In my Public Speaking class, I am making a persuasive speech on the ideology of neurodiversity as a school of thought among autistics and LDs. I would rather use scientific studies then rely sheerly on rhetoric. While the "curebie" perspective is ridiculous and dehumanizing I find that those who support neurodiversity to be hypocritical or reprehensible, regardless of functionality.
For example, not that I have anything against neurodiversity itself but the people who substantiate it on this forum: a person with Asperger's/HFA will gladly say that they are proud they are autistic and that they have their own brain wiring, yet is dependent on SSI, can't hold a job, has no girlfriend, can't go to the supermarket without being overstimulated, can't focus in school and is dependent on special ed modifications nor hold a conversation that doesn't revolve around World War II weapons, space travel or trains.
Just as well, I consider myself to be in the "very high functioning" category, I have a Verbal IQ of 118 according to the Wechsler (everything else sucks, but most psychologists that I've talked to say they use the Verbal tests or whichever index is the highest when it comes to autism or LDs to evaluate intelligence), I go to college, I took AP classes in high school and I've flirted with girls (most find me charming, handsome and highly-intelligent).
Because of this, I also see my own position as narcissistic (obviously) and hypocritical as I dismiss the struggle of someone who is lower-functioning as compared to mine.
Can someone here please help me with arguments in favor of neurodiversity as well as provide links that substantiate and reinforce neurodiversity perspective?
Right now, I'm using the studies on Raven's Progressive Matrices in comparison to the Wechsler overall to show that autistic populations aren't impaired to the extent that the prevailing wisdom might think.
10 Nov 2011, 12:46 pm
