Being different, but not inferior
By Dr. Anna Saito, Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at the Santa Croce Clinic.
Specialist in Autism Spectrum Disorder treatment.
Source: https://santacroce.ch/essere-diversi-ma-non-meno-della-dr-ssa-anna-saito/
Sometimes, driven by the fear that comes from not knowing, we tend to associate difference with negativity, when in reality we should embrace differences and recognise their value.
Asperger’s syndrome is a mild form of autism – classified in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an Autism Spectrum Disorder – not associated with cognitive delay or language disorders and therefore defined as ‘high functioning’.
Therefore, it is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed exclusively on the basis of observation of atypical behaviours.
The core of the autistic genetic trait, although subtle and mild in Asperger’s syndrome, involves difficulty in learning social rules and behaviours implicitly and automatically, i.e. without the need for specific teaching. Very often, and in different forms peculiar to each individual, bizarre behaviours are evident that do not conform to the expected social behaviour patterns typical of each chronological age.
Symptoms include a more or less pronounced difficulty in understanding other people’s points of view, a lack of understanding of double meanings and metaphors, and often a lack of sense of humour. The strength of this type of functioning is linked to the ability to think in images. A lecture given by Professor Temple Grandin, an agricultural scientist whose life story was made into a film named after her, is very explanatory in this regard.
People with this type of functioning can be unpopular, sometimes disrespectful of rules and with narrow interests that are not always shared by their peers. For this reason, it is unfortunately not uncommon for people with this type of functioning to be the target of bullying, which can lead to psychiatric comorbidity. Adolescents in particular may develop mood disorders, i.e. depressive states, some of which may be severe, linked to an awareness of their limitations and what these limitations entail.
An approach to the problem that offers tools for learning a theory of mind (i.e. the ability to read and interpret the point of view of others), which seems to be difficult for such individuals to acquire, can be a valid and effective form of help, enabling people with Asperger’s to interact socially in a more competent and rewarding way. Such therapeutic approaches use applied behaviour analysis techniques that employ specific strategies and tools to provide a way of learning theory of mind, helping individuals to understand verbal and non-verbal cues that are useful for decoding social behaviour.
The medical and scientific community is actively seeking new therapies and solutions to alleviate the great suffering that accompanies the lives of these individuals, who are sometimes discriminated against precisely because they are different. In addition to this, support communities around the world provide indispensable help to people with Asperger’s.
In the canton of Ticino, the association Asi – Autismo Svizzera Italiana (Italian Swiss Autism), which has been active for over 30 years, promotes awareness of autism through various events and initiatives and offers help to families through support groups. It also organises social gatherings and leisure activities such as Sunday workshops and holidays. It also has an Antenna that collects requests from family members and helps them find their way to the various services operating in the area.
For several years now, the GAT group has been active within Asi, aimed specifically at people with Asperger’s syndrome, offering them opportunities to meet and an informal space for dialogue ‘in sympathy’.
Asi works closely with the ARES Foundation, which cares for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, providing educational, residential and professional support. In addition, the ARES Foundation runs a specialised Information and Documentation Centre (CID) and publishes, through Edizioni Fondazione Ares, targeted and practical documents for working with and understanding autism. Furthermore, thanks to collaborations with other partner organisations, it is committed to developing training courses and cultural projects in support of an increasingly inclusive society.