Calling it as it is.
Feb. 12th, 2010 12:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angryoldhag"One of the characteristics of people with Asperger's is that they're very resistant to change," Dulcan added. The change "makes scientific sense. I'm sorry if it hurts people's feelings," she said.
Also, Gibson said, she'd no longer have to use four different terms to describe her boys.
"Hallelujah! Let's just put them all in the same category and be done with it," Gibson said.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100211/ap_on_he_me/us_med_asperger_s_diagnosis
So they're planning to do away with specific diagnoses for Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS etc. and just make it 'autism spectrum disorder'. And when people get upset about this change it suddenly gets thrown on symptoms of their, and mine, disorder or, even better "It would be just like if you were a student at MIT. You might not want to be lumped with somebody in the community college," making it seem as if people with Asperger Syndrome or PDD-NOS are somehow elitist for not wanting to have the name changed.
I'm calling bullshit. Want to know why? Because even with a different name that explains why I'm not the classic image people seem to have in their heads of someone with autism I still get the 'Oh, but you're not autistic. You're just awkward/don't like change/host of other symptoms'. This is frustrating because it makes me feel as if my problems are being belittled. I am not resistant to changing the name if it meant that it would have no other consequences. I can deal with change just fine as long as I see and understand why the change occurs. It's why I was resistant to my parents replacing furniture in the old house on a seeming whim but was perfectly all right with moving to another city.
And the Gibson quote? She has four children with different forms autistic disorders. Why would it be good to lump them all in the same category? Throwing them all under the same name takes away their individual strengths and problems for what? For making it easier on scientists?
This isn't about my identity. I don't define myself by my autism, just as I don't define myself by my sexuality or gender. It's a part of me. What it does do is give me an aid in explaining to people why I might react differently and either ask them for help or ask them for a little bit of understanding while I try to figure things out.
Also, Gibson said, she'd no longer have to use four different terms to describe her boys.
"Hallelujah! Let's just put them all in the same category and be done with it," Gibson said.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100211/ap_on_he_me/us_med_asperger_s_diagnosis
So they're planning to do away with specific diagnoses for Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS etc. and just make it 'autism spectrum disorder'. And when people get upset about this change it suddenly gets thrown on symptoms of their, and mine, disorder or, even better "It would be just like if you were a student at MIT. You might not want to be lumped with somebody in the community college," making it seem as if people with Asperger Syndrome or PDD-NOS are somehow elitist for not wanting to have the name changed.
I'm calling bullshit. Want to know why? Because even with a different name that explains why I'm not the classic image people seem to have in their heads of someone with autism I still get the 'Oh, but you're not autistic. You're just awkward/don't like change/host of other symptoms'. This is frustrating because it makes me feel as if my problems are being belittled. I am not resistant to changing the name if it meant that it would have no other consequences. I can deal with change just fine as long as I see and understand why the change occurs. It's why I was resistant to my parents replacing furniture in the old house on a seeming whim but was perfectly all right with moving to another city.
And the Gibson quote? She has four children with different forms autistic disorders. Why would it be good to lump them all in the same category? Throwing them all under the same name takes away their individual strengths and problems for what? For making it easier on scientists?
This isn't about my identity. I don't define myself by my autism, just as I don't define myself by my sexuality or gender. It's a part of me. What it does do is give me an aid in explaining to people why I might react differently and either ask them for help or ask them for a little bit of understanding while I try to figure things out.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-12 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-12 03:39 pm (UTC)