Thursday 15 February 2018

A quote on neurodiversity ...

I've just started reading a Guide on Neurodiversity at Work, published this month by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.  It looks like it will be an enlightening read.  It opens up with a quote from The Atlantic, written by Harvey Blume in 1998.

"Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general.  Who can say what form of wiring will be best at any given time."

Given current "unhelpful" coverage on autism in some parts of the media at the moment, I felt compelled to capture it & to share.

Thanks also to The Guardian who are currently actively inviting disabled people to apply to train as journalists.  

The more positive attitudes & approaches out there help me to set aside the less helpful. 



An Affinity with A


Friday 9 February 2018

Autism does not equal bad behaviour

I was having another one of those conversations with myself (on this occasion in my head, rather than out loud).  I think it started with me pondering the surprise some people show on hearing of my, or others', autism diagnosis.  
It ended up with me needing to get this down.
(For important caveat, see end of post!)

think the surprise comes when the person said to be autistic doesn't fit the autistic stereotype.  
But what's driving the stereotype?  
It made me think that, to the unknowing eye, autism is often only visible (to the point of being discussed) when behaviours arising from autism 
disrupt other people's day to day. 

In other words, many people's first known experience of autism is likely to be as an explanation for disruptive, adverse or bad behaviour (because that's what draws their attention to the person & then the condition).

Ergo, autism must equal bad behaviour.  
And if you're not bad, you can't be autistic.

But autism does not equal bad behaviour.
Nowhere in the diagnostic criteria for autism is a requisite feature "bad behaviour".  And, to my knowledge, no-one has been refused a diagnosis due to a lack of "bad behaviour"!

Rather, across a range of diagnostic manuals, it is widely recognised that a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (or ASD) is reliant on a demonstration of persistent difficulties with:


~ Reciprocal social interactions,
~ Social communication & of a
~ Restrictive, repetitive repertoire of behaviours, interests &              activities (including sensory issues & behaviours)

This triad of "impairments", or differences, combine to explain a range of "different" behaviours that may actually go unnoticed, are less disruptive (if at all) or are simply dismissed as being part of someone’s character ~ like them or not.  In fact, desperate to please, to blend in & prone to needing rules ~ and to follow them ~ some autistic people may be the quietest & best behaved people in the room! 

So it's important to understand that the behaviours autistic people exhibit (whatever they may be) are merely the outward manifestation of their condition; of coping (or not) with the difficulties they're having with social interactions, social communication, an inability to engage in their repetitive interest or as a result of sensory issues.

And what happens whey they can cope no longer?

Some may withdraw, not speak, freeze with fear.  
People may think they're overly shy or nervous, maybe.

Others may run away, or flee with fear.
People may think they're weak or spoilt or lacking resilience, maybe.

And others may lash out, or fight with fear.
People may think they're naughty & badly parented, maybe.

Which scenario is most likely to generate enquiry, discussion, a discovery that person is autistic?  
And so the stereotype is further fuelled.

However, all 3 behaviours are a sign that they're in crisis, scared, overwhelmed, in need of help.  They're not seeking attention or wilfully being mean or difficult.

"Bad" behaviour is not acceptable, that's true.  But to address any "limiting" behaviour appropriately requires an understanding of the cause.  And when we say, this is happening because of the autism, we are not using autism as an excuse but as an explanation.  Autism describes the condition that may lead to standout or limiting behaviours, sometimes "bad", often not.

And whether autism is contributing to the behaviour equation, or not, I would urge everyone to always think about what lies behind, or beneath, the behaviour of others.  
They just may need your help.

Me?  I was (am) a "good girl" ... but that's another story!

Image from Nathan Michael on Instagram via Tumblr & Pinterest

Finally, a caveat (or get out clause): I may well have interpreted the surprise of others completely wrongly ~ interpreting hidden meanings & facial expressions is part of that whole "social interaction" and "social communication" conundrum us #AlsoAutistic people struggle with ... but I do think my thinking remains valid ... and I do know that sometimes, being super sensitive & observant, I can also be surprisingly astute!