Neurotypicals, if you had the opportunity to become Autistic

Post Reply New Topic

Would any white American born citizen wish to be a hispanic Mexican immigrant? I'm sure there would be few, but most wouldn't as they have the majority in their residence and the other group has stigma against them.

When I argue against functioning labels, it's not because I deny that different people have different symptoms with different severity. I doubt anyone else is, either. I am kind of frustrated that this same territory has been covered again and again and the next time someone brings up functioning, it's time to go back to the beginning: "people believe all autism is the same." No, we don't.

The problem with functioning labels is that people assume they reflect an even spread of skills. Everyone who's high functioning is expected to be able to do a variety of things that not all of them can do. Everyone who's low functioning is expected to be unable to do a variety of things that not all of them are incapable of doing. Just because I would be described as high functioning does not mean I can hold a job, pretend to be NT, that my autistic behavior isn't noticeable, cope with sensory overload, talk all the time, communicate competently when I can talk, can drive, can remember and know how to do all the things I would need to do if I lived on my own, can manage a relationship, that I want a family, and so on.

Describing someone as low functioning doesn't mean they can't have a family, can't get a degree, can't use public transportation, can't drive, can't hold down a job, can't ever communicate in any way, can't live alone, and so on.

That's why people object to functioning labels. It has nothing to do with believing that all autism is identical or denying differences. If anything, it emphasizes differences even more than using the functioning labels in the first place does.

I can sort of see what you are trying to say but I think the analogy is limping rather. The prejudice an immigrant is faced with is coming at them from the majority population. A lot of that prejudice is triggered by visual clues and takes little account of the person's abilities.

While people with ASD undoubtedly face prejudice I do not think that is at the heart of the situation. It is the things people with ASDs can't do or can't do easily but that are helpful or even necessary for day to day functioning that would put me as an NT off from doing a swap.

Like forming easy connections with people, to name one example.

Aye, but is the immigrant not disabled from being an immigrant? And how is the autist really as inherently disabled as society makes him to be, how much of it is really from society? And does the autist have abilities NTs do not? The analogy is not perfect, but it works for all are purposes here.

I reckon if an NT suddenly was turned into an Aspie they would think they had lost their minds

That I can absolutely believe. I can imagine it feeling like suddenly being behind a glass wall, possibly without being aware the glass wall is there or what a glass wall might be.

I reckon if an NT suddenly was turned into an Aspie they would think they had lost their minds

I say the visa versa is probably also true.

I see your analogy, but it isn't complete. No, the immigrant is not **intrinsically** disabled from being an immigrant. If the immigrant comes to New Mexico they are not disabled in the slightest. They will find that most people in New Mexico speak their language and look like them. The culture will be very familiar. The food is familiar. They might have temporary challenges but a great deal of help overcoming their challenges. On the whole, there is not any particular stigma. Far from it, Anglos who don't speak Spanish have a harder time finding jobs. In a very short time an immigrant will function just as well as any person who moves to a different region of the country.

A white English-only speaking person who immigrates to Mexico might find a bit more difficulty, but eventually will gain acceptance and fit in fairly well. If that person was AS it might not ever happen.

I see your analogy, but it isn't complete. No, the immigrant is not **intrinsically** disabled from being an immigrant. If the immigrant comes to New Mexico they are not disabled in the slightest. They will find that most people in New Mexico speak their language and look like them. The culture will be very familiar. The food is familiar. They might have temporary challenges but a great deal of help overcoming their challenges. On the whole, there is not any particular stigma. Far from it, Anglos who don't speak Spanish have a harder time finding jobs. In a very short time an immigrant will function just as well as any person who moves to a different region of the country.

A white English-only speaking person who immigrates to Mexico might find a bit more difficulty, but eventually will gain acceptance and fit in fairly well. If that person was AS it might not ever happen.

I am not sure, I wonder if I would notice at first. It might be odd suddenly wanting to chat to people though.

There is a lot bigger of a difference than simply desiring social interaction, and I believe a LOT would be lost if autism were to suddenly be taken away. You would be just as likely to feel you lost you mind as an NT would.

Maybe but I am thinking about the sensory issues more, if they suddenly went away it might seem like I had lost part of my vision, or hearing etc. Then, over time, I may notice that I am thinking a lot differently, but I cannot think of anything else that I would suddenly notice losing.