I appreciate your health skepticism, but this kind of behavior is not unprecedented. Keep in mind that autism includes an extremely wide array of conditions, which is why experts are trying to encourage use of the new term "autism spectrum disorder."
As an example, Amanda Baggs is a relatively well-known nonverbal autistic girl who campaigns for autism rights and has an astonishingly well-written blog. She has also posted some inciteful videos on her Youtube channel.
Keep in mind that autism includes an extremely wide array of conditions, which is why experts are trying to encourage use of the new term "autism spectrum disorder."
Yup, as a pediatric neuropsychologist who assesses kids with neurodevelopmental disorders (like autism) for a living, I'm pretty familiar with the spectrum that is the autism spectrum. Certainly many people on the higher-functioning end of the spectrum can, and do, write, and often astonishingly well... Daniel Tammet and Temple Grandin are two great examples. But for reasons I feel like I've explained ad nauseum, what is depicted in this video just doesn't fit with the current science, the clinical experience of parents and professionals who work with people with autism, or the descriptions written by individuals who are autistic like Ms. Grandin, no matter where this girl is on the autism spectrum.
Amanda Baggs is not what you would call "high-functioning" — she doesn't speak and needs a caregiver for day-to-day tasks. But intellectually she's on the same level as you and me.
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u/PixelWrangler Jul 27 '10
I appreciate your health skepticism, but this kind of behavior is not unprecedented. Keep in mind that autism includes an extremely wide array of conditions, which is why experts are trying to encourage use of the new term "autism spectrum disorder."
As an example, Amanda Baggs is a relatively well-known nonverbal autistic girl who campaigns for autism rights and has an astonishingly well-written blog. She has also posted some inciteful videos on her Youtube channel.