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conuly
Somebody on my journal had seen the dreaded video (Aieee!), and mentioned that many of the kids looked "quite low-functioning".
I replied that this is a debateable term, but that I don't feel myself well-spoken enough on the subject to explain my feelings, or the whole debate. I could've directed him straight-away to some of the people I feel are clearest at writing on the subject, but I thought that might be a bit rude - what if they don't want to talk? - so I decided to post here instead.
Ahem. Those of you who have a well-formed opinion on the subject, I would very much appreciate it if you'd post your feelings on the subject of high/low-functioning autism.
On a similar note, I've a few times run into people with autistic kids (or who work with autistic kids), and, as it comes up, I've mentioned "Well, I'm autistic...."
And inevitably gotten "You must be very high functioning" as a reply.
I mean, I'm certain that I fit that vague criteria, but... wow, can you be more insulting? I know they don't mean to be, but... am I the only one who finds that statement to be insulting the way it's said?
(When it is, I immediately want to talk about my erstwhile bouts of agoraphobia, and the times I've, as I put it, "forgotten how to walk", always an unpleasant experience.)
I replied that this is a debateable term, but that I don't feel myself well-spoken enough on the subject to explain my feelings, or the whole debate. I could've directed him straight-away to some of the people I feel are clearest at writing on the subject, but I thought that might be a bit rude - what if they don't want to talk? - so I decided to post here instead.
Ahem. Those of you who have a well-formed opinion on the subject, I would very much appreciate it if you'd post your feelings on the subject of high/low-functioning autism.
On a similar note, I've a few times run into people with autistic kids (or who work with autistic kids), and, as it comes up, I've mentioned "Well, I'm autistic...."
And inevitably gotten "You must be very high functioning" as a reply.
I mean, I'm certain that I fit that vague criteria, but... wow, can you be more insulting? I know they don't mean to be, but... am I the only one who finds that statement to be insulting the way it's said?
(When it is, I immediately want to talk about my erstwhile bouts of agoraphobia, and the times I've, as I put it, "forgotten how to walk", always an unpleasant experience.)
