{"id":6435,"date":"2025-07-23T01:09:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T23:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/?p=6435"},"modified":"2025-10-21T20:31:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T18:31:58","slug":"reframing-the-spectrum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/2025\/07\/23\/reframing-the-spectrum\/","title":{"rendered":"Reframing the Spectrum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What (I think) you ought to know about Autism<\/strong>\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By Kelita Hoffman<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Kelita is a mom of two, a lawyer with a Master’s degree from Berkeley who runs a legal consulting and disability tax business. Kelita is passionate about neurodiversity awareness. She is not a medical professional but rather a mother who lives Autism daily and shares her opinion from a personal perspective.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) IS QUITE A<\/strong> fascinating condition to explore. Statistics indicate that 1 in 31 children, and 1 in 45 adults have ASD in America1<\/sup>. This means that we are all encountering Autistic peo\u00ad ple daily, be it in our workplaces, schools, or social settings. So, what does Autism even mean? The word comes from the Greek word “autos” meaning “self”, and “autism” was first used by Swiss psychia\u00ad trist Bleuler to mean self-admiration and withdrawal within self. A spectrum then refers to a range between two points, and the loaded word “disorder” simply means “lack of order”2<\/sup> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Autistic individuals would be better off viewed as regular people whose brains experience the world in a particular way<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Calling it a disorder is where it gets confusing for me. As a mother of an au\u00ad tistic child, the reference to Autism as a disorder bothers me. It implies that the rest of us are ordered or typical and similarly that the individual with Autism is disordered or atypical. As a premise, I am strongly against the categorisation of things as “normal” or “abnormal”. In the same vein, I can’t quite conceptualise Au\u00adtism as an abnormality. For this reason, I think it pertinent to unravel some of the common misconceptions tied to ASD and shed light on some areas that are, in my view, worth redefining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT IS AUTISM?<\/strong>\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Deriving from various definitions and diagnostic criteria combined with per\u00adsonal experience, I define Autism as a unique way in which a person experienc\u00ades the world, categorised by: deficits in social communication (including social-emotional reciprocity, non-verbal social communication and relationships); and repetitive or restrictive behaviours, activities, or interests (such as insistence of sameness, repetitive movements, sensory sensitivity, and fixated inter\u00ad ests). There would need to be sufficient impairment to daily life to benefit from support and an individual would have had the symptoms from a young age (whether they manifested fully at a young age or were masked and discov\u00ad ered later when the demand on the in\u00addividual increased). In short, an autistic person is one who struggles with social skills and sensory sensitivities (hyper or hypo) and has restrictive behaviours, needing support for these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very often, people who are seen as awkward or quirky may be Autistic indi\u00ad viduals who would be better under\u00ad stood in that light. More correctly, they would be better off viewed as regular people whose brains experience the world in a particular way. In fact, I real\u00ad ly do wish we could just see all people as individuals who see the world through their own unique lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE REDEFINITION: DE\u00ad BUNKING THE MYTHS AND HIGHLIGHTING THE GLORY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A unique 360\u00b0 spectrum<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A spectrum in its nature indicates that there is a wide range, and autism certain\u00adly has one. I prefer to think of it as a 360\u00b0 spectrum, rather than a linear rainbow. An autistic person could have such a wide variety of traits (each on different parts of this multidimensional spectrum, as op\u00adposed to plotting on the graph where the person lies). In fact, many of us so so-called “neurotypicals” could have many of these traits too. Do you ever feel sensitivity to loud noises? Social overwhelm? A firm need for routine? An aversion to a certain food? For this reason, I don’t support the categorisation of “levels” to people with autism. This concept aims to attribute level 1, 2, and 3 to ASD people based on the extent of support a person needs, and while this theoretically makes sense, the categorisation into levels can be mislead\u00ading and even incorrect. For example, a child with level 1 Autism (ie, a mild case) could require support in ways that a level 3 case (a more severe case) may not. My son, for example, who is often viewed as level 1 (albeit incorrectly), needs extensive support with sensory sensitivities, fixat\u00aded interests, and rigidity, whereas I know children who are under-responsive to sensory stimuli and require little support; that my son in many ways but perhaps more support than mine in different ways. The reverse is also true. The sup\u00ad port level in my view can therefore vary depending on the particular trait or even phase the child is in. With the potential needs being so vast and so personal, I be\u00ad lieve the autism spectrum to be a 360\u00b0 one. Caution: you may find yourself somewhere on this spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autism isn’t a death sentence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Although many mourn their diagnosis, keep it a secret, or refuse to accept it, I believe strongly that with the incredible knowledge, support, and awareness available and the benefits that come with it (which I will get to further down), an Autism diagnosis for your child or a loved one is not insurmountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labelling can be beneficial<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For some reason, we are in a place in this woke world where we don’t want to be labelled or defined by anything, be it sexuality, gender, job title, or diagnosis. In the context of neurodiversity, certain\u00adly Autism, I disagree. Why wouldn’t you want a label for the way you experience the world when it can be so beneficial?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE BENEFITS OF LABELLING FOR THE AUTISTIC INDIVIDU\u00adAL AND THEIR LOVED ONES:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Feeling less alone (this should be rea\u00ad son enough);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Understanding oneself and others;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Understanding how and why we and our loved ones do things differently;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Enabling connection with a communi\u00ad ty of people just like us (for the autis\u00ad tic individuals and families) and bene\u00ad fit from resources that can better quality of living; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Helping us know we’re not crazy (or not for this reason at least).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Also, why wouldn’t you want to know more about yourself\/your child and get the correct support to better your life. For this reason, I am also in favour of adult diagnoses and have personally seen lives drastically transformed as a result. And no, I don’t buy the “I’ve managed this far” narrative of substandard human exis\u00ad tence, particularly with the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don’t use the term Aspergers –ever! Why?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. The term is linked to a Nazi sympathis\u00ad er who was responsible for a disabled children’s euthanasia programme;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. It’s offensive;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. It’s outdated; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Also, it’s not a distinct condition from Autism, nor was it ever. It is Autism-mild or low support if you must categorise.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      The world is designed for neurotypicals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Imagine the world wasn’t designed for you? (And then unkind to you when your challenges present themselves.) Let that sink in. Understanding that and considering that as you go about your day will increase your compassion and awareness that our realities aren’t the re\u00adalities of everyone around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Being autistic doesn’t mean you don’t have empathy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Autistic people often struggle with correct\u00adly understanding context and interpreting behaviour (ie, theory of mind), which often results in their incorrect identification or interpretation of the emotions of others. It is then highly difficult for them to re\u00adspond appropriately (or in a way expected by a neurotypical person). This is not the same as lacking empathy. When I tell my son that I am sad, he does empathise and doesn’t like that I am sad. However, he struggles to identify that the emotion I am feeling is sadness. More so when it’s not blatant, like if I were to be mopey but not crying. Nuances and subtleties are espe\u00ad cially difficult for Autistic people. Responding correctly is therefore highly chal\u00ad lenging. They do, however, feel empathy (and often even regret when they know they have acted inappropriately). This is also a skill that does improve with time, age, maturity, and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      More people are autistic than you think <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      As a parent in the community, I spot un\u00addiagnosed Autism all over the place. As seen by the stats above, Autism is highly prevalent and therefore definitely worth taking the time to understand. And no, I don’t think more people have Autism now, but rather more are being diag\u00ad nosed (thankfully) due to increased knowledge and awareness. Because of this, more people are also sharing their diagnoses, like celebs across industries such as Elon Musk, Anthony Hopkins, Jerry Seinfeld, and Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Non-speaking doesn’t mean non\u00ad thinking or non-understanding<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Nor does it mean they don’t understand or communicate; it simply means they don’t speak or aren’t fully verbal. And again, it’s a 360-degree spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You don’t grow out of Autism <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Although the presentation of Autism can change with age, practice, tools, and maturity, an Autistic person will always be Autistic. So don’t be that family who says “he’ll grow out of it”. It’s ignorant and frankly annoying. It’s also another reason to go through the process of ac\u00adcepting the diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Autistic people can have super cool talents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      This is the cool part. When you see the world uniquely and your brain isn’t bound by the same confines as others, creativity is born. Innovation changes worlds. Take the famous Autistic individuals: Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, or Isaac Newton as ex\u00adamples. Many autistic traits can be highly beneficial and conducive for incredible suc\u00adcess, like hyper fixation on a task, in-depth study of detail, deep analysis, systemisa\u00ad tion, rigid time management, detail orien\u00adtation, and uninterrupted focus. This is, of course, aside for the IQ piece, which may ac\u00adcompany the rest (keeping in mind that not all <\/strong>autistic people are savants). These qualities can lead to incredible expertise and success in our world and is worth ad\u00admiration and celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      HOW COOL IS THAT?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      As a mother of an incredibly bright, highly demanding, but wonderfully kind and lov\u00ad ing child, I wouldn’t take away his Autism. It is so very beautifully a part of him and our lives and the positives truly are abun\u00addant. So, my advice to those grappling with the diagnosis is to persevere in your jour\u00adney of acceptance and understanding of the spectrum. Embrace it and join me on the side of gratitude and appreciation. \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • 1<\/sup>The Center for Disease Control’s 2022 and the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • ‘The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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        For support, comments and speaking engagements, please contact me at kalita@think-quick.co.za<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        What (I think) you ought to know about Autism By Kelita Hoffman Kelita is a mom of two, a lawyer with a Master’s degree from Berkeley who runs a legal consulting and disability tax business. Kelita is passionate about neurodiversity awareness. She is not a medical professional but rather a mother who lives Autism daily and shares her opinion from a personal perspective. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) IS QUITE A fascinating condition to explore. Statistics indicate that 1 in 31 children, and 1 in 45 adults have ASD in America1.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,141],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-136","category-august-2025"],"gutentor_comment":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6435"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6612,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6435\/revisions\/6612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishlife.co.za\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}