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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 31, 2012 · 10 Autism should be viewed the same as any other challenge one may face The Junior League of own, considered puzzling? Do we have to solve Plus, my hyperfocus on learning the Swedish Neurodiversity is just unconceivable to about their lives. Hamilton Burlington your inability to understand agglutinative lanlanguage has not once been a hindrance to my neurotypical humans, isn't it? There are a lot First: I don't care if it's the symbol of all things holy and autistic to everyone else, but many of my friends are also on the spectrum and I really, really hate being thought of as a puzzle piece. Let's say, for example, you are desperate to learn the Finnish language, but have no aptitude towards learning a language. You want to bake the perfect cake, but you're pretty horrible at mixing ingredients, and you always forget to set your kitchen timer. Perhaps your career choice required a course for which you had no talent, but still had to pass in order to graduate. How is autism any different from that? Are Continued from page 6 these people, who have small disabilities of their they will understand without judging me further. that society accepts without raising a brow. HOLIDAY HOUSETOUR November 9 - November 11, 2012 guages, or your struggle with Astronomy 101? Is it something that requires a cure instead of a way to work around your personal deficiencies? Yes, there are non-verbal people with autism. Yes, I have trouble looking people in the eye when we speak. Yes, I tend to hyperfocus on a piddly little thing that interests me. Is there anything inherently wrong with these things? Non-verbal people with autism have various, rich, alternative means with which to communicate. I can always tell someone about my trouble with eye contact, and if they're a decent person, Tours of Homes Showcasing Festive Holiday Décor and Entertainment Ideas Victorian Christmas at Ireland House How-To Demonstrations Do-It-Yourself Classes November 9 - November 11, 2012 Visit www.juniorleague.ca or call 905-525-1077 for all event details (additional ticket option) Savings at Participating Restaurants & Retailers Funds developing the potential of Fundsraised raisedwill willsupport supportthe theJLHB JLHBMission Missionof ofimproving improvingthe thecommunity, community, developing the potential ofwomen womenand and promoting volunteerism. promoting voluntarism. The TheJLHB JLHBis iscurrently currentlyfocusing focusingon onthe thecritical criticalissue issueof ofyoung youngwomen womenaffected affectedby bypoverty. poverty. learning it. It's not a mystery needing to be solved; people of any neurostatus develop at different speeds. I learned to read at the age of two, and I was baffled by four year olds who couldn't read at all, and yet, I am the one considered "in a fog" because I have trouble carrying on small talk. A second problem facing people with ASDs are the backwards ways of promoting awareness and fundraising. I do not lead an unhappy, pitiable life. I am in my second year of university. I take the train in and out of Toronto every day, with no problems. So what if some people with autism can't take the train into Toronto alone everyday? Everyone has something they struggle with, ASD or no ASD. We are not in need of repair. It is not us that possess defects. It is society, which regards us as pitiable, incapable and backwards. We do not do things the way in which you do things. We do not see things the way in which you see things. Is it any different than having a son or daughter who is blind? Is it any different than having your child in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives? I am not trying to claim that autism is without daily struggles, deficiencies, or downsides. All I am trying to say is that, for the most part, it is no different than any other sort of condition of people in society with ASDs who have accomplished so, so much, and this is not `in spite of' their `disability,' it is because of their differences in perspective and performance. They know they just have to push through their issues, like their inability to adjust to `normal' social routines, because nobody else is going to give them any damn leniency, and they know they are still capable, even with their problems. Let me speak for myself: I am not a victim. This is not an epidemic. I am a human being who works differently. I've learned to live with it; why can't you? Some links to some sources I used: My own personal experiences of having Asperger's Syndrome: www.squidoo.com/autis tics-speak-for-themselves; http://goldenhearte drose.tumblr.com/post/17644810872/why-i-amagainst-autism-speaks-made-rebloggable-by; http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.ca/2012/03/ autism-politics-puzzle-pieces-and.html; http:// fromonesurvivortoanother.tumblr.com; www. dailykos.com; http://healthmad.com/mentalhealth/im-autistic-but-autism-speaks-doesntspeak-for-me; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Karen_McCarron. And finally, a great charity, the Autistic SelfAdvocacy Network, http://autisticadvocacy.org/ about-asan. M. F., Oakville WAREHOUSE ·Selected Men's Suits 100% wool 3 for $650 ·Designer Suits Reg to $900 ea. ·Italian & Canadian Designer Suits YOUR PLACE FOR DEALS Wednesday Sunday Oct. 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