Well, I've been a high school teacher for any years and seen an incredible amount of bullying toward AS kids, so I hope this program is part of the growing anti-bullying sentiment in the schools.
It seems to me that AS kids are one of the two or three most targeted groups.
All I can say is, "Well, DUH!". Long overdue.
"The segment said that he suffered from bullying, not aspergers"
I'm glad to hear they said that.
I've always hated it when people say "She's depressed because she's gay" or "black people are so hostile" without recognizing that it's living in a homophobic world that is depressing; it's living with racism that creates hostility. It's the same way for AS kids. They don't "suffer" from AS -- they suffer from prejudice, bullying, rejection and judgmental assholes.
I just returned from watching the segment and am personally thrilled that Nightline gave aspies the 'podium' to allow them to share there story and feelings from their point of view -- more news programs should emulate that format.
Kudos ABC and Nightline!
~CGK
SILKY -- thank you SO MUCH for the link to the on-line broadcast.
ABC tends to be idiotic and sensationalistic on many issues, but I was really impressed with this one. Best of all they let the two boys carry the point of the segment, not an endless parade of "experts" -- and they kept the focus where it should be, not on the Tragic Horror of Having Asperger's but on the need to make schools a safe place to be different. Very well done.
I want to adopt Noah -- what a sweet kid. Breaks my heart the *** he's put up with from assholes.
That also is familliar to me, as I was bullied from elementary school until the 7th grade, when my family moved and I went to a completely different middle school. The only form of autism people knew about when I was growing up was the classic, low-functioning form, as my parents knew something was up with me. One therapist as late as 1992 even said to my parents, "If there was something as a little bit autistic" that would be me. Not long after I got diagnosed at 28, I mentioned it to that therapist, and she agreed with the diagnosis.
When my parents mentioned that I was being bullied to the teachers, they were told it was a figment of their imagination. I was also told to "walk away" or to "ignore" the bullies, but when it's the entire class, it's impossible to do. For some reason, moving was what stopped the bullying, and through my involvement in the band and debate team, I was able to make friends. I'm sure that there were probably other undiagnosed Aspies in those groups.
From my experience of being bullied (which got way worse after I turned 18 and moved away from home into a college house), I think girls and women are often worse and more cunning than the males. It has left lasting scars and no doubt there are many others with autism and other differences who have suffered far worse bullying than I ever did.
I just wanted what everybody else seemed to have: a few friends. I also wanted to be left alone to live life as I saw fit and not be pestered about wearing fancy clothes or makeup or chase after boys.
I wish people would get over trying to "fix" Aspies! It's like trying to "fix" left-handedness. I agree that "They don't "suffer" from AS -- they suffer from prejudice, bullying, rejection and judgmental assholes. "
An Aspberger's Mom
I was 65 years old when I was diagnosed with Apergers, after retiring from the position of CEO of an engineering company. I had many social problems but my obsessions led me to many successes. I dread to think of where I might have gone wrong if someone had tried to "fix" me. Now in retirement I have lots of casual friends, no close ones but my wife of 46 years, but people still reject or avoid me because I seem "unfriendly".
Hmm, I was lucky to get a job in the public service before it became very difficult to get employed there. Over the years, there have been attempts to get me to leave but as I am determined not to leave just yet, these other people have not won.
Sadly, I seem to have recently lost some reasonably good male Aspie friends I had but there is a lady from work who seems to want to be friends with me so we'll just see what happens from there.
Hmm, I was lucky to get a job in the public service before it became very difficult to get employed there. Over the years, there have been attempts to get me to leave but as I am determined not to leave just yet, these other people have not won.
I could never find any employment living in Australia. (Always fell into the "no job, no experience" trap in spite of very good grades and all that.) Tassie in the nineties was impossible!!!
It's good to be in a place now where it is relatively easy to find work, even though it is the kind of place you tend to get over after a relatively short time.
I think I probably have Nicholls-Type Asperger's but unfortunately the DSM hasn't made that a category just yet so it is self-diagnosed for now.
I think I probably have Nicholls-Type Asperger's but unfortunately the DSM hasn't made that a category just yet so it is self-diagnosed for now.
Well if you have Nicholls type Asperger's or another type, you still have Asperger's.
Yes, that's correct.
Well, I've been a high school teacher for any years and seen an incredible amount of bullying toward AS kids, so I hope this program is part of the growing anti-bullying sentiment in the schools.
I would hope so. When my eldest still attended Northview Middle School (Metropolitican District of Washington Township, Marion County, Indiana), the principle, two teachers, and a counselor BLAMED HIM for being the victim. This was the same school wherein he was removed from any services after they deemed that he only had "discipline problems". As far as they were concerned, since he could read and write on his own, he obviously needed no help beyond getting failing grades.
SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME! in third grade! I told on this kid ONCE after like the 50th time being called "ritalin girl" or "***" or something like that. And yeah the teacher blamed me and it sucked.
To this day I still get called "ritalin girl" even though I NEVER taken a ritalin pill in my life so yeah...
I felt all emotional watching that clip cause I know how it feels, poor kids.
"Is it just me, or is middle school generally the worst? O.o Grades 6 and 7 were a living hell for me."
It's not just you. A poll of adults found 7th grade their most hated.
I found pre-school and 1st grade and college the worse for bullying.
I didn't have any real problems in college. I lived "at home" the first half and then transferred and lived in apartments the second half. Is it mainly in dorms that there are problems? I never bothered with dorms. Of course, there is no guarantee with apartments, whether or not they'll put you upstairs from a bunch of drunken morons. And not to forget, in the US, "college" means university. I understand elsewhere it means high school.
Ooh, I didn't know that! I should put my location up somewhere so I don't confuse people... I'm in America, so I guess people might be wondering, "Wait, she's 24 and she's still in college?" Heh.