While there are many autistic communities which exist online, I still struggle to understand what is the culture of autism.
When I think of the word culture I think of the many different cultures associated with different countries e.g. English culture often brings up images of Shakespeare, drinking tea, etc. When I think of France I think of fashion and wine and romantic people.
Culture seems to be about art, the stories told, the attitudes of people and so on.
But, these cultures are built up over hundred of years and more to the point all countries are filled with people of different neurological types.
However, autistic people exist everywhere, as Aspiecentral and other forums prove. There are members here from the USA, France, UK, and so on. In a way, you already have the culture of your country, even though society rejects you.
It's my belief that if neurodiversity is to be accepted then there needs to be a more solid definition of what is meant by autistic culture. People need to see that autism is not a disability.
Perhaps people should even be defined by belonging to two different kinds of culture - their culture of their country and their neurological culture. People should be allowed to choose which is the dominate culture in their life and I suspect that a person's neurology is more important.
So, here are my questions. You don't have to answer them all or any.
1. How should a neurological culture be defined? By it's way of thinking, perceiving the world?
2. How and who will decide what autistic culture is?
3. What will happen if conflicting ideas arise?
4. How will the culture of autism be expressed?
5.Can a neurological culture survive across all the different countries of the world?
6.Can a person have belong to two different types of culture - the culture of their country and their neurological culture?
7. How old is autistic culture?
8. What is autistic culture to you?
9. Is it important for neurodiversity?
I apologize for my rambling thoughts. I've been asking myself these questions for some time now.
When I think of the word culture I think of the many different cultures associated with different countries e.g. English culture often brings up images of Shakespeare, drinking tea, etc. When I think of France I think of fashion and wine and romantic people.
Culture seems to be about art, the stories told, the attitudes of people and so on.
But, these cultures are built up over hundred of years and more to the point all countries are filled with people of different neurological types.
However, autistic people exist everywhere, as Aspiecentral and other forums prove. There are members here from the USA, France, UK, and so on. In a way, you already have the culture of your country, even though society rejects you.
It's my belief that if neurodiversity is to be accepted then there needs to be a more solid definition of what is meant by autistic culture. People need to see that autism is not a disability.
Perhaps people should even be defined by belonging to two different kinds of culture - their culture of their country and their neurological culture. People should be allowed to choose which is the dominate culture in their life and I suspect that a person's neurology is more important.
So, here are my questions. You don't have to answer them all or any.
1. How should a neurological culture be defined? By it's way of thinking, perceiving the world?
2. How and who will decide what autistic culture is?
3. What will happen if conflicting ideas arise?
4. How will the culture of autism be expressed?
5.Can a neurological culture survive across all the different countries of the world?
6.Can a person have belong to two different types of culture - the culture of their country and their neurological culture?
7. How old is autistic culture?
8. What is autistic culture to you?
9. Is it important for neurodiversity?
I apologize for my rambling thoughts. I've been asking myself these questions for some time now.