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I go on a schizophrenia site for support as well. I go on many boards.

First off, there is a higher rate of depression and anxiety in ASDers, and because of this, ASDers are uninsurable, meaning those of us on the spectrum cannot get insurance. Bipolar/schizo/adhd/etc are no more common amoungst us as they are others, it purely depends on what your gene pool looks like. Those disorders are known to be caused by different things than the current most likely cause of autism, and by different things, I mean things like chemical inbalances, different genes, etc. There is autism in my family on my mom's side, as well as ocd, which I am glad not to have, but no schizo/bipolar/etc. If more people would trace their lineage, we might actually be able to crack the autism genetics, as well as other genetic disorders. But that would cost researchers too much time and subjective material.

Actually, a lot of people are on multiple boards. For a time, I was on two. Hey, when I show this addictive behaviour, I STILL limit it only to one board, some DON'T.

And if a redhead was on this board, it wouldn't mean that most AS people have red hair.

It's too long. I'm far to lazy to read all of that from a forum post.

Firebird: I am sure you will do as good, if not, better than Autism Speaks for representing autism. As long as you don't send a mixed message, and send an accurate one, I am happy. I do find it odd however that you mom suddenly has an account to back your statements though.

It is because people were putting me down and not believing me. That is why my mom had to back me up so people can believe the words that are coming out of my mouth.

You're actually misrepresenting autism if you pretend you don't have all those other dx'es.

That is something I completely agree with, be honest and upfront about your other diagnoses.

FireBird, most people with schizophrenia do not hear voices 24/7, even if they are without medication.

First off, you have made some posts that make it hard for people to take you seriously. I would quote a couple of them, butI am not going looking for them. I am not taking sides, and it is not possible for me to hate even my worst enemies, and you don't rank amoungst them, as you haven't done anything to declare yourself as such. As for what I said about mention your other disorders, its not about representing autism, its about representing you as a person who has autism and your other conditions, its about who you are as a whole, not just one aspect. If you try to only show 1/3 of a pie in a pie dish people still know there was more to that pie. With me, I have some comorbids, I would definitly mention my ADHD, sensory issues (which is a comorbid, and not actually a part of autism), I would even mention my blood disorder. Why? That's just a part of who I am, and for them to know how autism truly affects me, they need to know who I am, because without that, they only know that one slice of the pie, and not the pie as a whole. As much as all of these things are disorders, they are not things that are "wrong", they are just a part of a bigger picture, and for people to truly understand a small aspect of the bigger picture, they first need to understand that bigger picture. Trust me, I have done a lot with language in my past, and unless you want to be looked at as giving a speech that seems incomplete, you should add the comorbids.

When it comes to autism awareness, it is more important that people see the big picture rather than just the small stuff. For my speeches on the issue, my blood disorder would come up, as the blood disorder does affect my autism and vice versa.

The most important thing about autism awareness is that autistics are still people, living breathing people, who are more than just what their autism defines them to be. That is why I believe you should mention your comorbids.

First off when Firebird talks about her autism she also mentions that besides the autism she also suffers from schizophrenia. She gives facts about autism. She talks about the attacks and bullying at school and how hard it was for her. She knows from talking to others on the spectrum that they are also or had gone through this.

Those that have heard her speak tell her that her speech has helped them or helped their families by giving them hope and helping to inspire them. Parent groups that have heard her speak were very moved by her words. She lets them know that at one point she had almost no language. That because of her families support she has managed to overcome many obstacles.

And to answer the question as to why I am here it is because I enjoy talking to others about my daughter and her achievements. I remember sitting there with my husband when the doctors told us that she would never go on to college, never work, never make friends, and would have to be put away someplace. I love both my kids and I help them out whenever I can. I didn't know I needed anyone's permission to post on this site, even help back up my daughter's story, especially since one or two of you keep attacking her and what she is doing.

All you do in nearly every post you make is tell everyone how great you are at this and that, and how you overcame this and that, how much money you earn, how many places you speak at, etcetera; it's stupid narcissistic drivel full of useless pride.

You have moderate high functioning autism, the doctors said you'd probably have a poor outcome (which isn't unrealistic), but you found a place in society by painting. Big deal; everyone here will find their place in society sooner or later, and whether they earn a zillion dollars or not, become a professor or not, means absolutely nothing, as the lowly farmhand with LFA is just as important as the self-elevating individual with HFA, and far less annoying at that.

First of all, Firebird, I want to commend you for what you're doing. It's just SO important to separate the autistic symptoms from the schizoaffective ones. If you were born autistic and devdeloped schizoaffective later, you are easily capable of separating the two in a speech.

I'd hate for someone to tell me I couldn't speak out on autism because I'm bipolar with Asperger's. I could separate the two easily. I have a master's in psychology and I could manage it.

I do separate them. At least you can see my point. I know they are 2 different disorders. That is exactly what these people are doing, telling me I can't speak. Its cool that you have a Master's in psychology I wish I have one so I can diagnose people!

Okay, people stop personal stuff I won't even comprehend for a moment ->

I think you should consider how the people at such conferences would feel. Because an autistic person giving a speech there would put them in the position you now talk about in regards to autism.

Many of these people with schizophrenia, other schizo-affective disorders or bipolar are also bothered or feeling the speaker doesn't talk about anything connected to them if a a public speaker talking about these disorder also has an ASD. A person with even mild autism is thought of as 'giving off the wrong impression' about their problems.

It's the same argument backwards.

Which I think should make people question that argument. Also because people with only one spectrum disorder representing that spectrum disorder are also usually grossly misrepresenting many of the people with the same diagnosis.

And people may continue with personal stuff I don't comprehend again ->

Hello..
I am hopping over here because of the post I read in the Haven, and because I have a friend/bandmate who has a similar condition to Firebird's.
People who have schizoaffective disorder bipolar and autistic traits do exist...and I don't see why they shouldn't be able to speak about it.
One ought consider the audiences she will be speaking to. It is likely that these people are already familiar with autistic spectrum stuff to a certain extent if they are at a conference for it.
Since autistic spectrum stuff does manifest in different forms, I don't see how she would be misrepresenting her area of the spectrum.

I have been accustomed to the ups and downs and delusions and lucid periods of my good friend for many years, but perhaps to the outside observer who happens to encounter him when he is going through one of his manic/delusional phases, he is very likely to be stigmatized as a raving lunatic...but he's not...he is a good person with a chemical imbalance.
He is a great poet and an artist who has managed to make his way in the world thus far, having struggled with a complicated mixed bag of issues that have affected him since childhood.

When he is in one of his bad cycles though, negative confrontations will only make it worse for him.

Anywhoo...Everyone deserves a success story....and now I have lost my train of thought.