IM YourOnlyOne

No issue there. Just updating / additional information. ^_^

These psychologists separated aspergers at some time in the early years. Then a few years ago, they merged the two again under "Autism Spectrum".

In any case, yeah, they're just one and the same. Just varying levels of "functioning" but it is confusing if one was diagnosed during the years when the two were separate.

I haven't! Thank you for the suggestion, I'll add it to my watchlist. If I can squeeze it with my schedule, I'll start on it immediately.

Reading the synopsis, it's about autism/aspergers. Is the writer in the spectrum too or they like writing about autism in general?

Good question!

It depends. Hiring someone in the autism spectrum to play a role of an autistic character will surely add authenticity to the character. At the same time, hiring a good actor who can act properly as an autistic, is not bad either.

From an audience standpoint, it's not a big factor for me.

"Representation" is more political than art, and for me, acting and storytelling is an art. Political issues and political correctness shouldn't be mixed in it.

Let's say a film is set in Africa. Would it be better to hire a local or paint an American black?

Politically speaking, hire a local. But if we keep politics out, it doesn't matter. It's their production, it's their money, it's their interpretation of their story. However, casting someone local will be greatly appreciated especially if they can find an actor with the talent they need. (So the question turn ethical now: did they even bother to cast a local?)

Of course, representation is good. But the thing is, when talking about representation, their role doesn't have to be related to what they're representing. Using autism as an example, an actor who is autistic doesn't have to be playing a character who is also autistic. A true representation of autistics is casting autistic actors for any roles that they fit.

Think of it this way. If they do not know who is autistic or not, which actors would they choose? Now, if they knew who are autistic and who are not, how would that affect their casting?

Politics and all these political correctness around us aside, as far as art is concerned, I personally do not mind if the actor casted is autistic or not. Again if they did, it will add more authenticity to the acting.

Look for the Western film entitled "Adam". The main character is an aspie (aspergers syndrome) to be exact, but it's part of the autism spectrum. The actor is not autistic but he did well in playing the part that the show was praised. "Adam" is also in many highly recommended list of shows about the autism spectrum.

There are also a lot of actors who were officially diagnosed as autistic and they haven't played roles related to autism.

Another factor to consider is if it is something documentary. In a documentary film, it would be best to cast someone who is, at least in this case.

But again, personally, I don't mind if they cast a neurodivergent or a neurotypical actor for an autistic character. As long as they can portray it correctly, and not make the character look bad as if the character's autism is a plague or something.

^_^

LOLs, I think I was going in circles there. ^^;

Haha. Yeah, we usually hear that … superpower. But … it's also a "curse". As an example, in my case, when I'm sleeping I hear the little sound a mounted aircon or indoor aircon makes and it is very annoying.

There was also a case when I worked in a contact center BPO, a voice account was positioned beside our account (non-voice). I had multiple sensory overloads before I found a way to tune their noise out. (We can't listen to music even though we're non-voice, it's against the rules.) I also complained about it because whenever I work for a BPO, I make sure there is no voice account anywhere near wherever I will work because … that, sensory overload.

It's a blessing and a curse. ^_^

As for the subject. I varied. Teenage years, my fascination is in symbolical meanings. For example, I can talk about the meanings of flowers, numbers, colours.

You can actually tell a person's personality and current mindset if you know the symbolical meaning behind these. For example, giving flowers to your love ones, how many flowers are there, which colors, and which flowers? Are the flowers real or artificial? Most people dismiss giving of artificial flowers but it actually gives you an insight to the person. ;)

When I was a kid, I knew every country, capital(s), language name, in the world. I also specialized in the history of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norhern Ireland" (official name); Republic of Ireland; and the Commonwealth of Australia.

Today, my fascination is with my own country's history, especially pre-colonial history, ASEAN and its member nations, China, Japan, Korea. As well as programming.

Actually, I would say religion/faith but most people--autistic and non-autistic--are sensitive when it comes to religion/faith discussions … so I avoid it. But once someone starts to engage me in that subject and they welcome my input, then I'll start talking about it. (And if they want to turn it into a debate, I'll make sure I'll win hahahahaha.)

Ahh. Generally, translations are not accurate especially when it comes to translating Asian languages into English. There will always be something lost in translation.

So far as the story of episode 1 goes, it does look alright, especially on the autism part. The explanations are correct. I think it will be in court cases where they might err since legal terms and laws are different, it's not easy to translate something that only applies in Korea into something the International audience can relate to.

You'll have to clearly define what she exaggerated. :) As an autistic myself, I can help in clarifying if it was an exaggeration or not.

> I am thankful for the understanding of this disease, but it is not like that in real life.

You need to increase your knowledge and understanding. You calling autism a "disease" is a clear sign you don't know anything nor do you understand what autism is.

> Autism, may results into high IQ but it lacks in almost all other aspects, you will never see a autistic child like this in real world.

Where the heck did you get that assumption? As an autistic, I am deeply offended.

> The most realistic example of an autistic child in drama was when they cast a real actress in Our Blues. Also when a child has autism, they never look like this, you can see how a child with autism is, in series I mentioned above.

Our Blues? That is NOT autism, that is Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome and autism are totally two different things and has absolutely nothing whatsoever that connects them.

Autism is our brain is wired differently. We think differently. We process things differently. We express things differently.

Down Syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome.

For someone claiming to have an understanding of autism, your comment clearly shows you don't have any.

I'm autistic so …

> Autism is … just a disability

No, it is not. It is just a label Neurotypicals (a.k.a. "feeling normal and superior") use to anyone who is not like them.

If the majority of the world population are autistics, then by your own definition neurotypicals are disabled.

We are just different.

> someone living with Autism

oh gawd.

It's autistic not "living with autism".

It is us. It is who we are. It is not something that we are "living with" and can just drop whenever.

From someone who is autistic, I'm guessing the sound helps her stay calm which led to her learning more and more about whales until it became her favourite subject and an expert at it.

Each of us autistics have at least 1 subject where we know a lot and can talk about it endlessly. Sometimes when making analogies, we also use that subject. Or if we're trying to articulate something going on in our mind, we use that subject. Like how she did in episode 1.

Not at all. There are people like her. There is no formula to what traits an autistic/aspie should have. Whoever gave you that idea doesn't know anything about us autistics.

As I've said earlier in this thread, think of autism not as a spectrum but as a cyclinder. You add the common traits found in most autistics; then add traits that are not common. Then each trait have varying degrees.

Examples:
- Common trait: OCD. But it has varying degrees per austistic. One shows a high degree of OCD while another doesn't. When I was a kid, I had high OCD; when I grew up, I learned ways to "keep it a bay" (but it's not gone, it's still there).

- Common trait: sensory sensitivity/overload. Same thing, varying degrees. Some autistics have sensory sensitivity to touch; some to light; some to sound/noise. Some autistics have sensitivity to all; but there is yet to be an autistic without a sensory sensitivity. The degree is just lower for some to the point that it was usually mistaken as "doesn't exist" but when analyzed properly, it's still there.

- Uncommon trait: love to meet and talk with people

- Uncommon trait: fine with standing on stage

And so on.

> "autists", just use "autistics" it's the proper word ever since and to this day.

> high IQ are considered as high functioning"

No.

High Functioning simply means people with autism but can function in society. It has nothing to do with IQ.

"Classic autism" is also called, in professional circles, as "low functioning". If your definition is correct that it has to do with IQ, then you are claiming that "classic autism" are dumb people.

That kind of mindset is typical of someone influenced by the media and showbiz. ;) It's wrong. It's incorrect. It's false. There are many in "classic autism" who have a high IQ; and there are also many in "high functioning" with low IQ.

Lastly, IQ is not consistent. When people age, our IQ tends to go lower. And it doesn't mean you are getting dumber.

> And as far as I am aware no where in the show has it said that she has aspergers.

It really doesn't matter if a person (real life or fictional) is an aspie or autistic. In the grand scheme of things, aspergers is part of the same autism spectrum, that's how it was originally and a few years back we returned to that same categorisation after many years of separating the two.

To make it simpler to explain, think of a line from left to right.
- Left most is "classic autism" is the one most commonly depicted, sensationalized, in shows, and usually exaggerated too.
- To the right of "classic autism" is "high functioning autism".

Under the high functioning autism" (again left to right):
- Asperger's Syndrome (aspie)
- HFA (high functioning autism)
- PDD-NOD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified)

Of course, explaining it as a line from left to right is simplifying it too much. Personally, I explain it as a cylinder. You add the common traits, then add other not common traits. Then each trait have varying degrees.

So for example, some autistics/aspies have a strong level or degree of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Some don't.

The word "spectrum" itself is misleading. Autism, aspergers, it's all the same. We all have common and uncommon traits, and each of those traits have varying degrees.

Which ones in particular? I'm autistic myself, so I can probably explain some things that may sound unusual or "unrealistic".

10. Fascination with one particular subject. In the show, it's whales.

This is true. If someone you know is autistic (diagnosed; not diagnosed; unknown) fascination with one particular subject is a very common trait. We know almost everything about a subject we focus on. In the show, the autistic attorney's favourite subject are whales.

So … if you are non-autistic, understand this trait.

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I'll end with #10, there are more but it's too long now.

9. Autistics doesn't have feelings, emotions, sympathy, and empathy.

A common false misconception thanks to psychologists. This is NOT true.

We do have feelings, emotions, sympathy, and empathy, we just process and express it in a different way neurotypicals (a.k.a. "feeling normal and superior") does not understand or refuses to acknowledge.

In the show, this was expressed in the hospital scene where the autistic attorney dissected "love". That short talk enabled her to stand firmly on the case for her client because she understood her client loves her husband. That is how we usually process and express it.

8. Disclosing that one is in the Autism Spectrum

Now, many neurotypicals (a.k.a. "feeling normal and superior") whine about "it's not our fault, if they disclosed they are autistic then we would not have acted that way". F**king seriously?

What this tells us is that you'll give us a fake you just because you know we are autistic. And then later, when you get tired, you will still blame us and hope we disappear from your life -- or if you decide to move/resign, you'll blame us and speak about us to people we do not know.

This is one of the many reasons why many of us do not disclose that we are autistic. Many people starts to act fake just because. It is as if we have an infectious disease.

There is prejudice against autistics. In the show, I was afraid they'll turn the court into something against autistics, with the challenges the autistic attorney is facing, the judge could have said, "replace her, she's turning my court into a joke and she's taking too much time". (I'm they did not do that.)

7. Doesn't want to be touched and hugged

This is very true with almost all autistics, and often this is depicted wrongly and in a very bad way in shows where there is an autistic character.

It is not so much about personal space, as neurotypicals (a.k.a. "feeling normal and superior") argue about, it is about sensitivities. Yes, we do care about personal spaces but that isn't our primary concern why we don't want to be touched and hugged without our permission. Again, take note, without our permission.

For some autistics, they have touch sensitivities and if you do not inform them beforehand, it may (or may not) cause a serious spike or energy drain.

For some autistics, they have sensitivities on bacteria and germs. Take note: not because you have this sensitivity does it mean you are autistic; no not all. However, this is also a common trait for some autistics.

For some autistics, they highly value boundaries. Usually at work and at home, you'll see this trait reflected as well … there are literal and non-literal boundaries.

So, if you know a person is autistic, do not touch them nor hug them without their permission. If they say no, don't take it personally, it has nothing to do with you, it has to do with them.

If you do not know if a person is autistic and they reacted in a way that YOU think was rude or YOU think you offended them, again do not take it personally. They probably are autistic and doesn't feel comfortable in disclosing it. Again, it is NOT about you.

6. Echolalia

Whenever this is depicted in a show, it usually is presented as something annoying, bad, evil, and rude. In this particular show, I like how they did not do that. They turned it into something light, something people noticed but did not make a huge fuss about it.

In the court scene, they even made it a little comedic scene because the judge answered back after she repeated what he said. In other shows, they'll probably have the judge reprimand her and probably ask for her dismissal for making his court a monkey court.

5. Ways to brace oneself before doing something a person doesn't normally do; or something challenging

In the show, this was depicted as counting down before entering her supervisor's office. It's like preparing herself for something. Taking a deep breath. Getting her nerves ready.

This is a common trait amongst us autistics, although in varying degrees. If an autistic can not find a way to cope up with this, it practically paralyzes us from doing anything.

For example. Neurotypicals (a.k.a. "feeling normal and superior") gets nervous when going in interviews.

Many autistics don't just get nervous. It's like pushing a huge rock uphill for many of us. It usually starts with applying. It's too hard to send our CV because we already know (1) they are going to call us (which many of us hates); (2) we have to shake hands (which many of us hates); (3) we have to make eye contact (which again many of us hates); (4) when we arrive at the interview schedule, they'll make us wait (which we hate big time); and the list goes on. So, if we can't push ourselves to do it, it paralyzes us.

In the show, the character also observed (hospital scene) first before meeting them. It helps in preparing herself and to anticipate things, then took a deep breath. For non-autistics, they'll dismiss it as "she's bracing herself because she knew the husband and was afraid of him". Maybe, maybe not. Personally, I'm more inclined that she was not afraid of him … at all. She knew she might lose it once the husband starts his tirade.