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Sean;

Help me out here, I am having a hard time understanding what you mean by acceptance. Not your fault for miscommunicating, rather it is part of my personality.

Is this social acceptance?
Do you believe that wc users are a clique?

Is this acceptance of BIID in general or your individual need to use a wheelchair or more specifically, your need to need to use a wc?

Do you want universal acceptance by the disabled?

I do not mean to be rude but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this because of the way my mind is wired.

Hello Ronald, no worries, you’re not rude, just seeking clarification :) Those questions are good ones.

“Is this social acceptance?” – Yes, I would like social (and societal) acceptance, for myself as an individual with BIID, so I can say “I have BIID” instead of having to lie to people, and for everyone else who has BIID.

“Do you believe that wc users are a clique?” – Yes and no. I think there is a feeling of kindred between wheelchair users. I don’t think that makes them a clique necessarily. At the same time, there is definitely a hierarchy within the disability community, for example “paras are better than quads”, and in that sense, there is some sense of clique, yes.

“Is this acceptance of BIID in general or your individual need to use a wheelchair or more specifically, your need to need to use a wc?” – All of these.

“Do you want universal acceptance by the disabled?” – That would be nice, but I am not naive enough to think it possible. There will always be people who aren’t ready/willing/able to accept differences or things they don’t understand. I guess a greater wish would be for the disability community as a whole to be willing to at least listen to what we have to say, rather than shut down the moment we mention the word BIID or say we have a need to have physical impairments.

I hope that clarifies things for you :)

Hello?

A very “valid Point”, is that even though I have a “real” Developmental Disability – “Asperger’s Syndrome”, people think I am “faking” being autistic.

Yet, as I have mentioned before, Sean, I still feel “not disabled enough”, with my own body image of a person with some form of paralysis, & only able to stand & hobble around using crutches & HKAFO orthopedic braces.

(Which I wish I had…now.)

An interesing issue, in that I am accepted as disabled by other Asperger’s adults, yet, “neurotypicals” (normal people) think “Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism” is some sort of “newest” developmental disability “diagnosis” fad.

Just try seeing things my way…

For Real:

Incapable of reading & interpreting facial/body nonverbal expressions/gestures, echolalia, odd “self-stimulation” routines, incapable of mental multitasking, total preference for solitude/aloneness, ect.

Anyway, just something more to think about…

Thomas

Interesting. Until about twelve years ago a number of people had suggested I have Asperger’s. I relate to the symptoms you describe, Thomas. However, in my case it was much better explained by a combination of social anxiety disorder (which I no longer have) and OCD (which I still have). But yes, Asperger’s is real.

Another aspect of Asperger’s Syndrome, is that I am a “walking encyclopedia” of fats & information.

Also experience auditory sensory processing problems, related to speech. PLus, being autistic, I process verbal lantguage, “literally”.

Also in the syndrome, is odd usages of language (when present), & unusual either overly emotional or robot-like tonality/inflections of speech.

Asperger’s is “quite real” as a developmental disability, & it is lifelong. My cognitive social functioning is more on par with a 10 year-old, rather than an adult.

Physically, I have extreme “motor clumsiness”, causing difficulties with handwriting, & with doing very fine motor coordination tasks, like assembling/soldering electronics, which was my “career”, before finally being placed on SSDI Disability Retirement @ age 48.

Anyway, my Academic Achievement level, is a BS in Electronic Engineering Technology.

Lately, I myself have intermittently say in my deceased Mom’s wheelchair, & every time I have done that, I have felt “physically complete”.

Thomas, I just had a strange experience. I was reading your comment, and at the same time trying to carry on a conversation with my partner. This was hard since, like you, I am terrible at multitasking. She was saying that she thought I might have Asperger’s. I hadn’t said anything about you, but then I told her to read what you wrote. She said “This is who I’m living with” (meaning me). Then she checked a description of Asperger’s on the internet, and said that I fit the description 98%. I’m still not convinced, but I definitely have quite a few of the the same things going as you. I am very literal with language and I have a hard time understanding slang, etc. I’m also a walking encyclopedia; climate data for anywhere in the world, elevations of mountain peaks, any geographic fact actually.

Anyway, you are doing well with your social skills here, Thomas. I do know that it’s not easy. Thank you for sharing about yourself.

I function “reasonably well”, but unable to get through the process of job interviews. Employers have had difficulty seeing past my “autistic” exterior.

I also as part of my disability, have issues, processing where my “body” is, spatially, & I do constantly physically trip over myself.

Also experience “limited” bodily “self awareness”, as an autistic characteristic. One problem, is a “high threshold” for discomfort/pain. Also have little “awareness” of physical sensations related to controlling both my bladder & bowels, thus, my being “in XL size Adult Diapers” 24/7, especially these past 22 years.

I am able to drive my new 2008 Ford Ranger truck, but, due to multitasking deficits, I can not tolerate passengers, & do not use the radio most of the time, to be able to hyperfocus on “staying on the road”.

JUst more about living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a “real” disability.