Does Autism scare you? A question to all the mom's of "Normal" (NT-"neuro-typical") children.

[ZsMommy]

This questions goes out to all the mom's who ARE NOT DIRECTLY affected by Autism...What scares you...What makes you uncomfortable about our kids? What are you curious about or could you even care less? Autism affects 1 in 150 children PER DAY...And in boys,the chances are 1 in 97... Autism is not an outright "birth defect"-there are rarely signs or symptoms...Often we as mothers of ASD kids (Autism Spectrum Disorder-the proper name) never even suspected a child who would become autistic because they hit or surpassed all their milestones. But while our children who ARE afftected by Autism "look" exactly the same as "normal" kids,they each have their own unique issues of coping with life as an autist. IT IS NOT CONTAGIOUS...IT IS NOT A DISEASE.. But it is something that needs to be addressed. Often mothers of ASD kids feel mom's of "Normal" ids "just don't get it"-So I'm trying to bridge the gap that separates us. You may not realize it,but often we are isolated by the "lack of understanding"...Please address your questions here so that I may present them to mom's of kids with Autism. Maybe we can bridge the gap and better understand each other a little better. And for the record...PLEASE DO NOT(!!!) Call our kids "mentally retarded"...In fact- ASD children are quite intelligent-the problem lies in COMMUNICATION SKILLS ...A person who cannot speak IS NOT  a person who cannot think and understand.Both Mentally challenged individuals and Autistic individuals CAN LEARN...but each has limitation IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY. I hope we can bridge the gap and better understand each other. WE DO NOT WANT PITY...WE WANT PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING...

Please ask your questions below,and thank you for your interest in this post.

[momof3heathens]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:11 PM

Great post, H and very well put!  I'll be very interested to see what responses you get!  Awareness of any type is a move in the right direction, and I applaude you for wading into the fray and asking for information to help battle the 'silent' discrimination that can affect our lives!

P 

 

[lipstickclouds]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:26 PM Thanks for posting this Heids...I will be interested in seeing what people say.

[Josef1129]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:29 PM Thank you for this post!  Now maybe we can understand why mom's of NT kiddos discriminate our special kiddos.  Yes they are different, but don't we all have our quirks?  I will be watching this too!

[ithi]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 2:38 PM Great post, I'm also very interested in what people have to say about it.  I hate how some ignorant people seem to think that ASD automatically means the person is Mentally Retarded or that they're stupid.  Yes my son has a hard time understanding idioms, he doesn't understand that 'hold your horses' doesn't really mean you have horses to hold, that you mean "wait, be patient".  Just because his mind works very literally, doesn't mean he doesn't understand you at all.  Get some education before you make snap judgements.  And DON"T tell your child that you don't want them to play with my son because he's "different".  I don't want my son to play with your kids if you raise them with hate and intolerance.

[JuliaH]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 6:31 PM Amen to that!!!! I am sick and tired of the way my child gets treated becaus he is "differant". and the looks and the stares! I would slap someone in the face if they said my kid was mentally retarded, even though he has the speech delay , lets see there kids do 2 , 35 piece puzzle side by side!

[123kat]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 6:52 PM I'll be very interested in this, too....but so far it's only us ASD mommies who have responded!  :o}

[classicgirl]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 7:44 PM I'm a mom whose kids are NT- I guess, but one had speech delays and ADHD. I'm sorry you've been treated badly by others. I also have had this problem, from others as well,but have never treated any child differently. I guess I'm not the best subject, as I'm not afraid. I would gladly accept any child as my kids friend, without exception. I hope others learn to live with an open heart and learn to accept your children as the wonderful people they are!

[wifeymom]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 8:08 PM Well my child doesn't have autism, he's only 6 months old, I don't know much about it but I don't have a problem with children that have autism. I don't see why anyone would treat them differently. And if someone does have a problem tell them to kiss your a$$. They obviously have insecurities of their own or they wouldn't have to make comments about your kids.

[JuliaH]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 8:17 PM I just want everyone out there to know that our kids are just like yours, they just have trouble talking , and each of them have differant quirks about them, They are harmless , the most loving and polite and imaginitive kids which are soooo misunderstood. I wish the world could see what I se everyday with my son and then maybe everyone will get a better picture instead of everyone just knwing about the meltdowns.

[psumom5]

Oct. 20, 2007 at 8:54 PM Good post, Heids. I'm anxious to hear what others have said.