What are your thoughts on this?
I hope I can explain this well enough. I know there is a lot of talk of AS and NT, with those two concepts it seems that there is this linear continuum with AS continumm which ends up with NT on the other end. I don't necessarily think that it's this linear continumm with AS on one end and NT on the other. I think the diversity of human beings is more 3-D than linear. While my partner is likely AS and I probably would be catagorized at NT, I still feel that I'm also an introvert and highly sensitive which seem to be common traits for AS. Do you think that AS and NT is more of a linear continumm or something else?
Thanks
It’s hard for me to see most things as purely linear because when you throw “human-ness” into the mix, then linear tends to go out the window. That said, I do think that continuum really does speak to a range and I think it’s good when NT people can start to understand some traits of people on the spectrum because they are similar to ones they experience. The one thing I tend to be cautious about, though, is creating a situation where NTs put out a stance of “we’re all a little bit on the spectrum.” That, even if unintended, may have the consequence of people on the spectrum being made invisible or the real life issues of those on the spectrum being downplayed or ignored. I’m not at all saying that is your intention – on one hand I wholly embrace ways that NTs and people on the spectrum can come together, learn about and from eachother and embrace both our collective human-ness and individual similarities. On the other hand, I think it’s very important that people on the spectrum have their voices heard and that they have access to assistance, resources and greater understanding from NTs about their day to day challenges and strengths.
Also wanted to say - this is just my opinion and I don't want to shut down dialogue on this - any other thoughts? I think this is a great discussion!
On the other hand, I think it’s very important that people on the spectrum have their voices heard and that they have access to assistance, resources and greater understanding from NTs about their day to day challenges and strengths.
Karen, I sent you a friend request because I'm hoping that you might be willing to give me any additional information on how to be the best partner with an AS. I want to hear her voice and it's hard for me to separate making sure she gets what she needs for her to function and my own personal baggage (feeling like I accomodate for everyone and no one does it for me - don't they say we pair up to learn lessons in life?). I'm a good caretaker and I'm trying to make sure I know where that boundry is...
Thanks for your response, I will continue to listen...
I'm diagnosed with AS, and 58 years old. I've been giving a lot of thought to this binary approach to AS people versus NT people, like we're on opposite sides of a barricade of sorts. I agree with what others have said here, that there is a continuum, or spectrum, if you like, of human tendencies and traits. But I feel I've got to look at the reality, and that looks to me like the neurological majority, those with the traits and skills seen in most humans, have a name for those of us they name Asperger's people, or Aspies, with our particular kinds of brains. If we fall on this end of the spectrum, we're a neurological minority. I'm speaking for myself. As long as I'm in the company of NTs who accept me for who I am and who are willing to accommodate my tendencies to take things literally, to be socially inept, and to learn and process things differently, and all the other AS issues, then I'm fine. My Asperger's related problems in life have come from people on the NT end of the spectrum who have shunned, ridiculed, and bullied me; the co-workers who have set me up to be humiliated and driven me out of jobs, because I'm different. We Aspies are at risk for abuse like this because we're the neurological minority. So there may be a continuum in human traits, but for those of us whose traits earn us the name Aspie, we need to have each other's backs. And we need well-intended, accepting NTs as allies.
I agree. But I've also been shunned and bullied by fellow aspies also. This in itself is really hard to cope with.
It seems in the AS community that this just gets shoved under the carpet and people on the spectrum don't seem to want to acknowledge it.
What i think is that both AS and NT-ness are caused by a collection of (probably genetic) traits. If you have, say, 10 of them, then you're on the spectrum. If you have none, or only one or two, then you are NT. But if you have only 4 or 5, then you are an 'autistic cousin', somewhere in between. I realize this is close to a 'linear continum', but not quite.
There is a definite 'either/or' factor, you are either on the spectrum or not. But if you're not, you could still be close. If any of this makes any sense - i'm still figuring it out myself!
Your genuine actions speak for themselves, your conformity says nothing.