Count to a Million

[Magical Girl Mimi]

62640

Sorry, I keep forgetting to work on a name for my character. I'll focus on getting it ready tomorrow, though, for certain. =)

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62641

[Darth Rexus]

62642

I'll post tomorrow, its pretty late.

I'm not sure weather to say "Happy" World Autism Awareness Day, so I'll just say I acknowledge it and support it.

[mtmerrick]

though i would like to hear KZ's opinions on this, i completely disagree.

autisim is, just like having color blindness, being born deaf, without an arm, retarded, or with cerebral palsy, a defect in your body that prevents you from having a normal life, and handicaps you for life. by "curing" or even being able to treat it a bit, you can take these messed up kids and give them something resembling a normal life. My grandmother (back in Arizona) works with autistic kids aged 7-12 for a living. i've met these children, they don't even seem to have a human mind. many of them will never be able to live or their own or hold a job. for many of them, they are incapable of learning like a normal person, and may not even finish school. my cousin, Riley, has a type autism that makes him seem fairly normal. however any time he starts to get emotional he stops acting.... well, human. the kid's 8, but he scares me. either he becomes vulcan or he will get locked up. a mental disorder, for that is what it is, like that, is not something we let walk around in this society. he even realizes he's "not normal" and it really upsets him.

now, before any of you attack me, i know there are a lot of types of autism that DO allow for a fairly normal life. however these cases are not in the majority. most people with autism are faced with more challenges than most of us could cope with, and, well, most of them can't. so yes, if i told my cousin riley, or any of those kids my grandmother works with (those who could/would understand me anyways) that i could make them normal, they would take it in a heartbeat. so no, its not comparing a cat to a dog, its comparing a human being with an abnormal brain, to the rest of the planet. still the same species, but with a handicap that can cripple them for life.

if you support helping people in wheelchairs to walk, people born with missing limbs to get prosthetics, people born deaf to hear, preventing babies born to a mother with aids from contracting the mother's disease in the womb, then how do you not support finding the cause of and putting a stop to autism?



DO NOT FLAME PLEASE. I want to hear your opinions on the topic, especially if you have any experience with autism. that goes for you too KZ. not trying to offend anyone, just stating my personal beliefs.



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[Darth Rexus]

62643

I have to say, I agree with mtm. Autism is a problem and a problem that must be solved, not a problem that is already solved.

I have heard of a parent of a autistic child, nothing special about either the parent or child but there is one thing, lack of communication: Can you imagine not being able to communicate effectively with a being you helped raise from the ground upwards? Seen progress throughout years and years of trial and helped and adored every step of the way? I can't (correct me if I am wrong, totally wrong or wrong on so many levels, but that's how I heard it)

[Trijhak]

62644


My opinions? Before you read them, understand that there is a huge difference between high-end autism and low-end autism.

Low-end, non-severe Autism: I would not say I suffer from High Functioning Autism. I am who I am. I have met several autistic people other than myself. Strip them of their autism and they'd be almost the same. They just wouldn't act out the weird things they do, or be as obsessed with certain things. I am obsessed with computers. I am obsessed with a certain webcomic. (at least I finally admit that) Most people I've met with autism are on the low end.

They-I mean-we do not suffer from it. It is best to think of it as a very unique difference, not something wrong. Yes, it does result in a few awkward situation. But a few social skills classes can help that, and it is not unlike us to come off as 'normal' online.

High-end Autism: High-end Autism includes extremely severe autistic disorders such as Childhood Disintegrative Autism. My sister suffers from it. Yes, I would say they suffer from it. It takes several years for them to do anything basic. They will do weird things. They will bite you. They will pinch you. They will not understand what you are saying. They will understand when someone is angry, but from what I know, not much else. If they are feeling unwell, they will cry very loudly about it. They'll also be mesmerised by a variety of things. Because of things like this, most of my mum's and stepfather's time goes into my sister, resulting in me having a lot of time, which is why I am often online on certain things. (Steam, etc)

High-end Autism is definitely a curse. It is not a difference. Low-end Autism, however, is much difference.

[mtmerrick]

Well said. And I have to say I agree. When most people think about autism it is not talking about low-end autism. Personally I dont really consider someone withlow-end autism to be autistic.its a world that carries a lot of connotations ,and seems very harsh. I would not, for example, call you autistic, I would call you eccentric. You do not exhibit most any of the major symptoms that are used to define autism. Yes, technically you have a minor derivitave of autism, but you're not really autistic if you understand what im trying to say. No, low functioning autism isn't really a bad thing. But high functioning autisim is a sever disorder, and when people talk about "curing autisim", ect, that's what they mean.

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[MsRowdyRedhead]

62647

I hadn't thought about it that way. Thank you for the insight.
I have two deaf friends who wouldn't change and they could with new technology.


With Mak's ADHD, we don't spend time trying to fix it, we spend time helping him learn how to deal with it and control what he can.

I think the point of the poster is to accept the differences in our children, grandchildren, siblings and friends, and to love then for who they are instead of wishing they were "normal".  And love them all the same.


 

[mtmerrick]

I have zero respect for people who wish to remain handicapped just to be different, or get treated special.

If you are deaf, you are crippled. Period.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62649

1. They love each other and sign language works well for them
2. No one asked for your respect
3. You were reminded once to use a number.

Also.. how did your mom take the computer thing?? Is everything OK??

[Flipz]

62641

62650

Change that to homosexuality and I'd defend it in a heartbeat.

(Not to say that autism isn't serious or anything, it's just that it hasn't touched me personally in my life, so it seems a bit...fake to defend any position on an issue I've never seen with my own eyes. )

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62651

Indeed

[mtmerrick]

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/316277

^look at that. holy SHIP.

62652


(that's a pun not a cuss people. jeez)

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62653

  Wow... amazing.

[mtmerrick]

62654

I saw the hunger games earlier today...... it was meh. I fail to see what the hype is about.

[Trijhak]

62655

Something goes here.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62656

The hype is just that... hype to get people to buy tickets..

[mtmerrick]

It was a fairly boring statement about how you have no control over your own life. That's all.

62657

[Trijhak]

62658

I hope things do something.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

62659

HUGE tornadoes in Dallas today.  The damage stopped 3 blocks from my BFF Bev's home.