tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post6993217788847737710..comments2024-03-04T14:52:36.502-08:00Comments on Autism, Or Something Like It: The "other" kind of expertUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7221521936511907324.post-25707970514087420822014-02-13T12:11:14.072-08:002014-02-13T12:11:14.072-08:00Yes, yes, a THOUSAND times YES. I wonder the same ...Yes, yes, a THOUSAND times YES. I wonder the same thing myself. My son is almost 7 years old, in 1st grade (mainstreamed) and doing pretty well. But he's "different", he's quirky. I know he thinks differently, and as soon as I found out that there was an autistic community (thanks Diary of a Mom), I drank the information in. I was SO surprised by the "not like my child" line, the attitude that an autistic adult's situation must EXACTLY match the autistic child's in order to have value. I actually blogged about it because it made me so annoyed (http://walkinontheedge.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/autistic-speaking-day-when-autistic-people-speak-their-truth-just-listen/) It makes no rational sense. The example of Temple Grandin, who DIDN'T SPEAK till she was 4 years old, comes to mind - who could have predicted where she would be today by looking at her at the age of 4?<br /><br />I belong to linkedin and am in several autism groups, and I'm astounded at how many non-autistic professionals don't really "get", about how little contact they've had with autistic adults. Most of them are THRILLED when an adult "comes out" as autistic and shares their experience. I know I'm forever greatful to them for sharing their experiences so I can help my son navigate the neurotypical world, and so he can navigate it himself with confidence when he is old enough to fully advocate without my mommy-help. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com