I have asperger's syndrom,and I was not exposed to " floor time," or any other "Spectrum" stuff. I was raised like anyone else: I had food,clothes,ect. I am highly intelligent, but i prefer to be alone ( a by-product of my autism) and I have 3 kids and have been married 10 years. When ppl ask why i don't like to be around their kids/them,and my daughter informs them I am autistic,ppl tend to avoid me. Why? Also, why do some ( supposedly) intelligent ppl seem to think that retardation and autism are on and the same?
2006-09-18 07:42:16 · 21 answers · asked by Dragonflygirl 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
i meant syndrome.... I misspelled it, sorry. i am just mad at the questions i am reading regarding ppl with autism. Why can't ppl just leave us alone and let us be raised like other kids?
2006-09-18 07:43:49 · update #1
I work at a preschool for children with all types of disabilities, and I have to tell you that it saddens me each day to see some of the reactions that children get. Not much at my preschool, since "typically developing" children are mixed in with our children with disabilities- but if I see one of our kids out in public, it can be really hurtful to see how they are treated by others. My daughter's best friend in preschool (she attended the one I teach at) was a little girl with Down Syndrome, and they did everything together. My daughter even taught the other child how to talk. When we went to Burger King a while back, there was a teenager with Down Syndrome sitting in the area where the "habitrail" climber thing was, watching the children play. My daughter walked right up and said hello, then came to me and said, "he looks like my friend Sally!" She was so excited to show him that she knew sign language, and he was so happy that someone was talking to him like a normal person. All of the other parents were keeping their children away from him- scared of his differences. I know it is hard when people focus more on differences than sameness... I am trying to teach my children the opposite. Both of my children have attended the preschool I work at for that purpose. I want them to see that children are just children. People are all just people. I want them to be accepting and embracing of differences, not ignorant. I have had the opportunity to work with several children with autism and asperger's, and I think that they may actually be so clever that they have no reason to talk to us "typically developing" morons! : ) I have told my husband on more than one occasion that a child I was working with probably had the answers to the universe, but didn't want to share them with a "commoner" like me. Retardation and autism are definitely not the same, and I wish more people would open up and embrace other's differences as a unique and beautiful part of who they are, instead of shunning them as "odd". I'd be very interested to hear more about your life with autism... perhaps it could help children I work with.
2006-09-18 12:36:49 · answer #1 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
People are ignorant and rather than take the time to research what autism really is they would prefer to keep anything beyond their understanding at arms length. Which is a shame because they are in turn raising their own children to do the same. You and your daughter are completely honest and upfront, that should not change. Other people have the problem not you. A least you want to be left alone and that is what they are doing. Your daughter could educate her friends on what Autism is, that's a start so that the next generation may not be so ignorant, as for the parents they will do what they will do, prejudice is an ugly and ignorant thing but unfortunately most adults harbor it deep down.
Good luck to you and you family.
2006-09-18 08:23:30 · answer #2 · answered by LondonLou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to be around you. I may even have some questions. I have wondered before if I have borderline Aspergers and perhaps you could help me figure it out.
I don't consider you autistic. Why, here you are typing on Yahoo! I have a brother that is autistic and he has a vocabulary of less than 20 words. I think the only thing he can spell is his name.
2006-09-18 08:38:25 · answer #3 · answered by pennypincher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have a nephew who has aspergers and I for one wouldn't avoid an autistic person. Most people just don't understand it and they really don't understand that autistic people are not mentally retarded. You shouldn't feel ashamed of your condition, but there is nothing wrong with your daughter telling her friends that you just prefer to be stay home, or that you don't like crowds. It's none of thier business and they shouldn't keep hounding her about it.
2006-09-18 07:55:44 · answer #4 · answered by kat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People are scared of the unknown. They have been taught about Autism with magazine articles and movies ( Like Rainman) and assume it means that all Autistic people are the same. Hey, I am not Autistic and I prefer to be alone also!
Maybe your daughter is giving too much info too soon. why does she have to explain you at all to anyone?
2006-09-18 07:57:29 · answer #5 · answered by jachooz 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would not avoid you . If you are a good person then there is no reason it avoid you. The ppl who do have no clue what your condition is like and they are very ignorant to even try to find out. Those type of ppl YOU should avoid. Do what makes you happy and if being alone makes you happy , more power to you
2006-09-18 07:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ Army Wife ♥ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My children both have Aspergers. People who think autism means retardation just don't know any better. Maybe it's up to people like us to educate the public. My kids don't have any problems making friends, it's maintaining friendships that's hard for them. They have both found their niche in online gaming forums, where there is no eye-to-eye contact. If you are comfortable avoiding people, and it doesn't interfere with your life in any way, why change it? Be yourself!
2006-09-18 07:52:25 · answer #7 · answered by Terisu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had a good friend that was autistic in high school, and he did show it. I would not avoid someone who is autistic. And you are right, it is totally different than mental retardation. Some people are so lame and only see skin deep. Good thing everyone can't see the monster that they are inside.
2006-09-18 07:45:01 · answer #8 · answered by #3ontheway! 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One simple answer to both questions....ignorance.
I am sorry you are in a situation where you have to endure more than your share of people's ignorance, but that is it in a nutshell. People avoid what they do not understand. And if they do not already understand it they are unlikely to make the effort to try and understand it, some exceptional few may.
Best of luck to you. I am not Autistic and I prefer to be alone also...
2006-09-18 07:48:59 · answer #9 · answered by CrazyCatLady 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lots of decent people here. Wish more people at my college and my hometown are like you guys.
People on the autistic spectrum such as me and my potential girlfriend should not be shunned!
We may be a bit different, but we are humans too!
2016-05-20 11:27:00 · answer #10 · answered by Jacky Huynh Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋