Speaking is Not Communication - Autism does not Speak

[AutisticWhoLives4God]

I'm so glad I clicked on this. I can relate to you very much. I completely agree with you. I love this video. It is super.

[gogirl341]

Thank you very much. I cried while watching this. I have a son who has high functioning autism and i feel its my place on earth to teach people that he has a difference, not a disability. YOU HAVE JUST SAID EXACTLY WHAT IS IN MY HEART. A person at church told me not to worry that God will fix him..... fix what??? there is nothing to fix. He is perfect just as he is. His autism helps make him the beautiful person he is and i am proud to share part of my life with him.

[gogirl341]

Thank you very much. I cried while watching this. I have a son who has high functioning autism and i feel its my place on earth to teach people that he has a difference, not a disability. YOU HAVE JUST SAID EXACTLY WHAT IS IN MY HEART. A person at church told me not to worry that God will fix him..... fix what??? there is nothing to fix. He is perfect just as he is. His autism helps make him the beautiful person he is and i am proud to share part of my life with him. He has differences only.

[wojcikfaith]

Corina that was awesome! I am a teachers aide and work with elementary age children with autism. I love those children.....JUST THE WAY THEY ARE! You made me cry when I watched it. It was unbelievable how well you read my mind. My "kids" are a work of art, each unique and beautiful the way God made them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feeling with the world, you are amazing!

[AnElephantThatPaints]

My disabilities give me character and have helped me become a better person. I would not even change them through a magical pill, yet I would try overcoming them with the longer way.

Chelsea

[SepherStar]

I have AS and verbal communication is not a strong point for me as well, however, I do not consider AS and autism the same. Similar, but not the same. Children with autism have profound language delays, many never acquiring language in any useful form, and this probably leads to secondary developmental affects. I believe the neurological reason behind this initial language delay is absent in those with AS.

I do not believe in "curing" AS. But autism is a different story.

[zikasilver1]

@SepherStar I'll have to disagree, given that AS is a part of the Autism spectrum. I would like to see your references to your claim that many autistics never acquire "language in any useful form", as typing, sign language and writing are forms of language and communication, and I have found many autistics who do not speak to use them. I have also found that I have the same disabilities, strengths and weaknesses as Autistic people. Professionals and parents have found this as well.

[SepherStar]

@zikasilver1 I said "many" not "all", nor did I say "most".

[zikasilver1]

@SepherStar Still, I'd like to see exactly how you came to the conclusion that a large number of autistics "never [acquire] language in any useful form".

Also, this still does not invalidate the fact that Asperger's is a part of the Autism spectrum, and thus, is autism. The same characteristics apparent in Autism Disorder is the same as in Asperger's. As noted, the only difference is the onset of language, and even that is inconsistent, and thus not a qualifying difference.

[1pinetree]

Yes, communication .... is different from speaking.. thank you for making this beautiful video.

[TwigDjango]

God bless you, Corina.

[SirenoftheSouth]

Support Neurodiversity! We are Differently Abled, not Disabled! We are humans just like you! ~Bee~(Autistic)

[milivica]

I hear you. I was in three different institutions as a child, back before the word Asperger's was invented.

Though I did not seek a 'cure', at 42 I began to emerge. None of me was erased, all that made me 'me' was enriched. I live in the world, not parallel to it.

There are too many ABA touting incompetents trying to force what is aversive to be accepted by asd's. It makes 'cure'=BAD.

True 'cure' keeps YOU intact. Autism isn't something you are or have, it's neurology that didn't develop.

[survivor8393]

Diversity is beautiful !!!

[capnmort]

Ooh, I like this one too.

[zikasilver1]

Thanks ^.^

[zikasilver1]

Thanks!

[LthrnZack]

Love the video. It's a goodhearted message and it is so beautifully written :D

[GingerAutie]

thanks for putting this on youtube.

I so agree with you.

Good job.

[zikasilver1]

You're welcome and Thank you :D

[zikasilver1]

excuse me, who's ND?

[Lukadia]

Apparently he believes you are from North Dakota, land of petrified wood and deadly toxins.

[wiscsuzski]

Dear zikasilver1. I believe FynFlyte is referring to Neurodiversity. A sort of movement to accept that humans come with a variety of brains. (see Kathleen Seidel and or Autism Hub) This means to me that we have to accept those like Fyn even though they are clueless RE ASDs.

[zikasilver1]

Dear wiscuzski, I do believe that FynFlyte means that too. However, in order to avoid mis-communication, as my dear friend Lukadia illustrates, I would like to give Fyn the opportunity to explain.

[wiscsuzski]

You're right. I need to work on minding  my own business. :o)

[zikasilver1]

ah, but at the same time, it helps to have the opinion and insight of other people to make a more informed decision about something. I would rather be completely educated about a matter than stumbling blindly with incomplete data and make assumptions.

Wouldn't you agree?

[wiscsuzski]

Well said!

[zikasilver1]

Thanks!!

[mover86]

Beautiful.

And True.

I myself do not have Autism, but I have a Universal amount of Love and Respect for those who do. You are people, you are human... and in Truth - you are a better example of "Humanity" than those humans that consider themselves "normal".

Much Love,

Rikki xx

[zikasilver1]

Thank you!!

[twels1]

I am not a fan of the word cure either. I wonder though, I am active in a organization called Generation Rescue, You would probably say that name is worse. I have a very low functioning child on the spectrum from a neurotypical point of view. What words would you like me to use in my quest for respect, communication, and independence for him?

[zikasilver1]

It's a matter of attitude. Please understand that your child is a beautifully unique individual who simply is having trouble coping and dealing with the world. Be patient. Be kind. Be strong and defend him. Believe in Him. Find his strengths, gifts and celebrate every success, no matter how small. Accept that yes, your son is not normal. Mourn if you need to, but try to reach your son on his level, explore his interests. Push his boundaries, but let him not be overwhelmed. Love him as is.

[zikasilver1]

And always remember, you may have lost your ideas of your son's future, but you have not lost your son. He is still your son. He is wonderful. You are wonderful. Don't be afraid to ask questions, to ask the real experts of autism, autistic individuals.

[FynFlyte]

The experts on autism are the fsmily members who live with and support those with autism, not the affected individuals. They are brain damaged and cannot help themselves or anyone else.

[zikasilver1]

unfortunately, you are wrong, FynFlyte. Not even family members know everything about autism. Family members know about their family members with autism, but not everything about it. It is us who LIVE with autism. And I have helped people. I have helped friends back from suicide, from alcoholism, supported them from grief, brought myself back from depression. I live in my own apartment, with a job and a university education, and I did it without "autism treatment"

[Lukadia]

Fail. You have made the founding fathers of internet trolldom roll in their graves.

Protip: Less obvious, more funny.

[FynFlyte]

You probably do not have autism at all. Many adults being diagnosed or diagnosing themselves with an ASD actually have borderline personality diorde or similar mental illnesses. ASDs are serious disabilities caused by vaccines and other toxins and people like you pretending to be something you are not make me sick.

[Lukadia]

One more try, Toxin Pants. Don't screw it up--remember, LESS obvious, MORE funny.

[zikasilver1]

O thank you, random stranger on the internet, for enlightening me as to my true diagnosis after 6 years of being diagnosed by several professionals, and knowing nothing about it before being diagnosed! Thank you STRANGER!!!

But seriously; how many autistic adults do you know? Honestly. Are you an expert? Don't think so.

Do you know what the "S" in ASD stands for? It stands for SPECTRUM, as in "A broad range of related qualities", meaning a huge range of autistic traits.

Go do real research.

[mover86]

Wrong. How can someone who does not have Autism, know more about Autism than someone who is actually experiencing it? "Knowledge" and "Facts" are not the same as Experience.

If only by following the examples of people with Autism, us "normal" humans could learn a lot about love and freedom. And people like you could learn to be a tad more understanding of such people. Brain damaged? No. Gifted? Yes. I myself have learned from those I have worked with. I thank them for it.

[FynFlyte]

Autism is brain damage. You people who try to tout it as a difference are doing a great disservice to people who are affected by this disorder. You are dangerous and you need to stop.

[zikasilver1]

Autism is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM-IV-TR (newest edition), meaning that the brain has developed differently, which is not the same as damaged. Yes, there are autistics with neurological problems, but that is not autism. It is the same brain damage that can affect non-autistic persons.

I know this because I am autistic.

I understand that it is difficult for you to understand, that you need to define autism as such. But it's not true.

[mover86]

I work for a charity that helps people with Autism by recognising the positive qualities in them & allowing them to be as they wish while aiming to aid them in understanding the world around them. All those we help have benefited greatly. Tell me how that is dangerous.

I will correct your incorrect statement: I am not dangerous. I have the capacity to see the good in it. Unlike you, who labels it as nothing more than "brain damage". Can you explain to me how you help people with Autism?

[AgentCROCODILE]

I must say I agree with you 500%+

"Autism Speaks" can shut the fuck up and die. I have Autism and I can speak for myself (even though I find using IM easier than verbal communication and it isn't like I am absolutely nonverbal either)

[FynFlyte]

Autism these days is simply the disease du jour. Most of those claiming it do not have it at all. Kids with minor speech delays are called autistic these days, when they were never autistic. People with serious autism and Asperger's are mostly unable to be employed and live marginal lives. Autism is serious and to say it does not need a cure it damning truly autistic people to tragic lives of poverty and loniness. How can that be good.

[AgentCROCODILE]

I have seen exactly what you are seeing too and it is not helping me (even though I am moderate plus Asperger syndrome [aka NOT severe autism] it still makes my life super damn hard)

I will not say autism does not need a cure. I must say that there is no cure. So why bother searching?

A lot of the "cures" I have seen are absolutely insane and dangerous. Even though it *may* *reduce* autism it does have lots of nasty side effects (which could be worse than autism itself).

[AgentCROCODILE]

I wonder why there aren't many smart people like you around. I agree with that. I had horrible experiences with an "autism expert" and her name is Ann Manning. Of course, she is a very arrogant woman who should be fired. She doesn't have autism at all, and I have known other autistic people who hate her guts because she is so stupid and rude and smokes so heavily that you can stand 100 meters away too and you can clearly smell the cigarette smoke!

[guillatra]

The first time I heard about curing autism, I thought it was a joke. But many people take this stupid idea for very seriuos. I think, many concerns want to make moey by curing autism, not more.

[zikasilver1]

making money, about appearing to be normal, as if there is a state of normal for human beings

It would be ridiculous if it wasn't that people take it serious.

[Aragonpr]

Thank you so much for expressing what a lot of us living with autism have difficulty saying. You are beautiful, just the way you are.

[zikasilver1]

You're welcome.