The Audacious Aspie Changes Track Once Again (Hey, Don’t Judge)

Okay, so yes, we are changing topics again. Could have continued on with the resources for LD from the old site, but I think everyone already knows it by now or has looked it up themselves. So, to avoid beating the proverbial dead horse (you had ONE job Stripes! One job! To get to the finish line in first place! You ((kick)) Stupid ((kick)) Mo-) we’ll move on to our next topic, which is LD stereotypes! Hoooray!

 

Like what we did with the labels for autism, we will take a gander at how those with LD are perceived as, taking a look at oxymorons, what they mean, than putting them down altogether to see how ridiculous they are. FUN! For my first one: Those with LD have low intelligence, either because A: Our own LD makes us stupid by virtue. B: it takes us longer to learn things or C; we can learn skills, but not concepts. These are all examples given by the university of Georgia Southern University. Yes, university is in their name. Yes, it does make for an improper sentence, blame them.

 

Old friends: hey, what university do you go to again? Uni student: I go to the university of Georgia Southern University. Old friends:....what?

 

A further example from the university is this: Compensation Possible. What does this mean? According to the examples given, it is the belief that we can be smart, but A: we take longer to learn something. B: we cannot comprehend as well others, plus we need more time. Or C; we need to work harder than others. Think of this belief as a “they need to prove themselves” belief. If you know the Disney song from Mulan “I’ll make a man out of you”, than you get the idea.

 

Processing Deficit, the belief that: we will always be slow (again with the slow! They love the slow-thinking argument don't they? If I were a kind of fiery revolutionary, I’d say that this shows just how faced-paced Western society has become! But I’m not so I won’t say that) B: We can learn more at our own pace and do not have to be challenged as much as those without LD or C; we are not, and never will be, academic high-achievers. Now, this post will be a bit longer, and this is to fit in a contradiction.

 

We are working the system, yes, you read that right, here's why: A, we are lying (not like our role models are far and few between at any rate). B: We do not try, we could overcome any and all problems if only we tried harder. C: We ask for certain things like special privileges and pity. We are silent, unruly and a nuisance.

 

 

We, are LD, we are legion. We game the system with our demands for support. We can act foolish, yet we are smart. We are unruly, yet we are silent. Expect us.   

 

There are many other stereotypes and more examples of said stereotypes, but in the next blog I will try to find another source that deals with LD stereotypes...without copying myself, with any luck. After that, we will take a couple of short detours, one of which I think you will find very interesting. Until then, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.       

 

Sources used:

http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=honors-theses