To think the t-shirt I saw on a young boy was unfair?

[VictorianSqualor]

First I have to say I have no experience whatsoever with SN so do not intend to insult anyone, I just felt quite sorry for a young boy I saw in Tesco earlier wearing a t-shirt saying "I'm not naughty....I'm autistic".

I can understand his parents may be fed up with nosey busy bodies giving them the 'look' thinking he is misbehaving or something but surely to label him in this way is just as unfair?

I mean, it's no-one elses business and it just seemed maybe they were too worried about other peoples opinions than how it might affect him.

I know it's judgy of me to say anything but I just felt for the poor lad.

However the t-shirt did look like it may ahve come from a charity/organisation that deals with autism so there may be something I missed and I'm sorry if I did, but I wouldn't have looked at him twice if I hadn't been trying to read his t-shirt.

i lived in Acle and my nanna lives in Beccles.

I still wouldn't put one on my DS but I wouldn't hesitate to wear one, or a badge, myself.

I fancy one myself as well... do you think it would stop the hairdresser talking to me. I get a No.4 all over, as it's nice and quick... can't stand hairdressers, they want to make social chit-chat... I don't do that well. (sorry any hairdressers, you are a nice bunch really I'm sure. Mine gets a bigger tip, if she does not talk to me!)

Cory, would have appeared obvious to me i think,very surprised parents didn't mention anything,especially if their friends of yours?

There is another t-shirt I've seen on a general website (I think on www.tshirtgrill.com but can't find it) that is not aimed at SN and it says "My Social Worker Says I'm Special"...... although I think it would be funny to see the reaction of other people when DS is bunny hopping and hand flapping when wearing that t-shirt there is NO WAY I would let him wear that. Is it funny if you have no involvement in SNs? I think it is probably offensive but I find it hard to judge these days. THere are also "Yes, I Cut My Own Hair", another that says "It's All About Me" and "You Laugh Because I'm Different", those might be more appropriate!!

bagism on Sun 09-Mar-08 20:13:59
"Cory, would have appeared obvious to me i think,very surprised parents didn't mention anything,especially if their friends of yours?"

How obvious? This was a little girl who appeared perfectly normal, made polite conversation while visiting with her parents, seemed to play perfectly normally with other children in the daytime. It was only when she was placed in a situation she couldn't handle that her behaviour was manifestly different.

You do seem to suggest that everybody on the autistic spectrum must "look" different from other people, or behave differently in every situation. What I am trying to say is that this is not the case.