It may not matter is the lavel chosen or applied is one that isn't "negative" per se: for example, "eccentric," or
"shy." It's fairly rare for the differences involved in ASDs not to be noted at all, although some people are lucky
enough to have relatively mild symptoms, and to land in families and communities that see these things
differently than most people do.
It matters greatly if a different label is applied that leads to improper treatment, such as "schizophrenic,"
"schizoaffective," or "borderline personality disorder," as has so often happened to people with undiagnosed AS.
I know several people who have suffered permanant damage due to being misdiagnosed and mismedicated.
And of course, without an ASD label, you can't access ASD-specific services, whch usually means being shunted
into wither mental health or learning difficulties services, often inappropriate ones.
There are additional advantages, depending on how the person learns about and uses information about ASDs.
For example, many people with AS have sensory issues that employers, teachers and even family members
refuse to acknowledge until some medical authority says, "yes, not coping well with flickering lights/large
crowds/certain kinds of touch/certain food textures etc. can be part of this condition." Changes can be made to
the person's environment, and coping skills can be taught as well, leading to a much improved quality of life. A
label can also lead to greater acceptance of coping strategies that people with ASDs adopt to deal with their
sensory issues. Sometimes there are even health implications (again, it depends on the knowledge level of the
professionals involved as to whether these are communicated to the individual so labelled.) As Colin has noted
before, many--though not all--people on the spectrum suffer from problems with peptide metabolism. Quite a
few also appear to metabolise medications differently.
So although I'm unhappy with some of the baggage that comes with the label, it can definitely be useful.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeremy Wickins <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:28 am
Subject: Re: [danmail] Autism:- Getting The Truth Out....
> Thanks to Russell and Larry for the comments in the last posting.
>
> My knowledge, and growing interest, in autism is recent, so I
> apologise if my
> questions are old ones, and well rehearsed. Russell states 'I wish
> that Lorna
> Wing had never coined the term "Asperger's Syndrome". It has led to
> endlessproblems (including autistic people not recognising that
> they are
> autistic!)'. My questions are; does it *necessarily* matter if
> people with
> autism don't recognise that they are autistic? Given the stigma
> attached to
> autism, isn't there an advantage for some people to be able to give
> a different
> name to their different abilities?
>
> Yours,
>
> Jeremy.
>
> --
> Jeremy Wickins,
> PhD Researcher, Biometrics and Social Exclusion,
> Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics (SIBLE),
> Department of Law,
> University of Sheffield,
> 169/171, Northumberland Road,
> Crookesmoor,
> Sheffield. S10 1DF
> UK.
>
> Tel: +44 (0)114 222 6881
> Fax: +44 (0)114 222 6886
>
>
>
> Quoting Russell <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> > I agree strongly with Larry on this point. (I have a diagnosis of
> Asperger's> Syndrome. My son is diagnosed as autistic and
> dyspraxic.) I wish that Lorna
> > Wing had never coined the term "Asperger's Syndrome". It has led
> to endless
> > problems (including autistic people not recognising that they are
> > autistic!).
> >
> > I should also like to point out (as Vice-Chair of DANDA) that
> Colin Revell
> > does NOT speak on behalf of DANDA. The fact that he continues to
> give that
> > impression is cause for concern within DANDA and will be addressed.
> >
> > Russell Stronach
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Larry Arnold" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>;> <[log in to unmask]>;
> <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 9:19 PM
> > Subject: RE: [danmail] Autism:- Getting The Truth Out....
> >
> >
> > > Autism is not differnet from Asperger syndrome I refer you all
> to this
> > paper
> > > .http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=686&a=7821
> > >
> > > I also happen to know that the author of Getting the Truth out,
> also does
> > > not believe in the artificial distinctions of autism by type.
> > >
> > > The creation of these artificial divisions and lables is what
> is causing
> > us
> > > so much grief.
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
> > > > Of Colin Revell
> > > > Sent: 23 September 2005 16:49
> > > > To: [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > >
> [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask];> > > [log in to unmask];
> [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
> > > > [log in to unmask]
> > > > Subject: [danmail] Autism:- Getting The Truth Out....
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Autism:- Getting The Truth Out....
> > > > http://www.gettingthetruthout.org/
> > > >
> > > > Taken from:- http://www.neurodiversity.com/main.html
> > > >
> > > > You can see that Autism is definitely different to Asperger
> Syndrome and
> > > > other neurodiverse impairments which impacts and is unique to
> each> > > neurodiverse individual.
> > > >
> > > > I agree with Adrian Whyatt, Co-Chair, DANDA, that we have to
> > > > distinguish the
> > > > differences very clearly within ASD's and he is in the opinion,
> > > > in which I
> > > > share, is that DANDA have to educate professionals,
> neurodiverse,> > > survivors
> > > > and disability communities and wider society of the
> differences between
> > > > Autism( sometimes called Kanner Autism) and Asperger Syndrome
> and other
> > > > neurodiverse impairments too.
> > > >
> > > > Yours
> > > >
> > > > Colin Revell
> > > >
> > > > _________________________
> > >
> > >
> >
> > ________________End of message______________________
> >
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