Re: ATEC scoring / Dana/thanks

[Guest guest]

I do admit I am more sensitive to this issue, being AS and

> always being scrutinized has made me more sensitive. NT people can

do

> something and they are " unique " , I can do the same thing and for me

it

> is called a " stim " or a " manifestation of AS " . I don't want to be

a

> research subject, I want to be a person.

>

> My opinion.

>

>

>

Dana,

I just wanted to thank you for writing this. Less than a year ago, I

had *no* idea my 6yo son had Aspergers or a " mild form of autism " .

He was just a really unique and cool kid to me (although we had many

challenges too!). After I heard of AS and began researching, it

seemed like all the really cool stuff he did and thought was

just " autism " and not something special. I really struggled with

this.

I am now beginning to appreciate again his " uniqueness " . He is

smart, funny, not influenced by peer pressure, and a great leader

(when other's choose to follow). I love this about him and always

have. I am not going to let a label get in the way of seeing my son

as the great person he is. Thanks for reinforcing this!

God Bless,

Sally

p.s. We homeschool too :-)

[Guest guest]

>

> I just wanted to thank you for writing this. Less than a year ago,

I

> had *no* idea my 6yo son had Aspergers or a " mild form of autism " .

> He was just a really unique and cool kid to me (although we had many

> challenges too!). After I heard of AS and began researching, it

> seemed like all the really cool stuff he did and thought was

> just " autism " and not something special. I really struggled with

> this.

>

My husband taught my #1 son when he was about 3yo, how to spin toy

tops and coasters and things. Everyone thought it was so cute. He

also taught my #2 son when he was about 4yo, how to do this same

thing. Everyone says " he is spinning objects, he is autistic " .

I can go to a meeting and people think I have " unique mannerisms " . If

the meeting is about autism, people think " yes, she is AS " .

It is one reason many AS adults are offended with the word " cure " ,

because a child's strengths are seen only in terms of the label, and

not as strengths of that child. That those strengths are actually

weaknesses that must be " cured " , but if you forget the label, they are

actually strengths or possibly just " differences " . I have a

photographic memory and am very good with language [so long as it is

not abstract]. People say I am " language obsessive " and it is a

" manifestation of AS " . Well, what about the fact that that area of my

brain is very good, and other areas are not so good? Why can't it be

that I have my strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else? And

I have worked on my weaknesses so I am productive and independent, and

for the most part relatively inoffensive in public. I guess if I am

not an exact copy of others, then I am automatically inferior. I hate

labels.

I agree that some behaviors and weaknesses are not good and should be

overcome or " cured " , but why is EVERYTHING associated with autism such

a bad thing? My son at first could have never been productive or

independent, now he will be. But I do not want him " typical " in the

general sense of the word, because most " typical " kids that I know, I

would not allow to play with my kids without supervision, because they

are destructive and disrespectful of others. My kids are not like

that.

Anyway I am rambling. Thanks for your note.

Dana

[Guest guest]

Dana, I would not change Evan's sweet personality for his brothers for

anything in the world. They have their strengths and weakness also but at

least I can trust Evan not to willingly destroy things around the house nor

to deliberately burn it down while playing with fire. And since NONE of us

are exact copies of the next person, I would guess that we all are inferior

in some way or another. I hate labels also but labels is what gets the

services. No label, no services and even then we have to fight for it.

That is the only thing a label is good for.

Betty

grandmother and guardian to

9 yo dx'd ADHD, possibly bipolar/RAD, asthma

Evan 7 yo dx'd nonverbal autism

5 yo dx'd ADHD, possibly bipolar/RAD

----- Original Message -----

From: <danaatty@...>

I guess if I am

> not an exact copy of others, then I am automatically inferior. I hate

> labels.

>

> I agree that some behaviors and weaknesses are not good and should be

> overcome or " cured " , but why is EVERYTHING associated with autism such

> a bad thing? My son at first could have never been productive or

> independent, now he will be. But I do not want him " typical " in the

> general sense of the word, because most " typical " kids that I know, I

> would not allow to play with my kids without supervision, because they

> are destructive and disrespectful of others. My kids are not like

> that.

>

> Anyway I am rambling. Thanks for your note.

>

> Dana