> I am not surprised in the least. If you're able to write then you're in a whole different (much, much more high functioning) class of disability than the people I was working with.
There are (were?) only two 'autism-specialized' treatment facilities in the Netherlands, and their client base is divided based on geographical location, not 'severity'. I've seen everything from worst to best. I have not had any reason to believe that this is different elsewhere.
I am not surprised in the least. If you're able to write then you're in a whole different (much, much more high functioning) class of disability than the people I was working with.
> By far the biggest harm to these people is done by the staff, who appear to be completely oblivious to how people actually think, and try to fit them into a 'treatment' programme.
Also not surprising--the facilities I worked at were very forward-thinking, and I witnessed some unbelievable behavior improvements through targeted autsim therapies, but in the past the state mental hospitals were notoriously abusive. Still, even with the best facilities, you're going to run into problems with staff when wages are less than ten dollars per hour (early 2000s, it's probably closer to 12 an hour now). Most staff at these types of care facilities could instantly double their wages if they got a job delivering pizza.