Ten commandments for interacting with kids on the autism spe

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I hope everyone here on Wrong Planet who is on the Autism Spectrum or have children with Autism and NTs especially enjoy what I found on facebook. So there are some good things on facebook afterall. And this is one of them.

Autistic Kids



1. Thou shall not yell when speaking to me.
My Autism does not impair my hearing and I am extremely bright. Perhaps even brighter than you are.


2. Thou shall not ignore me, talk negatively about me, speak unnaturally slow, or ask questions to others in the room that pertain to me. I can comprehend what you are saying just fine.

3. Thou shall believe in me and help me believe in my skills and self worth. Note the good in me and do not merely point out my negative behaviors. Believe in me and I will believe in myself.

4. Thou shall not perceive me as dumb. I am extremely intelligent. I do not learn in the same way as you, and maybe not as quickly as you expect me to. Have patience with me. Once I recall information, I never forget.

5. Thou shall not judge my behavior. I can get overstimulated in certain environments. I may be hypersensitive to sound and loud noises may hurt my ears. Fluorescent lights are distracting for me. They have a humming noise, and can pulsate. All the noises in a room can blur together. Please make accommodations to help me.

6. Thou shall not be so quick to scold me. Do not tell me that “I know what I did”. I do not. Tell me what my infraction was in a simple, concise manner. I want to please you, but I have difficulties inferring meaning within a vague statement. For instance, do not say please clean up your bedroom. Tell me exactly what you want, such as ‘Please make your bed and pick up your toys”.

7. Thou shall not compare me to others. Please remind me, and note the talents that I possess. This increases my confidence and positive self worth. Learning disabled or not, we ALL have talents to contribute within society. I need you to help me realize what mine is. Believe in me and I will believe in myself.

8. Thou shall not exclude me from activities. Please do not mimic me, ignore me, or bully me. Please invite me to play with you. It hurts my feelings when I am excluded. I like to run and jump in the playground, and be invited to birthday parties too. Grown ups can help me make friends by encouraging other children to play with me. I can be a loyal friend if you get to know me.

9. Thou shall give me choices. I do not like being ordered about any more than the other children. Give me choices so I know you value my capabilities and opinions. Make them simple and concise. Present two options or so. I get confused when too many questions or directions are given at one time due to my processing speed. For instance, ask me if I would like to wear my blue sweater or green one, rather than asking which sweater I would like to wear.

10. Thou shall not judge me by my diagnosis, but by my character. I am an individual, just like other children.

~ Via "BIG MAKS" More support than a 44dd

love it!! !! !!

HEAR HEAR!! VERY beautiful!! This is definitely one list that should be spread around!! !

The list is good and it is also educational because it explains how people that are not on the spectrum should interact with people that are. It explains to a certain degree how the mind works for someone that is on the spectrum.

Last edited by Alfonso12345 on 15 Sep 2012, 8:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

I shared this on my facebook page. And yes I agree with you. I hope it gets around.

That....is....brilliant!! !! !! ! Mind if I copy that down on to my computer, except putting it into my own words and make it from an Aspie adult view point?

I sure don't mind. I hope you post your version. It is an excellent idea.

Please post it! Please!!

And commandment 11: Thou shall not forbid me or try to make me stop my stimming. On the first sight, my stimming may seem non-productive, useless, but it means a lot to me. It has a special meaning although you don´t understand it. It strethens my creativity.

Many thanks for this, Dirtdigger. Plus, these apply to adults 'on the spectrum' too, albeit on a different level. So often Aspies are marginalised or treated as if they are merely to be tolerated when in fact there is so much more to offer.

Almost 2 years ago I attended an autism event in a major city (UK) and there was so much talent. Anyway, there was a little boy, about 10, who shared a profound and unforgettable sentiment and I'll share here. A (neurotypical) asked him a funny question, 'do you wish you could 'read' what other people are actually thinking/feeling?' (Personally, I thought the question was inappropriate and kind-of misguided, but nevermind). The boy paused, then replied that in fact he would not wish to know another's troubles because he had enough of his own, then he said (about neurotypicals), as only another Aspie would, "they have dark rivers running under their hearts." I'll never forget this astute comment. Sometimes neurotypicals can be truly misguided by intimidating autistics. Do they even realise what they are saying?

That's a very good list and I feel that everybody who knows someone who's autistic should read it.

My wife despises religious overtones, so I suppose I'll have to present this to her in a different format

Sounds good to me. I was a bit irritated with the religious overtones too. But, I was looking at what the message was getting across to us. If I redo this, the religious overtones will be left out. I hope your wife can look pass the religious overtones and read what the message is.

I love this

Thou shalt place no disorder before Autism
Thou shalt not covet NT ways, or NT asses of your neighbour
Thou shalt not take the disorder of ASD in vain
Remember to stim, and keep it Holy
Honour the DSM and thy psychologist
Thou shalt no commit another aspie to an asylum
Thou shalt not pretend NT behaviours to a nosey neighbour
Honour thy father and mothers disorders, love their errant behaviours as your own
When a NT bullys you, love him as a naughty child
But hate the very garments that he robes his false superiority upon
For he is is a lost sheep
And you can be a shepherd of men
Like my autistic son
Who came down to earth
And gave his life
To science
So you may have inventions and gadgets to play with
Amen

Surfman, you rock

Now....for those violators....hmm. Fire and brimstone, yes?