Autism ACTUALLY Speaking: Models Of Disability Discourse

Been researching approaches to discussing disability and I thought it would be fun to share it. Hope you enjoy!

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[HopeHendershot-Moskal]

For me personally, I feel that my son's Autism is a test of faith. I had an autistic classmate growing up and I was the only who treated him like a human being while the other kids bullied him. I believe God gave me an autistic child knowing that I would love and care for him and never see him as less than a human. Though we have good and bad days, I still love him and I would protect him from anything and even die for him. I don't see him as broken or cursed (like many of my relatives do) but as a gift and a joy.

[spaghetti_pasta]

How do I give more thumbs ups!😀😀😀you are definitely my favorite YouTube channel

[tlrlml]

I prefer a blending of the medical and social models. A purely medical approach has it's disadvantages, such as the one you suggest - eugenics/ the cure culture. But it can't be denied that the medical model does provide answers otherwise unobtainable.

The social model, on it's own, is far to slippery a slope. Remembering that society is nothing more then the collective 'will' of the individuals that comprise it, 'social constructs' are rarely static, immutable, or all encompassing. But, it is all to easy to take the easy way - the pointing of fingers at conveniently shadowy targets - over the hard - analyzing that which occurs for comprehension and adjustment. We can not expect the surrounding allistic society, composed as it is of individuals, to rise above allistic limitations in the theory of mind to embrace us unconditionally; anymore then allistics can expect us to rise above our limitations in adaptability to shift what we are to what they are. Both expectations are irrational and immoral. For us to consider this allistic limitation a mere 'social construct' (as opposed to a real limitation in their cognition) is the same as their consideration of our difference in empathy as a lack thereof. It gets us no where, is that not why we advocate for acceptance over awareness?

The middle road understands that (in at least our shared case) there is a valid medical model that can both inform us and society, but that we have to be vigilant because there are those who will work with that same information against us. While also accepting that allistic society is generally not comfortable with the presence of difference, and acknowledging, (1) that not all of society is out to get us, even if individuals/groups act against us, (2) and that we are as capable of constructing our own societies (an as yet untried endeavor) or working within the more accepting (dare I say 'higher functioning') elements of allistic society to improve the societies outlook on us (which is the way advocacy has ever so slowly made progress so far).

[pastichegraham]

Omg Nathan....WELL SAID!!!! :D <3 I can't say it enough each time!!!! You are :)

[DrMd-jrxt]

I might be autistic. I love your videos, Nathan! 😃

[williamtoyfell]

imagine a blinded tiger in the wild: Is the tiger disabled? If the tiger is, then disability can't be entirely a social construction, because there's no lack of accommodation possible. If the tiger isn't disabled, then it seems like our definition of disability is missing something.

[oriolejb]

I prefer the very model of a modern major general

[IndieAndy]

Yeah I am definitely more in the social model group than anyone. Though I use my views to try and help others understand of my autism. But of course informing them that we are not all the same as the media etc would like everyone to believe. I don't agree with the whole anti vaxxers however I'm in the middle about the cure debate. I wouldn't take a cure however I feel that if something was available then it should be a choice that someone can have it with restrictions. Interesting video Nathan. I did give your channel a shout-out recently as I really enjoyed your content. This is not me saying you should come over to my channel but if you want to watch it you are more than welcome to 😁

[thepessimistictitan]

I support the medical model but am against eugenics