Giving ‘voice’ to Giving ‘voice’ to Aspies...Aspies...

A few thoughts fromA few thoughts from

‘‘the inside’ the inside’

WhoWho am I? am I?

I am diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD and bi-polarI am diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD and bi-polar I am a qualified social researcher with a BSocSc I am a qualified social researcher with a BSocSc

(Honours)(Honours) I conducted research into ‘insider’ experiences of I conducted research into ‘insider’ experiences of

AS from a human geographical perspectiveAS from a human geographical perspective I am a part of the Autism community and interact I am a part of the Autism community and interact

with a range of AS peoplewith a range of AS people I run support/social groups for high functioning I run support/social groups for high functioning

Autistic people and sometimes mentor younger Autistic people and sometimes mentor younger AspiesAspies

How is human geography useful in How is human geography useful in relation to services for Aspies?relation to services for Aspies?

Human geography focuses on ‘spaces’ and Human geography focuses on ‘spaces’ and ‘places’ ‘places’

So, the emphasis is on how individuals are So, the emphasis is on how individuals are effected by environmenteffected by environment

In relation to AS people, it shifts the focus away In relation to AS people, it shifts the focus away from changing Aspie people to changing the from changing Aspie people to changing the environment to enhance our livesenvironment to enhance our lives

How else is human geography useful How else is human geography useful to understanding Aspies?to understanding Aspies?

Qualitative human geographers argue that researchers Qualitative human geographers argue that researchers need to ‘get closer to individuals’ in order to truly need to ‘get closer to individuals’ in order to truly understand themunderstand them

In particular in relation to groups of people of difference or In particular in relation to groups of people of difference or (dis)ability(dis)ability

I do not believe it is possible to truly I do not believe it is possible to truly understand Autism by only studying it understand Autism by only studying it

from the ‘outside’from the ‘outside’

Combining ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ Combining ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ knowledgeknowledge

A lot of information about AS provided by A lot of information about AS provided by ‘medical models’ and ‘research studying our ‘medical models’ and ‘research studying our behaviour’ from the behaviour’ from the outsideoutside contradictscontradicts what what Aspies themselves feel about how they Aspies themselves feel about how they experience the worldexperience the world

It’s time to combine the knowledge It’s time to combine the knowledge of ‘non spectrum experts’ with of ‘non spectrum experts’ with

‘insider experts’‘insider experts’

A couple of questions to ponder?A couple of questions to ponder?

If you wanted to understand the needs of a If you wanted to understand the needs of a person in a wheelchair... Or a deaf person... Or person in a wheelchair... Or a deaf person... Or a blind person... would you ask a medical expert a blind person... would you ask a medical expert who could explain the medical reasons for their who could explain the medical reasons for their (dis)ability?(dis)ability?

If you wanted to create an appropriate If you wanted to create an appropriate environment for a person with a physical environment for a person with a physical (dis)ability... Would you focus on how to change (dis)ability... Would you focus on how to change them or focus on creating a suitable them or focus on creating a suitable environment?environment?

Is it only Aspies and human Is it only Aspies and human geographers who think environment geographers who think environment

is important?is important?

NO!NO! International experts such as Tony International experts such as Tony Attwood and Simon Baron-Cohen have Attwood and Simon Baron-Cohen have suggested environment as being a significant suggested environment as being a significant factor in making AS a ‘disability’... And that in a factor in making AS a ‘disability’... And that in a different world high functioning AS would simply different world high functioning AS would simply be a ‘difference’be a ‘difference’

What DO Aspies have to say?What DO Aspies have to say?

We are not a ‘condition’ or ‘label’... We are ‘humans with We are not a ‘condition’ or ‘label’... We are ‘humans with thoughts, feelings and desires in life’thoughts, feelings and desires in life’

We are all individuals... ‘Look at the whole picture’ We are all individuals... ‘Look at the whole picture’

‘‘Every person with Autism is an individual, our autism is Every person with Autism is an individual, our autism is expressed differently for each of us... And not all our expressed differently for each of us... And not all our behaviour is Autistic, sometimes we’re just having a bad behaviour is Autistic, sometimes we’re just having a bad day’ day’

More thoughts from Aspies...More thoughts from Aspies...

‘‘Don’t underestimate us because with the right Don’t underestimate us because with the right support we can do awesome things’ support we can do awesome things’

‘‘We may not appear stressed, but interacting with We may not appear stressed, but interacting with NTs is way more stressful than they might imagine’ NTs is way more stressful than they might imagine’

‘‘AS is a developmental DELAY, meaning just AS is a developmental DELAY, meaning just because we can’t do what others do at the ‘normal because we can’t do what others do at the ‘normal age, it doesn’t mean we will never be able to do it’ age, it doesn’t mean we will never be able to do it’

SummarisingSummarising Aspie thoughts... Aspie thoughts...

Autobiographical accounts express:Autobiographical accounts express: Feeling differentFeeling different Aspects of both (dis)ability and (extra)abilityAspects of both (dis)ability and (extra)ability A greater desire to be ‘ourselves’ than be ‘normal’A greater desire to be ‘ourselves’ than be ‘normal’ Frustration at being stereotyped and misunderstoodFrustration at being stereotyped and misunderstood A need for societal acceptance of us ‘as we are’A need for societal acceptance of us ‘as we are’ Desire for change of society Desire for change of society ManyMany positivepositive aspects to being Aspie aspects to being Aspie

Final thoughts...Final thoughts...

‘‘Insider knowledge’ combined with ‘expert knowledge’ Insider knowledge’ combined with ‘expert knowledge’ has the potential to produce valuable practical ideas in has the potential to produce valuable practical ideas in how to assist Aspie people reach their full potentialhow to assist Aspie people reach their full potential

Often our needs pertain to creating a suitable Often our needs pertain to creating a suitable environment for us to ‘be ourselves’environment for us to ‘be ourselves’

Creating the right environment for Aspies means Creating the right environment for Aspies means understanding the needs understanding the needs of the individualof the individual