Autism Cards???

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I always get weird stares, or people say things about me, it sucks. I know some families use autism cards for their autistic children, and some have actually suggested it for me too. I just would feel weird handing a card out telling everybody about my autism, but i know it would be good awareness, but i think its the wrong kind. Most autism cards are too expensive, so i thought about this for awhile, and made my own autism cards, took some of other peoples ideas, and words but didn't have to spend a dime, but now I'm still having second thoughts about if its really a good idea. Does anybody else use autism cards? Whats your thoughts on autism cards? Do you think the cards are good awareness or do you think its only good for families with small children with autism?

we all have different needs, but just from a personal standpoint... Neither of my kids are NT, one is autistic, one has Williams Syndrome (causes her to have uncontrollable behaviors due to sensory issues like an autistic, but also causes her to be overly social). I am an aspie.

We don't really feel the need to justify or explain our behaviors to strangers for the following reasons:

1) People think about you and judge you way less than you think about and judge yourself... for every 10 times I think they are looking at me and judging me, I bet 1 of them actually is, and the other 9 don't even know I exist.

2) Our behavior is not their business, I do not "owe them an explanation"

3) Justifying the behavior to another person will not make you feel better, even if you think it will. It will just make you more aware of your differences, and will probably make you grow to feel more and more like they are faults, and not just differences.

4) Diversity is about living with our differences, not about pointing them out.


I think number 1 is the most important... every time I see a person giving me a funny look, I think about the hours I spend every day with a funny look on my face that is not difected at anyone, but is just about me making a face. I think people notice each other a lot less than we think.

Mumble on the ASD forum posted about this recently.

Don't have a problem with them at all,as they could be good in certain situations-such as taxi drivers,ring and ride drivers etc refusing to turn music off,problems whilst waiting in cues....
am don't really need them,as always have people around am to explain autism when the need is there,but would think of getting the NAS one at some time,just in case of ever being picked up by paramedics or police without staff or family there to tell them-but doubtful as always have someone with am anyway-wouldn't have thought of that use for the card,until read Mumbles' thread.
they are especially worthwhile for auties and aspies who are NV/mute or have difficulty with explaining themselves verbally.

I don't think that cards are necessary, even with small kids. To me, it takes away the human aspect and makes it so much more clinical. It seems to me to be no different than me having a card with my allergies listed on it and handing it out to people if I sneeze. It is just so cold and impersonal.

I find a short verbal statement is better with telling people about me and that is even if I decide to tell them. The majority out there really have no reason to know that I have AS and if they think that I am weird, then so what. Most people that I meet will never be my friends and as long as they are not nasty or mean, then I really could care less if they think I am weird or eccentric. I cannot control what others think and I would rather not hand out a card with a few facts on it that will make someone pity me. I don't need pity.


But as shaggydaddy said, we all have different needs. If you are totally uncomfortable with people to the pIt just is so cold and impersonaloint you almost cannot communicate, then this would be an option.

Mine says, "Give me all the money, and less people will get hurt."

Here's a previous WP thread with lots o' info & commentary: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt38714.html

Im getting an SOS talisman as As is not my only condition.

I also carry a card sometimes but need to make a new one, is there any chance you could write on here what is on your card? Would be useful.
Thanks

Is it just me or does it seem like this would be a little egocentric? I'm not saying that about you, but I just think it's strange that someone would just pass out cards (or brochures, as I've heard some people do) telling them about their disorders. I wish people could better understand where I'm coming from as well, but that's true of every human being...it's kind of egocentric to pass out information (unsolicited) on the assumption that people actually give a crap. Everyone has their own problems, and if people started passing out "cards" on their own problems, I would think that they're just looking for attention. I know if someone I was interacting with handed me a card on Down Syndrome or Borderline Personality, for example, I would not only not be interested at all, but think that they're expecting me to have a level of sympathy that I simply don't have for strangers (we all have our own "sob stories), since they obviously want people to know what their troubles are and to accommodate them.