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

Errata

I think it's a bad idea. People will see the label and not the child or person andr react to the label. I could wear a Tshirt saying 'I'm Deaf' and you can bet that would result in people not speaking to me at all. Society is trying to move on from 'labelling' people - do we really want to go back to the bad old days ?

covlass

I wouldt but one for my daughter, the cards you hand out are a better idea. You can buy them from NAS or you could make some yourself.

Keep your chin up, dont let those who stare get you down I know thats easier said than done. As for those that do stare they are just rude and not worth wasting time on.

Paparika

I think they sound like a good idea, I've seen children wearing these and i immediately understand if they play up,

But what i have read here today has really shocked me, that some people are allowed to get away with their behavior towards someone who has difficulties..

I want a t-shirt that says it's a hidden disability, when i get grief at work,

I would of thought these t-shirts would of helped with the understanding, but from whats been said, it just makes the sicko's something to shout at

seanparkin

Hey all,

I've grown up with a very severely autistic younger brother, who could be (and in some ways still is more so, at the great age of 20!) a nightmare in public. I do lots of voluntary work with autism and other mental disability sufferers and spend way too long doing silly things, fundraising.

My first reaction on seeing these were 'Seriously, is that some sort of joke?'

But then thought more about the implications of it all. It would split people right into their black and white. Those that will excuse their behaviour, and those, like Real1314, who think they should be locked away in prison away from everyone else.

Autism is an extremely unfair condition. If somebody in a wheelchair is not able to get into a building because of their situation, we don't lock them up at home and tell them they're not allowed there. We build disabled access and cater for them. Yet why, in this day and age, is there still so much prejudice against mental disability sufferers? Why do so many people still think they should be kept at home away from others?

We should be building ramps for them. Allowing them to live their lives to their full potential.

I'm still undecided as to whether these t-shirts will help or hinder that. My initial reaction, is that they will cause more harm than good as they will be labelling them, putting it in peoples faces, when they should be trying to live life as relatively normal as they could without making a big fuss over it. Sure, we can't avoid the fact our children, siblings, etc are autistic, but neither do we have to keep excusing ourselves, or them, for it.

Big_Melons

There is someone who sells these on ebay, they have many styles with different wordings on them, some are a bit dodgy and some are rather fab, I have one for my son who is autistic.

I believe they are a good idea in certain places, maybe when going to a crowded themepark and stuff like that? We get to jump the queue and have people tutting and even having a moan at us, doesnt happen when he wears his tshirt.

My friends son who is also autistic had a huge meltdown a few weekends ago and was trying his very best to attack my son (not the autistic son) physicly so his mum had to pin him down and well it was a right scene, people were staring and one shouted at my friend telling her her son is a thug and a bully, I stepped and told her what he had and then announce it loudly as you knew they were all thinking the same, plus my friend was pinning her son down so much I thought someone might call the police haha, if he had the tshirt people might not stare, might not make assumptions.

I think some people are ashamed of their kids disabilities to be honest, I do alot of volunteer work with families struggling to cope with their childs diagnosis and you will be suprised to see how many dont like people knowing their child is "different".

Why not buy it OP and give it a go, if you find it's not a great help then sell it on ebay, or donate to someone else.

*Chattie*

I read recently that someone has had their less than 2 year old statemented for autism which I find incredible as how on earth can they diagnose let alone statement for autism at such a young age but I could imagine that if anyone put a t-shirt on such a young child when playing with their peers then it would only be the mothers who would be able to understand and read it rather than the peers and they may not believe it.

I have a disabled child myself and the last thing I want is a label let alone a t-shirt that shouts it to the world.

sandracarol

this is a really interesting thread

I suppose I see the tshirts as a metaphorical 'ramp'

both my kids are AS and they have to work Very Very hard to just achieve the basic forms of social interaction that other kids find easy. They have been brought up to understand that their condition is not an excuse for poor behaviour. They just have to work harder than everyone else to get through the day in an appropriate manner. And I think they deserve credit for that.
If the t shirt or badge helps the people around them to understand how hard they are working, then they deserve that credit.
I suppose I see the 'labelling' as a way of cutting them some slack.
I'm not saying they should have 'different' tattooed on their forehead for the rest of their lives. But for what we know are going to be challenging situations. (new place, new people) the label takes off a bit of the pressure, and pressure makes the condition worse.

It's been painful watching my kids struggle to appear 'normal' and sometimes a label for a day or a week. can give them a bit of a 'holiday' from that pressure and help new people understand that they are not just weird or mental or deliberately difficult. (that accusation really annoys me:mad:)
The kids are doing great, and even now DD can 'pass for normal' if she wants or needs to, and DS is well on his way to achieving this.
But they strive for this not because they are ashamed of what they are, but because society expects it and if they choose to integrate with society, that is what they must learn to do.

so yeah I'm with the out and proud group.

If it polarizes the onlooker, then that's a good thing .

Make those that assume 'different' kids are somehow in the wrong, question their own value system.

And give those who want to understand a little more information.

my kids are proud of who they are and what they have achieved and those who would have them locked away at home or quietly apologized for aren't helping the situation.

seanparkin

*Chattie* wrote: »

I read recently that someone has had their less than 2 year old statemented for autism which I find incredible as how on earth can they diagnose let alone statement for autism at such a young age but I could imagine that if anyone put a t-shirt on such a young child when playing with their peers then it would only be the mothers who would be able to understand and read it rather than the peers and they may not believe it.

I have a disabled child myself and the last thing I want is a label let alone a t-shirt that shouts it to the world.

Most Autism sufferers are diagnosed between 18-24 months. Bear in mind that Autism is not an exact term, but a broad spectrum of issues relating to things such as speech, learning, behavioural issues, social, reactionary, etc. We know roughly how young children should respond to certain stimulous. And when they don't, they often get lumped into the 'Autism' bracket where they're later diagnosed with their specific issue.

*Chattie*

seanparkin wrote: »

Most Autism sufferers are diagnosed between 18-24 months. Bear in mind that Autism is not an exact term, but a broad spectrum of issues relating to things such as speech, learning, behavioural issues, social, reactionary, etc. We know roughly how young children should respond to certain stimulous. And when they don't, they often get lumped into the 'Autism' bracket where they're later diagnosed with their specific issue.

Thanks for that, its interesting that they then aren't "statemented" at such a young age, what sort of age would they actually be diagnosed?

duchy

I know what my son's reaction would be if I suggested he wore one !!

I appreciate the thinking behind it but in my personal experience ASD kids don't want attention and don't want to be singled out so I think it's a bad idea.

A discreet badge or logo on certain clothes that indicated a hidden disability -no words just a symbol however might have merit.

To the idiot to thinks kids on the austic spectrum should be kept at home and not allowed out-Try saying that to a parent like me and then let us know which hospital we should send the cards and flowers to for you !! Sheeeesh