Comments on: Autistic Pride and Ownership http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/ Emancipatory Praxes for Human Rights by an Autistic Self among Selves Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:16:50 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mark Foster http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-192 Mark Foster Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:28:32 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-192 Hi, Ted: Do you mean resources which are available for persons on the autistic spectrum? If so, a good place to start is <a href="http://autisticadvocacy.org/" rel="nofollow">The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network</a>. Mark Foster Hi, Ted:

Do you mean resources which are available for persons on the autistic spectrum? If so, a good place to start is The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.

Mark Foster

]]> By: Ted Burrett http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-181 Ted Burrett Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:05:47 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-181 After reading through the article, I just feel that I need more info. Can you share some more resources please? After reading through the article, I just feel that I need more info. Can you share some more resources please?

]]> By: Mark Foster http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-117 Mark Foster Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:40:55 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-117 I am a sociologist, not a psychiatrist or psychologist, so I am not qualified to discuss the technicalities of merging (Kanner's) autism, Asperger's autism, and PDD-NOS under a single rubric. However, I have access to extensive online data, including scholarly journals, through my employer, and I have conducted several literature reviews on various related subjects. My understanding is that most scientists do not, for instance, believe that a legitimate distinction can be made between so-called "high-functioning autism" (not an actual DSM-IV-TR category) and Asperger's. Discussions on this subject are still ongoing (in the APA), and I don't believe that a firm decision has been made on whether to collapse the two categories into one. However, almost all of the papers I have read agree that Asperger's, however labeled, is a type of autism. For that reason (and others), I feel justified in using the term "Asperger's autism." I also feel very fortunate that, in spite of my past, I was able to obtain a Ph.D. and become a tenured college professor. Most Asperger's autistics are not that materially successful. Some remain on disability for most of their lives. I am a sociologist, not a psychiatrist or psychologist, so I am not qualified to discuss the technicalities of merging (Kanner’s) autism, Asperger’s autism, and PDD-NOS under a single rubric. However, I have access to extensive online data, including scholarly journals, through my employer, and I have conducted several literature reviews on various related subjects.

My understanding is that most scientists do not, for instance, believe that a legitimate distinction can be made between so-called “high-functioning autism” (not an actual DSM-IV-TR category) and Asperger’s. Discussions on this subject are still ongoing (in the APA), and I don’t believe that a firm decision has been made on whether to collapse the two categories into one.

However, almost all of the papers I have read agree that Asperger’s, however labeled, is a type of autism. For that reason (and others), I feel justified in using the term “Asperger’s autism.” I also feel very fortunate that, in spite of my past, I was able to obtain a Ph.D. and become a tenured college professor. Most Asperger’s autistics are not that materially successful. Some remain on disability for most of their lives.

]]> By: Harold L Doherty http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-115 Harold L Doherty Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:38:13 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-115 I agree that the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders. The label PDD may well be "officially" replaced by ASD but why should disorders such as Aspergers and Autistic Disorder be merged? Asperger's by definition excluded intellectual or cognitive deficits. Autistic Disorder does not and the challenges faced by a person with Autistic Disorder and intellectual deficits are enormous. They are of a different nature and have different life consequences than those faced by a person with Aspergers. My experience includes 10 years of advocacy on behalf of persons with Autistic Disorder and Aspergers. I have appeared in court on a pro bono basis on behalf of some persons with Aspergers and have seen the very real challenges they faced. But they are still different challenges than the persons I have seen living in Mental Health institutions. And I have visited two such facilities here in New Brunswick, Canada. The knowledge that my severely autistic son might reside there after I am deceased is very sobering. I agree that the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders. The label PDD may well be “officially” replaced by ASD but why should disorders such as Aspergers and Autistic Disorder be merged?

Asperger’s by definition excluded intellectual or cognitive deficits. Autistic Disorder does not and the challenges faced by a person with Autistic Disorder and intellectual deficits are enormous. They are of a different nature and have different life consequences than those faced by a person with Aspergers.

My experience includes 10 years of advocacy on behalf of persons with Autistic Disorder and Aspergers. I have appeared in court on a pro bono basis on behalf of some persons with Aspergers and have seen the very real challenges they faced. But they are still different challenges than the persons I have seen living in Mental Health institutions. And I have visited two such facilities here in New Brunswick, Canada. The knowledge that my severely autistic son might reside there after I am deceased is very sobering.

]]> By: Mark Foster http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-112 Mark Foster Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:50:59 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-112 The issue is more complex than what is indicated by the DSM-IV-R and the ICD-10. When the new edition of the DSM comes out in 2-3 years, the published reports I have seen say that (Kanner's) autism, Asperger's autism, and PDD-NOS will likely be subsumed under "Autism Spectrum Disorder." In the peer-reviewed literature which I have read, that terminology is commonly in use already. The issue is more complex than what is indicated by the DSM-IV-R and the ICD-10. When the new edition of the DSM comes out in 2-3 years, the published reports I have seen say that (Kanner’s) autism, Asperger’s autism, and PDD-NOS will likely be subsumed under “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” In the peer-reviewed literature which I have read, that terminology is commonly in use already.

]]> By: Harold L Doherty http://blog.markfoster.name/2009/03/21/autistic-pride-and-ownership/#comment-106 Harold L Doherty Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:59:50 +0000 http://blog.markfoster.name/?p=1025#comment-106 My 13 year old son has a diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. HE is autistic. YOU have a diagnosis of Aspergers Disorder. There is no need to confuse the two distinct disorders. Is there? My 13 year old son has a diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. HE is autistic.

YOU have a diagnosis of Aspergers Disorder. There is no need to confuse the two distinct disorders.

Is there?

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