[INTJMom]

Originally Posted by Merkw

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4. This question is for everyone, whether on the spectrum or not: How many people with an autistic spectrum disorder do you personally know personally? How severe is it? If possible, what do you think the would be the MBTI type of the person?

He is the son of a friend in another state. He was diagnosed with strong autism when he was about 5, I think. He's in his 20's now. He was extremely introverted. I don't know him well enough to answer for sure anything else, but he did become a wiz at computers and playing a musical instrument. His family was full of "quirky redheads" who are highly specialized at something - parents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Speaking of which, I know another family with some quirky redheads (don't know whether that's significant or not) who has a son who is so... well.. I wouldn't be surprised if he was diagnosed with a mild form of autism.

Autistic tendencies seem rather INTJ or ISTJ ish to me.

5. If you are NOT on the autistic spectrum, how would you personally describe autism and how you perceive it?

My first introduction was from seeing Rain Man many years ago. My impression is that they become very stuck in their ways and need everything to be the same all the time. They don't adjust well to any changes. They can dig in their heels and become very stubborn if they're forced to endure too much out-of-the-ordinary happenings. I have a friend who takes care of a man with Down Syndrome. He has this type of "stubbornness against change" also. Not sure if he is also autistic.

6. For everyone: What do you think is the cause of autism? Do you think that it is, in fact, a disorder, or rather a difference in brain structure? Do you think there should be a cure? What is your opinion of the neurodiversity movement?

I don't know anything about this. I thought it was a genetic malfunction like what causes other mental or physical handicaps.

Neurodiversity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The concept of neurodiversity is embraced by some autistic individuals and people with related conditions, who believe that autism is not a disorder, but a part of their identity, so that curing autistic people would be the same as destroying their original personalities. Proponents prefer the term over such labels as "abnormal" and "disabled". Some groups apply the concept of neurodiversity to ADHD,[2] developmental speech disorders as well as dyslexic, dyspraxic, hyperactive people, and Parkinson's.[2]"

I find that frustrating. Nothing is a disorder any more. If I had a child with autism, I would want him to be able to lead as "normal" of a life as possible. I think that extreme autism makes "normal" life extremely difficult. If you say it's not a disorder, all of a sudden there's no money available to help you, because well, there's nothing wrong with you. You're "normal".

I had a friend who had a son who talked like "Baby Bay-oh" (Baby Bear) on Sesame Street, but she couldn't get therapy for him because it was decided that was a "normal speech pattern". Never mind that we couldn't understand him half the time. What a bunch of rubbish.

I'm sure there's other sides to this I'm not seeing, but those are my first impressions.

Being a person who is also uncomfortable with too much change, I see it as a social handicap I have. It does not help me in real life.

7. If you are on the autistic spectrum, what anecdotes do you have that are particularly revealing of your condition, or related to it? i.e. are there any particular moments where your condition has resulted in a comic situation? A sad/tragic situation? A particular situation where it has been a burden? A blessing? Any notable anecdotes related to you being on the spectrum are welcome.

8. Same as the above, accept for non-autists. Any notable situations that you can recall where the subject of autism or an autistic individual was prominent?

My friend's client, the man with Downs who is possibly also autistic - there were a couple of incidents where she had to physically overpower him just to get him to sit in the back seat instead of the front seat that he was used to. She wanted me to have the front seat. She was extremely embarrassed (ISFJ) and I would gladly have taken the back seat, but she didn't want me to.

Another time, she took him to a new home for a Christmas party and he embarrassed her and made everyone in the house uncomfortable by physically resisting her as she tried to lead him through the house while he yelled "No!' "No!"