Aspergian sub-culture

Last night on the Alone in a Crowded Room doco there were comments and observations passed that I've noted myself but kept to myself as so many 'specialists' prattle the same mantra contrary to basic logic.
The fact that those on the Spectrum are forced into behaving like neurotypicals; we're torturing square pegs to fit into round holes that they will NEVER fit comfortably in.
Dr Wendy Lawson stated that it would be far easier and better for neurotypicals to make the effort to understand and accept the neuro-diversity offered by Auties/Aspies than it was for Auties/Aspies being made to conform to a false ideal of "normal".
And this other ideal, to separate those on the Spectrum from each other and to push them into socialising with neurotypicals to learn to mimic their 'socially acceptable' behaviour, is bizarre and cruel.
I was  listening to an interview on ABC radio recently where journo Paul Raffaele described how the African chimps and gorillas had different sub-cultures inside groups in the wild; how orphans were being saved from poachers but brought up in a vacuum without their family/tribe culture and knowing only the fear/terror and angry behaviour from witnessing their mothers being slaughtered in front of them.
Our Auties/Aspies aren't witnessing murders but they are growing up in a vacuum where they're frightened and scared, made to feel like the outsider, that they are the oddball in a group of neurotypicals when they are in fact part of one of the fastest growing groups in the Western world.
The odds have changed so quickly many media outlets aren't keeping up with the ratios anymore as Valerie pointed out in her post HERE; it's 1 in 90 in USA, here in Oz it's 1 in 100.
When Aspie teen was first diagnosed it was reported as being closer to 1 in 250+ only 11 years ago.
Either the kids are getting in on the fad early or it's no longer the last thing specialists consider.
So, if our ASD kids are in such numbers and they know the funding isn't there for early intervention/integration aide funding and they know the mainstream systems don't always work ...why isn't the whole thing turned on it's head and neurotypicals made to just accept someone as being different?
And embrace the neurodiversity on offer?
Cos without the Spectrum we'd all still be gnawing on a raw hunk of meat in a cave somewhere.

Aspie social

So, Aspie teen waltzed off into the dark night with his dad.
Pouring rain did not dampen his enthusiasm to join the Aspie social support group.
Nor did it dampen his nerves.
At one stage during the day he began babbling 19 to the dozen, tripping over his own words and not waiting for answers.

Social groups 2

My Aspie teen is off to his first social meeting soon, full of excitement and hope.
We've worded him up early, giving him time to adjust his thinking and mentally plan his movements around this new event on his calendar.
I'm prepared for an outburst as the date draws closer, perhaps some trepidation at meeting others or even just the fact teen girls will be included (we're still, just, at the "ewww, girl germs" stage).
There'll be a few flutters from his mother but his dad plans on plugging into his iPod while the teens socialise (his father's way of coping with new situations) so I'll be parked at home attempting to watch some murder mystery whodunit on the edge of my seat from waiting to see how it all went.

Social groups

I've called to arrange our membership of the Asperger's social group.
Woot!
This is the first Spectrum-specific social group my son will have attended since he was in prep.
He's joined many community groups like lawn bowls, dancing, etc, but that was more a concerted effort to get him to observe and copy socially acceptable behaviour from neurotypical people both young and old.

Social group find squeeeeeeeeeee!

Yes, it's the little things that float my boat and right now it's the discovery of a Asperger's Syndrome support group that is

• A. Not far from here
• B.Doesn't cost an arm and a leg
• C. Provides social meet-ups for teens
• D. Provides meet-ups for parents AND partners of those on the Spectrum.

Can honestly say I'm in my happy place doin' the Happy Dance....much to my family's embarrassment lol.
Far out, ticking all the boxes feels like I've won the lottery!
My boy does attend many social-type groups but I've noticed he really relaxes and comes out of his shell properly when he knows he's around people who won't judge or scorn him for his behaviour.
He tics - some from his Tourette's, some from his own foibles - and while they might seem 'cute' or funny at first we all know they could go on and on and on unless we try to squash it which only angers him when he's reminded that he doesn't fit in seamlessly.
We have been getting by on a shoe-string for so long it's a little relief to find a group that doesn't expect us to sign over our first born (who is so probably on the Spectrum as well but won't accept it) as payment.
Plus the fact everyone seems to think kids on the Spectrum grow out of it cos there's fuck all resouces out there for Auties/Aspies beyond the age of 12....or ones that don't want you to sell a kidney to fund, at any rate.
Seriously a happy lil camper right now!