Watch Your Words: on Gordon Brown and the autism label
October 9, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
I am much less concerned about how my son is labelled than I am about being able to rely upon gaining access to appropriately qualified staff and specialist provision when this is required.
Writes Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick today in Spiked. His article Autism: lack of services is the cruel joke: ‘Autism’ joins the lexicon of lazy political insults. So what? takes issue with “self-appointed defenders of the feelings of families affected by autism” who have objected to shadow chancellor George Osborne describing Labour party Gordon Brown as “faintly autistic” (see Osborne’s autism jibe criticised). Fitzpatrick numbers novelist Nick Hornby as one of these complainers (see Nick Hornby joins attack on Osborne in autism row) and reviews the meanings, official and associative, of a number of terms such as “mentally handicapped,” “imbecile,” and “idiot.”
I have questioned similar “puzzling” uses of “autism” by Claudia Roth, a member of the German Green Party, and others. Fitzpatrick is right, sometimes a label is just a word, and we should stop wasting our time talking about the meanings of words when there are autistic children who need education and support to learn simply to use words or PECS or a keyboard or sign language to ask for a drink of water. And perhaps that is why I, and other “self-appointed defenders of the feelings of families affected by autism,” respond with alacrity and with over-sensitivity, perhaps, to what are perceived to be irresponsible uses of “autism.” Having spent so much time helping our children not only to talk, but to utter a single syllable—the /ch/ that is the first sound of their name—we have learned how much words can mean—–and how carefully we must choose our own.
The “it’s only words” defense is insidious. I’ve written about my perspective on this before, but here I go writing it again: Words matter. Words shape perception. Perceptions shape cultural norms. Cultural norms determine whether one’s life navigating within the culture will be exceptionally easy or extraordinarily difficult.
Ergo, words change lives.
Well one thing Gordie and I have in common is we are one eyed. And as you know “In regione caecorum rex est luscus”
So one day Gordie might ascend to the throne of our Tone.
“Be bloody bold and resolute”
Words — labels — services —
If the words are handled carefully and the label is accurate, a child can receive services. I’ve been frustrated by the lack of services when parents refuse an accurate label and the result is no help for their child.
What you describe frustrates me too, Daisy—and that a child has to have whatever they have “labeled” before they can get services.
laurentius-rex. there is a line of Hölderlin about Oedipus I am thinking of….
There is a whole movement in Economics called Post-Autistic Economics (see http://www.paecon.net/)
The term autistic is used to portray economics the movement is against as disfunctional and uncaring of human need.
sticks and stones may break my bones but words can destroy the soul…
it’s only words, my heiny.
The first post in this thread, by Mom-nos, really captured this well. Words do change lives. I believe they are windows into our minds and hearts. They establish the guide posts of what is perceived as acceptable by society at any given time.
Thanks as always, Mike.
I have hear of “Post-Autistic Economics”—-there’s a post about that I would like to write someday.
I would say that the connotations and associations of the words “autism” and “autistic” far exceed their definitions and basic meanings—-and because of that, it is good and even essential to keep watch on how these words are used. They certainly mean a load to us.
I detest politicians at the best of times. Osborne should be forced to resign. As his actions have now tainted his party. As usual, they think they are above reprimand.
And also about throwing around (so to speak) terms like “autism” and “autistic,” it seems.