To those on or have close ones on the spectrum...

Parent Cafe
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<p>A young woman rewrote “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen to reflect her coming to terms with her ASD diagnosis. </p>

<p><a href=“This Girl Wrote New Lyrics For 'Let It Go,' And They Are Quite Stunning - Upworthy”>http://www.upworthy.com/this-girl-wrote-new-lyrics-for-let-it-go-and-they-are-quite-stunning&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Wow. </p>

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<p>Wow, indeed. I don’t know anyone on the spectrum. My only exposure is the stories told from my brother who is a counselor in a program for autistic children. Power to her for speaking out and sharing her song for more to hear. </p>

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<p>I heard some Temple Grandin interviews on NPR this afternoon. She is amazing, and I love her perspective.</p>

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<p>I didn’t think I could listen to that song one more time without screaming, but I’m glad I did. However, I don’t get her last comment about being “proud” to be on the autism spectrum. That seems to me to be as silly as being proud NOT to be on the spectrum. You should take pride in what you accomplish in life despite your diagnosis, but pride in the label alone makes no sense to me. </p>

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<p>@thumper1‌ I have not seen her interviews, but I’ll check them out.</p>

<p>@MommaJ Yes! The song has lost its touch, but I’m glad you’re glad you stuck through it. I agree with what you said about not being proud of just the label alone, but maybe she meant it more in a “accept yourself for what you have and are able to do” kind of way?</p>

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<p>They were on the radio.</p>

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<p>@MommaJ - I think she’s using the word “proud” in the sense it’s been employed with Black pride, gay pride, disabilities pride, etc. It’s signalling a stance regarding the value of traditionally dis-valued peoples. </p>

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<p>wow that’s how i feel sometimes and my parents think im so weird… i have ASD too</p>

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<p>That was really touching. I wish I could introduce her to my son. There are a lot of young men on the spectrum too, kinda makes you wish they could find a way to meet up.</p>

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<p>In this regard, I recommend Ron Suskind’s book Life, Animated about his family and particularly his son Colin who developed autism when he was 3. The word “Animated” refers to their discovery some 20 years ago that Colin viewed himself through the lens of Disney animated films - and particularly with sidekicks - and then their involvement in all aspects of that world in their attempts to help their son and family. I heard him talk the other day.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html”>http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html”>http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Very impressive video!</p>

<p>“I think she’s using the word “proud” in the sense it’s been employed with Black pride, gay pride, disabilities pride, etc. It’s signalling a stance regarding the value of traditionally dis-valued peoples.”</p>

<p>Autism pride has become a social movement much like Black pride, gay pride etc have been in the past. I am reading one of Temple Grandin’s books right now (“The Autistic Brain”) and she draws parallels between the treatment of homosexuality and autism by society, and by the mental health profession. </p>

<p>In the early 1970s homosexuality (like autism) was classified as a mental disorder or mental illness in the DSM manual (in other words, something that needed to be “cured”). The gay rights movement successfully protested that classification and homosexuality was removed from the DSM; most mental health professionals today would agree that homosexuality is a normal variation of human sexual orientation. Like gay rights activists of the 1960s and 1970s, many individuals on the autism spectrum also feel that autism should not be viewed as a mental disorder - deviation from the norm, something that should be “cured”; they feel that many of the difficulties they face in society are the result of society’s treatment of and attitudes towards those on the spectrum.</p>

<p>By the way, June 18th is “International Autism Pride Day” :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>The interesting challenge for the education of children and youth with autism (an extremely diverse group) is that the traditional education system does not fit all. Many need a diagnosis under IDEA with protections under ADA to get even a chance at appropriate education (or medical & therapeutic treatments). </p>

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<p>I’m reading the Autistic Brain right now too. </p>