Aspies For Freedom

Full Version: National Disibility Awareness Month - Autism
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Over at my college I saw a posterboard area for National Disibility Awareness Month and on one sheet of paper I saw this..

Lynn Fraher Wrote:
A neurological glitch characterized by obscure talents, impatience, extreme sensitivity, determination, frivolity and merriment, concealed intelligence, excessive and/or infrequent speech and tornado-like behaviors that may be acceptable at a fraternity house but are not allowed at the check-out counter.

Despite these distinctions, individuals with autism share an occasional smile that will melt your heart.


Seeing this I wrote it down and talked with the guy in charge of this event for my College. After talking with him (bringing up points that this implies that autism is something wrong) he asked if an autistic person were to write about their autistic nature in a positive light he would change what was put above and replace it with the a more positive note of autism.

Now.

Two things: 1) Should we change this? 2) If so, what to?

I did a search on the net and found the qoute itself is from the viewpoint of Lynn Fraher who teaches at a school for autistic children. And the last sentence was changed for whatever reason. So I want to make clear it's the viewpoint of a NT who teaches children and the qoute was used in a way that I thought it was talking about the ENTIRE spectrum of kids and adults, not about children only. So no lynch mobs okay?

Link to the Autistic School's Site

Lienda Balla

Man, I am so sick and tired of the older-than-time, ancient line "behind the counter". For God sakes... Can't they think of other jobs besides counter work? It would be refreshing to at least get a different version for once in the planet's history. And NTs call autistic people the copy cats? 'sigh' RolleyesRolleyes

Yes, I think it could stand a little changeing, so it doesn't call other people defects and "can't do #$%" catagory folk.
There are many many pro-autism articles around. One classic essay that comes instantly to mind is "Don't mourn for us" by jim sinclair.
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