Klarinet Archive - Posting 001116.txt from 2004/03

From: donna@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: no one left behind
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 11:11:53 -0500

Quoting Thomas <thomas@-----.com>:

> You have to realize that there are WAY more of these children than there
> used to be. It could be because of the chemicals in our every day
> environment. It could be because of the mercury in MMR shots. I wouldn't
> doubt if it was some combination of all these things.

Well, Asperger's was only recognized by the medical profession about a dozen
years ago. This huge increase is likely due in large part to more awareness of
what Asperger's and autism are, and allows kids to receive a diagnosis who in
previous years would have just been labeled as "dumb" or "weird." Wasn't
Einstein thought to be retarded at one point?

Also, the tech explosion in places like Silicon Valley has attracted a lot of
people who are Aspie or autistic and who do very well in computer programming
and similar jobs. These people have more opportunities to meet, date and marry,
and have children, whereas in the past their social difficulties might have
prevented them from having romantic relationships, or if they did find a partner
it was likely to be an NT and thus their kids less likely to inherit the
condition. I read an article in (I think) Wired magazine about how schools in
these tech meccas are dealing with an enormous number of kids on the spectrum.

- Donna

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