Why do I tend to feel distrustful of communities? I wonder if it's due to my lack of pack instincts. Mostly, I find myself agreeing with people who do not view autism in the most negative possible way because I just don't see that as helpful to people with autism. I'd like the attitudes to change so people can get the suppor and understanding they need to lead a better life.

But, there's something about the idea of communities that makes me want to live in a cave whether it's the black community, gay, bi, even Dir en grey fans tend to drive me up a tree with their hierarchy and fighting and insisting that Dir en grey isn't as good or that they sound too western when they have always played rock and roll.
I can work Dir en grey into every conversation, I swear. Maybe what I need is a community of calm people with perspective.
But yes, usually every community is multiple communities, like Diru fans who like their old stuff, fans who like their new stuff, folks who are mad at them for not being visual and fans like me who like everything Dir en grey did.

In all honesty I think the various factions have some of the same desires. I've read the work of a lot  of people who I don't agree with, and it indicates they want the same for their children that I want for my son. They want them to have a place in society. They want society to understand people with autism are not misbehaving but have a difference that needs supports. Unfortunately, we spend too much time warring about how to deal with autism rather than banding together to support eachother. Perhaps we need to learn to act as a single community more often. Just as with Christianity, there are various different denominations with vastly different beliefs, and they frequently argue, but they have the same root religion in common, and are very much considered a community.

This article has been rolling around in my head for a few days, and I have mixed feelings.  On the one hand, I am all in favor of people with similar needs and interests grouping together to share information, support, networking etc.  For example, I know of support groups for people with Aspberger's, and for parents of people with Aspberger's, and for parents whose primary interest is biomedical treatments (although also interested in educational thereapies etc.), and for parents who don't have much interest at all in biomedical.  Clearly all these groups have somewhat different needs and different experiences to share, and meeting other people with similarities is wonderful.

I also feel that all of us who are connected to autism in some way have commonality.  For example, we parents, even of severely affected kids, are so interested in what people with autism who are able to talk have to say about their experiences, perceptions, sensory issues, etc.  And for another example, I know people with Aspberger's who have inflammatory bowel conditions and might benefit from learning about dietary intervention, digestive enzymes, and probiotics.

I belong to a group that at least attempts to provide support and networking opportunities and information relating to all ages and philosophies and places on the Spectrum.  And I feel that Change.org is part of a larger group and should try to encompass the larger autism community.

Within any family, even a close family, there are differences and arguments.  The important thing is to listen and to argue with respect and care for the other person.  I don't really understand why the arguments within our autism family are sometimes vitriolic.  If two people have two different experiences of autism, why not be interested in each other's experiences?

Sometimes I am reminded of an assignment from years ago when I was taking a Black literature class.  We were supposed to read contemporary reviews of an early African-American novel.  I read reviews of the 1940 novel Native Son by Richard Wright.  So many reviewers at the time criticized the novel for various reasons such as for being too Black, or not Black enough, or not representing Black culture in a totally favorable light, or not following the Communist party line (viewed by that reviewer as the only approach that would help Black people) or being too political.

In every political movement, there are disparate factions, including in the civil rights movement, where some advocated for a more militant stance, some for a more soft-spoken approach, and some for something in between.  Yet it was important that there was some kind of overall unity in the civil rights movement.

Likewise there are competing factions in every political party.  I guess that's life; that's human nature.  But I hope we can continue to communicate and learn from each other too.