Issues with autism diagnosis and perception

Hi, @gingerw - I noted one of the issues talked about in another discussion thread in the Connect Autism group came up again in one of your articles here, gingerw - that not all autistic people are alike. How very important to remember. I also see this statement below in the article from The Mighty, and I'm wondering if @auntieoakley @mamacita @usernameca might respond. I also thought that @merpreb @abmac @stephanieann @starkl and @hopeful33250 may have some thoughts on this:

"It’s OK to be autistic. This one might be biased but there seems to be an attitude out there that it’s not OK to be autistic as it’s “wrong” and people with autism / autistic people need to hide who they are or should want to be cured. I’m here to tell you that it’s perfectly OK to be autistic; it’s OK to be yourself."

Interestingly, this is similar in many ways to what I found many people seemed to think for the years when I was single, especially ages 23 to about 33 when I began seriously dating and then married my husband. I have remarked to others that single people do not need to be "cured," that they can be just fine and enjoying life as they are. I felt that too many people (well-meaning, of course), seemed to treat me like I needed to be fixed, like I wasn't acceptable as I was, unmarried, and were looking to fix me up with someone.

I do realize that being single in marital status and having a diagnosis of autism are not at all alike, but it touches on a similar issue: Are you okay as you are? Is something wrong with you?

@lisalucier There have been many times in my life when people have told me that my line of thinking/acting wasn't "correct". At age 13 when I had decided I would not have children, the reaction was "that's not fulfilling your role as a woman", or "that's un-American", or "why would you want to be childless?". I got that same reaction years later as I tried to find a medical professional for female sterilization. Remember, this was in the early 70s.

When I chose to follow my heart in lines of work I did for careers, the reaction was rarely positive, as those paths were not the norm of the majority. So, being different has been part of my life all along.

I feel great the way I am, and have no regrets for my life choices.
Ginger

@lisalucier- Good morning. Are we talking about autism and how it feels when people don't understand or are we talking about just feeling and being different? I don't know of anyone, and I mean anyone who hasn't felt different in some way during their life. However, I can't imagine that it comes close to feeling and being different because of a physical or mental disability.

About autism, @merpreb.

@lisalucier - i'm not sure I understand your question since everyone on this thread is autistic I think. Are you asking how people with autism have felt different in the past?

@merprwb and all - I'm requesting any thoughts on this quote from one of @gingerw's articles:

"It’s OK to be autistic. This one might be biased but there seems to be an attitude out there that it’s not OK to be autistic as it’s “wrong” and people with autism / autistic people need to hide who they are or should want to be cured. I’m here to tell you that it’s perfectly OK to be autistic; it’s OK to be yourself."

If you have thoughts on other points from the articles. gingerw shared regarding autism, they are also most welcome.

@gingerw- Few people can say this Ginger. You are a model for eveyone. We should all follow our hearts in what we want.

@merpreb Thank you. I believe people are stronger than they give themselves credit for. I knew I simply was not made to follow. As it became clearer to me and the autism diagnosis came about, it all made so much sense.
Ginger

@gingerw, @lisalucier - I don't feel that I should comment here because I don't know what it feels like to be autistic.

Hi, @gingerw - will you share more about what points in these two articles about autism resonated with you?