Worth it?

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure (re subject line). Took since Aug 23, about 30-40

emails, etc.

Suggest you put " autism " in the Star's search window to see what

else happened (my awkwardly edited letter was written and sent

before the last two gems).

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?

pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly & c=Article & cid=109459501

3014 & call_pageid=968332189003

Sep. 8, 2004. 01:00 AM

Autism at heart of my being

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My autistic son now has a chance at life

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Letter, Sept. 5.

Autistic differences are at the basic level of perception, at the

fundamental level of how neurological resources are allocated.

Autistic behaviours consistent with these differences lead to

autistic learning and autistic intelligence. Research shows the same

kind of atypical intelligence in all autistics, regardless

of " severity. " Research equally casts doubt on the prejudicial

assumption that there are good autistics — the shiny mythical few —

and bad autistics — the appalling burdens regularly flaunted by

their devastated parents in the media and in the courts.

Letter writer Lowrey is telling me that I can't be very

bright, and have no chance at life without intense behavioural

intervention (IBI), since I injure myself and have behaviours that

many find objectionable. This is apart from the self-care issues

that are now used universally to say autistics like me belong in

institutions.

I have no way of knowing if I would hurt myself in a world where it

was okay to be autistic, where it was understood that autistics

develop, communicate and learn, even though our development,

communication and learning fail utterly to be typical. Instead, I

live in a world where my nature is said by IBI advocates to be the

equivalent of cancer, and where autistics are greeted with horror

and hate.

And if I say that autism is integral to me, is at the very heart of

who I am, with its great difficulties and its beauty and strengths,

I will be denounced and ostracized by " advocates " claiming that if I

were really autistic, I, too, would hate my nature and wish to

eradicate it.

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Dawson, Montreal