From: tttime@... <tttime@...>
Subject: Re: [Autismlist] expectations for persons with "low-functioning autism?"
To: autismlist@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 1:47 PM

Hi Art, Ben, Char, Tom, Janna

First of all I certainly agree with Ben on the intelligence issue. My own friends with autism have been quick to point that out.  But, I believe it is a little more complicated than that.  Below is what my " sources" have lead me to believe. This is from my ezine articles so some of you may have seen it.
 I

Have you ever experienced flow? Many creative people sense that their art is created through them rather than by them. Many scientists and philosophers have had similar experiences. Where do these inventive ideas originate? Who or what is the source? Our individual egos cannot help but question, analyze and edit. I suspect that a savant is not encumbered by ego and thus remains in flow.

I speculate the savant experiences a gradient of exchange in which he opens up a vacant part of himself to ideas, a form of canalization that deepens and widens over time. The passage of information flows freely, uninterrupted by configurations of brain wave patterns that transpose higher-level thinking into constructs that configure themselves to the mechanism in place. In other words, savants experience information as a free flowing river without the tributaries. The source of the information can be thought of as the ocean of the mind where all information is available. Random thoughts proliferate in a disorganized fashion, attuning to the frequency of the individual being used for expression. An open channel or receptivity occurs.

This genius includes direct expression of an extreme area of competence since the ego of the savant does not interfere with the process. This subjugation of objective self occurs, as the dominant force is the expression of the idea. The savant is able to turn himself over to another source for expression. Unlike most of us, who self monitor, his gate to the emanating force is wide open.

The savant may not have full awareness of what he has produced; however, he is aware that he is in flow. It is a meditative state for him in which his system feels relaxed and at peace. His accomplishments, though not entirely his own, could not occur without him. It is a dance so to speak. He is a tool to express areas of consciousness that would otherwise be unavailable. It is a process that affirms the unique aspects of his connection to universal knowledge and the knowledge base of others individually and collectively.

Balance of self with soul and complete surrender to the process demands ultimate trust and courage. Who among us is capable of that level of abandon? Perhaps, that is why so many of these intriguing savants have been diagnosed with autism or other neurological and/or perceptual differences. Just maybe, it is the lack of ego restraints that allows their genius to flourish.

Many individuals diagnosed with low functioning autism, I believe are intellectual and spiritual savants. Their process differs- they need an agent/facilitator to serve as a catalyst for expression.

The preconceptions and knowledge base of the agents/facilitator limit their expression since they interpret the autistic savants unmitigated free flowing thoughts using their own vocabulary and knowledge base. Some agents, I believe reside on the perimeters of knowing but fear of taking the plunge holds them back. If the agent makes a concerted effort to incorporate new knowledge with past understanding, the circle will continue to widen. But in order for this to occur the agent needs to acknowledge that it exists.

Engagement in this process manifests its own rewards for both the person with autism and the agent. Both experience flow each influencing the other in a meditative dance of possibilities.

Take care,

Mary Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Smith <qim@...>
To: autismlist@yahoogro ups.com
Sent: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 1:52 pm
Subject: Re: [Autismlist] expectations for persons with "low-functioning autism?"

Alright I'm game.  How can you be smart and have mental retardation too? Tom --- On Mon, 11/10/08, Janna Hoskin <janna@thehoskincent re.com> wrote: From: Janna Hoskin <janna@thehoskincent re.com> Subject: Re: [Autismlist] expectations for persons with "low-functioning autism?" To: autismlist@yahoogro ups.com Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 10:34 AM Oh, this girl talks. She doesn't read (but loves to be read to and memorizes her favourite books). As I said, she has mental retardation. I didn't say she wasn't smart.   There is a difference.   -Janna (posted a note to the autismfc group as well, in response to Art) On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 11:29 AM, Tom Smith <qim@...> wrote: Hi Janna, It's understandable you having these doubts but many of us who have FC'd our tails off in bygone times have no doubt that what Ben says here is on the mark.  Autism (LFA) is a distinct condition and that's why so many were able to conclude that all autisitics were retarded at one time.  If the evidence changes, as it has for those who FC'd extensively, it follows one can reasonably assume on the basis of autism being a distinct condition that all autisitics are in fact very bright. I also had an autistic client who refused to type.  By that time I had FC'd with enough of them to know he was refusing not based on low intelligence, but simply because he didn't want to communicate for whatever reasons.  He lived with the auties I was FCing with and they confirmed he was VERY bright through FC. Tom --- On Sun, 11/9/08, Janna Hoskin <janna@thehoskincent re.com> wrote: From: Janna Hoskin <janna@thehoskincent re.com> Subject: Re: [Autismlist] expectations for persons with "low-functioning autism?" To: autismlist@yahoogro ups.com Date: Sunday, November 9, 2008, 10:21 PM I currently work with a girl who has autism and mental retardation, as well as some seizure activity. While I do not doubt that she is smart, she does not have "superior intelligence, " and she does not read or show any interest in using the computer. I do think that FC should be attempted in many cases, but such a blanket statement is ridiculous. -Janna, who also worked with a boy who was a HFA and had mental retardation On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 10:54 PM, Arthur Golden <golden@shani. net> wrote: You are invited to go to: http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ autismfc/ message/1733 and read through message #1737 (including a message each from Char Brandl and Tom Smith) and join in a public open discussion about the question I posed of: expectations for persons with "low-functioning autism?" Please note that my 36 year-old son Ben, nonverbal with "low functioning autism" facilitated his answer of: "All LFAs without exception have superior intelligence and it will be agreat tragedy if they are not allowed to show it through full support FC." Arthur Golden of Jerusalem Israel ------------ --------- --------- ------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:    http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/autismlist / <*> Your email settings:    Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to:    http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/autismlist /join    (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email:    mailto:autismlist-digest@ yahoogroups. com    mailto:autismlist-fullfeat ured@yahoogroups .com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:    autismlist-unsubscr ibe@yahoogroups. com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:    http://docs. yahoo.com/ info/terms/

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