Autism Awareness: How do you feel about it?

[Redwallfan7]

This question is about the day (April 2nd, 2013) that focuses on those affected with autism and related disorders. Do you think it's positive or negative that people have autism? Why do you think it's important (or, unimportant) for more people to learn about this disability? I was diagnosed with high functioning asperger's when I was 12. A few of my friends have autism. Though we have to work harder for our goals than other people, it doesn't really affect us that negatively, because we have the confidence to keep trying.  There are still some things that even now in college I'm just learning, but I've overcame so many things. I've always asked God why I have A.S, now I realize that it's just a part of who I am. Everyone has something to improve upon. I wanted to give a big thank you to special needs teachers like Lutra (Adam) who have to work with this uniqueness every day.

[Romsca]

Lutra has it?

[Lutra]

No, I don't have it.  I'm a special needs teacher, and I work with students on the autism spectrum regularly.  Every student is truly unique, so you can't say something like "I saw Rain Man, therefore I know autism."  So not true.  What works with one student doesn't necessarily work with another, so I'm constantly on my feet to make things work.

[Romsca]

Oh, sorry. I misread what Redwallfan7 said

[Norham Waterpaw]

I know someone with autism, he has pretty high grades. Even though he could answer "firetruck" to the question, what did you have for dinner, he's truly amazing in school.

[Romsca]

#nook

I know someone who has it who's simply AMAZING at piano

[AnnaofRedwall]

I love it 'cause i have asperger's   (or aspies) which is a form of autism. I think people with autism should get more respect, cause   every time someone says that i have problems... it's extremely offensive... i also hate it when people are like.. 'you're autistic... you don't LOOK autistic!' aspies isn't something you can see.

[Buzz_Bumble]

Unfortunately "Autism", "Aspergers", etc. have become somewhat of a fad label which the medical profession likes to stick onto people, and far too often it's some poor kid who is simply very shy. (I'm NOT saying autism, etc. doesn't exist at all, but just that many people are mislabelled with it.)

[Redwallfan7]

Unfortunately "Autism", "Aspergers", etc. have become somewhat of a fad label which the medical profession likes to stick onto people, and far too often it's some poor kid who is simply very shy. (I'm NOT saying autism, etc. doesn't exist at all, but just that many people are mislabelled with it.)

I agree with that. I said that I had it in this topic, but I can't really know for sure, if you know what I mean. It's just like someone telling you that you're afraid of spiders, you can't know that yourself just because someone else says it.

[phoenixfoden]

i have aspergers and i have several obsessive intrests that i can talk all day about 

[WoodlandWarrior]

I think awareness for any disorder, disease, or what have you is good!  I do think it is sad, like Buzzbumble and Redwallfan have mentioned that autism, add, and such things have become a fad label...for many children have serious problems with those.

When I used to work as a paraprofessional during my college years, I was assigned to work with an autistic child.  The school I worked at did their best to provide for his needs, but I always thought there could be more....and awareness does that.

[Romsca]

i have aspergers and i have several obsessive intrests that i can talk all day about 

So does having obsessive interests mean that someone has aspergers?

[WoodlandWarrior]

i have aspergers and i have several obsessive intrests that i can talk all day about 

So does having obsessive interests mean that someone has aspergers?

Not necessarily.  You can just be somewhat obsessive about hobbies or subjects that interest you.  Though, your obsession can become unhealthy if it consumes all your time.  And then there is OCD...and that can have many different facets within itself.

[phoenixfoden]

oooooohhhhh god  ocd sucks been there myself
i dont think an obsessive intrest its bad if it consumes alot of your time i still have time for work but nothing else intrests me apart from those subjects.

[Gears]

I have a bit to say about this... While autism is a terrible thing, and it's beneficial for people to know about it and not immediately label people "retards" but while that is true, what does get me is that people banging on about it. While there's not a "cure" for autism, my sister is autistic, but acts like a completely normal person after therapy. I think it's the same thing with autism. Don't just tell people about it, get people to do something about it.