Feb 12
A recent article in the Washington Post has garnered some much-needed attention to a long-standing problem for the autistic community. A mother tells the story of a family outing in a park, which she thought had been going very well. It had been a good day at the park. A miracle day, in fact, for …
Feb 11
A piece of local (New England) history. Did you know? I had never heard this term, although I was familiar with some of the boundary problems that had existed between Connecticut and Massachusetts. In the 1970s, I lived in Southwick Mass, which has a block of land that juts into Connecticut, and disrupts the otherwise …
Jan 13
Autism in the Age of Neurodiversity Outline for 2018 OLLI Autism Course at Simon’s Rock Great Barrington 6 Sessions on Fridays 1 to 3 PM 19 January to 23 February 2018 Michael F. Wilcox Alford Massachusetts http://www.mfw.us/blog/ mfw@mfw.us Promised: A review of the cultural history of autism, from ancient times to the present. An exploration …
Dec 11
Advance publicity for my OLLI course on autism is in full swing. Last week (on December 6), I attended an Open House in Pittsfield and gave a short pitch, and then (on December 7) I appeared on local public access TV in a half-hour interview, available here. The interview was a lot of fun, giving …
Dec 01
Click Here for an Outline of My Presentation I will be conducting a workshop, as part of the December 2 AANE Annual Conference at Bentley University. The outline is really just a teaser. I cannot possibly do justice to all of the topics listed, in the time allotted. I hope to generate discussion and to …
Dec 01
The Language and Mythology of Autism The words we use reveal our values, and the language we use can shape our beliefs. To be autistic is to be neurodivergent, and to be neurodivergent is to enjoy a different way of life. Identity Pathology Euphemisms Empathy Functioning Special Interests Michael Forbes Wilcox, MA, CFA …
Nov 28
I am pleased to announce that I will be presenting a series of six lectures on autism in this winter’s Berkshire OLLI program. NB: the venue has been changed from BCC to Simon’s Rock. One of my objectives will be to dispel some of the myths and misunderstandings around autism. Here is everything you need …
Nov 27
A rhetorical question, I’m afraid. We (I’m wearing my Economist’s Hat here) have long been aware of the hidden cost of externalities, those insidious, unmeasured penalties incurred by society in a profit-driven economy. In our national accounts, for example, we measure the dollar value of energy produced (such as electricity or gasoline), but we do …
Nov 16
I am a big fan of Elizabeth Kolbert’s writing. I’ve read just about everything she’s written in the past few years, and I also attended a talk she gave at a local college (she lives not too far from me). The most recent (November 20, 2017) issue of The New Yorker published a piece by …
Nov 15
In doing some research at the Stockbridge Library, my brother came across an article (reproduced below) that appeared in the Berkshire Eagle in 1958, five years after the events he described in his recent article. A related picture appeared the next day. Notice the phone numbers given. I think dial phones came to Stockbridge in …