In my area in Australia, our people STRONGLY believe in cultural diversity.  But, at school, I am everyone's victim.  They never call Africans 'n*****s' or Chinese people 'c**** - c****s' yet they call aspies 'spazzers' and 'mentalists' and so on.

My school (I'm still at school!) is full of people of many religious faiths (but I'm atheist) and they learn to accept each other.

They've learnt about cultural/religious diversity, but they don't pay ANY attention to the neurodiversity campaign I just set.

What's wrong with them?

If they can accept all these things, why can't they accept neurodiversity?

Correction:  "I just set" should be "I just began" and remember, this is Australia, so you may be thinking differently.

I think probably because they're scared.  They fear that which they don't understand, and they definitely don't understand our way of looking at the world.  Different races, colours, cultures, languages and religions all have a common basis in human experience up until now.  But we AS people have historically been ostacised from the group, or at best, tolerated for what we can give to the society we live within (or on the outskirts of!)
I wrote a story which has been published by Andromeda Spaceways and which I donated to the writer's area of this site, about the last Neurotypical human left on earth, and how frustrated he was with his lonely existence, even though there was a vibrant and energetic AS population living all around him.  I felt quite sorry for him, but still hope that this is what the future holds in store!
Alison

Thats a good point. Its illegal to discriminate against others based on race, religious beliefs etc but it certainly isn't if one is neuro atypical. (aspies/auties). Its one of the last areas of discrimination remaining and they take full advantage of the fact.

My guess is it's one of those things people will never, ever understand. I work at a place where it's just people like me - but I live in a smaller town where I also went to school and it's exactly the same as you told me. There is so much ignorance and intolerance over for people like me/us... At least in my situation. Lately I've begun to ignore it completely, on the contrary I've also gotten older and more open and social since then; so I don't know how much it counts now. But I can follow you completely.

I've just sent a letter to the Herald-Sun about it.  I wonder if they will publish it?

It's hard to believe that the law can accept cultural diversity, but they cannot accept neurodiversity.  I've sent letters to the Herald-Sun for many weeks now, waiting for my letters to be published.  None of them have.  I'm only 12!  I need another Aussie to do it for me. But can I rely on them?  It's a very hard choice to make.

I forgot to tell you I'm the only aspie at school.

Hence why we need to be declared a minority group

That's the purpose of this thread!

Where I live Asian people have to put up with racism, racism against Asians is pretty much endemic throughout society. People seem to know it is not appropriate to be openly racist towards people of darker skin (generally) but the racism against Asians needs addressing.

It helps weak and shallow people to feel better about themselves if they have someone they can denigrate or bully.

I live in an Australian citywhere over 200 languages are spoken, and they learn to accept each other.

I can be a very strange person sometimes:
* I was born in Australia.
* I never left Australia.
* My parents are Vietnamese/Chinese.
* I grew up in an Asian community where nobody is discriminated.
* I am an aspie.
* Everyone else at school is neurotypical.

Correction:
"* I grew up in an Asian community where nobody is discriminated."

I'm being discriminated right now!

I also remember being bullied by two public transport officers.  I just dropped my Metcard, and I said, "Oops, I'm so dumb," and they muttered "You are dumb."  Right in front of the public.  And we had a big argument, and I was just starting to enjoy it when Gran just told me to ignore them.  How could I ignore them?  Gareth said "Hence why we need to be declared a minority group."  He's right.  In Australia, we should be declared a minority group.  Defamed in public!  I'm so mad!  And that's not the end of the defamation I get.  To say something like that is called slander, but now that it's public, it's called libel.  I want to send a petition to the Victorian Parliament about all times I was defamed.

What I have done:
* Send hundreds of letters to the Herald-Sun.  FAILED.
* Pass a letter around the neighbourhood.  FAILED because Dad didn't allow me to.  This is what the letter said.
* Send a petition to the Victorian Parliament with 50+ signatures on it.  IN PROGRESS.
* Put an advertisement on YouTube.  IN PROGRESS.

All talk about defamation at school will now be in this thread:

http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/showthre...?tid=15060