Thursday, February 9, 2012

Everybody's Special vs. Nobody's Special

       To many one of the most patronizing things heard on childrens' programming is the cliche "Everybody's Special", although most people including me, agree with that statement. The notion of "All men are created equal." is deeply ingrained in American culture. This is important in our understanding of human rights. Egalitarianism however, has it's paradox. If everybody is special, does that mean nobody is special? While most people in some way have some egalitarian sympathies, it's the question of "everybody vs. nobody" where people seem to disagree.
       In applying this to the Autism Awareness movement as well as awareness of other developmental differences, there are a lot of controversies. "Special" for one thing has become a euphemism for people with special needs, particularly the intellectually disabled (which not all Autistic people are). It is also common to feel that groups of people who have undergone marginalization, misunderstanding, rejection, bullying, or prejudice from others to be thought of by some as better than or "special" compared to the people who oppressed or looked down on them. This can seem fair and reasonable at first. I mean isn't it nice to tell a child who is being bullied that some day that bully will be washing their dishes? The problem here is that if everybody's special, than we cant have "sacred cows".
       I have been a self-advocate for a good few years now and have made some observations along the way. At first we barely heard of Autism let alone Aspergers. Then people began hearing about it more and gradually becoming more understanding. One of the most common observations people make of the Autistic community is how many of them also have "special gifts". This is true to a point and it also helps in gaining public support as people wonder if the Autistic child they support may invent the gadget or gizmo that may save their life someday. When the special gifts given to Autistic individuals is promoted whether they are intellectual or even spiritual, there are sometimes misunderstandings. Yes, the honeymoon is sort of over, people are starting to get jaded, and a subtle backlash is setting in. When any group is perceived (or mis-perceived) as a "golden boy" or "sacred cow", begrudgery starts to sneak into the picture. It becomes even worse for the so called "higher functioning" self-advocates who get perceived as either "faking it" or milking their diagnosis for narcissistic reasons. Also people in the communities of other special needs end up resentful or even competitive toward those in the Autism community or any other "flavor of the week". This could harm these movements in the long run. On one hand I am in no way denying that many Autistic people have special gifts to share with the world and I'm also not denying that there may be elements of favoritism or narcissism within the Autism or any other "community". As a Catholic Christian I just feel that God created us all equal in dignity and that all humans have "special gifts" and purpose which we may never see or understand until the next world. The thing is in some people the "gifts" are visible in the form or material success, high intellect, visible high achievement, or in physical beauty. Even those born with single digit IQ's or those who have a short time in this world have an equal purpose or plan as everyone else. The thing is that in many people with developmental differences of all types is that their gifts are not often noticed. The same can be said for oppressed minority groups of all types. Many times when people are perceived inferior and they begin to assert their equality, it's is then perceived as narcissism. Of course you will always have those who over-compensate and develop a sort of "reverse snobbery" and an "attitude", but the pendulum has to stop in the middle.
       Many times a self-advocate may be trying to point out some peculiarities observed in the "gifts" of Autistic people. This does not necessarily mean that they are implying that Autistic people are "chosen people". I can't speak for everyone, but usually "we" are just trying to point out that those on the spectrum are different, yet equal.

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