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Susan Leekam, Autism SPeaks

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Jono
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13 Nov 2010, 3:22 pm

dalurker wrote:
Jono wrote:

If you knew anything about me whatsoever, then you would know that I'm NOT "cognitively well-off". The difference is, I actually accepted my "difference" and learnt to adapt to my limitations. While I do sympathise with people who are honestly unable to work because of some kind of disability, you are never going to live life comfortably with that kind of defeatist attitude. There are a lot of people who are more disabled than you.


How are you not well-off that way? Who with a real problem of the such would refer to their impairments as a "difference"? I am truly mentally disabled and have a problem when successful characters like you, define my kind of situations in ridiculously dismissing ways, and accept my submission on my behalf. I basically cannot work, and nothing will console me about that or ensure me comfort despite that. I'm not the one with the defeatist attitude, as I and others refuse to accept a dispossessed and subpar fate as something that can't ever change, while some others are reaping so many benefits. I want a way out of this that involves putting an end to such disability through making ability a right, not a privilege. Not necessarily for my lifetime, but eventually through technology.


As much as you think I'm successful, it would never of happened if I simply accepted that I was disabled and never tried to adapt. Believe it or not, other people (about the time I was still in primary school) said I would never be able to be educated above 3rd grade academic level and if me and everyone else believed that I wouldn't be where I am today with an MSc in astrophysics. I'm not dismissing your situation but what I'm saying is that you're not going to get any further in life if you put limitations on yourself rather than striving to achieve in spite of limitations. If you have challenges, it's going to be harder and there are some people who are truly unable to work or be independent due to disability. However, even those people learn to accept themselves and their disability.



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13 Nov 2010, 4:06 pm

Jono wrote:
As much as you think I'm successful, it would never of happened if I simply accepted that I was disabled and never tried to adapt. Believe it or not, other people (about the time I was still in primary school) said I would never be able to be educated above 3rd grade academic level and if me and everyone else believed that I wouldn't be where I am today with an MSc in astrophysics. I'm not dismissing your situation but what I'm saying is that you're not going to get any further in life if you put limitations on yourself rather than striving to achieve in spite of limitations. If you have challenges, it's going to be harder and there are some people who are truly unable to work or be independent due to disability. However, even those people learn to accept themselves and their disability.


I'm not talking of early childhood predictions of such success which are often lousy at predicting things in many individuals. Eventually developing well doesn't seem like adaptation. I'm talking of the real situations where many grow up not having developed enough aptitude/functionality to get by, which does not change in adulthood.

I'm not putting limitations on myself. I'm limited by the material aspects of my brain which are depended upon for doing various things, and I can't just change that. The limitations were imposed on me by the uncontrolled system in which mental capacity is inherited, developed, and thereby distributed. I can't achieve without the necessary means with which to achieve. I can't get anywhere if I can't assure the completion of basic tasks or without reliable capacity to learn things. Period.

It's not fair that some have to work harder while others barely have to lift a finger. What does it even mean to "accept" their disability? Who can get over having to live through mental disability with the endless chaining dependence, humiliation, and deprivation from fruitful endeavors? This status quo will not be put up with forever, as the fundamental values of independence and liberty are sought over stability and agreeableness.



Jono
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14 Nov 2010, 12:40 pm

dalurker wrote:
Jono wrote:
As much as you think I'm successful, it would never of happened if I simply accepted that I was disabled and never tried to adapt. Believe it or not, other people (about the time I was still in primary school) said I would never be able to be educated above 3rd grade academic level and if me and everyone else believed that I wouldn't be where I am today with an MSc in astrophysics. I'm not dismissing your situation but what I'm saying is that you're not going to get any further in life if you put limitations on yourself rather than striving to achieve in spite of limitations. If you have challenges, it's going to be harder and there are some people who are truly unable to work or be independent due to disability. However, even those people learn to accept themselves and their disability.


I'm not talking of early childhood predictions of such success which are often lousy at predicting things in many individuals. Eventually developing well doesn't seem like adaptation. I'm talking of the real situations where many grow up not having developed enough aptitude/functionality to get by, which does not change in adulthood.

I'm not putting limitations on myself. I'm limited by the material aspects of my brain which are depended upon for doing various things, and I can't just change that. The limitations were imposed on me by the uncontrolled system in which mental capacity is inherited, developed, and thereby distributed. I can't achieve without the necessary means with which to achieve. I can't get anywhere if I can't assure the completion of basic tasks or without reliable capacity to learn things. Period.

It's not fair that some have to work harder while others barely have to lift a finger. What does it even mean to "accept" their disability? Who can get over having to live through mental disability with the endless chaining dependence, humiliation, and deprivation from fruitful endeavors? This status quo will not be put up with forever, as the fundamental values of independence and liberty are sought over stability and agreeableness.


In answer to the bold question, it means being content with the way you are. As for having to work harder than other people because of certain challenges, that's life. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.



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14 Nov 2010, 4:55 pm

Jono wrote:
In answer to the bold question, it means being content with the way you are. As for having to work harder than other people because of certain challenges, that's life. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.


I don't know how anyone can be content with such misfortune. Since when does life not change when people try to change things? This situation of strengths and weaknesses is worth working on changing.