Times Magazine article on autism

[streakybacon]

Interesting article in today's Times magazine on apparent recovery from autism.

I can't link to it here because of the Times paywall, but I'll be scanning it so if anyone wants a look just PM me with an email address and I'll send it on.

Nothing like a Rupert Murdock Publication to give us some advice we can trust.

It's not an advice article, Jason, just relating some people's experiences. Thought it might be interesting to some folk here .

Has someone who uses a wheelchair recovered from their mobility difficulties?

I'd say yes, to an extent, in some contexts.

If you saw them at a dinner party their mobility would be indistinguishable from their peers........

Course not. But that is what I think these things like to imply.

(Though everyone is equal..........)

However being able to pass for normal is a skill that its very useful to learn, especially if you're vulnerable, or the your 'not normalness' may pose a risk to you in certain circumstances.

It was interesting that those people who were claimed to have 'recovered' still had significant traits of autism. They may not qualify for a full diagnosis now, but I'm not sure I'd agree that means they're no longer autistic.

But bearing in mind that to get a diagnosis the symptoms have to cause significant difficulties with everyday life, then I'd probably agree that some of the cases mentioned could be described as 'no longer autistic' as they're able to get on and nobody is aware of any difference between them and other teens.

An interesting read, though.

they're able to get on and nobody is aware of any difference between them and other teens

Shouldn't they be accepted without being like them?

I think it depends on what's in the best interests of the person with autism, Jason.

For me, I want my son to have the same kind of opportunities as NT people do, I want him to have good relationships and all the things that everyone else takes for granted. My job is to give him the skills to make that happen, and that means showing him how to have a place in the world. For a lot of people (like the family at the end of the article) it doesn't matter how hard you try or what strategies you use, that kind of functional life will be beyond the child and they may never develop to that level. But it's got to be worth trying, don't you think?

I don't think it's about not being accepted unless they appear normal. Everyone should be accepted as they are without question IMO. But the truth is, the world isn't going to change for anyone and if we want our kids to have a place in it, we've got to make it possible for them to fit the best way they can, or they'll be dependent on us (and after we're gone, services - God help them) forever.

It's always worth trying.

Sorry if i upset you.

No, no - not at all Jason! It's good to talk about these things and get different perspectives. I don't agree with everything that's written in the article, just think it's interesting to see other people's experiences, what they've tried, what's worked and what happens. And the reminder that all our children are different and they won't all respond the same way to all the therapies out there.

Jason I absolutely agree with you about people with disabilities and autism being accepted for who they are and that includes their difficulties.

However, in the UK especially, this is seen as an excuse NOT to provide services that would not be conceived of being denied to children without autism. Any 'intervention' or even 'education' requested by the parents meets accusations of their non-acceptance of their child 'as they are'.

And 'as they are' is a conveniently interpreted by those same people.

Although in ds' case in nursery he was almost forced to HAVE an intervention he didn't need.........

DS was told he'd never learn how to read using phonics and that he would need a 'whole word' approach. Knowing how musical he was and how good his ear was I insisted that the school use phonics with him and NOT give him separate and special 'whole word' lessons. I was accused of not accepting ds as he was and forcing him to fit the norm.

Thankfully, his school was pretty unwilling to make any adjustments for our kids so the school ignored the advice to differentiate for ds, taught him phonics and he ended up in the top set for literacy.

Talk more about this tomorrow?

In laws golden wedding anniversary, and we're all off to a posh hotel/castle for dinner and overnight - got to pack and get off. .

Woohoo, have a lovely time streaky.

I think the issue with 'acceptance' is to do with what we are accepting.

If I accepted my dd as she is, does that mean I wouldn't read with her to try and further her decoding and comprehension skills? Teach her to swim? Cut her nails? Treat her nits? Tell her to curb her antisocial behaviours? Teach her social conventions that are largely pointless in order for her to be warmed to by her grandparents and be invited for play-dates?

Why am I not allowed to accept HER as she is, at toddler age, and expected to actively engage in training and developing her, but not do the same for ds?

Does acceptance really mean 'low expectations' in this country so backwards in SEN education they have to find fancy ways to justify it?

I hope you enjoy it streaky sounds like the setting of a scooby doo episode.

Some Scandinavian countries and some states in the US.

And actually some very isolated (and by that I DO mean isolated) parts of the UK.