tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post5969645691717794079..comments2023-08-14T03:27:40.920-07:00Comments on Just Being Me...Who Needs "Normalcy" Anyway?: An Open Letter in Response to Mad in America’s “Neurodiversity is Dead. Now What?” articleMorénikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17360855353262663284noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-54053792210685263772018-11-13T21:30:37.495-08:002018-11-13T21:30:37.495-08:00This is beautiful, and I thank you so sincerely fo...This is beautiful, and I thank you so sincerely for writing this. The work you do is valuable, and I don't know why this doesn't have a million replies. <br /><br />I'd love to share this (or any) of your writings on www.theaspergian.com if you're willing. <br /><br />Brilliant. <3 Terra Vancehttp://www.theaspergian.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-86721025840448694232018-04-10T19:23:33.228-07:002018-04-10T19:23:33.228-07:00Great points. Thank you for commenting!Great points. Thank you for commenting!Morénikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17360855353262663284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-24763494692295608852018-04-10T18:45:27.451-07:002018-04-10T18:45:27.451-07:00I also wish to point out that genetic interactions...I also wish to point out that genetic interactions are very complex, and we don't always know how it plays out. And regarding identical twins, to say that identical twins not always being autistic means it isn't genetic, is like saying that personality isn't genetically effective because identical twins can be total opposites personality-wise even when raised the same way and with similar experiences. Because yes, personality is genetically affected, but that too is a complex thing that might be dependent on exactly which genes are activated, which may be environmental, sort of, but may also come down to random chance. And even environmental things may come down to random chance, basically - say, one part of someone's uterus has more of a specific molecule than another part of the uterus does, so one twin gets a different concentration of that molecule than another one does at a crucial part of the development stage and so they develop a different personality, or something as pervasive as one develops autism and the other does not. That does not mean anyone did something bad or that something is necessarily wrong, it's just a matter of a different set of genes being activated in each twin, whether random chance tripped different genes on their own, or random chance caused slight alterations in the concentration of different substances within the same environment. And even if some of that is environmental, that doesn't mean it's bad - plenty of animals have natural variations caused by environmental changes. Ours might not be as drastic, but that does not mean those things are automatically a problem, and, like with those other species, maybe that's just a normal part of the human condition. At least, the way autism affects personality and identity is. And if there are other problems, which there are sometimes, I see no reason why one cannot treat the other problems and leave the autism alone - nobody should have to trade away their entire selves for a stranger inhabiting their body to get problems like that to go away. Better that the actual problems (i.e. auto-immune issues, motor disorders, etc.) get treated while the autistic identity and personality is left alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09928354882099364044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-40110813249447419372018-04-10T08:57:09.539-07:002018-04-10T08:57:09.539-07:00I do wish to add that, as I stated in the post, an...I do wish to add that, as I stated in the post, any number of diagnoses can accompany an autism diagnosis. Both of my children who are also on the spectrum have food allergies. One also has auto-immune issues. And they are followed by specialists for these conditions. It is a myth that the Autistic community is anti-treatment. Respectful, meaningful supports and resources can completely transform a person’s life and improve their quality of life as well. We oppose dehumanizing, unnecessary, dubious, compliance based, and coercive treatments - not ALL treatment itself. (Just to clarify.)Morénikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17360855353262663284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-11796041615268995392018-04-10T08:50:12.820-07:002018-04-10T08:50:12.820-07:00It is indeed true that all humans, regardless of n...It is indeed true that all humans, regardless of neurology, are impacted by our environments. I don’t think anyone would deny that. However, that doesn’t negate the role of genetics. <br /><br />Thank you for being respectful of your daughter’s privacy by not sharing sensitive details about her without her consent. I wish more parents would do the same!<br /><br />Your point about identical twins is a good one - although as a person from the ethnic group with the highest percentage of naturally occurring twins in the world, I follow twin research on occasion and have found that “identical” twins aren’t always purely identical due to genetic variation, cell migration, and other factors that are buried too deeply for me to properly recall and summarize effectively. However, it is true that it isn’t a matter of simply heredity. It’s a complex, eclectic matter that science still hasn’t fully unfolded. <br /><br />Thanks for commenting. <br />Morénikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17360855353262663284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8151218235669995122.post-53640678191449106422018-04-10T08:03:25.225-07:002018-04-10T08:03:25.225-07:00If autism were only genetic, wouldn't identica...If autism were only genetic, wouldn't identical twins always share a diagnosis? That isn't the case. Besides, I don't see why anyone should take offense to the idea that there are environmental factors at play anyway, because we are ALL a product of our genes and our environment. <br /><br />The only reason I am making this anonymous is because I am addressing my daughter's path, and I feel that is her story to tell, not mine. But after addressing various underlying physical issues (food allergies, pathogens), the harmful behaviors that the adult autistic community tried to tell me were just part of her autism have vanished. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com