The diagnosis trap

Full article here.

The problem with this mindset, the “trap” if you will – that of ordered vs disordered – can be seen in the revisions of the DSM as it relates to human sexuality. For example, the classification of gay, lesbian, and bisexual sexual orientations went from “paraphilia” in DSM I to “sexual orientation disturbance” in DSM II to “ego-dystonic homosexuality” in DSM III. The variance in human sexual identity and preference was dropped altogether from DSM-III-R and subsequent editions. 

This is the end goal? To reach a point where there's a binary diagnosis of ND vs NT? Because that has its own traps, outlined by the 4Ds - diversity, disability, disorder, disease. Some NDs whose autism presents itself with harsher symptoms require more support. But that's not the point here. Up until the first iteration of DSM III, homosexuality (and alt-sexuality, alt-genders) were considered abnormalities. That thinking changed, and today we've got a pride month where the spectrum is celebrated. It's a different wiring, like autism, yes, but there's more to it. These debates are also dimensioned with a layer of ability vs non-ability - what your orientations/ wiring/ personality type lets you do and what it doesn't. And that's where the system comes in. 

For the sexuality spectrum, the system needed to be made aware of their differences, and taught how to include them productively in it. Because essentially all those diverse communities as capable as the average human (perhaps more) in every imaginable way. For autism, especially the kind that brings on grave physical and cognitive disabilities, we haven't yet been able to figure out how best to scale and economize facilities that will help the entire spectrum right from the mild to even the most severely disabled autistics. Plus the difficulty in acquiring a formal diagnosis (especially for adults) makes it all the harder, with some experts saying a formal diagnosis isn't even necessary in cases where the autism isn't impeding day to day functioning (Simon Baron-Cohen in The Pattern Seekers). 

Whatever said and done, we need to change society's baseline for what it deems resourceful. Like the eugenicists of 20th century Germany whose optimal human was the Caucasian, ours cannot be the city-dwelling, 9 to 5 job-working, multitasking & Zoom-calling, unconscionably manipulating, low-feeling, high-thinking, morally flexible person. The baseline has to be a lot more accommodating, not one that helps feed into crony systems and is making us all easily replaceable carbon copies of each other. Society needs to reward difference and not stigmatize it. Encourage competition, if it's an indispensable part of living, but make it healthy by putting in place hyper-thinking systems to help those who need it, in ways that make it a level playing field. 

What psychiatrists see as disorder is actually the result of an untrained person in control of this powerful tool as it processes time. There are two basic ways humans process time, chronologically and teleologically. The majority of humans process time chronologically – sequentially. The past is past. Here we are now. The future is ahead of us somewhere. Not so with the autistic brain. The autistic brain processes time teleologically. Past, present, and future are blended together with purpose and plan to form a multi-dimensional mental image of the person’s goals, or Quality World Picture.

For these reasons, looking at the issue from the standpoint of disorder and diagnosis doesn’t actually solve the root problem. The root problem is a general lack of acknowledgement and appreciation for the amazing range of variation in humanity, as well as the many ways that variety expresses itself. 

The bottom line is, the system will discriminate. It needs a certain kind of prototyped individual to run its cogs smoothly, and its in-built mechanism will work to drive away whoever it deems as unfit to uphold its singularly profit-oriented goals. Basically the system cannot say, no, we don't want empathy, conscientiousness and kindness, we want money and you need to be the bad guy to help us get it. So just go do it. Instead, it will politely say, no, your brain doesn't isn't wired right for us, or your hair pattern is not good enough or your skin colour isn't correct. Discrimination is a handy tool for the system, one they don't have to put too much thought into using.  

To accept that autism is in fact a disorder, and not simply a variation in the human wiring system, can lead one to not find one’s true purpose or one’s proper place in this world. These self-advocates proudly wear the label of autistic. It’s a means of grounding or placing one’s self in context. As Marcus Garvey has famously said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” The autistic self-advocates are putting down roots, attempting to leave a legacy for the next generation of autistic people.

We don't believe there is anything 'wrong' with autistic and spectrum minds. There's a lot going on in their minds, and they experience and express differently.