Strengths of people on the autism spectrum

Website: http://ASDspecialist.com

Let's change the stigma about being on the autism spectrum by focusing on strengths. I challenge YouTube viewers to comment (using text or video) about the strengths of people they know on the spectrum.
I am a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in treating families affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
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Category:

Education

Tags:

• autism
• Asperger's Syndrome
• ASD
• parents
• Spectrum Disorder
• treatment
• education
• Asperger
• Aspergers
• ASDspecialist
• therapy
• Barbara Lester
• autistic
• stigma
• strengths

[OgreMECH]

One way to remove the stigma: stop calling it "autism spectrum DISORDER"!

[ASDspecialist]

@OgreMECH I agree. What do you think is the best term? Lately I have just been referring to the autism spectrum and dropping the disorder term, and using the word "difference" instead of symptom- but I think these can be improved on - your thoughts?

[Comfortism]

@ASDspecialist My wife works with people within the autistic spectrum and I've never heard her use the "disorder". I don't think it's a British thing though because I just got an e-mail from someone saying ASD spectrum (which is an issue of English and how to say things, another debate perhaps!)

Thank you. I've just started researching how best to teach people within the autistic spectrum and this was a great place to start that research.

[ASDspecialist]

@Comfortism Thanks for stopping by. I definitely think it's good to minimize the use of the word Disorder. When the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) comes out in 2013, they are proposing to no longer use the terms: Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, and PDD.NOS and instead use the term: Autism Spectrum Disorder. So unless that changes those of us in the field who have to use the term for certain purposes like diagnostic reports ....

[mtvbsb86]

My son is VERY strong willed, and he doesn't give up easily. He is very smart and come up with things that he has heard about weeks ago... He has good memory. :)

[ASDspecialist]

@mtvbsb86 Sounds like he can really persevere and is very bright!

[yu244720]

My wife, a daycare worker was working with her peers on a mural. At the time they were painting the gym walls with hand prints. There were hundreds of prints - different colours, and angles. After a brief discussion with her, I proceeded to leave the gym. As I left, a pattern in the walls caught my eyes. I blurted out "thats strange they are all left hands", then walked out the door not thinking any more of it.

Later that day, my wife confronted me. She said that it "weirded" the staff out!

[OgreMECH]

@ASDspecialist Calling it a "condition" is nice and neutral to me. Calling it a disorder seems to be not only insensitive but also inaccurate since it is not always disadvantageous and sometimes helpful.

[ASDspecialist]

@autiger2012 Great point! I have seen many times that encyclopedic knowledge, courtesy of Aspergers!

[ASDspecialist]

@bpanitz Excellent point!! Thanks for joining in the discussion!