The human soul is a diverse and multileveled phenomenon.
I understand that there are autism classifications according to various external and internal signs, and the use of tests to determine the phenomenon. However, in my perception of humanity and reality in general, I would not consider autistic people separate from others, because we are all autistic to a certain degree.
In some ways, we are normal, in some ways geniuses, and in some ways stupid, peasants, workers, freemen, masters and servants. In other words, we find everything in everybody in various combinations.
“The function of autistic people in the world depends on their incorporation in their respective social environments, because our environment is of primary importance in differentiating each person from others. I think we simply have yet to find the optimal method by which we could connect people classified as autistic with everyone else.”
The function of autistic people in the world depends on their incorporation in their respective social environments, because our environment is of primary importance in differentiating each person from others. I think we simply have yet to find the optimal method by which we could connect people classified as autistic with everyone else.
Autism is a social problem of the relationship with the surrounding environment. For instance, if an autistic child is in supportive and encouraging surroundings—a group or friends who organize supportive and encouraging interactions with older children who know how to behave well—then I am sure that it is possible to pull the child out of any state because the influence of the environment, especially on the autistic person, produces an immense effect.
I do not know the medications specialists use, but in my perception and understanding, a supportive and encouraging influence that is goal oriented—not only on a child but on any person—is able to shift the person out of any state. It can make any normal person autistic, and vice versa.
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Current scientific research would point to some people being born with neurological differences which can cause difficulties in processing information coming in through our senses, as well as how information is processed. All people may have some challenge related to neurology, but autism is a diagnosis based on degree of severity of symptoms determined by how visible they are to others.
I personally think that this holds a much deeper lesson about how we use our senses and inner experience to judge others while ignoring their actual experience. It is easy to see a physical birth defect and take action to help a child based on our own needs to see, move around, manipulate objects, etc. If the challenges a child faces are not visible to those caring for them, instead of seeing how the child is impacted, they are often seen as having “behavior problems.” A child is seen as “fixed” if we can train them not to show their distress. This is like if your child had a shard of glass in their foot and you punished them until they stopped crying and refusing to walk on it.
Sadly, people diagnosable with autism are more likely to be abused and bullied, have health issues related to the same genetic changes which cause the symptoms used to diagnose autism, and tend to live much shorter lives than those who aren’t impacted at the same level.
Autistic people exist partly to ask others to be more empathetic, more accepting of and curious about others, and to have humility about our own understanding of the world. Seeing the strengths of all people and how they are an important part of us absolutely includes autistic people, who are as varied as neurotypical people.