For those with classic autism

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In the DSM-IV Autism is under the diagnostic section of Pervasive Developmental Disorders

299.00 Autistic Disorder
299.80 Asperger's Disorder
299.80 Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Including Atypical Autism)
299.80 Rett's Disorder
299.10 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Classic Autism is anything in 299.00

There is some controversy in diagnostics because Asperger's is often the default for high functioning individuals even when they actually fit the criteria for autism. I am DX'd Asperger's. But I actually fit the criteria for classic autism. But it doesn't matter that much at my age. Also, Asperger's is going away in the DSM-V

What about a place to talk about everything to do with food, cooking, public or not so public transportation, taking care of yourself from getting up to washing and such, taking care of your living-space, dealing with other people in matters concerning your autism, health, living-situation and so on?

I don't see that a lot around here.

As for different levels of severity and different levels of functioning, there'd probably STILL be different topics ranging from having a somewhat working routine of self-care and having next to none, from unemployment to different types of employment as well as how to manage to go shopping in a nearby supermarket up to travelling by train into the next city, but I'd think that's advantageous in terms of what people have to say and what kind of advice they can give to others.

Life skills?

I think this forum is supposed to serve that purpose but it gets too general. Maybe something more focused would work. Are you thinking about things like specific ways to organize your time? Manage your money? Sort of a virtual life coach?

If it was heavily moderated to keep it on task I could see that as very helpful. But maybe a forum format isn't ideal. A series of blog posts that have specific ideas could be good because you would have some concrete information but also follow up as people comment on the blog. Blogs are so linear though. Maybe a WIKI? There's this one:


http://autism.wikia.com/wiki/Autism_Wiki

I certainly relate to this, SuperTrouper, your posting this thread with a "Classic Autism" title does put me off, obviously not enough though, from posting a reply because I do not specifically meet the criteria.

I feel difficulty in relating to the majority of threads on the forum, no more so than in the 'Adult Autism Issues' section, where adult seems to be a euphemism for puerile. 'In-Depth Adult Life Discussion', I find much more helpful. It is frustrating when I am here to try to find something to relate to, but am unable to do so.

I find people spontaneously talking to me to be a fairly rare occurrence, but when it happens I suppose that they feel frustrated by my lack of reciprocality, and soon lose interest. If someone asks me too many questions, I either do not reply, or just answer one question, poorly, and if the other person wants more infromation they have to repeat the questions, one at a time, although I will likely not tell them that this is so.

I have to deal with people on the phone quite a lot, relatively. The local council, my bank, the housing association which I belong to, and benefits agencies, all require me to contact them by telephone regarding forms that I should have filled in, forms which they have lost, and why I have not fulfilled obligations to them. For these agencies, I have found that informing who I speak to at the beginning of a conversation, that I have an autistic spectrum disorder, to be helpful, and feel that people will be more patient with me.

I do not really feel I have good days or bad days exactly, but it could be that I am lacking some awareness of that. Some days where my abilities in areas that I have poor performance have been tested, and found wanting, can leave me anxious, or in low mood.



Sorry, I do not know enough about the issue. I have been avoiding 'cure' threads.

Personally I feel this HFA and aspergers thing is confused. people don't think about whether it means the same thing or not. Can anyone honestly tell me the difference between our first poster and other people with aspergers who have these concerns?

My goodness; forget I said anything. This is completely ridiculous.

I honestly presume that there are many differences. I think that the concerns SuperTrouper raises are legitimate, and make important points about how people communicate. Discussing ways to make the forum more accessible to different people on the spectrum, and considering what may hold them back from contributing, seems important to me.

????

I don't understand. There's a lot of effort going into communicating here. Isn't that of any use?

Technically, there isn't any difference because about 95% of Asperger's cases are actually misdiagnosed cases of classic autism or PDD-NOS.

Asperger's proper is actually a very rare thing. They really just use the label because it has become a way to say "You don't fit the horrible-walking-tragedy-empty-shell stereotype." If you can talk, read, and use the toilet on your own, the doctors figure you're up for an Asperger's diagnosis. They're not paying attention to the actual criteria at all; they're just using "Asperger's" as shorthand for "I think autism has to be severe and obvious and non-verbal; therefore I'll use Asperger's as a label even though it technically doesn't fit."

I think this is a very good point. What a person on the spectrum might need is a variety of community, economic, educational support, including direct assistance with housekeeping if needed, etc. It is highly individual to each particular person.

And I tend to think it's fine to experiment with a variety of forums such as "Not Mild" or "Sensory Issues" or "Executive Functioning."

Just because we want to speak to others who have similar experiences does not mean that we are saying "we are awesome and you all suck"! My goodness! There are no hidden agendas, we mean (or at least I do anyway) precisely what we are saying: "we know mild people have issues as well, but we experience things from different perspectives, so it would be nice to SOMETIMES communicate with others who know where we are coming from in regards to those particular experiences." There is no case of some people are better than others here.

Classic autism itself is a spectrum with classic autistic individuals ranging from very low-functioning all the way up to very high-functioning. Many people with classic autism are verbal, many are not (I am, but with terrible communication skills, and my diagnosis is classic autism). Many people with classic autism do have mental retardation, while many others have average or above average IQs. It is a common misconception that classic autism simply refers to low-functioning autism, but that simply is not the case. Also, it might be helpful to note that Kanner, who first identified classic autism (also known as Kanner's autism) worked with boys who would, by today's definition, mostly fit into the high-functioning category.

This thread is a great example of autism as a communications issue. I don't see much negativity here, but I'm seeing some non-trivial misunderstandings.

I know I'm a little frustrated.

It probably came from a frustration. I am beginning to feel frustrated as well, and it is not even my thread. I don't think the purpose of the thread was for a bombardment from others about the validity of such a thread. The thread should be valid, and if you (you in general, not you specifically) do not see it as valid, then perhaps that person should not bother going onto it. This was supposed to be a place of understanding, not one of constant criticism.

Where did you get this statistic?

I think SuperTrouper makes a great point and that a separate area on the forums should be created for this group.

Aspergers is not a relevant diagnosis for much longer. If you're diagnosed with anything, you have autism. HFA == Aspergers.