sesley Report post Posted February 9, 2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/08/luisa-dillner-guide-autistic-spectrum-disorders?INTCMP=SRCH I would like to know what they are changing and why. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted February 9, 2011 Hiya, It wouldn't bother me if the term AS is replaced by umbrella term ASD. I assume the idea of three categories would be something like LFA, MFA and HFA?? Wouldn't bother me to be 'HFA' instead of AS. I think the inclusion of sensory problems can only be a good thing. Just my thoughts... Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baddad Report post Posted February 9, 2011 I have reservations about the change, purely and simply because 'AS' has come to mean something very different to autism (even 'HF' autism) in recent years. AS is a term that tends to be applied very casually or in cases of 'home diagnosis', or with adjectives like 'a bit' or 'borderline' attached to it. I think that has been very damaging in terms of how people with AS are now often perceived - the same devaluation process that has occurred with (i.e.) ADHD or Dyslexia. I wouldn't want to see that shift in perception applied to an even wider cross-section of the autistic community by seeing the same casual assumptions applied to people diagnosed 'HFA'. That's not to say that I think the terminology matters - I don't think it really matters too much what the official label is, it's more that the meaning of that label needs to be preserved, iyswim... I saw the comedian (I use the term loosely here) Michael Macintyre on something the other day talking about people being 'a bit gay' and saying that it seemed an odd expression. I think the same applies to autism - that there's sort of a cut off point where distinctions like 'a bit' cease to be appropriate. That's not to suggest, of course, that all autistic people are the same or have the same levels of needs; it's just an acknowledgement that being a 'quirky' neurotypical is not the same thing as autistic (or AS), any more than being a slightly 'camp' (or butch for the laydeez) heterosexual is the same thing as being gay, or that having a suntan is the same thing as being coloured... L&P BD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mumble Report post Posted February 9, 2011 I have reservations about the change, purely and simply because 'AS' has come to mean something very different to autism (even 'HF' autism) in recent years. AS is a term that tends to be applied very casually or in cases of 'home diagnosis', or with adjectives like 'a bit' or 'borderline' attached to it. I think that has been very damaging in terms of how people with AS are now often perceived - the same devaluation process that has occurred with (i.e.) ADHD or Dyslexia. I wouldn't want to see that shift in perception applied to an even wider cross-section of the autistic community by seeing the same casual assumptions applied to people diagnosed 'HFA'. I'd never thought of it that way. Now I'm confused about what I think. I'd always thought the removal of AS and the universal label of ASD would be a good thing as it would wipe out the casual diagnoses and the mild/little bit etc. I hadn't thought that those casual/mild/bits may move onto the universal ASD label, which would then leave people with no where to go in distancing themselves from the casuals. Hmm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted February 9, 2011 I'd always thought the removal of AS and the universal label of ASD would be a good thing as it would wipe out the casual diagnoses and the mild/little bit etc. That's what I thought too... Bid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MelowMeldrew Report post Posted February 9, 2011 That's what I thought too... Bid Whenever I see labels used I just think... they will run out of jars soon.. the problem will be when they start playing the numbers/statistics game, then we won't know who is deaf or who is blind or who is autistic, everything will be lumped together under 'sensory'. When they did this years ago to the deaf they rebelled and demanded stand alone descriptions, because of statistics just being unfathomable,as well as being counted as many times as there were different 'sectors'. Deaf opted for (D)eaf and (d)eaf, a very subtle difference that redefined an entire sector of people. At least we know who is what now ! Perhaps we will have (A)utistic and (a)utistic..... that is those who need 24/7 support, and those who don't... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mumble Report post Posted February 9, 2011 Perhaps we will have (A)utistic and (a)utistic..... that is those who need 24/7 support, and those who don't... I can't see that working. Many Autistic people who need 24/7 support need this not necessarily because of the Autism, but because of associated learning disabilities. I think with these individuals it's impossible to say what the root cause of the support needs is. Similarly, those you would categorise autistic who don't need 24/7 support, may at times need it, or they may have co-morbid or other issues that mean they need 24/7 support which they wouldn't need it they weren't also dealing with the autism. I would also be concerned that if individuals were categorised as autistic and not in need of 24/7 support this would be read by some as not in need of any support at all. And of course individuals' needs change in different environments. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shrinking Violet Report post Posted February 10, 2011 Well, since I have no 'official' label, I don't know WHAT I am; I CALL myself an Aspie (my ex used to do so - but he so clearly wasn't - he was just a s**t) because that's what I perceive myself to be from the research I've done but, obviously, I don't know for sure. Obviously I know I'm not LF but, if I'm not an Aspie, then maybe I'm HF...? I simply don't know. Sure I've done the EQ and AQ, but how much store do you set by these - I would say that, on the whole, they're pretty meaningless and largely irrelevant (I mean all they tell me is I don't function like a NT - but they don't tell me anything more than that). I don't receive any support at all - and I DO need it - I so DESPERATELY need it! I have begged and begged and begged for it, but I can't have what there ain't (and that appears to go for the whole of Buckinghamshire if you're an autistic adult - fine if you're under 18). I have to deal with doctors and the DWP and councils and everything else by myself and I just can't do it. I KNOW my limitations and I have to exceed them on a daily basis. This is why I spend most of my existence on the edge of a complete breakdown - BECAUSE I SIMPLY CAN'T COPE!!! When I do break down, I'm just incarcerated and then, when they decide I'm not MI, they chuck me straight back out again, and so the cycle continues - ad nauseam et ad infinitum. I have had at least 6 serious suicide attempts in the past 10 years - the last one left me in a coma for a fortnight (I was in Manchester at the time) and they STILL won't help me! And Mumble - your avatar STILL makes me Should be a good thing, but not when my aches are niggling at me again! Sorry for hijacking this thread with - yet another - rant... <'> Sarah xxx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MelowMeldrew Report post Posted February 10, 2011 (edited) I can't see that working. Many Autistic people who need 24/7 support need this not necessarily because of the Autism, but because of associated learning disabilities. I think with these individuals it's impossible to say what the root cause of the support needs is. Similarly, those you would categorise autistic who don't need 24/7 support, may at times need it, or they may have co-morbid or other issues that mean they need 24/7 support which they wouldn't need it they weren't also dealing with the autism. I would also be concerned that if individuals were categorised as autistic and not in need of 24/7 support this would be read by some as not in need of any support at all. And of course individuals' needs change in different environments. There are obvious 'degrees' of autism, haven't we all been cheesed of with the 'rain man' comparisons ? Simply to identify those who are at the high end of dependency would help support and care service provision estimate what they need. So it is in the deaf world anyway. There may be 9 MILLION with hearing loss in the uk but only a few 1,000 who are utilising the services to a high degree. In autistic terms lower percentages need specialised schooling etc. There has always been a pecking order, the NHS/Care system operates no other way, so applying a realistic 'title' helps ID those most in need. It's not widely welcomed even in the deaf world but it IS accepted some have a higher degree of need than others. It's not about saying who deserves support more. Of course the system categorises every day ! Edited February 10, 2011 by MelowMeldrew Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sesley Report post Posted February 10, 2011 the labels are regretable but needed in order to explain to whoever,like the A and E and dentists of why special care is needed. The label ASD is what we have, cuts through a lot of explaining of why he is bouncing on the bed etc. They are regregatable because, why do human beings need labels? The problem of lumping all special needs together is that the needs are all different,depending on the individual challenges. The labels of ASD/ADHD?aspergers at least seperate the needs from a person in a wheel chair or with hearing aids. Aspergers i understand is on the autism spectrum with a slight difference to AS.Our consultant could not specify where on the spectrum our person is because its impossible to conclude. Is he aspergers or ASD his challenges are simular,I we gather from the physcologists he is most likey ASD,where is the fine line to decide which way? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
