Reflecting on Davidson's analysis of the potential of online communities to unite and empower people with autism, visit wrongplanet.net. Choose one post or page within the community and talk about the ways in which it reflects or challenges Davidson's claims.
Davidson claims that the internet “enables those with AS to…have a voice, a collective voice that is often confrontational in the sense of contesting and attempting to supplant predominant belittling constructions of autism"(797). One way I took this was to mean that online, autistics can refute false and misleading information circulating the world about autism and autistics. One post on wrongplanet.net that supports Davidson’s claim, posted by Alex Plank, talks about a review by David Kirby of “Autism: The Musical.” In his review, Kirby says that the two high-functioning boys in the play might mislead readers to think that most autistics are high functioning. He says that in reality, the majority of autistic children are low-functioning. Plank responded with statistics proving otherwise – “Asperger's... makes up more than half of autism diagnosis alone.” Since those with Asperger’s are high-functioning, the majority of autistics are high-functioning. Besides, people diagnosed with classic autism are also categorized as high-functioning, so an even greater majority are high-functioning, thus labelng Kirby's claim as completely false. Through the internet, Plank was able to refute this piece of degrading misinformation.
ReplyDeleteAnother way I took Davidson’s quotation was that the internet allows autistics to have a voice against the belittling criticisms of critics and doubters. Another post by Plank examined a rush of “outrageous remarks in regards to autism” by Michael Savage, in which he labeled autism as “a fraud” and “a racket.” Savage also said that “in 99% of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out,” and that kids are “autistic” because their father isn’t there to straighten them out. Alex Plank’s post wrote about a letter that Wrong Planet and a coalition of disability rights organizations sent in to The Savage Nation Radio, laying down the law, explaining that autism “is a very real developmental disability affecting millions of Americans” and that his “comments represent dangerous misinformation.” This post shows that autistics are struggling for acceptance, (like Davidson suggests on p. 799 with his quotation of the “Declaration for the Autism Community that they are a Minority Group,”) and that through the internet they can have a voice, and can speak out against the heartless forces that try to suppress them as a whole.
Davidson claims that online, people with AS can finally escape the "mainstream environments" in the physical world where they feel "pressure to copy majority skills they do not possess" and "'coming out' with pride." (795) Online people with AS have a community online in which they can say what they want, something that they have difficulty with in the physical world.
ReplyDeleteI read a post that illustrates this in multiple ways. The conversation starts with Person A ranting about "people" always not saying what they mean and not answering emails. Person B sympathizes by saying that people are "Robots with a Darwinist Agenda." These first two posts show frustration with communication within the real world. The third post (person C) agrees that the world is run by "bots" but essentially tells the other two to stop worrying about "nothing." Overall, this post and its replies shows that in the real world, people with autism have difficulty understanding other people, while online, they can assert their frustrations and communicate (and maybe disagree) with others who have the same "disability" as they do.
Davidson makes it clear that a major part of autistic culture is how autistic people communicate and how they perceive communication. People with autism talk very precisely and straight to the point. It is confusing for them to understand why other people use facial expression and body language to communicate. He supports this claim by giving an example of an autistic person who considers laughing to be a harmful expression. Davidson mentions that “autistic communication is like written communication.” So it makes sense that autistic culture can thrive on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI read a post that strongly supported these claims. The post focuses on spreading awareness and informing people on how to interact and communicate with autistic people. It talks about how when talking to an autistic child that you shouldn’t look them directly in the eyes and that you should not expect eye contact. Autistic children get anxious and confused during eye contact. Also, when talking to an autistic adult it says to speak assertive and clearly state your point. Otherwise, it is easy for an autistic person to be confused.
The post also addresses physical contact between an autistic person and a non-autistic person. Davidson’s article didn’t really discuss much on this particular topic. But it seems to be very similar to how autistic people prefer to communicate verbally. Autistic people like a firm touch and strong hugs. Even though Davidson did not bring this up, the post supports his claim.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/article371.html
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aspieweb.net/aspieweb-being-bullied-by-autism-speaks/
In the reading, Davidson states, "Most AS authors who comment on the
movement do nevertheless insist that it is gathering pace, and this is evidenced by the increasingly forceful as well as frequent nature of statements appearing in various media, contributions ever more tricky for the main-stream to ignore."
I read an article from the above websites that discussed a battle between an autistic man and the Autism Speaks foundation. The man created and was selling a T-shirt on Zazzle.com with a slogan that slighted the foundation. He received an email from Zazzle.com saying that his product was being removed from their gallery because of copyright issues. The man posted this on his website: "It appears Autism Speaks is now using legal threats to shut up Autistic people that disagree with there stance on Autism".
Apparently this wasn't the first run in between Austism Speaks and the autistic community. In the posts and some of the other articles, it is apparent that the autistic community does not feel that Autism Speaks is representing them. The autistic community is upset and angry with the foundation because they don't employ any people with autism, and therefore the autistic community feels that it would be better to let the people of the community speak for themselves.
This movement is growing. The internet is providing a stable place for the autistic community to gather and voice their opinions. When enough people back the opposition to Autism Speaks, it is likely to hit the media on a larger scale. This will force a change in the foundation that will better benefit the autistic community.
When looking online at wrongplanet.net, I headed to the forums and found a topic about half way down in "Getting to know each other" titled "Shouldn't it be right planet?"
ReplyDeleteAfter going into the thread and reading some of the posts, I saw one main idea from Davidson's writing's in the text of the users.
A lot of them made me think of the quote "
While those with autism have yet to literally
take to the streets, increased literary presence in numerous public forums suggests that many are in fact ‘coming out’ with pride, asserting minority cultural status and strengthening common ties in (virtual) space."
In this particular thread, I saw quite a few users, latching onto the fact that they all were "AS" and they were a strong community. After one user mentioned that they wore mismatched socks on the "wrong planet", the rest of the users went along with it. One user had a post with just the text "I wear mismatched socks, with pride."
These posts and this thread just reminded me of how Davidson kept mentioning about how the internet has become a place where people with autism can come online and bond together with "pride" and form a community with other people with autism.
Davidson mentions that people who have autism "are 'proud of their differences and committed to the values of uniqueness and the nuances of their experiences." She goes on to talk about how this statement is a contradiction to sites that advocate finding a cure for autism. This is displayed in a post by X_Parasite under the "Autism Shut Up" discussion. He says that autism, schizophrenia, neurotypicality, etc don't speak, but that people do. This is showing the attitude that the autism community does not view themselves as any different from anyone else. In the end, we are all people, we are all different, and we are all special, and why should we not be proud of our differences? This post was in a discussion thread about how the organization Autism Speaks is misrepresenting the autistic community. The community wants to be represented as a proud group of people who are different, but still as good as everyone else, and people with autism feel that Autism Speaks isn't sending that message out to the public.
ReplyDeleteOn page 793, Davison writes about cultural geographies and the constraints of the material world. Outside of the natural world, individuals can "circumvent the geographical constraints" and take a more proactive role in shaping their own virtual community." I chose this element of Davison's discourse because it highlights the convenience of the internet that we are all dependent on. Specifically, those with a somewhat rare disorder such as autism or asperger's syndrome can benefit from the virtual community that can overcome geographical constraints.
ReplyDeleteWhile browsing through the posts on wrongplanet.net, I noticed a lot of posts that were about "getting to know your" or "post a picture of yourself" in attempt to close the geographical gap. There are even some posts that are specific to a certain region, such as Australia, though most of them are for anyone in general.
Furthermore, on page 797, Davison highlights the internet as a place where autistics are able to communicate with each other about treatments, practicitioners and what they have found to help them. Through this type of online activism, social support and advocacy, Davison points out that a certain set of language barriers have been removed that might normally have existed in the real world.
I noticed that under the "politics" section there are many posts about the DSM V, stereotypes and Autism speaks. While browsing through these posts, I noticed that a lot of these posts used disorder terms without describing them. This is particularly what Davison describes in her article about the online culture of autism.
Davidson quotes in his article: “Blume’s correspondent states ‘that personal contact confounds more than it informs’, and that ‘reading faces is like looking into a rippling pond. I am too distracted by the edges, glints of light, to make much of it.’” The idea that communication for those in the autistic community is easier online than it is in person is displayed in many different posts across WrongPlanet.net. Laney states that “Most people speak what sounds like a foreign language to me. I know they are communicating with one another and making sense somehow, I have just failed to pick up on HOW they do it,” and “I think I tend to talk at people. I walk up to them and say something and I get a look that even I can pick up on, which must mean that it's really obvious.” Anyone who has been to a foreign country, surrounded by people speaking an unknown language, could understand how stressful and confusing it is to be a situation like that. Any opportunity to overcome that language barrier would be a welcome relief. The stress of talking to a person face-to-face would make discussion online extremely appealing.
ReplyDeleteDavidson remarks, "People in the autism community have their own way of using language and communication that is different from the general population, misunderstood..." This quote is vital to his meaning behind his article. The communication within people with autism may be different and unique to the communication of other people, but still it is a form of communication and just because it is not a normality does not mean it is "weird." Davidson discusses the meaning of social norms and says that social norms are "unwritten rules and a thought perspective all our own. That people with autism have to exist within a different culture on a day-to-day basis in order to survive—one that often blindly insists on conformity rather than respecting our cultural diversity." This sentence holds complete meaning to the diversity that austism brings and the need to be embraced by others of the society.
ReplyDeleteAn article found under articles section on wrongplanet.net by the Buck Free Press, titled "when autism isn't a disability" It is about a man, Marc Fleisher, who has a form of autism, Asperger's Syndrome. It shows all of his accomplishments and that he can function just like a normal person can, despite having autism. It says that he is now an experienced public speaker who campaigns for rights, research, funding and understanding of autism. He explains that he has had difficulty in the past with social aspects and communication. He reveals the difference in communication, explaining a story that "Autistic people take everything literally. I went for a drink with a friend in a pub, and he offered to pay for the drinks by saying "It's on the house, mate". This completely threw me, and I looked on the roof for the drinks, and was the laughing stock of the village. I only found out a few hours later the true meaning of it." It shows that he has many friends and just have a different way of viewing things than others at times. This proves Davidson's point about the miscommunication from the general population. Marc has struggled in the past, however, with being culturally diverse, but has overcome it and succeeded in life.
After reading Julia's comment, I knew I had to read the article regarding Michael Savage's comments on autism and those who fall within the autism spectrum. Though it was not from Wrongplanet.net, I remember hearing about this incident shortly after it happened (mostly because I remember how much it angered me).
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the kind of misinformation that leads to public ignorance. Those with autism spectrum disorders are different, but there are far more real cases than Savage's perverse misinterpretation. Though it is seemingly obvious that he speaks with the sole intent of angering listeners who might disagree with him, Savage's comments are simply inappropriate from someone in his position. Because he has a doctorate, he is entitled to "Dr." as an honorific, which might give him credit in some eyes, but he is not an MD. Savage's PhD is in Nutritional Ethnomedicine (i.e. his degree confers on him no expertise in the area of neurology or psychology and thus probably has no idea what he's talking about).
Through the Internet, autistics have a voice (voices, in fact) with which they can combat such ignorant and hateful remarks. Davidson's ideas that most autistics do not view themselves as diseased is very clear here. Autistics are a minority group, not undisciplined children, and many high-functioning autistics do not want to be "cured," just in the same way that homosexuals do not want to be "cured." They do not feel that there is anything wrong with them.
I decided to explore the wrongplanet.net forums and opened up the general autism discussion board. I found that as Davidson describes, the internet served as the perfect tool for this community to communicate with. Most of the members were able to thoroughly and smoothly express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings with each other. Even those who say that they fail at social interactions and understanding others successfully voice out their opinions. For most of the people, I would not have been able to tell that they were any different from an NT if I did not know beforehand that it was an AS community. Although it was noticeable that some of the members had tastes that clearly differed from the norm, no one posted in any way that was reflective of the stumbling and unsociable prejudice that many believe of those with AS. All the members are supportive of each other and understanding of each others' problems of living in an NT world. There also happened to be many members that were understanding of the NT population as well, attempting to explain to their AS fellows all the peculiarities and irrationality of the NT world. As stated in Davidson's argument, many of these online members are very active in representing their differences and promoting diversity. A majority of them support the movement to get rid of perceptions of AS as a disability or disorder.
ReplyDeleteEven in previous classes, one of the main points of the article was widely discussed: Many of us prefer talking on the Internet because we can get our thoughts into order before they are ‘said’ and we’re less likely to make asses of ourselves. However, the nonverbal communication, which constitutes 93% of any face-to-face conversation, isn’t there, and that can confuse us because things like sarcasm are harder to detect.
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn’t know much about autism before reading Davidson’s article, so I was surprised to learn that one of the things most common is an inability to recognize expressions and actions for what they are. What the class generally agreed about the shortcomings of speech online is what proves to many to be more effective at helping communications.
I read many articles on wrongplanet.net, and couldn’t help but feel they didn’t relate to Davidson’s ideas about autism. Finally I came across “Jail4Bail: A shameful image of Autism.” This article related to a fundraising campaign to raise money for autism. When the advertisement posters were released, the author of the article received a nasty shock: “In my naivety I never realised that in their minds, there was a direct link to the idea that either autistics are viewed as imprisoned, or that the family of an autistic person live in a jail-like environment because of autism.” (Adi Ne’eman)
This article corresponded with Davidson’s assertions that autism is not a disorder, and that many autistics embrace their differences. The posters showed a contrary view, that autism is a disorder that should be ‘treated’ so that the individuals may fit in with the hegemonic society. This article’s overall message was one in agreement with Davidson’s statement that autism isn’t widely understood (my own ignorance is a form of example) and that the real problem in autism is not the condition itself but the exclusion from ‘normal society.’ The article claims “One has to be so careful how autism is portrayed to society.”
Any money gained in fundraisers for autism should, as Adi declared, “is to better the life of autistic people and if they ensure that the lasting image of autism left in its participants’ minds furthers the acceptance and inclusion of autistic people in society.”
Davidson claims that, “Perceptual and ‘processing’ differences associated with autism hinder typical communication, with the result that words and actions—the ‘language games’—of others can be unpredictable, indecipherable and scary for those on the spectrum.” This means that normal body language that most people used is a lot of the time not correctly processed by autistics. They can take a sign of happy for one of horror. One of the blogs on the website explains that because autistics have trouble communicating to the rest of the world, that they are low functioning. The website states “Because they have trouble communicating with the rest of the world, you may think they're somehow less intelligent. The opposite is true. Low functioning autistics have impaired communications skills but they are just as smart as your average joe and many are even smarter.”
ReplyDeleteDavidson also claims that the Internet allows “autistics to take diagnosis, scientific speculation and experimentation with self-medication into their own hands.” I found this to be true in the blog, X-Files Star Amanda Peet Speaks Put Against Anti-Vaccine Autism. The article summarizes the false perception that vaccines cause autism in young children. The author states, “Scientific studies have repeatedly found no link between vaccines and Autism and parents' fears to vaccinate their children are leading to outbreaks in the United States. Thiomersal, which contains mercury, was largely removed from vaccines a couple of years ago and the rate of autism diagnoses has continued to increase.” Because of the Internet people are free to voice their opinion of medical treatment for the disease.
Davidson writes, "...the opportunities for exchanging practical advice and information with other (non-professional) experts are considered extremely important (Parr 2008; Parr and Davidson 2008). 'Thanks to the Internet, autistics are taking diagnosis, scientific speculation, experimentation with self-medication into their own hands. News travels fast on the net about what works and what doesn't..." (p. 797)
ReplyDeleteOne discussion that I found on www.wrongplanet.net that supports this claim is a topic under the Parents' Discussion section. The question is, "Where do you find the energy to go on?" The mother goes on to explain how she is exhausted after "16 years of being told that there was nothing wrong other than (her) abilities as a parent. Years and years of having to deal with her (daughter) being punished by teachers for things she cannot help."
Various people have posted kind comments, supportive advice, and helpful suggestions in response to the mother's question. This blog post supports Davidson's claim, as the Internet is providing a place where people can talk about what works and what doesn't.
In an article on wrongplanet.net, Ten Myths About Autism- Debunked by Wrong Planet founder Alex Plank, several of Davidson’s claims are addressed. Number 3 in the article, “Autistics want to be cured,” clearly conveys one of Davidson’s claims. Davidson quotes Amy Nelson, who “describes the possibility of cure as an ‘immanent threat’ faced by those on the spectrum.” As well as Jeanette Purkis who states: “If I had the choice to see the world the way most people see it and to have the understanding and communication skills of the majority, I would not take it.” Both of these examples clearly illustrate autistic individuals’ views on the matter at hand and agree completely with what Alex Plank had to say about the issue. “Most autistics, in fact, do not want to be cured because they've already accepted autism as part of their personality, identity, and lifestyle.“
ReplyDeleteAnother issue that both Davidson and Plank address is the myth that all people with autism are alike. Davidson states that “there are thus many very personal ways of describing life on the [autistic] spectrum, and
perhaps as many shades of autism as there are individuals concerned.” Alex Plank states something very similar: “autistics differ from each other just as much as those without the condition differ from each other.”
These two topics covered by both Davidson and Plank are only two among many issues that arise concerning autism. These are very prominent issues today though and more people really ought to be aware of them.
Number six on Plank’s list of myths, that “nonverbal autistics are severely mentally impaired,” really struck a chord with me because my mom works in an autistic high school classroom with children on the lower end of the spectrum. Some of the kids she works with cannot speak but are remarkably intelligent. Yet because of their inability to communicate ‘normally’ they are often treated as though they are brainless, which is hardly the case.
Davidson states, "Computer-generated communication is clear, satisfyingly straightforward and accurate, and can go a long way towards alleviating AS anxieties around social interaction." (796). People with a form of autism usually have difficulty in social situations, whether i be with the words spoken, facial expression, or social norms of conversation. Computer even this field and allow them to speak without a fear of discrimination.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading a few posts under the Friendship Board for those who are between 15 and 18 years in age, I saw how true Davidson's claim was. These teenagers felt better about interacting online than they do about interacting in the so called real world. There is one in particular that says, "im not that great at speaking, as i have replied in other threads in the forum, i am quite a slurred speaker and stutter with words quite a lot. but people just take it for normal when they are with me. its quite a catch22, i have this great mind but find trouble speaking it.
its only with the internet i can fully 'connect' to other people."
The internet is an amazing tool that helps these teenagers with their ability to connect with others who are like them. They are not alone in the world, and the this group bring many of them together so that they can support each other. Communicating in the 'real' world may be difficult for these teenagers, but communicating online is so much easier for them.
Going to wrongplanet.com, I initially had difficulty finding something that directly correlated with Davidson's article. The post that I eventually read discussed the most hated stereotypes that are believed about people with autism. One member said this:
ReplyDelete"I think the most damaging stereotype is that we're so high functioning we don't have a real handicap."
I instantly thought of a quote that Davidson included in her article, "As with any culture, we have social norms, unwritten rules and a thought perspective all our own. That people with autism have to exist within a different culture on a day-to-day basis in order to survive—one that often blindly insists on conformity rather than respecting our cultural diversity—makes functioning in the world around us exceedingly difficult, often depressing and continually anxiety-laden (800-801)"
Davidson's belief that conformity is a compulsion is actually the driving force behind that users most hated stereotype. Because those with autism desire to avoid the feeling of being different, they are often put outside their comfort zone when they try and fit in with something that, according to the article, is not their culture. However, this attempt to fit in creates the fallacy believed by others; that most of those with autism do not have any sort of disability.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php?name=blogview&jid=11184
ReplyDeleteThat is the link of the blog that I read from wrongplanet.com. I chose this blog because I thought it very strongly supported some of Davidson's claims from the reading for today. In the blog, the person is complaining about having to see a counselor who clearly did not understand what the patient's needs were, or how to address the patient considering he/she is autistic. Davidson talked about how important the computer is because "computer-generated communication is clear, satisfyingly straightforward and accurate, and can go a long way towards alleviating AS anxieties around social interaction." I think this is exactly why the person writing the blog felt so uncomfortable with this interaction with the counselor. The blogger says, "she asked me all sorts of questions I didn't understand" and "some of the questions didn't really make much sense considering my situation." It really shows how important computer communication is for this type of situation because it allows the person to think and give feedback on their own time, without having to keep up with the other person in the conversation. It also allows for a more straightforward way of communicating, and when this person didn't get the straightforwardness, they got "REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY angry" with the counselor.
This blog also supports the "form of life" idea because the counselor's way of responding to this person was to refer them to a new counselor who deals specifically with Asperger's, and the blogger expresses their elation over being able to talk to someone who understands, and is seeking the true needs of the blogger. As Davidson states, the "sharing a form of life does not mean that we agree or share everything, but that we understand each other because of our related experience." I think that this is what is being shown by the blogger feeling so much happier that somebody who understands her will now be her counselor, and that she won't have to overcome these communication barriers with this particular counselor anymore.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt20170.html
ReplyDeleteI chose the discussion of “what label do other teens slap on you?” On page 798 Davidson states: “Perhaps most notable is the particular form of communicative media that enables members to organize.” In this particular discussion members organized and discussed all the labels teens stuck on them because of their autism. This discussion also reflects Davidson’s comments about the movement for AS to be thought of as a difference rather than a disability, disorder, or deviancy. It was sad to hear all the things people with AS were called and to witness how it affected them, because usually you don’t get to hear those things when you are face to face. Which supports the thoughts that people with AS feel more comfortable talking online. I think that this post shows the members feel a sense of community and they can freely post their experiences and educate others about what they have to deal with, and they can freely be themselves and talk about any topic they would like. I noticed forums about music and hobbies to how students treat them and dealing with meltdowns. It is cool how though they may feel the minority at school, or brought down by people who do not have AS, this site provides them a venue to unite and not feel out of place or like they do not belong.
A common theme between the website and Davidson's essay is that those with AS are a different type of human being. The title of the site alone -"Wrong Planet" - and Davidson's consistent use of the word "Other" to describe those with AS support this idea. In her essay, Davidson sites a person living with AS who says, "'With our own communication medium, autistics are beginning to see ourselves not as blighted individuals, but as a different ethnicity'". People with AS seem to think of themselves as a different race, and Davidson confirms that this website enables them to form a community of outsiders that is supportive and comforting.
ReplyDeleteThe article I read on Wrongplanet.net was called "It's Autism Awareness Month - Here are some Tips". The person who wrote the article is living with AS and she says, "Let’s start off and continue the month by communicating. I believe the best way we can understand autism as well as understanding the so called 'normal' world is by opening our minds and having honest communication." The article offers advice for children and adults (with separate sections for autistic and non-autistic people) regarding communication, touch, and eye contact. Davidson stresses this need for autism communication and discussion throughout her essay. She says, "The opportunities for exchanging practical advice and information with other (non-professional) experts are considered extremely important".
The advice columns and forums on Wrong Planet promote a social sphere where people from any location can connect with each other. The thing that is unique about this social site is that it is the PREFERRED method of communication for those living with AS. Davidson explains that for a person with AS, "personal contact confounds more than it informs". The use of a computer to have direct dialogue is an excellent way for people with AS to communicate, and the users on Wrong Planet no doubt agree.
In Davidson's article, he goes into specific detail about the haven of online communication for autistic people, but I would prefer to focus on the lack of human-to-human communcation skills that cause this need for virtual communcation. "'Personal contact confounds more than it informs' and that 'reading faces is like looking into a rippling pond.'" Additionally, Davidson's article relates social interactions in the autistic mind to a continuous wave of culture shocks, that very often they are not aware of even the most common of social graces. Yet, to chide autistic people for this error would be akin to "'cur[ing] someone's skin colour, we feel that our differences need to be respected and our minority group to be protected.'"
ReplyDeleteThe members of wrongplanet.net reflect similar sentiments as far as social outings go. In the "Does anyone like parties?" discussion board there are several reflective comments. deadeyexx says that he has difficulty participating in parties fully and that he finds the social experience is made easier if he plays a game. Others say that they tell people they are "allergic to small talk" or simply hide out by the punch bowl. But the general concensus seems to be that though people are polite at parties they would rather "go to the dentist".
On wrongplanet.net, I visited the Adolescent Autism Forum and read a discussion titled "What Kind of School do you go to, and do you like it?" (http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt110956.html) The comments that were left by the members of this community reflect some of the difficulties that autistic children face in typical social settings, which were mentioned by Davidson in his article. For example, AliObsessed says, "I attend a public school in Michigan and I absolutely hate it. It's difficult for me to make friends here and most people don't understand the things I do and say." S/he goes on to discuss how stressed out s/he gets during the school year, and another member, ruennsheng, commented in agreement to AliObsessed's remark. These comments demonstrate Davidson's points about the struggles that autistic kids face because he says that "AS speech tends to be clear, to the point, and to avoid any extraneous information that might muddy the clarity of communicative intent," which is not the manner in which most teens communicate, making it difficult for those with autism to have conversations with their "normal" classmates (796). Davidson also mentions that "the Internet facilitates a degree of 'social inclusion,'" which is not easy to find outside of the virtual world (798). This is reflected by an individual who commented that s/he goes to a specialist school and likes it very much because as s/he says, "I am allowed to be who I am." At a specialized school, autistic children may find that they are wholly accepted, but this kind of welcoming environment is certainly not found at most public schools where teenagers are intensely critical and far from accepting of those who do not succumb to their ridiculous social conventions. I searched the website further for comments that AliObsessed had posted, and found that she is relatively active on the website. She commented on a discussion called "List of Female AS Traits," and said that most of the listed characteristics matched hers. Many other members commented similarly. This likeness must help AliObsessed feel as though she is part of some kind of community, even if that community does not exist at her public school. Reading through these comments have certainly made me agree with Davidson that online communities have the power to bring together members of the autistic community. Online, those with autism can find a place where they feel accepted by the other members who "understand each other because of [their] related experiences" (794).
ReplyDeleteFor the post, I chose "Tell PETA to Stop Exploiting the Autistic Community (Got Autism Billboard)." The author of the post is condemning PETA for putting up an ad that states, "Got Autism? Studies have shown a link between cow's milk and autism." During this, he talks about how he/she thinks PETA should not have been able to discriminate against people with autism and how they should not have looked down on it because it is a disease. The author used the word "fear-mongering" to describe the feel it gives to the idea of autism and the causes it has. This relates to the article because it talks about how they should not stereotype and look down on people with autism. The article discusses how people with autism are unique individuals and should not be thought of as a disease but merely a way of life. How the author of the blog protests the ad makes it sound like he is condemning PETA for viewing autism in a disease like state. In this way, it is interconnected with the article because of the anger due to the stereotype that autism is all bad and that they are all the same. The author is defending the people with autism in their quest for equal rights and recognition that it is not a disease but a way of life. They are discussing how they do not see them as an individual but merely someone with autism.
ReplyDeleteHere's Natasha's comment:
ReplyDeleteFirst off I believe that it is great to know that there are online communities out there like wrongplanet.net. While perusing on the site I saw how much of a close knit community of support it is. There are truly great results of this site uniting and empowering people with autism and it’s a wonderful thing. I could easily see how the online autism community might be stronger than another community because of the member’s needs for interaction which is best expressed through the internet. Although human interaction is needed for survival for virtually all people, Davidson touches on how online interaction is important for autistic people. He says, “Computer-generated communication is clear, satisfyingly straightforward and accurate, and can go a long way towards alleviating AS anxieties around social interaction”. Davidson writes about how social interaction is difficult for people with AS, even smiling is difficult. An online community not only eliminates the face to face contact but wrongplanet.net also serves as a social coaching tool for AS people. While I was browsing through the forms I stumbled upon one of the forums titled “Social Skills and Making Friends”. On the page advice is given to those having trouble with social interaction. I find it astonishing because they are socially interacting over the internet without hesitation, the people who post comments are bold, brave, and strong. They are genuinely learning from one another based on each other’s past experiences or knowledge. Like Davidson was saying, this site provides social support, advocacy, and activism.
I chose the post called Ten Myths about Autism-Debunked.
ReplyDeleteThis post was posted by Alex Plank, the founder of Wrong Planet. The article shows many of the myths and fallacies that people believe about autism and assume to be true. In fact, these myths are false and also hurt those with autism in that people believe they understand those with autism.
Just as Davidson states in her article, assumptions about autistics are far-reaching, but there is much to be learned as they have a "neurological difference, rather than disability or deficient" (792). One of the assumptions in this article is that autistics are low-functioning (9.), which is clearly untrue based on their activity in new media as Davidson states.
Also, if one looks at number 6, Nonverbal autistics are severely mentally impaired, is an assumption that both the article and post talk about. Those with autism may act differently, but as Davidson states, they may communicate in ways that we do not expect such as online communities which break down geographical borders. Computer- based communication is straightforward and clear, and therefore is simpler for autistic people to use.
Number 2 is another topic, among many, that both pieces of media agree upon. It states that Autistics want to be cured, but Davidson states that it actually is almost a threat to autistics who have become used to their way of life. This is almost exactly what Alex Plank states.
Among the things stated above, there are many other issues in both the article and post that also show similiarities in thinking and understanding of autism.
After becoming more familiar with the effects of autism through Davidson's article, it became clear to me how an online community could greatly empower those suffering from this disorder. Something that popped out at me in the reading was that autism can be defined as a "neurological difference rather than a disablitiy of deficit" (Davidson 3). This quote set up the rest of the reading for me, and I started to reflect on the lifestyle differences of those with autism, rather than their hurdles.
ReplyDeleteWithin wrongplanet.net, I began to look for their differences, and found interesting discussions within the general autism discussion. It was interesting that the experiences themselves (such as sensation/perception discussions) were different from the norm; however, the actual discussions were fully functional and did not appear to be any different from an everyday conversation. Davison says, "Perceptual and 'processing' differences associated with autism hinder typical communication, with the result that words and actions-the 'language games'-of others can be unpredictable, undecipherable, and scary for those on the spectrum" (Davidson 6). By understanding more about autistic differences, it is clear how an online community can free these people from an overwhelming situation in everyday life. As I mentioned earlier, I found that the conversations were completely normal, and people discussed common experiences and shared feelings just like any other conversation. The difference is that the straightforwardness of the forums assists the filtering process of the autistic mind-making a conversation less confusing and socially inviting.
Davidson writes about how the internet community allows autistic people to take “diagnosis, scientific speculation, experimentation with self-medication into their own hands” (797). By having a community in which they can interact and communicate it is much easier for people within the autistic community to get accurate information about what works and what doesn’t.
ReplyDeleteThis connects with the Autism's False Prophets article about the book by the same name by Dr. Paul Offit. The book explores many supposed cures for autism that in fact don’t work or are harmful. Dr. Paul Offit “describes how parents and physicians worked together to create treatments that when put under scientific scrutiny, have no real efficacy”. This information is made much more readily available when people facing the same issues and choices are able to communicate with one another, which is what internet communities provide for people with autism.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php?name=blogview&jid=11187
ReplyDeleteThe blog that I chose on wrongplanet was posted by a 21 year old guy with autism, but the text was actually from an earlier period in his life and was, what he referred to as a "diary entry". His entry talked about how he misinterprets or fails to interpret facial expressions and in many social situations. I thought that his sentiments matched exactly (or at least pretty darn close) to what Davidson had said in her article: "facial expressions (neuro)typically considered so positive can be perceived so differently... provides powerful illustration of why embodied interaction is often best avoided" (795).
I also think that it is important to look at the fact that this man is posting a journal entry on the internet. I find it interesting because he was able to communicate his thoughts in a journal, which doesn't respond to what he enters, which can be compared to the internet and what Davidson was discussing in her paper and the importance of the internet for those with autism to communicate. Also, the fact that he posted it to this Autism community site, demonstrates that these sites provide a community and an ability for the people to share their thoughts in a way that they can not with physical interaction with people.