Comments on: Embracing the Social Model of Disability

By: Jeanne Spencer

Jeanne Spencer — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 01:53:17 +0000

i would appreciate it if the entire world would turn down the volume. I don’t have Aspberger’s, I just find the overload too much in general. Do we really need a radio in a restaurant or bowling alley? How are people supposed to socialize if they have to shout to be heard.

Thanks for sharing your stories. I appreciate the insight. My son has Aspberger’s and we’re learning about him each day.

By: Embracing the Social Model of Disability | Neurodiversity

Embracing the Social Model of Disability | Neurodiversity — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:28:07 +0000

[...] Cohen-Rottenberg’s Embracing the Social Model of Disability first appeared at Journeys with Autism, and is republished here with permission. Rachel [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:23:47 +0000

Wonderful story about your doctor. It’s so difficult to walk in one another’s shoes. I just turned down a request to have dinner/drinks with someone I haven’t talked to in awhile, because it’s not my preferred method of socialization. I suggested he write me if he wants to talk; apparently that didn’t appeal to him. Unfortunately, differences sometimes prove too great.

By: John Dale Lyons

John Dale Lyons — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:12:49 +0000

If being autistic is is a disability, then having red hair, for example, is a disability. Vive la differance.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:50:11 +0000

That’s a very cool arrangement! I haven’t been published in a paper yet, but from what I’ve heard the rights can be a sticking point. I’m glad both you and your editor are able to share the work!

By: Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg

Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:05:09 +0000

The editor of the paper has told me that my work is mine to do with as I like. I maintain the copyright.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:29:53 +0000

You have an excellent message and you expressed it well!

Though, I do wonder about the copyright issue. What rights did you sell to the paper in order to post it on your blog as well?

By: eaucoin

eaucoin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:55:06 +0000

My oldest daughter with Aspergers has found a big multilingual city with large immigrant populations to be the ideal environment for her issues. You are right about the effects of autism being kind of counter-cultural, so maybe that’s why the cross-cultural environment works so well. One of the things it does is make everybody a little more noise sensitive (since what is beautiful music in one culture can sound like an ear-bending racket to someone from another culture). Also, people with heightened cultural tolerance are less likely to judge differences as bad, more likely to think of it as exotic in some sense. But if you live in a place with a homogeneous population, good luck trying to convince the average bystander that your own language is worth knowing.

By: bluedancer

bluedancer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:16:23 +0000

it’s good to hear things are going well with requests for accommodation, and it sounds like you’re feeling more a part of your community as a result, is making space for the energy to do more of what you love. happy creating, rachel.