Autism and Ignorance

This article is written for all of you who think that autism, or any other mentally handicapping disease for that matter, is a joke. I want you to stop and think for just a few moments about the effects of such a thing. How do you think the person who suffers from it feels every day? How about their friends and family members? What about doctors, teachers, and other professionals? Do you think that they can actually laugh at it? Do you think if one of them heard you telling a joke about it, or imitating some of the symptoms of it they would do other than get angry, or hurt?

I guess I should explain a little about why this article came about. I came out of my room one night to find one of my roommates watching something on the television. She was angry. Scratch that, she was more than angry. She was nearly to the point of spitting and sputtering. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me that she was watching a benefit for autism on Comedy Central. Knowing that her son has autism, I could not understand why she would be upset. We had just talked the night before about how you never see a benefit for autism, or ADHD, or any of a number of diseases, while you see them for such things as cancer, lung disease, etc, all the time. She told me to sit down and watch. So, I did. I sat there and watched as in this benefit for autism, they made a joke of the whole thing. Picking on how autistic people act, speak, and move. I stood up, grabbed the remote from her, and changed the channel. I told her that she did not need to be watching something like that.

My oldest child has ADHD, and I have dealt with some similar problems to what she deals with. Mostly the battles with schools, doctors, etc. But none of what I go through can compare to what she goes through. Her sons disabilities, even with the mild version he has, are still far more severe than my sons. My son can be taught through behavior modification to control most of his symptoms, and the doctors can prescribe medications to take care of the rest. However, there is nothing the doctors can really do for her son. Nor is there much she can do. She fights a daily battle trying to teach him and trying to figure out whether he really understands the things she is teaching him. Autistics have communication problems, and her little boy, in most cases, is unable to let her know whether or not he understands something. He has a hard time communicating things to her. This frustrates him to the point of tantrums. I have to admit, I do not think there are too many people out there who would have the amount of patience she has with this one sweet, misunderstood child. I have watched him for her a few times, and will continue to do so whenever she needs me to, simply because that is exactly what he is. You could not ask for a better behaved, kinder, happier child. My own "normal" children, are not nearly so well behaved, nearly so nice, or nearly as happy.

To those of you who think that something like autism is a joke. I want you to try for just one day, to go without being able to communicate to the rest of the world. Unable to tell someone what you want. Unable to tell someone when you are hurt or sick or even just sad. Unable to say that you are hungry or thirsty or need to go to the bathroom. Not able to communicate the simplest things that we daily take for granted.

Or you could also try being on the other side of autism. Try being a parent unable to understand what your child wants or needs, or how he feels. Daily feeling frustrated that your perfect child cannot tell you what is wrong. Not knowing whether the words you are trying to teach him are being understood, because he cannot tell you. Not knowing how much your child is actually learning, and what things he is learning. Having to daily teach him the same things, sometimes for months on end, before he can communicate that he has actually understood it and learned it.

What gives anyone the right to make fun of another person? Those of you who think this is actually funny, most likely, would come badly unprepared to a battle of wits with me. Then again, most likely that is what the whole thing is about. Picking on someone else makes you feel better about the fact that you are not the smartest person in the world, doesn't it? Well, honestly, an autistic person, or a retarded person, has a good reason for not being able to do certain things. They have a good reason for not knowing as much, for not catching on as quickly as others. They have a disease which prevents their minds from functioning in the same way as the rest of us. You want to know something else? You do not have a good excuse. If you are able to be "clever" enough to pick on them, to imitate them in a bad way, then you are clever enough that you should have more knowledge. You are simply too lazy, or too apathetic to gain it. So who is actually the better person? The one with the disability who is trying their hardest to learn? Or the one without, who would rather not take that kind of effort?

If you would like to try your hand at taking me on in a mental challenge of any sort please feel free to email me. My email address is wisdomsbane@yahoo.com or wisdomsbane@hotmail.com. If you feel that you are truly mentally strong, and can rightfully pick on someone for having less understanding than you, try it with me. That is my challenge to those of you who think that these people and their problems are a joke, instant message me, with your challenge, and we can set up a date and time. Keep in mind though, there will be a time limit for each question, so you may want your dictionary, and your encyclopedia on hand.