Anyone read this

[colettemum3]

crown-of-weeds.tumblr.com/post/20339734910/april-is-the-worst-month

It appeared on my fb wall. Not that particularly happy and basically i replied to the 'friend' that this writer that this person need to suck it up. And that the stuff that this person wanted is going to need money and where does money come from? Events like Light it up blue and 'April'.

[Schmedz]

Very disturbing. What a sad person to have written with such vitriol. As for my daughter, this month makes her feel special, it makes her feel noticed and it makes her feel completely the opposite of this article! It makes her feel there is hope for some understanding of how she is in this world.

[WilsonFrickett]

How many times do we say 'each person with ASD is different'?

This writer is perfectly entitled to their opinion and I think it's a bit off calling him or her 'sad'. They don't sound sad, they sound angry. And why should they suck it up? It is perfectly acceptable for another human being to not want to feel 'special' and like they need a month of events for people to accept them.

[MadameSin]

... but how do people learn to accept without awareness of the differences?? and there are differences, that's a truth. So, surely the more educated we all are, the quicker stereotyping and prejudice is eased or possibly eradicated. I think the author was articulate and honest. I never thought that awareness could have a negative effect ... or am I naive?? Maybe it's a case of 'damned if you do and damned if you don't'

[WilsonFrickett]

I don't think that awareness has a negative effect, but if you are the person who the world is being 'made aware of' I think that could be a pretty shitty place to be. Imagine if you turned up to work (sorry, assuming from your NN that you are a woman) and your male boss said 'oh, I'm sorry, are you making that suggestion as a woman? Because I haven't been on my woman-awareness course yet so I probably won't listen, just so you know.'

You'd be enraged. Now, absolutely that boss should go on an awareness course and his and your life would probably be better because of it, but it wouldn't take away from that feeling of justified rage. (And I know of which I speak because that more or less happened to me back in the day, just without the suggestion of a course ). Awareness is just so small as an objective.

There's a politicisation (sp?) process going on atm with some people who have disabilities - one example that springs to mind is some people who are deaf are very militant that it isn't a disability and it shouldn't be 'cured'. I think also the talk of a pre-natal test for autism will lead to some more anger and similar viewpoints to this in the ASD community.

[MadameSin]

.. Agree that deafness may not be a disability to the deaf person or that it is something that needs to be cured, but in a society that doesn't cater so well for or fully accept so many with physical differences, behavioural or mental health diagnosis, it becomes a disability ... shitty, but sadly true and their rage is justified. So, what to do? Surely education and awareness is key .....

[Dinkysmummy]

Awareness has many different outcomes.
From a personal perspective had I been more aware of the signs and symptoms of autism as a spectrum rather than just classic autism, maybe I would have seen what others have seen in dinky earlier.
Also the differences in presentation between boys and girls.

Also a personal experience of awareness, I have mental health issues. Others being more aware of mental illness means that employers, friends, family, might be more understanding when I'm not doing 100% and make allowances. I'm not asking for wide allowances, just enough for me to get back to me.

I can see the point of the writer, but surely she can see that without awareness people wouldn't begin to understand why she is different whether she likes that fact or not. No one thing can please everyone

[WilsonFrickett]

I think she's saying 'why I'm different isn't important'. And maybe evrn 'who says im different?'. And why not? society does manage to adjust for all sorts of people with all sorts of personalities and bheaviours without any awareness weeks.

[MadameSin]

Yes, she probably is saying both those things and in a perfect world it would be enough. But our society doesn't 'just' suddenly adjust Maybe change isn't bought about specifically by awareness weeks, but it is bought about by education and general awareness which is a good thing. I am able to understand my own child's behaviours by educating myself about his disorder and the more aware others are, the more I would hope he would be fully understood and be part of the 'norm' in the future.

[bochead]

Her piece isn't about what she's been told she SHOULD feel, it's about what she DOES feel. That's OK, and I'm prepared to listen.

I think it's a plea for acceptance after a lifetime of feeling condescended to and isolated. Her feelings are valid, as lets face it people with disabilities are patronised a lot - the classic being the individual in a wheel chair who is spoken to very loudly and slowly. Posters have complained on here about the lack of inclusiveness for all children on the spectrum at NAS events even.

She just wants to feel like an equally valid member of society as those who aren't on the spectrum. For her ASD IS the norm, and it's the NT she needs to study in order to understand.

I'd like to hear more voices of those actually on the spectrum, in literature, leading campaigns etc, etc rather than just the opinions of professionals and parents as tbh I think I'd learn loads. It's been a HUGE advantage that DS has a retired teacher Granny on the spectrum, even if she does live overseas at times as she's been able to give me insights I just wouldn't have got anywhere else.

[WilsonFrickett]

Definitely boch. How can I ever fully articulate DS experience if I'm starting from an nt viewpoint?