It is autism and hope, or autism victims?
March 24, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
I understand that someone besides the writer chooses the headline for a newspaper article. How disquieting to find that the same article—a Washington Post column by Susan Senator—can be called this:
In Autism, Hope at Any Age
and then, today in the Concord Monitor (New Hampshire):
We must find ways to help all autism victims:
Older children, parents are often on their own
From “autism and hope” to “autism and victims”: The titles seem to be for two very different articles.
My vote is for the first title.
It reminds me of the headline I saw in our local paper: “Student overcomes autism to win spelling bee.”
The metaphor of the “victim” fits nicely with “suffering” of autism.
My son does not suffer from autism.
He’s autistic. Any suffering he incurs is from external, not internal, factors/individuals/institutions.
I always wince when I see that “suffer” word.
Overcome, combat, fight, defeat, hate…..