Sarah Ross

Recent Activity

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  Sarah signed the petition | about 1 month ago

  Tell New York to Stop the Chemical Restraint of People with Disabilities
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  Sarah commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Terrorist or Hacker?: The Case of Gary McKinnon, Again

  Could you please show me where ASAN has commented on the McKinnon case?  Because it hasn't.  Please stop assuming that ASAN moves in lockstep with everyone whom you consider to be "ND."  We have differences of opinion!

  
  

  And, BTW, no one considers autism a "mental illness."  Nor is being diagnosed with a "mental illness" (or neurological condition, whatever) automatic grounds for receiving different treatment in a court of law.  This is a common misconception, but it's actually quite difficult to get a "not guilty by reason of insanity" verdict in the US.  It is not SOP for disabled people to receive "special treatment" in court.

  
  

  My own opinion on this case is that, AS diagnosis aside, McKinnon is certainly the victim of some crappy laws.  He's clearly not a terrorist, and I would say the same for any non-autistic person who committed the same crime under the same circumstances.  No, he shouldn't get off completely (probably), but ironclad laws which mandate a particular procedure and sentance are just stupid.  Courts should be permitted to exercise some discretion in cases like these.

  
  

  So, I think there's a good case to be made that he is being treated unfairly WITHOUT bringing autism into it.  Please, please do not assume that all of us evil "NDs" share a single mind.

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  Sarah commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Would You Have A Baby Like My Son?

  I find it disgusting that some people's choice to have children is subjected to public debate like that.  I'm nowhere near ready to have kids as of yet, but given that my partner and I are both diagnosed on the spectrum, I don't doubt that we'll be subjected to that kind of judgment should we choose to have (biological) children someday.  Not that our decisions will be influenced by other people's prejudices, but it is troubling.  The original post in that thread also demonstrated just how slippery this slope is.  Allergies as a reason not to have kids?  Ugh.  I guess my parents shouldn't have had kids because both of their families have such a strong history of nearsightedness.  I'm very uncomfortable with drawing a "line" of acceptable and unacceptable difference.  The hubris is really astonishing.

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  Sarah commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Female Troubles

  Great tips.  I also think it's good for any parent to talk to their daughters about menstruation before it becomes relevent.  The videos screened in health class are rather inadequate.  None of the videos talked about how much it can hurt!  It was surprising for me.  I too spent a lot of time in the bathroom.  Fortunately my mother introduced me to heating pads early on.
  
  AS girls may also need additional instruction on how to avoid soiling clothes, and what can be done to salvage dirty underwear.  And we need to be taught to be prepared, no matter what the situation.  God do I have some embarrassing stories.
  
  It would also be nice if the hygiene product industry would start designing more sensory-friendly products, but that's probably wishful thinking.

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  Sarah commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Embracing Unconventionally Auties in Love

  Thanks for posting this.  I, too, am in a relationship with another autie, and our relationship is not the norm.  Neurotypical friends couldn't believe that I fell in love with him before even touching him for extended periods of time.  But I did.  Like the couple featured in the article, we love going to bookstores as dates, though we do go to resteraunts when they're less busy as well.  We have our problems, due to depression and anxiety issues mostly, but so do other couples.  I wish there were more resources available for autistic couples who are both disabled--I think there are more of us than is commonly recognized.  I would also like to see more discussion of possible parenting issues which may come one, since my partner and I would like to have children someday.
  
  One problem I had with the article is its statement that the couple's bond "defies their autism."  Not true.  The bond I have with my partner is--in part--due to our autism and similar experiences and way of understanding the world.  No one could ever understand me as well he does.  No one has ever come close.  Autism isn't the only link between us, of course, but it helps us connect with each other.