Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ] 

CaptainMac
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 9 Mar 2008
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 179

18 Apr 2008, 2:11 am

So I had to give a speech on the disability of my choice. Naturally I chose AS since I know firsthand about it. The speech had to be about a method to use on elementary students with AS. Mine was computer therapy--use it to explain concepts concretely (i.e. Oregon Trail game instead of pretending you're on the trail, the concrete example helps many with AS) and to serve as an outlet during tough times--for example, if there's a rowdy party. (I used to be on the class computers during Halloween/Christmas parties all the time in my youth).

The speech went fine. Then someone had the nerve to comment on it (not the prof). Stated that "people with AS have trouble with socialization and need to be socialized as much as possible rather than be in isolation on a computer".

I had to refrain from flipping out. There are many with AS who are very uneasy in this situation!! ! How could anyone want to subject the poor kids to that much trauma after hearing my speech explain that the uneasiness is a reason why being alone is sometimes good for them!! !

I've been there, done that--but didn't say that during the speech. Most everyone on campus hates me anyways because I don't party so why damage myself further?



Smelena
Cure Neurotypicals Now!
Cure Neurotypicals Now!

User avatar

Joined: 1 Apr 2007
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,950
Location: Australia

18 Apr 2008, 3:25 am

Congratulations on your speech.

Sounds like the person who had the comment doesn't have a clue!

I'm NT and I never partied on campus either.

Helen



LostInEmulation
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,047
Location: Ireland, dreaming of Germany

18 Apr 2008, 6:54 am

Congrats on your speech! Some people can not understand what it means to think differently (I count myself among it, so it's not an anti-NT rant) and think what works for them is what works for everybody. :(


_________________
I am not a native speaker. Please contact me if I made grammatical mistakes in the posting above.

Penguins cannot fly because what cannot fly cannot crash!


Thomas1138
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 5 Apr 2008
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Posts: 470

19 Apr 2008, 1:24 am

Heh, kids still playing The Oregon Trail. Nice.



french_immersion
Hummingbird
Hummingbird

User avatar

Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 22
Location: Brighton, UK

19 Apr 2008, 4:36 am

Sounds like a really good speech. But, maybe helping AS kids to socialise when they are younger might be effective, you shouldnt rule it out completely because it makes us uneasy, i remember when i was first diagnosed i had counselling to help with the whole social problem, it didnt work! but still. it might do on some people.



Sedaka
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,597
Location: In the recesses of my mind

19 Apr 2008, 9:10 am

i remember roegon trail! didnt know it was still around........ where in the world is carmen sandiego?

grats on speech. that person doesnt sound like they know much about stuff.


_________________
Neuroscience PhD student

got free science papers?

www.pubmed.gov
www.sciencedirect.com
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/freeart.dtl