How about autistic happiness?

Some of the more popular books that are published on autism, are about recovery. Not about acceptance or social inclusion, but about stimulating children, youngsters and adults, yes even elderly people with autism to outgrow their autism, or, if you like, loose their autistic symptoms. So that they can appear, from the outside, normal. Normal as in the same as everyone else. Unremarkable, not different, and not distressing. Eye contact, non-verbal and verbal communication, interactive attention span, flexibility … this is what is sometimes called the fundamental four. Not wellbeing or happiness, not feeling good in body and mind … although I find this far more important. Surely surviving economically and socially or trying to live as independent as possible is important, but what does it mean to be able to manage if he or she is on the verge of suïcide or euthanasia? Perhaps because no looked at what he or she made ‘autistically’ happy, what went well and what gave them joy.

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Published by Sam

NL: Ik ben Sam, ervaringswerker autisme / autismeambassadeur Sterkmakers in Autisme, en ben onder andere actief bij de Vlaamse Vereniging Autisme en GRIP vzw. Ik ben samen met Roos. Daarnaast ben ik gek op schrijven, lezen, observatie, filosoferen, parafraseren, reageren, visualiseren enzo verder. EN: I am Sam, known as Sam Peeters, known as 'Tistje', and I have been writing about autism in a broad sense since 2008. I am an adult man with autism and above-average intelligence. I have various limitations and disabilities. I live with my partner Roos, who is also intelligent and has autism. I work as an experience worker, for example at the Flemish parent and family association, for GRIPvzw, a civil rights organization advocating for equal rights for people with and without disabilities and have several others collaborations. I have experience in several kinds of support, contexts and both regular and higher education, where I have earned three bachelor's degrees. I have worked in different types of labor and various forms of support, aid, and care. I am also active on social media platforms like Facebook, X/Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest under the name 'Tistje'.

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