| Due to the complexity of autism, there are | | | | and media journalists continually investigate |
| many facets of sociology that need to be | | | | these rumors, but some say that the claims |
| considered when discussing it, such as the | | | | are actually libellous of their character as |
| culture which has evolved from autistic | | | | public figures, being singled out as "odd" or |
| persons connecting and communicating with one | | | | "nerdy" people. |
| another. In addition, there are several | | | | |
| subgroups forming within the autistic | | | | Autistic adults |
| community, sometimes in strong opposition to | | | | |
| one another. | | | | Communication and social problems often cause |
| | | | difficulties in many areas of the autistic's |
| Community and politics | | | | life. A much smaller proportion of adult |
| | | | autistics marry or have children than the |
| Curing autism is a very highly controversial | | | | general population. Even when they do marry, |
| and politicized issue. What some call the | | | | some argue, it is more likely to end in |
| "autistic community" has splintered into | | | | divorce than the norm, although further |
| several strands. Some seek a cure for autism | | | | research should perhaps be made. |
| - sometimes dubbed by pro-cure. Others do not | | | | Nevertheless, as more social groups form, |
| desire a "cure", because they point out that | | | | progressively more diagnosed adults are |
| autism is a way of life rather than a | | | | forming relationships with others on the |
| "disease", and as such resist it. They are | | | | spectrum. |
| sometimes dubbed anti-cure. Many more may | | | | |
| have views between these two. Recently, with | | | | A small proportion of autistic adults, |
| scientists learning more about autism and | | | | usually those with high-functioning autism or |
| possibly coming closer to effective remedies, | | | | Asperger's syndrome, are able to work |
| some members of the "anti-cure" movement sent | | | | successfully in mainstream jobs, although |
| a letter to the United Nations demanding to | | | | frequently far below their actual level of |
| be treated as a minority group rather than a | | | | skills and qualification. Some have managed |
| group with a mental disability or disease. | | | | to gain self-employment. |
| | | | |
| There are many resources available for | | | | Others are employed in sheltered workshops |
| autistic people. Because many autistics find | | | | under the supervision of managers trained in |
| it easier to communicate online than in | | | | working with persons with disabilities. A |
| person, a large number of these resources are | | | | nurturing environment at home, at school, and |
| online. In addition, successful autistic | | | | later in job training and at work, helps |
| adults, using their own experience in | | | | autistic people continue to learn and to |
| developing coping strategies and/or | | | | develop throughout their lives. |
| interacting with society, are often involved | | | | |
| at the community level with children with | | | | It is often said that the Internet, since it |
| autism, using their own experience in | | | | is almost devoid of the non-verbal cues that |
| developing coping strategies and/or | | | | autistics find so hard to interact with, has |
| interacting with society. | | | | given some autistic individuals an |
| | | | environment in which they can, and do, |
| The year 2002 was declared Autism Awareness | | | | communicate and form online communities. The |
| Year in the United Kingdom (see Autistic | | | | internet has also provided the option of |
| Community article). | | | | occupations such as, teleworking and |
| | | | independent consulting, which, in general, do |
| Culture | | | | not require much human interaction offline. |
| | | | |
| With the recent increases in autism | | | | Under the public law, in the United States, |
| recognition and new approaches to educating | | | | the public schools' responsibility for |
| and socializing autistics, an autistic | | | | providing services ends when the autistic |
| culture has begun to develop. Similar to deaf | | | | person is 21 years of age. The autistic |
| culture, autistic culture is based on a more | | | | person and their family are then faced with |
| accepting belief that autism is a unique way | | | | the challenge of finding living arrangements |
| of being and not a disorder to be cured. | | | | and employment to match their particular |
| There are some commonalities which are | | | | needs, as well as the programs and facilities |
| specific to autism in general as a culture, | | | | that can provide support services to achieve |
| not just "autistic culture". | | | | these goals. |
| | | | |
| It is a common misperception that autistic | | | | Many parents of autistic children also face |
| people do not marry; many do seek out close | | | | financial difficulties as they must often pay |
| relationships and marry. Often, they marry | | | | for essential support and therapeutic |
| another autistic, although this is not always | | | | services. Furthermore, autism is often linked |
| the case. Autistic people are often attracted | | | | to poverty because autistics who might |
| to other autistic people due to shared | | | | qualify for financial assistance in one |
| interests or obsessions, but more often than | | | | country are not eligible in another, because |
| not the attraction is due to simple | | | | some nations do not recognize autism as a |
| compatibility with personality types, the | | | | disability. |
| same as for non-autistics. Autistics who | | | | |
| communicate have explained that companionship | | | | Terminology |
| is as important to autistics as it is to | | | | |
| anyone else. | | | | When referring to someone who is diagnosed |
| | | | with autism, the term "autistic" is often |
| It is also a common misperception that | | | | used. Alternatively, many prefer to use the |
| autistic people live away from other people, | | | | person-first terminology "person with autism" |
| such as in a rural area rather than an urban | | | | or "person who experiences autism." However, |
| area; many autistics do happily live in a | | | | it has been noted that members of the |
| suburb or large city. However, a metropolitan | | | | autistic community generally prefer "autistic |
| area can provide more opportunities for | | | | person" for reasons that are fairly |
| cultural and personal conflicts, requiring | | | | controversial. This article uses both |
| greater needs for adjustment. | | | | terminologies. |
| | | | |
| In schools it is commonplace for autistics to | | | | Autistic savants |
| be singled out by teachers and students as | | | | |
| "unruly," though an autistic student may not | | | | The autistic savant phenomenon is sometimes |
| understand why his or her actions are | | | | seen in autistic people. Savant syndrome |
| considered inappropriate, especially when the | | | | occurs in about 10% of autistic people and in |
| student has a logical explanation for his or | | | | about 1% of non-autistic people. The term |
| her behavior. | | | | "autistic savant" is used to describe a |
| | | | person who is autistic and has extreme talent |
| The interests of autistic people and | | | | in one or more areas of study (the incidence |
| so-called "geeks" or "nerds" can often | | | | of multiple skills tend to occur more often |
| overlap as autistic people can sometimes | | | | in autistic savants than non-autistic |
| become preoccupied with certain subjects, | | | | savants). Although there is a common |
| much like anyone else. However, in practice | | | | association between savants and autism (an |
| many autistic people have difficulty with | | | | association made especially popular by the |
| working in groups, which impairs them even in | | | | 1988 film Rain Man), most autistic people are |
| the most 'geeky' of situations. The | | | | not savants and savantism is not unique to |
| connection of autism with so-called geek or | | | | autistic people, though there does seem to be |
| nerd behavior has received attention in the | | | | some relation. Mental calculators and fast |
| popular press, but is still controversial | | | | computer programming skills are the most |
| within these groups.[96] | | | | common form. A well known example is Daniel |
| | | | Tammet, the subject of the documentary film |
| Speculation arises over famous people and | | | | The Brain Man (Kim Peek, one of the |
| celebrities who are now suspected, but | | | | inspirations for Dustin Hoffman's character |
| unconfirmed, of having autism and Asperger's | | | | in the film Rain Man, is not autistic). |
| syndrome. They are rumored to have most | | | | Bright Splinters of the Mind by Beate |
| symptoms of autism or autistic-spectrum | | | | Hermelin is a book that explores this issue |
| disorder. Biographers, personal physicians | | | | further. |