at times with some things, does allow autistic people to really tap into and develop intrinsic skills they do have.