I know this is just a meme but autistic people were probably less seen as eccentric, cute and quirky; more likely put in mental institutions where they were abused and in some cases killed. :/
Unfortunately, its impossible to know. We can point to severe cases with non-verbal ASD, and those with uncontrolled violent meltdowns, and others combined with other mental disabilities, but given that JFKs sister was lobotomized for being too promiscuous and California had a mass eugenics program until the 50s we won’t know.
But I can tell you my uncles and ancestors who were farmers, engineers, etc (extremely conservative men too) - dont like how ASD is a disorder. “Back in our day we called that an engineer.”
I find it weird to think about this sometimes, especially the fact that in a different time, I’d have probably been institutionalised, despite modern standards considering me “high functioning” that I got to go to university (where I met many other autistic nerds).
I know this is just a meme but autistic people were probably less seen as eccentric, cute and quirky; more likely put in mental institutions where they were abused and in some cases killed. :/
Unfortunately, its impossible to know. We can point to severe cases with non-verbal ASD, and those with uncontrolled violent meltdowns, and others combined with other mental disabilities, but given that JFKs sister was lobotomized for being too promiscuous and California had a mass eugenics program until the 50s we won’t know.
But I can tell you my uncles and ancestors who were farmers, engineers, etc (extremely conservative men too) - dont like how ASD is a disorder. “Back in our day we called that an engineer.”
I find it weird to think about this sometimes, especially the fact that in a different time, I’d have probably been institutionalised, despite modern standards considering me “high functioning” that I got to go to university (where I met many other autistic nerds).