Caissa (who knows a lot more about these issues, I believe, than I do) is correct - and [url=http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=97... is the rationale[/url] of the DSM-V working group for deleting Asperger as a separate entry and subsuming it under Autism/ASD.
Lets not forget that the DSM-II listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. The Tommy quotes on homosexuality are from 1968 the same year as the DSM-II was published.
Mental retardation is still one of the DSM-IV labels. I have been advised at various stages of my sons life to highlight various aspects of his essence depending on what funding sources were available. That includes calling him autistic since he displays some of the DSM's listed traits. My son is unique and has no Doctor's name attached to a "Syndrome" to describe his "condition." I call it being Benjamin. I prefer to highlight his abilities while planning for the areas where he needs care for the safety and security of his person.
IMO Labelling people is fraught with difficulties and often causes more harm than good.
My son is aspie, and earlier had been also diagnosed with non-verbal learning disability, which is sort of a different side of that same coin.
I understand your feelings around labelling NS, and to a large extent agree, but where we found the diagnosis to be helpful, is that we could compel certain services and accomodations from the school board. From about grade four on David started to present with some rather unique challenges which many of his teachers found to be a bit baffling and counter intuitive. High functiong ASD's are much better dealt with these days, but when my son was in grade school both we and the teachers were on a bit of a learning curve. There were some teachers who needed to be dragged to this curve. Ms. oldgoat and I became fairly formidable advocates.
Even now in University he gets a few fairly important accommodations and supports as a matter of right, as someone registered with Accessability Services.
Years ago he joined the Students with Autism Social Association, and now is employed part time by the U of T to co-facilitate one of the groups, as well as putting together and presenting a modified orientation package for incoming students like himself.
Actually, having learned about the condition and being fairly familiar with the tests, I'm pretty sure I'm aspie myself. I should say that my son does not regard himself as disabled. He recognizes a poor fit between himself and mainstream society, which he sees as mainstream society's loss. I'm inclined to agree.
He's been does a bit of public speaking to schools, as well as to student teachers at OISE which has been pretty well recieved, and has presented papers at a couple of conferences. He understands and experiences autism as a subculture.
My son is aspie, and earlier had been also diagnosed with non-verbal learning disability, which is sort of a different side of that same coin.
...
Actually, having learned about the condition and being fairly familiar with the tests, I'm pretty sure I'm aspie myself. I should say that my son does not regard himself as disabled. He recognizes a poor fit between himself and mainstream society, which he sees as mainstream society's loss. I'm inclined to agree.
He's been does a bit of public speaking to schools, as well as to student teachers at OISE which has been pretty well recieved, and has presented papers at a couple of conferences. He understands and experiences autism as a subculture.
Thank you for sharing. Labels are used by school boards and other institutions as gateways to funding and the gateway is always very restrictive.
I look back at my school years and think that it likely that if I had gone to grade school in the 1990's instead of the 1950's I would have been given Ritalin instead of the top marks in all my classes.
My son is non verbal and requires constant personal care but is a very intelligent vibrant young man. He understands respect and responds to respect or the lack of it in very clear and uncertain terms. No one who looks at my son and sees a "retard" every lasts long as a caregiver. He drives them off so quick it is a wonder too behold. But look him in the eye and talk to him like a real human being and he is a lot of fun to be around. The DSM-IV says he suffers from a disorder called mental retardation. He has no fucking disorder he is just a unique human being who is who he is.
You'll get no argument from me about the DSM. Benjamin sounds like a great kid.
One member of our Constituency Association is on the autism spectrum and draws an ODSP pension because of his condition. I ran into him at a coffee shop yesterday and had a long chat. At one point he said, "You'll have to tell me if I'm boring you. I'm not good at reading people." I wish some non-autistic people I know would develop similar social awareness.
A Fredericton woman wants an apology from Statistics Canada for the way it treated her profoundly deaf parents after they asked for an interpreter's help with a survey.
Melissa Hinds said Statistics Canada chose her parents to participate in a survey about technology. The invitation came from a woman who knocked at her parents' door and used written notes to explain the survey.
Her parents agreed to participate but asked for the assistance of a sign language interpreter, Hinds said.
Two days later a note showed up in their mailbox, she said.
"The note basically just said there were no signing services available - like none at all," Hinds said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/02/06/nb-statisti...
The Supreme Court of Canada has ordered a new trial in a sexual assault case involving a mentally disabled witness, and has given her the right to testify in court.
The case from Ontario involves a then 19-year-old disabled woman who was allegedly assaulted by a man living with her mother.
The woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was determined to have the mental capabilities of a child three to six years old.
That led the accused to challenge whether she was capable of giving credible testimony in court, and the trial judge excluded this evidence.
Friday's ruling, in a 6-3 decision, set aside the man's acquittal, and ordered a new trial.
It also ruled that people with mental disabilities no longer have to undergo a competency test in order to testify.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/10/supreme-court-testimony-c...
[QUOTE]
Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin wrote in the ruling that to set the bar too high for testimony from people with disabilities would permit violators to sexually abuse victims with impunity.
"Sexual assault is an evil. Too frequently, its victims are the vulnerable in our society — children and the mentally handicapped. Yet rules of evidence and criminal procedure, based on the norm of the average witness, may make it difficult for these victims to testify in courts of law," McLachlin wrote in the ruling, on behalf of the majority.
[/QUOTE]
An excellent decision.
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Psst... Pass it on to everyone you know! D
If we all write to Dalton & Andrea ...
....we can stop this budget that would destroy Ontario
email Dalton:'
email Andrea:
He wants to cut disability!
As a father of two sons on the autism spectrum, I have often experienced our sons reaching milestones on their own schedules. This video is an example of another father experiencing his son reaching a milestone. The father happens to be a soldier and some of the background dialogue is in the context of his returning home from Afghanistan. I know that will offend many so I present this warning in advance.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/05/11/soldier-reunion-son-walks-...
MY REALITY----
April 5,2012 I walked into rouge valley ajax hospital asking for help with my cycling mood swings and my severe migraine. Was admitted and put on form 1. Transferred to centenary hospital, still no meds yet to help calm and was refused a family member to come with me because visiting hours where over. Once there, I was given a gown and told to put it on. I refused. Nurse demanded. I refused and threw the gown into the hallway. I asked for meds first, then the gown. Instead she called security. 3 security and 3 nurses, grabbed me, handcuffed me, threw me tummy down on the floor, they stepped on my head, arms and feet and stripped off my pants, underwear too. I screamed and cried for them to please stop, telling them I was raped before, please stop and the security on stepped on my head even harder. After the incident, I was in complete shock and could not stop crying. They still did not bring me any meds for at least and hour longer. My left leg was fractured and my right wrist has ligament damage, as well as back, neck and shoulder pain.
I did try and resolve my dispute with rouge valley centenery hospital respectfully and through the right avenues. But as I was told by patient relations, because of the stigma of bipolar disorder, I will never be heard. This is a clear violation of my human rights. I am currently filing papers with human rights, or at least I am trying to get the motivation to do so. But after being literally kicked down and stepped on like garbage and told that I have no rights by no only the hospital, but by the Police Department (43 Division), because although yes I do have a mental illness, it will NEVER define who I am! It is unfortunate that the very healthcare system I trusted to "help" me through my crisis, instead took advantage of me and saw me as just another patient, just a paycheck. This is disheartening and although they obviously do not care, they have forever altered my view on where I can turn to for help and that is unfair!!!!
Below is something I wrote a few years ago.... this was before rouge valley centenery stripped me of not only my clothing, but my dignity and my feeling of self worth... Now I read this EVERY SINGLE DAY, trying to believe in my own words again....
------I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, a condition that stems from having a chemical imbalance in my brain. It is said to be genetic, yet no one knows how it starts. It is controllable if I am responsible (just like having diabetes).
From total independence, my family and I adjusted to the constant monitoring that was required. It's debilitating at the start because one is in denial! A stigma I burdened myself with. There is also the slow progress towards getting back to doing my usual activities. From doing anything I wanted whenever I wanted, I had to pause for a while until my body adjusted to the meds. That meant a pause on work, driving, going to church, enjoying my son, spending time with my family and spending time with my husband.
Mental illness is a character defect-- cause for social isolation, job discrimination, and shame. There were no posh clinics; only dark corridors locked away from the world. At 26yrs of age, I was ushered through padlocked gates. I met the faces of psychosis and schizophrenia; the lost souls haunted by delusions and dementia. Many, like me, were buried under despair so deep; we had pursued a death of our own design. You lowered your head as you walked those halls, fearful of seeing your pain in anothers eyes.
After a couple of hospitalizations and MANY MANY MANY different medication trials, I eventually rejoined the world, unaware that the true nature of my illness remained hidden, and a long hazardous highway stretched out ahead of me. Burning to prove myself, I learned the power of God was the only way to truly set me free and I like a rose I began to bloom. I am now after 2 years on a sick leave of absence, back at work full time as a support worker and I give all the Glory to the Almighty God .. The Great Physician!!
I have a role in controlling this illness. Every setback teaches me something ... Behaviors, triggers, responses– and how to reach out. I no longer fear the social stigma or silent prejudice harbored by some. I must forgive those who stepped away along the ugly course of my illness. It takes stamina and understanding to endure my erratic and irrational behavior ... to seek me out when I withdraw from life … to listen as I speed through a digressive one-way discourse … to painfully watch my self-abuse. To be the last barricade between me and death ... Those who love me enough to ride it out are my blessing and my strength.
I HAVE a disorder --- IT DOES NOT DEFINE ME. I remain the loving, intelligent, independent and compassionate woman I have always been. This illness will not beat me! I WILL find joy in the middle ground!!!
Ignorance about this illness persists, despite legislation and health benefits. Trust me: You cannot “just snap out of it.” You do not choose to lose your career, your friends or your life. You come to accept that your sanity, even your survival, will forever depend on a daily regimen of ever-changing medications.
I take the medication prescribed to me. For over 2 years I lived in a fog while they tried to figure out my cocktail. I slept a lot one minute and couldn't sleep at all the next. I lost 24 hours of my day. It was like the whole world was put on slow-mo and I couldn’t get anything done.
Eventually, I came out of the fog as the whole, complete, medicated me. You should never feel medicated by the way. I don’t. I still have ups and downs but they are much less and far between. I still write – but I have a lot more positive things to say these days.
Generally, my life as a medicated bipolar is good. The most important thing for me has been this.
I am not {me} the bipolar.
I am {me} the mother, the wife, the hard worker, and the caregiver.
My illness doesn’t define me. No matter what others think of me, or people with bipolar like me – I am not a victim.
I am not a stigma.
I am just me.
Tygerbaby, I strongly suggest you consult a lawyer as to how best present your case for discrimination, and whether a tort claim is appropriate in this instance. Stay strong.
Oscar Pistorius was selected Wednesday to run in both the individual 400 metres and the 4x400 relay at the London Olympics, clearing the way for him to become the first amputee track athlete to compete at any games.
In a surprise last-minute decision, South Africa's Olympic committee and national track federation said the double amputee can run in his individual event as well as the relay even though he did not meet the country's qualifying criteria in the 400.
The Olympic committee earlier announced that Pistorius, who runs on carbon fiber blades, had been picked only for the relay.
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/article/pistorius-first-amputee-compete-t...
Man attacked in Paris McDonalds for wearing cybernetic eyepiece:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/07/17/tech-mann-digital-eye...
Hey Smith, I'm not getting a workable link to this story ...
Been looking at what funds are available to cover my funeral - I live by myself on a disability pension. I have a generous life insurance policy that covers everything including a Death Policy for burial ($10,000.00) until I officially retire (from the Mob!) at age 65, then it becomes a lump sum of $4,000.oo that can be used for burials, and the province of Quebec has $2,500.00 that can be used for burial costs. And my credit union has me insured as well, but I'm getting someone over here to look at that policy carefully.
Always a good idea to get these things settled well ahead of time.
ps: didn't know where else to put this, but I'm disabled, so hey...
Cheery post Boom Boom.
You're welcome! 
When the Mob is done with you there will be nothing left to bury. 
It'll save everyone here a lot of time and trouble, then. Maybe they'll be inclined to have a memorial service for me. I've already selected the music - hope they abide with me - When The Saints, Jumping Jack Flash, and You Can't always Get What You Want. 
