--- SprSnfrATnospamaol.com wrote:

> Also, what is a good definition of autism as it's
> being used in the last
> several posts?

I figure this might be useful for whole list, so am
posting to whole list (still shaky on what is
"private" and "public" on list even though I've read
the FAQ several times)...

Autism is a developmental/neurological condition,
which results in communications difficulties
(including speech, language, and nonverbal, at
different proportions for different people), social
difficulties or lack of socialness at all, and
repetitive behaviour or restricted interests. (At
least that's the textbook definition pretty much)...

That is the definition from which I was diagnosed with
"atypical autism" (meaning I have difficulties in all
three areas, but not in the way written explicitly in
the DSM-IV, which is the diagnostic manual for such
things in America).

Autism also causes uneven development and development
that is, in my opinion, not on the same developmental
pathway as "normal" development at all (some
development is; some isn't, but it's not all just
"acceleration" or "delay")

Associated often with sensory problems, literal
thinking, etc.

It can come in various degrees of severity, but
severity is not always visible from the outside if the
person has a lot of coping mechanisms.

Often is represented as a disorder.. I feel like
autism is associated with disorders but that the
disorders are not the same as autism. It is difficult
to describe, but it's like a way of being. And also,
some aspects that are disorders, have compensations.
For example, the "communications disability" part, has
made it so that I develop independently internally and
not as influenced by the outside world (which I like
at least)... at least not influenced by their words.
It is hard to explain, and I have been flamed for
being "dualist" and all sorts of other thigns whenever
I try to explain it...

Most autistics don't think in words, although some
do... On the symbolic level I think in spatial
impressions, Temple Grandin thinks in pictures, etc.

This is not a view shared by all autistics, but if you
removed autism, you would remove me (the autistic
person) too...

There's a lot more... http://www.ani.ac has some
definitions of autism by autistics, as well as
definitions from DSM-IV.

This is incomplete but hope it is of some help.
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