Acceptable Sign for Autism?
I am a hearing autistic. I'm trying to learn sign language.
Right now I'm trying to decide how to sign the word 'autism'. My ASL dictionary gives the sign as two 'C' hands covering the face, to show being 'cut off from the world'. I find that sign offensive, because autistic people are not cut off from the world. This is a common misconception, based on the fact that a) many autistics don't have the same kind of signals for showing that they are paying attention - for example looking at things out of peripheral vision is common, and b) autistics are often interested in different things, so for example they may be noticing a pattern on the floor while ignoring a person nearby.
So my question is: are there any other signs for autism which aren't based on this stereotype? And if not, would it be OK for me to fingerspell A-U-T as a shorthand for autism (perhaps spelling it out first time I mention it)?
Comments
there are a few signs for it. I personally prefer to fingerspell it… A-u-t-i-s-m or a-u-t-i-s-t-i-c. hope this helps…
Or you could check out this vlog and its comments.
im a deaf father of an autisitic child.
i prefer the sign that emerged from late 1940 study group.
they signed” 5 handshape” spinning in front of right eye-
which was characteristic of the autisitic boy they had observed that day..the boy was self absorbed in a bicycle wheel on ground spinning constantly. thus the sign…
signing naturally is recommended in most cases.
2 C handshapes??
or 2 palms (as in muslims prayer )
my asl teacher once said that even if it is acceptable, the preference is to sign with one hand when possible.
roger ’s suggestion might be the right one.
AbnormalDiversity is to be commended for asking this question and critiquing one of the many signs for “autism”. Input directly from the disability group is the best way to invent a sign.
One example sign: in Ontario and New York the sign is simple and neutral: “A” on the temple. Similar signs exist using different letters for Ushers Syndrome (U on temple, S on cheek),etc.
Also correct is spelling “A-U-T” instead; abbreviation is frequently used in sign language.
This is a word that needs an elegant, meaningful and hopeful sign. A group of deaf autistics and their parents, both deaf and hearing, suggested the sign “include” (without the movement for “all”) as a temporary one till a more descriptive sign is found.
include? that is misleading or inaccurate..
try to discuss this further with asl users in your community..
do you know any deaf grandparents?
they will set you straight, believe me-
As the mom of an autistic young lady (age 22) I really don’t like the 5 shape spinning in front of the eyes. My professor Eileen Forestal from Union County College in Plainfield NJ showed me a sign that I found better.
Both hands take open B shape with palms facing and each hand on each side of the head bring hands down to shoulders turning palms outward.
Further discussion with AbnormalDiversity reveals that she is not, in fact, a hearing autistic person and, therefore, really has no reason to be offended by the sign for “autism” or “autistic” that she says offends her.
According to Abnormal Diversity, she has been diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (which, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is a sub-category of the class of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
The PDD class includes: 1. Autistic Disorder, 2. Rett’s Disorder, 3.Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, 4.Asperger’s Disorder, and 5. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
The PDD-NOS sub-category includes (Atypical Autism).
Because AbnormalDiversity says her diagnosis is PDD-NOS, she is not medically or legally “an autistic person.”
The difference between PDD-NOS and autism is problematic. My son, who is deaf, has been diagnosed at various times as having PDD and autism. The doctors say the terms are “umbrella” designations that cover a wide spectrum of characteristics. I’m hearing, so I’m the last person to comment on what is an appropriate sign for autism. But I would like to know what the sign is. Thank you.
the comment that PDD/NOS is not autism is incorrect, even legally. The listed diagnosis 1. Autistic Disorder, 2. Rett’s Disorder, 3.Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, 4.Asperger’s Disorder, and 5. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)are consider Autism Spectrum Disorders and reflect varying degrees of autism. For more information, check out Autism Society of America and other organizations.
I am a Specil Education Assistant and Behaviour Therapist. All my clients have Autism. I am married to a Deaf man and he taught me a palm down outstretched handin front of the eyes with the fingers wiggling, as if ’stimming’. Of course not all people with Autism do this, but whenever I use this sign with Deaf people they know what I am talking about.
I understand the comment about “include” that is just the English translation.
Include in sign really means “within himself” meaning, the person with Autism mostly prefers being in his/her own world. I see nothing wrong with that.
Being Deaf and working in the mental health field, I’ve seen more than ten different signs for autism/autistic.
The most common sign for us was using the right hand open with palm moving on a circular motion onto the back left hand which is shaped like a number 1.
I checked ASLPRO.com and asl browser at comm tech labs, and neither of them had really anything.
Also, spelling A-U-T and simply shaking the ‘a’ handshape in midair (when you are working in this type of field only)
MJ
Special Needs, Autism, and Sign Language for children