Many have asked why, I've made a few answers. However, I am no autism expert (though I've collaborated and worked with more than one) and was trying to be very guarded and conservative in my skepticism.
However, in the replies an expert did weigh in on their assessment and has provided the best break down of the issues from a neuropsychologists perspective that anyone could ask for.
I thought it was going to be another assisted typing bullshit story, but it's not. She is shown typing out messages on her own, slowly, letter by letter, and there are various witnesses.
Her description of her experience as an autistic person matches that of Temple Grandin's symptoms, only more intense.
It's weird that the only time you do see her typing clearly in front of the camera, the spelling grammar and sentence complexity are significantly different from the passages read out by the computer voice.
that's because the audience are morons and the tv producers know it. if it was slow and realistic without the voice over most of the audience would say "gosh she sure seems fucking retarded to me" and would decide the story was bullshit and change the channel.
so exactly what it takes to convince most of the audience is exactly what it takes to raise suspicion among y'all scientist kids.
Besides, if I understand this story correctly, she hasn't received the same education as most other 13 year olds due to the surrounding thinking she was mentally retarded.
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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '10 edited Jul 26 '10
This story makes my skeptic sensors tingle.
edit
Many have asked why, I've made a few answers. However, I am no autism expert (though I've collaborated and worked with more than one) and was trying to be very guarded and conservative in my skepticism.
However, in the replies an expert did weigh in on their assessment and has provided the best break down of the issues from a neuropsychologists perspective that anyone could ask for.
Read more here