'I've got Autism' Badges. What are your thoughts please

blue_monkey_2

They have badges on the NAS website that says 'please be patient, I am auttistic' or 'I have autism so my behaviour can sometimes be unpredicatable'. I am tied on these, half of me things I am throwing my child disability on peoples face and the other half of me thinks 'stop staring' if he is throwing a strop.

So I wondered what people's thoughts on these were, whather they are good or bad. If you are mum of an ASD child, what slogans do think are good and which are bad?

Recently we went for a day out and DS was in a queue for a bouncy castle, he had already waited really well in one queue but he got into this queue and he hit the little lad in front of him. For him it was not aggressive, he was marking the place he was in the queue but obviously this is not acceptable. I said sorry to the little boy but did not explain why he did it as he was only 5 or 6 so he would probably not understand but then I've either got to put up with the parents death stares or go and explain to them why he has done it.

I took him to a soft play area and a little boy punched and slapped him, because DS has to see justice for wrong and because this little boy never got a punishment he then went and punched and hit 2 other children which had the mother over to me screaming in my face about my son hitting her children. I took her over somewhere quieter and explained and she said she was sorry, I took him aside and explained to him he could not do that.

But I am sick of having to apologise for every little thing and having people staring at me if he is kicking off and I dread going places these days - if he is not co-operating I get stared at all the time. So, in this respect a badge or sticker (I do not think he would wear a t-shirt in all honesty) would tell people why he is doing this and would hopefully stop them staring.

I'd love to know what you would think, as a bystander, if you think it would make a difference. Thanks.

ETA: I've changed the title to badges because although you can get both it is the button badges I was more interested in.

sandracarol

slightly different I know, but my D is dyslexic dyspraxic and aspie and was fed up of everyone she met assuming she was 'slow'
I found a set of button badges that read dyslexic. dyspraxic. ask an aspie and dyslexics of the world untie.:D

I was really worried when I gave them to her in case it would make it worse, to 'label' her in public. but I worried unnecessarily.

she wears them to school with pride, and says it helps everyone else understand why she seems so spaced out all the time, so they can understand her better.
She has made more friends, who accept her oddities more readily now they can name them. And her confidence has gone up as she encounters fewer 'difficult' situations caused by her not behaving in the expected manner.

It's a hard decision to take on your little ones behalf. But in my little ones case, I saw it as giving the people around her the opportunity to understand and therefore see her as she is (lovely) :A

so for me, i think its worth a try.;)

mrcow

blue_monkey wrote: »

I'd love to know what you would think, as a bystander, if you think it would make a difference. Thanks.

I think it's a revolting idea.

sandracarol

mrcow wrote: »

I think it's a revolting idea.

why is that?

real1314

I think if you are sick of having to apologise when your DS hits people, then you need to think again about taking him to places / situations where this is likely to happen.
I'm not sure that a badge or t-shirt is the answer.

You also refer to "having to apologise over every little thing" but hitting other kids is not a little thing.

sandracarol

wow, way to go on the anti discrimination here
I can't believe you would want to banish a kid for being autistic.
how can a kid become socialised if they don't get to experience social situations?

It takes an autisic kid a bit longer to get the hang of it that's all

where is the patience and understanding here?

kazzah

I wouldn't let my autistic son wear one-I fear he would be a target for a certain type of person................
and as a personal comment, not ALL children with ASD are lacking in social knowledge or niceties, just as not ALL children WITHOUT ASD are well behaved
it is entirely possible (in my opinion) to get through to MOST children with ASD ( not those most severely affected) that there are certain ways to react in certain situations - my son also has tourettes, but we have managed over the years to "train" him how to behave in company
at home he obessesses and has very ritulistic behaviour and lots of tics - when he is "outside" he works VERY VERY hard to control his behaviour and to react according to his situation.
it isn't easy for any of us - and not ALL children will be able to do this - but we have found that it is possible and that there is no need for him to appear too different from other children when out and about

please don't think I am commenting on any other peoples children, I just get fed up of the assumption that all kids with ASD NEED their behaviour explaining to other people

Vicky123

My son is severely autistic and I wouldn't dream of putting one of those I'm not naughty T-Shirts on him.
He can't communicate so how do I know he wants the world and his wife to know his private business? Add to that I couldn't give a monkeys what they think anyway.
Having said that he never attacks other children or strangers anyway, but he could have a meltdown in public, if it bothers anyone then they need to get over themselves.
Vicky

tenacioust123

I am saddened by some of the posts in here.

Lets go back to the old days when we used to lock kids away because they have a disability!!!!

blue_monkey

I don't have a disabled child, so I'm not sure how I would feel about the t-shirt. Being a parent if I was in the position of having your child attack when of my kids I think I would react differently if I saw the t-shirt or a badge. I wish you and your son all the best.

TT

shazrobo

i personally would not buy my sons these t-shirts, that advertise there mediacal conditions to the world. as it is my sons are often called not very nice names on the very estate where we live, just because they go to special schools, and the bus picks them up right from the front door.
i wouldnt want to give the nasty yobs any more reasons to call them names.

shaz x

[Deleted User]

I understand what the T-shirts are trying to do but I can see allsorts of problems arising from them.

I can see them being worn by older youths who think it is funny. I have a disabled child - not Autistic - but if I did I would not ever put them in one of these.

I think it is a terribly misguided idea and should be re-thought quickly by the Society.

There are other charities for certain disabilities, where behaviour outside is a problem, that issue small cards that can be handed by a carer discreetly to people to explain a persons strange behaviour.Much better in my opinion than broadcasting it, and this is nothing to do with being ashamed of ones disability.