Did you see it? Chris Packham’s documentary Autism and Me. I think you should. You can catch it on iPlayer before it’s too late.
He made it because he wants every autistic person to know that they aren’t alone. But I think it’s more important than that. It’s about everyone else learning that autism is a spectrum of difference with good and bad bits. And that, instead of trying to cure or prevent this ‘condition’, the focus must be on understanding and adapting their needs.
There was an idiot in Packham’s documentary who likened autism to cancer. And some people still believe that vaccinations are a danger. Progress is bound to be hampered while such stupid notions abound.
The very wonderful Violet Fenn, herself recently diagnosed as autistic, has written about people whose autism helped them succeed.
As she says:
But being autistic doesn’t mean lacking imagination, or ambition, or creativity. Sometimes our differences truly can be our strengths.