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

asman71

A very interesting thread, this, which has given rise to (at least) two streams of thought which I would like to comment on.

First, the issue of taking or not taking an autistic child to certain places or situations. Autism does not necessarily mean that a child cannot function socially, but that they have a harder time than most in learning social codes and roles. In fact, people with an ASD have to consciously learn - sometimes over many, many years - how to interact with other people, rather than it coming relatively naturally to them as in most of the rest of society.

Depending on the severity of the autism, the child or even adult can learn about social interaction and behaviour - and what better way to take this process forward than to immerse them socially, as any parent would their child - autistic or not?
I myself have ASperger's Syndrome, only recently diagnosed at the age of 37...and although I have struggled for much of my life with social interaction, I have also studied people very closely and with help I have learned many things. So much so that I am now a sixth form teacher, and if I say so myself, I am very good at what I do. I have no doubt that if I didnt have AS, I wouldnt have worked so hard to overcome the mystery of other people, and I wouldn't have wanted to give so much to them!!!!

The second issue is the badges. WHile I am all for breaking down the myths and barriers and ignorance surrounding autism in all its forms, I think that the badge idea, while not repulsive to me, does little to INFORM.

I think a t-shirt which essentially uses humour to break ice and which would actually let people know both something about autism AND that the wearer (or their parent) would feel comfortable in engaging in conversation about autism, and thereby break down some barriers, would be great.

By the way, I am also an illustrator and graphic designer, so I am kind of inspired to have a go at creating a design or two...maybe this could go somewhere?

Cheers and all the best to you all.

SEE

I think advertising disability at every opportunity is a fantastic idea. If you look at the Dutch they have it just right, and people with Autism and Tourettes are now very welcome in their society and social circles because they know what it is. If you don't display it, how does anyone know? You can't be all apologetic and talking to people all the time. I'm sure people here don't mind using their disability badges and disability tax discs and people knowing about that? Disability shouldn't be private, it should be OUT AND PROUD.

The greatest thing mys son ever said to a woman who insulted him on a trip to the garden center was "I'M BRAIN DAMAGED WHAT'S YOUR F*CK*NG EXCUSE" after she told him he should be kept on a lead or away from the public.

Britain should have a national disabilty day with people who have disabilities attending schools and workshops to discuss their lives, if they can't talk for themselves a carer should speak on their behalf. Once the ignorant get a dose of the life and daily routine of people with disabilities they very quickly become more understanding, patient, and compassionate.

:TOUT AND PROUD:T

asperger

i have a son with Asperger Syndrome and i feel the badges would not be a good idea as it might make people look at my son in a different way and might make things akward. I feel that if they needed to know about my son's condition we would tell them and if they did not need to know why tell them

sandracarol

I must agree that the badges would not be appropriate in all situations.

DD wears hers for school (mainstream) when there are new teachers or at the beginning of a new term. The theory being that new teachers and pupils have their own problems in having to deal with the situation they now find themselves in and not everyone performs well under pressure.

If they talk to DD and she wont look them in the eye
(I can look at you OR listen to you, but not both. would be a good badge )
or she looks at them completely blank when they ask her a direct question.
or she gets carried away with an idea and blurts out something that seems totally inappropriate.
Their own discomfort may lead them to believe she is somehow being rude to them.
Now she could introduce herself to every new teacher at the beginning of each lesson.

'Hi I'm..... and I'm dyslexic dyspraxic and aspergers, if you need to know why I am doing something a little out of place, just ask as there is usually a perfectly valid reason for what I am doing, though it may take me some time to formulate an answer that you would find acceptable'.

or she can wear her little button badges and the teacher can read them and then be able to stop taking her behaviour personally and get on with the lesson.
seems to work in most new situations.

It just makes everyones life a little easier.

and as another poster said
she knows her own worth, she is who she is and the label is just a conduit to understanding for people with no experience of her.

gosh it's late and I'm rambling, it's all about personal choice, and I would never have made her wear them if she didn't feel comfortable with it.
I just suggested it as as a possible solution to a problem she was having and she chose to give it ago.

But I guess that only works with slightly older kids who have started to get a handle on the nature of their difference and all that it entails.........................

(I love this thread it makes me think)

Zara33

SEE wrote: »

The greatest thing mys son ever said to a woman who insulted him on a trip to the garden center was "I'M BRAIN DAMAGED WHAT'S YOUR F*CK*NG EXCUSE" after she told him he should be kept on a lead or away from the public.

:eek::eek::eek: TBH speaking like that is nothing to be proud of imho!

As for the Autism T-shirts nah very tacky and my son certainly wouldn't be wearing one.

teambathmat

SEE wrote: »

I
The greatest thing mys son ever said to a woman who insulted him on a trip to the garden center was "I'M BRAIN DAMAGED WHAT'S YOUR F*CK*NG EXCUSE" after she told him he should be kept on a lead or away from the public.

Thats the greatest thing her has said? Thats terrible


I don't really know much about autism, but lets say a child/ adult hit my child like what the OP said and then I saw a badge they were wearing that said they had autism etc, then perhaps course I would understand more.

A guy who served me at Morrisons had a badge on saying ' Please speak clearly as i am partially deaf'............So I spoke clearly to him. Saved any embarrassment of him not hearing me or me wondering why he was ignoring me.

I do think that people will abuse the t-shirts/ badges though, and people who don't need them will wear them for a 'laugh'.

[Deleted User]

teambathmat wrote: »

I do think that people will abuse the t-shirts/ badges though, and people who don't need them will wear them for a 'laugh'.

Thats what I was thinking, I can just see a load of students getting drunk wearing them :think: wont realy do much for the disability already so misunderstood by so many.

So many people just dont know what AS is and have wild and varying opinions on what it is and what to expect.
Not like the badge or tshirt that says "I am deaf" or "I have epilepsy" people know to some degree what to expect from that person. These badge wont really help except for mocking or further labeling unless only being worn near people who know what AS is.

asman71

After consideration, I would agree that the t-shirt idea could backfire, however, I think that in an educational environment, it could be quite good. Consider this: a lesson in which every student wears a badge or t-shirt which has a disability printed on it...the student also gets a card which lists the myths and truths about that disability. It could be quite a good forum to challenge preconceptions. Just a thought.

asman71

The idea would be that the student would dispel myths about the disability and read out facts and info.

tiannaleigh

I would like a badge for my 4yr old daughter,I think it would help in many situations,such as when an adult starts to talk to my daughter and doesnt understand why she does not answer them,my daughter gets frustrated as she knows most of what they are saying to her but is not able to reply,also she is not stupid and she hears people complaining to me that she is pushing in etc and hears me having to explain to them, so I think a little badge could give her a better day out and I think they are a great idea to wear in certain places