I don't look on autism always as a disability.
We are all disabled in some ways, but those of us who went through school excelling in the 3Rs were considered intelligent. The other facets of intelligence were largely ignored.
My husband and brothers are all mathematicians, yet his eldest brother was diagnosed as autistic in his 70s. Yet he was a mathematics professor who travelled the world.
What I noticed is that he allowed himself to be troubled by things the rest of us would brush off.
My husband, also a mathematician, would be happy not to have to socialise. Losing himself in a book is his preferred way to spend an evening.
Maybe he's from a family that happily resides in the positive side of autism. Who knows.
I suppose being diagnosed helps us to rationalise why we don't quite fit in at times.
Edward de Bono
If you think about Edward de Bono and his Six Thinking Hats, this revolutionised how we view intellect.
Then Dr Howard Gardner came along and better defined intellect. So far he has defined 8 intelligences, at least five we have overlooked as teachers.
Someone can be mathematically gifted, yet struggle with social interactions.
Another may struggle in reading but excel in sport (also an intellect)
Now teachers teach and program with the different intellects factored in. The person who has difficulty in social interactions, can be helped to get better.
The person who can't confront a situation learns to do that better too.
In primary school we applaud the different intelligences. It does make a difference.
So many people are walking around and as you say, Sandra, they they might be autistic in some ways, but they might also be walking around having no idea of their genius in other areas.
All the world is queer save...
A link to Howard Gardner below
