BBC: My Autism and Me "A great 14:22 video"

[Douglas Carpenter]

[Warpy]

1. Great film, neat kids

When I went to school, autistic kids who were high functioning enough to go to school were labeled all sorts of things, most of them negative. Poorly functioning autistic kids were lumped in with dyslexic kids and others who could have benefited greatly from the right sort of help as "retarded," kept out of school and institutionalized when they got too big to handle at home.

One of my best friends was one of those kids, a dyslexic before anybody knew what those were. People wondered why in the world the smartest kid in school would prefer the company of a kid who was considered one of the dullest, but I knew she wasn't dumb and we had a great time together. She just couldn't read or write.

I would hope it would be the same for higher functioning autistic kids. Middle school is the worst for anyone who is at all different, it certainly was for me. Once talented kids survive middle school, the sky is the limit.

If they get help and acceptance when they need them.

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. it was so much the dark ages back then... there was no such thing as dyslexia, ADHD

or Asperger's/high functioning autism - Dyslexics were just stupid. ADHD were spoiled and needed to be spanked more and Asperger's/high functioning autism were just weird. I know things have come a long way - but when I read comments from young people on a major autism/Asperger's discussion forum - wrongplanet.net - so many of them sound so discouraged, so rejected and they are so young.

[Jefferson23]

3. Very true, and it is sad to read. On the other hand, I love their growing ability to advocate

for themselves. Thanks for posting, Douglas.

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. just one more for exposure

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. jsut one more

Here is the most extensive and recognized test screening test for Autism- as far I can gather from the materials I've read. It is actually designed to be administered by a professional - but it can be taken and scored online: The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R). Remember this is not to be taken as a definite diagnoses. But if you do score within the autism spectrum - it might be worth considering consulting a professional who is an expert on autism testing.

http://aspietests.org/raads/index.php


NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP OR SIGN IT TO TAKE THE TEST. YOU SIMPLY NEED TO STATE YOUR AGE AND YOUR SEX AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED OR SUSPECT YOU MIGHT HAVE A FORM OF AUTISM. IF YOU ANSWER THOSE QUESTONS AND CHECK THAT YOU AGREE THAT THEY CAN USE YOUR DATA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES - YOU CAN SKIP THE SIGN UP/SIGN IN AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE TEST.