The reason the notion of autism spectrum should be offensive

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Your interpretation of "executive function" is essentially correct; the link between conscious decision making and executing an action. However, my rationale for believing that I have such an impairment has nothing to do with anyone else's perception of my behaviour (aside from the fact that the theoretical construct is not of my own devising.) In fact, quite the opposite, the most frustrating aspect of it is the mismatch between my intent and the resulting action or inaction, even for behaviours which no-one else would observe or be affected by. Prior to my diagnosis, it was the aspect of my condition which most frightened me, as it can feel as if I don't possess free will at times; it definitely doesn't feel like the same thing as avoidance or procrastination, and can affect tasks which I desire to do, give me pleasure, and am perfectly capable of doing.

I can overcome it sometimes by telling myself out loud what course of action I want to take, as if there is a broken connection somewhere which I can bypass using the medium of spoken language. In my case, and maybe for others, I think that this is the source of some "repetitive behaviours" - they're like an "auto pilot" by which I can get a task done without having to rely on constant conscious intervention and explicit decision making.


For the most part, my meltdowns are triggered by extreme sensory or emotional overload, which after a certain amount of exposure seem to "trip a fuse" somewhere which brings out the fight-or-flight response and the shutting down of various brain functions (mostly higher cognitive functions, which I assume is why I don't remember these events.) The question of seizures is a very interesting one to me. I have never had "grand mal" type epileptic seizures, but the shutting down of cognitive functions does seem to have similarities to the "petit mal" kind of seizure, and it is more common for me to have "shut downs" (essentially going catatonic) than to have "melt downs" where I "fight or fly". As epilepsy is such a common co-morbidity for autistic people, it does make me wonder to what extent epilepsy might be related to this kind of shutting down, though I don't know of any research suggesting a link.


Serious problem according to who's judgement? I think that this is an important question, because what an external observer might assume to be the more serious problem may not be the same as what the autistic person perceives to have the most impact upon their quality of life.

Because they are interested in the topic.

As long as forum rules are not being broken I have no idea why diagnostic classifications of autism is an inappropriate topic in an autism forum.

I know that, but it's one of those topics where everybody has a different opinion and then arguments happen and then rules end up getting broken.

I was using your rainman analogy as I understood it. Like doesn't mean identical. Similar but different.


Some descriptions I give of myself are from what I have been told about myself rather than from self awareness. The reason why I might wander in front of a car is because my mind would be to occupied with other things. Even NT's get into accidents that way. With me it's considerably more likely due to neurological impairment. The reason why someone needs to be there at all times is if I need something or have an accident or whatever. Similar to how those very young and those very old need someone to look after them.

As far as I'm concerned you probably shouldn't. But my intention in showing the video was that when it comes to severe autism, the outside doesn't necessarily match the inner mind at work. Think of Stephen Hawking. In all respects he was a complete vegetable, except for his brilliant inner mind.




If you're talking about statements I've made, I'm not happy about being autistic and I would gladly take a cure. To me autism just impaires and inhibits me. I don't see any advantages in having it. But I'm accepting of it too,and even joke about it, rather than always being miserable over it. Others however have a different point of view and like being autistic or are proud to be autistic. But that's not really something I can relate to.

It’s like what AsPartofMe says about cancer:

One person with cancer can be bedridden and in severe pain.

One can be fully functional in life.

Both have cancer.


Same with ASD’s.

Not everyone sees Asperger's as the same as autism.

Since there are different labels out there for the schizophrenic spectrum and different labels out there for the Munchhausen spectrum and different labels out there for Bipolar spectrum, why not for autism too?

Asperger's is how autism manifests itself sometimes. That's the way I think of it.

Classic autism was manifested in me when I was a very young child. When I got older, though, Asperger's manifested itself.

That's the way I see it.

The real Rain Man had an IQ of 58 and it turned out he was never autistic. He was just misdiagnosed as having it. So that could mean Rain Man never had it either in the movie and he was also misdiagnosed with it.

To be honest, IQ meant absolutely nothing to a man like Kim Peek (the "real" Rainman). You're right. He didn't have autism. He had severe brain abnormalities.

He had extraordinary abilities in some areas; yet, he was unable to button his own shirt.

The Rainman in the movie could take care of his personal needs. He had an extraordinary memory. His main problem was that he was unable to convey, most of the time, his own "take" on things. Everything seemed to come from places other than himself.

KOR also had a low IQ as she has written in her posts but when someone questioned it and told her she writes well for someone with that IQ, she took it personal thinking she was being doubted about her disability so she made a post in The Haven about it and left. You can view it in her post history and find that post that was written to her. I know that member didn't mean it that way but that was how she interpreted it.

It's harder to teach adults than it is to teach a child. That is why we do early intervention. Back in those days, kids with disabilities didn't have that right because people believed they were doomed for life and will always be that way and they can't evolve. People still thought that way even in the 1980's because my parents were being told I would never learn to talk or take care of myself and I would always need someone to take care of me and I would be in a institution. My in laws were told the same about my husband in the 1970's but they refused to believe it. Rain Man wasn't given that chance as a little boy.

Yep. King of Rats was pretty cool. I talked to her a little bit in threads, though not in PM's. She was having a pretty hard life, though she did get pleasure from various types of animals.

Her name came from the fact that there were many rats in some institutions she was forced to stay in.

I wish Carly Fleishmann would come on here.

She had a talk show on YouTube, where she would talk using her communication device. She was a trip! She had some movie stars as guests.

I actually like these threads because it gives out an interesting discussion and hearing different perspectives on the issue. People are free to disagree with the DSM and other medical labels they use. I disagree with the IEP category "other health impaired" for neurological issues and learning issues because to me other health impaired implies medical issues and I don't like the idea of my brain wiring being called a medical issue.

Not anymore. They made OCD its own category now. It's no longer an anxiety disorder is why because they found out their anxiety is caused by OCD, not the other way around. Like how autism can cause anxiety but it's not an anxiety disorder.