Peter GassnerMar 22
“Researchers measured autistic people against neurotypical expectations and called every difference a deficit. They tested empathy by measuring in-group preference and missed commitment to universal fairness. They measured creativity by counting the number of ideas and missed originality. They saw moral consistency and called it rigidity. They saw deep engagement and called it rigidity. They saw sensory richness and called it disorder.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/positively-different/202601/what-the-world-got-wrong-about-autistic-people
What the World Got Wrong About Autistic People

For decades, autism research compared autistic people to animals, denied them moral sensitivity, and assumed autistic traits made them miserable. All wrong.

Psychology Today
Show threadAlex Psmith the Naught2d ago
@TheBreadmonkey I think you'll appreciate this article!
Show threadBen2d ago

@alexpsmith

Found it very interesting. Thank you. 😊🙌

Sent it to my friend who's an EdPsych. Known her for many years and whilst in many ways is one of my heroes, thinks ND is overdiagnosed and calls it 'the medicalisation of the human condition'. When I told her about my journey her response was that because I don't present with the classic characterisation of communication problems, I can't be. Bit disappointed in her response and that she's disregarded 3 years of professional assessments. That was my first exposure to someone being 'not being totally cool' about autism Dx. I sort of wanted to explain how I view social interaction and how I prepare for it, but just don't think there's any point.

Show threadAlex Psmith the Naught1d ago
@TheBreadmonkey You don't owe her an education. I don't even discuss it with NTs because it's an exercise in frustration.
Show threadBen

@alexpsmith

Whilst it's given me a lot of answers and some small peace, it's opened other doors I didn't know were there, which lead to complications I don't really want. It's very frustrating to find that people I love don't just have my back, for lack of a better expression. When I 'friend' I'm all in. I just think that's how people should be. I'll bend myself to fit others and try to find a way to harmony. Homeostasis? That we're all one organism and have a responsibility to lift up the people around you unless they're so totally on a different path it's not worth it. Just find it a bit painful and I don't love it. Sorry for the overshare.

Apr 2 at 8:37pmWeb
Show threadAlex Psmith the Naught1d ago

@TheBreadmonkey I don’t believe there is such a thing as oversharing, unless maybe you're explicit about bathroom activities or something like that! I think that's another NT thing, though I try not to do it for the NTs. Please never worry about oversharing with ME!

Yes, it is incredibly hurtful and I've lost friends over this (and I do not treat friendship lightly, either). It's a big part of who we are, the good and the not so good, and when someone shows that they view it as a disease or malfunction, then that's effectively the end of the relationship. It's so hurtful, and I'm sorry you've experienced that as well.

Let's be stoic and direct our valuable energies elsewhere, and invest in friendships that are worthy!

Show threadBen1d ago
@alexpsmith 😊❤️