Autistic/Savant

[VeryBerryCherry]

When did people start using the term Savant instead of Autistic?

I've only recently heard it, but now it seems to be the name preferred over Autistic, how come?

[indiepanda]

I thought savants were a subcatagory of autistic people rather than it being an alternative name. The savants are the super talented ones - like that boy who was on the TV years ago who was amazing at drawing very detailed pictures in a small amount of time

This article seems to back that up:-

http://www.autism.org/savant.html

If people are choosing to describe all autistic people as savants maybe it's because they think it is a more positive thing to call them?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Savant just means "a learned man". The term used in regard to autism is "idiot savant" - not a particularly flattering description but does denote someone who has autism plus an outstanding talent, eg, music.

[Shu.Kurimu.Sensei]

Never heard anyone use it, just sounds like general ignorance. My brother who we care for is autistic. I don't know about "preffered" or anything, and its not like there is just one type of autism anyhow. I do know that a fair few people in America with Aspergers syndrome refer to themselves as "aspies" as some kind of self-affirmation or something. I can't see it taking off here though, you don't see any intelligent black people in London calling each other Ni**a do you? (though you may hear some idiots do it).