Alex is brilliant.

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I agree. This website would've been a god send when I was younger.

I don't think it's necessarily the case that there are people who've attained success despite the fact that they have autism, we should all try to aspire to be our best, I doubt that most people who have notoriety thought for sure that they'd ever get famous for any feats they've achieved. But I do understand that the media only puts a limited scope on autism, showcasing only those with some kind of extraordinary ability, and in my opinion, a great way to start is by living our own lives and sharing our stories. We may never be successful to such a degree (though luck could easily change that) but we can spread awareness of autism and how it affects different people in different ways, taking ourselves as examples. Autism is a complex disorder (though I use that word only as a term describing deviation from the neurotypical sense) that create such a diversity in terms of our capabilities and capacities as human beings who can think and love, albeit, in different ways of expression. As unrealistic as it may seem, given the challenges that we face just in our daily lives alone, people with autism can do great things for the world, we can even change it with our unique perspectives.

It's just my view, but success is something that comes when we decide to take initiative and as much control of our lives as possible, so let's not discredit ourselves and our abilities. Alex Plank, Temple Grandin, Darryl Hannah, and others with autism have blessed our world with their skills and ideas, but possibly, any of us really could be next in line to influence the world whilst having an autism spectrum disorder. We should do our best to derail the stereotypes, of course, and if necessary, use even uncomfortable moments as a teaching experience since as the individuals with information, we have the ability to use our self-interests in such a context.

As much as I personally wish that being autistic (as well as being gay or Asian) wouldn't deem me to these stereotypes of who I am and should be, personal and public efforts for awareness of the diversities of such identities is vital if we are to be seen as normal human beings.

A lot of people do good work in defending autism rights. The problem I do experience a bit, is lack of cooperation. Everyone is doing his own thing, every organisation works on its own, despite all more or less chasing the same goal.

I write conceptual poetry about life with neurodifferent conditions (I avoid the word "disorder") and try to break the taboo surrounding it that way. I realise however on my own, that I will only make a difference on a small and mostly local scale. People that attend my poetry readings tend to be enthousiast, but even local autism organisations are wary to for example interview me or write an article about a performance. Not because they're against what I do, but because they mainly follow their own route.

I got in touch with a person trying to get autism rights movements launched in Turkey, where I have lived and still have my connections. No response to the proposal if we could not get something organised together.

It is great to have people like Alex, Bill Gates, or artists like Gary Numan and Craig Nicholls (like him or not, he at least talks openly about his life with AS, even though he ain't the greatest role model) and it is great to see autism organisations being founded even in very conservative places in the world. However, as long as people don't join forces, I fear the struggle for better understanding and tolerance of Asperger Syndrome could last very long.

And before anyone talks about contradictions... Yes, I do my poetry on my own, and I prefer to keep it a solo project because poetry is such a personal thing. So I don't judge the organisations or autism rights defenders who also wish to do it "their own way". However, you can promote each other a bit or organise events with different participants of all kinds of backgrounds. You don't have to sacrifice your own independent style of functioning, but you can have projects where different people join forces for the good cause.

I'd like to dedicate this thread.. to... the greatest Op that ever lived, besides myself.
Alex

what jobs in wrongplanet are you guys hoping to land with this flattering post.make sure to give a link for your resume in your post

First off... Bill Gates does not have a diagnosis... As such... any statement about "probably an autist" should be tabled... We are not qualified to diagnose people... Unless that person is a mental health professional.

The second part... I, personally, am tired of being compared to Temple... She is an amazing person who has made an amazing name for herself. She is successful, personable, and intelligent... But so are a great many of us... I am a writer and film maker as well... but when people hear that I am on the autistic spectrum, almost every one of them ask me if I like cows... it gets old.

I, for one, am attempting to give us representation that we deserve... I am doing so with my blog HERE