29 May The Asperger’s Advantage
“Disorder” is an inappropriate term to attach as a fundamental part of the name of a neurological condition. Whether it’s order or disorder is a matter of how it works in relation to other people and settings. Unless this basic idea becomes better understood, too many people will go through life burdened by a false sense of who they are and what their potential is.
These words are from an essay by University of Georgia professor Peter Smagorinsky, in which he takes on the disabling assumption of disorder and tells us how he’s come to refer to his own “Asperger’s Advantage.”
Peter is also the editor of the first book in my Palgrave Macmillan series Studies in Play, Performance, Learning and Development. Entitled Creativity and Community among Autism-Spectrum Youth: Creating Positive Social Updrafts through Play and Performance, the volume is due out this August.
loisholzman
Posted at 14:02h, 09 JuneAs soon as there’s ordering info for Peter’s book I’ll post it. Meanwhile, his articles are likely to be on his University of Georgia website.
Lonny Meinecke
Posted at 14:27h, 30 MayThank you Sally! (and Richard for the uplifting wit). “Foraging for memories” – how perfect! Whether for “hoarding” (which is like saving up affections for a cognitive winter),or the loss of “memories” and “self” (which is very much like seeking something you never really needed, reinforced by our own social expression of sorrow or urgency toward them).
If we are together with each other, why, oh why, do we need memories of each other — and “seek” what is right here by going somewhere else? If “I am because of you” (SA ubuntu), why do I need to leave “you” in order to find “me”? If we are both performing our togetherness all the time, and reveling in that, why do we need to retreat into a soliloquy nobody else can hear us perform? you are my audience, and I am yours; I applaud you best when we are both here.
Temple Grandin says she had to build a machine to hug her (a cattle squeezer) — to build her confidence and self-comfort (since we will not… “we” meaning both the needful ASD and the non-needful normative social cognitions). How very like building nests of discards that is (a coping style for those who cannot go without affection. How on earth does one hug or get hugged by their thoughts? We need each other so fervently).
Thanks so much, what a wonderful start to the day 🙂
— Lonny
Lonny Meinecke
Posted at 17:48h, 29 MayHi Lois, this sounds great – do you have more info/links for us?
— Lonny
Sally Gelardin
Posted at 04:53h, 29 MayWonderful! Thank you both for calling an end to labeling. Nader Shabahangi, AgeSong founder and CEO, is calling an end to Alzheimers and dementia, since we are all forgetful from the moment we are born. We are all on the “forgetfulness spectrum.” We presented at the American Counseling Association a few years ago on reframing “hoarding” as “foraging for memories.”
Richard Patik
Posted at 03:35h, 29 MayLove this article and quote. Thanks for sharing.
Terms like “disorder” are slapped on wantonly and insidiously in our rush-to-judgment, categorizing, quantifying culture, blinding, stunting and humiliating every user who “sees” themselves and others through these distorting language lenses. Great to see someone performing their neurological and organizational differentness wearing different lenses.
I’ve heard of a disorder to end all disorders called Perfunctory Labeling & Limiting Disorder (PLLD). It’s culturally acquired by proximity to other language users prone to quickly assigning labels and off-the shelf expired meanings to the ongoing flux of life. Usually develops alongside Eyes Wide Shut Disorder (EWSD).