Ability and Vulnerability
Published June 04, 2009 @ 04:00PM PT
This morning I posted about Susan Boyle and disablist attitudes in Appearance and Expectation. But there was a second set of stories in my feeds about Susan Boyle that also caught my attention, on a different topic: Media watchdog group says "Britain's Got Talent" producers should have provided better support for a vulnerable Susan Boyle.
In a sense this is the inverse issue from this morning's post: If a person with a disability (particularly an invisible one) is very good at something, it can be easy to forget the fact that the disability exists. And this can lead to a lot of problems. Like those I posted about in That Which Goes Unseen.
What both sides of the issue--what I posted on this morning and what I post on here--have in common is that they are based on assumptions rather than realities. It is assumed that a person who appears unconventional will have limited ability, and it is assumed that a person with exceptional talent will have limited vulnerability.
The fact is that neither are true. Somewhere in between is the reality 1) we can do stuff, sometimes as well as others, and sometimes much better than others, and 2) we need appropriate support for some stuff we can't do. Somewhere in between is the reality that we are human beings with unique abilities and vulnerabilities and specific needs, just like anyone. Assumptions and stereotypes don't lead anywhere good.
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Comments (5)
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Dora is committed to improving quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum--including herself! She is Co-director of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education and a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's Board of Directors.
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End the Perpetuation of Pity
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End the Perpetuation of Pity
Two words "Anixeity Exposure" and feel all of us with invisible differences will continue to feel at odds in a world that contionues to stereo type and not allow and accpt difference and diversity unless its spelled out and even then many just find hard to understand our autistic differences... at times I feel my only answer would be to live a world within a world and feel like Susan Boyle in a way, when my life in order and can just focus and do things my way works, once I step to far out into the real world the anixety and stress mounts...
I feel this article helps explain this somewhat, how we do not just hear, but sense and get easly overloaded in a society that often does not understand or see our invisible differences... A Radical New Autism Theory (Overload of emotions!)http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-05-11/a-radical-new-autism-theory/full/
Posted by Alyson Bradley on 06/07/2009 @ 02:58PM PT
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I really relate to the overload of emotions theory. I have meltdowns from the force of my own emotions. I hope more studies are done along that path.
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 06/08/2009 @ 03:20AM PT
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I believe this study is right on the mark. I have two aspie children and I can tell you that they are empathetic to an overwhelming degree. Be it Darfur to animal rights these chldren feel every ounce of pain. (I had a creditcard taken by one of my children because they did not think I gave enough to a charity. They do not care about things for themselves, but try to give as much of their thing and money to others )
Additionally, at a conference on transitioning to college there was a discusiion on how these persons suffer from post-traumatic stress from the amount of bullying and societal abuse they suffer growing up. If these people did not care about interpersonal relationships or are not empathetic then they would have no reaction to the abuse/alienation imposed upon them.
asd2mom.spaces.live.com
Posted by Elise Butowsky on 06/08/2009 @ 03:12AM PT
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Agreed. I heard a very upsetting thing once--that a well known presenter on "social skills" for kids on the spectrum actually told a room full of educators not to worry about bullying because kids on the spectrum have no emotions. That's the kind of horrific thing that comes of the myth that we don't feel. In reality, yes, PTSD from abuse by others seems unfortunately common for us. I really hope more investigation is done into the overload of emotions theory.
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 06/08/2009 @ 03:28AM PT
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Thank you so much for bringing the PTSD issue up... it seems as though a combination of unusual talents, "normal" appearance and the vulnerabilities of being on the spectrum can come together to create an absolutely irresistable attractant to bullies and other assorted abusers. I used to say that I was like a dog that came to school with the tin cans already tied to my tail.
Posted by selene depackh on 06/08/2009 @ 08:50AM PT
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