Living with autism in a world made for others

[Roj5]

I caught this article whilst reading up on science, news etc.... I thought it may be of interest and sincerely hope it is taken as information from myself.

Regards -

Story Highlights
• Amanda Baggs, 26, is part of new generation of adults with autism
• Baggs communicates using a computer or a voice synthesizer
• 600,000 adults have autism in the U.S., according to the Autism Society of America
• No cure for autism; precise causes unknown

By A. Chris Gajilan
CNN
Adjust font size:
(CNN) -- When I walk into her apartment, Amanda Baggs makes no eye contact. She doesn't come to the door or raise her hand to greet visitors. In fact, I'm having a hard time discerning whether she even knows I'm there. I say hello and introduce myself, but she remains silent, sitting at her desk, staring out the window, rocking slightly back and forth.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/21/autism.amanda/index.html

[Isabelle]

Oooooh! Myyy! I was so distressed when I saw her hitting herself, exactly as my son does,with same unexpectedly speed, even when he is having a good day or time :( :(

[Roj5]

Oh.... I was unable to view the video feeds, but the site CNN and wording lead me into the belief that it was a way forward for communicating nad how autism was begionning to be better understood.

From the post above is it possible for a review and delete?

Last thing this is meant to cause is concern or distress, and sincere apologies if this is the case as it is totally unintentional.

Regards

[Mother's Heart]

No..it is fine that you posted this. It has been posted on other forums here too. Actually, the woman featured in this is a braintalk member and posts here sometimes herself. I for one have found a great deal of insight and encouragement from her videos. Please don't delete.

Isabelle, Like many of us, has suffered some horrible pain in loving a son with Autism who suffered horrible agony and loss due to horrible mistreatment from professionals who don't understand the things that Amanda is sharing. Being helpless to prevent your child being hurt is very difficult, hurts to the very depth of a parent's being. Naturally Isabelle reacts strongly to seeing similar behaviours in silentmiaow after dealing with her son's experience. While it may pain her to see this, the pain for her son bears, and the pain she has born out of love for him is worse. Isabelle is a very strong woman. She will be fine.
don't worry,

Isabelle,
Please forgive me for speaking somewhat in your behalf, and please forgive any misstatment I may have made about you. Then please jump in to correct. I care very much about you and your son and am so sorry for all you both have been through. Your willingness to share your feelings and what you have learned through his experience has helped us immeasurably. thank you.

peace
cj
\o/

[mcewen]

I caught this article whilst reading up on science, news etc.... I thought it may be of interest and sincerely hope it is taken as information from myself.

Regards -

Story Highlights
• Amanda Baggs, 26, is part of new generation of adults with autism
• Baggs communicates using a computer or a voice synthesizer
• 600,000 adults have autism in the U.S., according to the Autism Society of America
• No cure for autism; precise causes unknown

By A. Chris Gajilan
CNN
Adjust font size:
(CNN) -- When I walk into her apartment, Amanda Baggs makes no eye contact. She doesn't come to the door or raise her hand to greet visitors. In fact, I'm having a hard time discerning whether she even knows I'm there. I say hello and introduce myself, but she remains silent, sitting at her desk, staring out the window, rocking slightly back and forth.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/21/autism.amanda/index.html

Is this the U-tube to the original video? Only wish it could be compulsory viewing for skeptics.
Best wishes
http://whitterer-autism.blogspot.com

[Isabelle]

Isabelle,
Please forgive me for speaking somewhat in your behalf, and please forgive any misstatment I may have made about you. Then please jump in to correct. I care very much about you and your son and am so sorry for all you both have been through. Your willingness to share your feelings and what you have learned through his experience has helped us immeasurably. thank you.

peace
cj
\o/

That's fine Mother'sheart :D your words made me tear up. If i could live my life again.....

[Isabelle]

Last thing this is meant to cause is concern or distress, and sincere apologies if this is the case as it is totally unintentional.

Regards

that's ok, it just took me by surprise, such a similarity in the action. Of course, before drugs and abuse, he had the potential to do something with his life and be himself. WE had to mess up his life, but at the same time doctors didn't tell us their real intentions on medicating him and the drugs adverse effects or that those adverse effects were wanted, like causing severe parkinsonism.

[Mother's Heart]

yes. I wish you could live your life again....and there are many of those wishes in my own life. If I could make better choices for my son...and I also would like the privilege to enjoy the journey once again as well. but that which is past I cannot change. but yes, if....

hugs,
cj

[tgrimes]

I saw this on CNN and there was something she said that made me bust out laughing... something about going up and shaking someones hand, going through the trouble of smiling or making eye contact, then to say hi is just 'redundant.'.....:) It SO is!
Now I probably totally misquoted that, but just think of all the social conventions that are really just the same way, completely uneccessary to communicate the thought, yet essential to being considered 'normal.'
How is that?
So many people view humans as social creatures, and when they are not, perhaps consider them less human in some fashion.
Could it be that instead we are engaged in some silly, random, uneccesary, acts of nothingness on a regular basis?
And isn't that the same as 'stimming'? Or, because it is socail stimming, it is OK?

[Mother's Heart]

tgrimes
:D :D :D :D

[Isabelle]

tgrimes, that's is called social innuendos, social manners, social expectations, what separate us from the "uncivilized" societies. Mind you, in our travels, we found that social etiquette varies tremendously all over the world.

Those social manners helps us to recognize a friend from a foe.

Isn't it so comfortable to find a person from your hometown, of your own culture, religion, background?

So if an "educated" person familiar with a set of "traditional" greetings encounter a total stranger speaking and acting in a "different" manner, logically this person is going to feel fear. And, fear is what people prompts them to want that "strange" person gone, "sedated" or dead.

Makes me mad :mad: :mad: at how these state funded agencies use that misunderstood FEAR towards the adult autistic to gain money and to sedate them 18/20 hours a day.