Having Autsitc people assessed against the PNT norms is like comparing a cat to a dog. A cat can’t be more dog and a dog can’t be more cat. (Luke Beardon 2020.)
The difference model sees being autistic as a different way of being because of differently wired brains (Jaarsma and Wellin 2012; Kapp et al. 2012; Kras 2010).
This would identify autistic people as a minority group with ‘biological citizenship’ (Hughes 2009)
Those of other marginalised groups (such as race, class and gender) could now include biological citizenship.
Re-Thinking Autism : Diagnosis, Identity and Equality, edited by Sami Timimi, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/shu/detail.action?docID=4518819.
Comparing Autistic peoples responses to that of the PNT’s, in my opinion, would not produce valid results because they are not being tested within their own context but the context of the PNT. Maybe if the PNT was assessed within their context and the autistics assessed within theirs that would, in my mind, be a fairly measured approach. To then assess PNT’s in the context of autistics and vice versa then comparing the results, I could see that to be fairer and of interest.
If all autistic people are being compared against a standardised set of criteria composed using PNT qualities and because no two people are the same, then not only are autistic people being set up to fail but an insinuation being made that all autistic people are the same. Maybe if autistic people are accepted and appreciated for their differences rather than pathologised and medicalised we could pull together and create a positively functioning team.
(Ref Page 1418 Autism and Asperger syndrome in childhood. Dr Luke Beardon)
How does theory of mind explain the differences between PNT and ND people?
It is assumed by some PNT’s that Autistic people lack theory of mind.
With the recognition of the double empathy problem (Milton, 2011) then surely both neurotypes experience a lack of theory of mind? It could just be that each side sees different parts that the other cant.
“Autistic people catch what PNT’s miss and Autistic people miss what PNT’s catch.” Anonymous.
With this in mind I am invited to believe that the PNT’s, that came to this conclusion through their research, assumed that their perspective is correct and the different reactions of many autistic people (because not all autistic people are the same) is incorrect rather than different.
Or maybe it is influenced by demographic numbers and so the majority assumes it’s position as right and just. This leads me onto:
If much of the research is conducted on Autistic people solely by PNT’s then, in my opinion, the research would be open to criticism. My reasoning being; if Equipment for blind people did not consider or combine the input of the Blind community then surely the outcome would be the production of resources that very likely don’t meet need. So why would it be assumed that Autistic insight wouldn’t be a key contributor in Autsim research. One possible reason for the lack of Autistic input may be a consequence of Autistic people not achieving their potential in the education system due to ignorance, criteria that doesn’t meet need and incorrect labels.
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