Autistic culture
Autistic culture is a concept created in the spirit of Deaf culture that says that autism is a unique way of being and not a disorder to be cured. This viewpoint includes the belief that the neurological differences of autistic individuals can be viewed as a beneficial mutation resulting in the development of a genetically distinct minority group, similar in many ways to a minority race.
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Is autistic culture a real culture?
Autistic culture has the following attributes of a culture:
Beliefs in common
Autistic culture holds a concept that autism, as a unique way of being, should be embraced and appreciated, not shunned or cured. Many autistic individuals prefer being alone to socializing. Some autistic people appreciate mathematics, science, and computers (although it should be noted that while such interests are found in a larger portion of the autistic population than the neurotypical population, there are also many autistic people who have no special talents in these areas). Many autistic people describe the belief of relating to aliens.
Organizations
Autistic culture has organizations such as Autism Network International. Such groups seek to promote social tolerance of autistic people.
Literature
Through the Eyes of Aliens by Jasmine O'Neill is a book by an autistic person and presents a view that autism is a unique way of being, the view which autistic culture supports.
Art
The oddizms website has artwork that presents the anti-cure viewpoint. Other artwork with this perspective are Autistic Pride Virtual Greeting Cards. Some autistic people are artists, and some are art savants. The autistics.org weblinks has links to websites on the arts in autistic culture.
Shared language
Although autistic culture doesn't have its own language, there is some terminology commonly used by those in autistic culture, such as:
- Aspie -- A short-hand way of saying Asperger's. Sometimes it is referred to only those diagnosed with Asperger's, and sometimes it refers to the whole spectrum. Most proponents of autistic culture would prefer not to call Asperger's a "syndrome."
- Autie -- A short-hand way of saying an autistic person. Sometimes it is used only to refer to those diagnosed with autism instead of Asperger's, and sometimes it refers to the whole spectrum.
- Cousin -- A cousin is someone who is not technically autistic in the clinical use of the word, but is still similar enough to autistic people to be as much a part of autistic culture as someone officially diagnosable with autism. Sometimes these people are similar because they have a similar condition (although a cousin doesn't have to have any psychological conditions) such as schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, social anxiety disorder, or hyperlexia. AC is often used to stand for "autistics and cousins."
- Curebie -- A person with the desire to cure autism. These people are usually viewed in a negative light in autistic culture.
- Neurodiversity -- a concept of tolerance of people regardless of neurological wiring.
- Neurotypical -- Usually abbreviated NT. Refers to a nonautistic person.
Tendency to marry within the group
Contrary to the popular misconception that autistics never get married, there are many who do (though there are still many autistic people who do not get married, some out of choice, some because they do not have the social skills to pursue a relationship). Because shared interests and similar personality types are more often found within the group, autistics who want to be married are likely to marry another autistic person. Multi-generational autistic families are not uncommon.
Representations of autistic culture
Autistic culture appears on many websites, but is also prominent in other forms such as mailing lists, newsgroups, and IRC. Some forms of representation of autistic culture is discussed in more detail in the autistic community article.
Relation to geeks and nerds
It should be further noted that the "autism as a world view, and way of thinking" is strongly associated with aptitude for technical pursuits. Some people see geeks and nerds in general share characteristics with autistic people. However, many autistic people, have difficulty with the amount of group collaboration needed in the workforce; they believe the strong desire for "team-working" makes things very difficult to autistics. Most autistics who have actually held down a technical position report that, though they are often shunned (or manipulated/misdirected and unfairly criticised) by ambitious types, they are generally well liked by their colleagues, who appreciate their candour, technical ability, and general willingness to help others; that they are held to be disruptive or not "team players" (in the sense of being cooperative; autistics do not "compete" by trashing others, but rather by seeking to excel) is a bogus invention!
See also
- Autism rights movement
- Neurodiversity
- Autism
- Autistic community
- Asperger's Syndrome
- Controversies in autism
- Neurotypical
External links
- Aspergian Pride Celebrating the accomplishments of autistic people
- Aspergia Promoting the development of an Aspergian cultural identity
- Aspergian Island Unofficial discussion board of Aspergia
- SpectrumHaven Information and chat for all people on the autistic spectrum
- On Our Own Terms: Emerging Autistic Culture Paper by Martijn Dekker about autistic culture
- Autism Network International A self-help and advocacy organization