Aspies For Freedom

Is there anyone who has had trouble when friends/co-workers et cetera talk about autism?  It can realy hurt me whenever people say such rude or terrible things about autims, or make "jokes" in which nothing about autism realy belongs there.  Ex.  "he was walking down the hall like an autistic"  
I never realy know how to respond especialy scence I am in high school and rarely are people tollerant or understanding.  I know in large part that teenagers are typically more ingnorant than adults about neurodivirsity but it seems like there should at least be some kind of concius.  Some of my friends know I am autistic, (or at least I said something once that I wrote about earlier,)  but it seems like they don't see how it would affect me when other people who don't know talk about it so deragatorily, it even may come from them at times.  

Is there a way that I can show people how offensive it is?  Can I do anything to change their minds?

Not sure if this is any help, but I do think it is changing somewhat especially with recent huge increase in autistic and AS population. When Hrick was diagnosed it was 1 in 10,000. Now I think it is 1 in about 150.  Autism is no longer something that happens to someone else. It is now our family or our friends family : sisters, brothers, cousins, children. Here is how I always treat those who use  derogatory language towards others , not just against autists. Relative to younger kids I rarely mince words. I'll tell them it is offensive and ask how they'd feel about someone saying that if it was THEIR sister or brother they were talking about.  It is a sobering thought that usually shuts them up pretty quickly.

Mom

Impress them with facts.  The next time you hear a comment, tell them about a savant or someone famous with autism.

I wonder why it says "unregistered" under the names of Lienda Balla and hrick.

It might help to remind people that there are certain things that they wouldn't ever say regarding, for example, skin colour / ethnicity, or a physical disability - and that they have to realise that saying things about non-physical issues (such as autism and mental health) is no less offensive.

Yeah, I been wondering what happened to Lienda Balla and (mom of) Hrick.

?????wezzt azz fook?????

I was reading in some of their earlier posts that they wanted to leave AFF, so perhaps that is what has happened.

In my sons' school the current favourite, constant, reflexive insult-word is 'gay'. When I was at school a million years ago it was 'spastic', before that it was 'cripple'.

Just as "How are you?" isn't really a question, just a greeting-noise to show that you belong to the same 'group', these words used as insults are merely noises to the kids saying them; they do not seem to think of them as having a real meaning above and beyond the group-bonding thing and any child pulled up for using them usually reacts in complete surprise.

There were some spiteful actions and cunning manipulations that Mom of Hrick was orchestrating--behind the scenes--and that is all I am allowed to say for the time being.

I find that difficult to imagine. She seemed kind and thoughtful.

Sometimes it's easy to get the wrong impression of an NT.

I know what you mean. I think that many people think that if they don't know anyone from a particular group, then that group is fair game for jokes...

I have those problems too- I think there is a division in people's minds. As if they are saying, "oh not like you, your just CUTE autistic, not BAD autistic". All we can do is educate... I think you should tell them that it bothers you.

PS- do autistic people really walk down the hall a certain way?  

They put one foot in front of the other, repeating the process frequently xD

I would just say, "I didn't find that joke funny." See if they notice or not. Or if they ask why, say "Maybe you need to put others down to make yourself feel good about yourself. I am happy with who I am, and don't feel the need to lower myself to the level of saying harmful statements about others."

I have been known occasionally to go up to the ground and next to the person making the comment and say have a long laugh and pat them on the back and say "You're a dickhead". This has the effect of bursting the festivities and at the same time you are being offensive without appearing angry. Rattles people. If they want explanation I tell them up front. I am autistic and so is my boy. Up to them then. They want to get angry they can, they want to concede they did the wrong thing that is fine, they want to be offended - whatever. No point taking it.
I always say there is nothing wrong with ignorance it can be change with education. This is a perfect opportunity to ignorant people to be educated in a way that will impact on them.
Imagine them talking about it at a BBQ weeks later. "Mate, the other day I really embarrassed shit out of myself. I was there having a yarn about someone doing something "autistic" and this bloke at work calls me a dickhead. I front him and he tells me he and his kid are autistic. How bad do you reckon I feel? I apologised and had a yarn to him later. Yeah he was alright about it. I learned a fair bit about him and autistics, interesting. You would hardly know to look at this bloke though and I tell you what he looked like he would have happily had a go at the lot of us if we had have been nasty about it"