What kind of Button / Badge would you wear or display?

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What kind of Button / Badge would you wear or display?

For me buttons have been a small but effective way of educating others about Autism. I think of them as personal bumper stickers. They are a way to speak your mind, without saying a word!

I am the father to Sarah (a teen with autism) so you will often see me wearing an "I heart someone with autism" button.

Sarah has a limited diet, so on her lunch box or when she goes on a class trip she will have an "I'm on a special diet and can only eat food from home" button.

On Sarah's School bag, you will find a zipper tag that say "person with autism may not respond to verbal commands"

I feel that they are good tools and have helped us over the years.

Sarah was diagnosed at 18 months and she is now 16 yrs of age.


So my questions:

Some people would consider this labeling...What do you think?

If you could have a button / badge made to wear or display...what would it say?

Not trying to be mean, not sure how to ask but does she go to a "special school", cause if the kids at my school saw that they'd rip on her all the time. I don't agree with messing with disabled people, theres no challenge in it and makes you look pathetic by doing it but others aren't as nice.

Sarah has been part of the public school system all along, up until just recently I would have said she is non verbal, now I would say she has limited speech.

In our town I would say she knows more people then I, The kids for the most part as far as I know treat her OK. We have not had any reported problems and she looks forward to going each morning.

My point with the buttons is that they can send a positive as well as educate other...

Typical people wear them everyday to show support for bands, schools, teams...

Or to raise awareness about a town bill, to vote or to raise money to save the library

I work in a company that at one time had 1600 people between 3 buildings, just by wearing s button I made friend with 5 other parents who had family members with autism and one person sat about 100 feet from my desk and I never knew about his son

I wear a band and carry a card that notifies people that I am autistic. I do not want or like the advertisement, but it helps prevent dangerous encounters with "law" enforcement officals.

We have also tried having her wear a military style dog tag, but she will only wear it for a few days. I also have a button that says "Nonverbal person" that at one time she wore on her hat.

I have a small lapel style button that says "I make a difference to a child with Autism" that I give to people how have touched our lives.

Also it's different for us...because I make the buttons and other items so I use them for lots of thing not just for autism awareness. Friday I made buttons for a birthday and last month we had buttons for Christmas in July.

aww thats good very good button to make a difference to a child with Autism thats whats we should enspire around the world to get our word out like Sarah shes not alone to have Autism

We went to the movies this weekend...we saw G Force Sarah did real well for most of it. By the end of the movie she was talking to loud, and when I told her to stop she would repeat everything I said even loaded... no one complained and I think she had a good time.

We did not have a button on tonight but people people did stare at times...I wonder if people treater her better because she is a cute, small girl...instead of a big big boy.

On the other hand there was a typical person there who was texting through the first part of the show and someone told them to stop...

Dad,

My ma got a tag from you. The dog tag with "Person with Autism may not respond to verbal commands". I can't wear the chain (sensory problems), but I carry the tag in my wallet with me everywhere (I become nonverbal when I go out to the shops and stuff due to being overwhelmed, so I needed something so as to show people who try to "help" me if I'm banging my head on something or hitting myself).

And yeah, I don't respond to verbal commands from people, except my mother.

Thanks for sharing that with me...its nice to hear form someone that the tags or that you feel a benefit from carrying it. I would like to ask if you have ever felt the need to show it to someone and also ask if you think having it helped...

I would like to ask my original question another way. I am the father of a child (now teen) with autism. For the past several years I have offered buttons and other items to help raise autism awareness.

But during this time I have never really asked a person with autism what they feel we as parents, family members, educators and supporters should be saying.

In the previous discussion I joined, a comment was made that this person felt certain buttons were labeling them and did not send the right message.

Depending on the person I don't disagree, but as a parent we are only trying to do what's right, what we feel will help our kids and ourselves, make it through the day.

So I again ask...if you don't like seeing "I'm Not Ignoring You, I Have Autism"

What would you want to see?

What would make be more appropriate for you?

If your parents were wearing a button, what would you want it to say?

I'm asking you because my daughter can't (or at least) will not answer.

My little sister has a button that says something like "I'm not misbehaving I have autism be understanding".

As for buttons I don't really find them necessary... a medical ID bracelet seems more appropriate to me.

For myself, I'd wear a button that says, "I have both Autism and A Job!"

Is that all you would want on it? nothing more? maybe the ribbon

I was thinking maybe the following would be good buttons as well, let me know what you think...
I would probably add more words, but messages would be:

- I have dreams too.
- Living is easy with eyes closed
- I made you think
- Never Stop Believing
- I Have Something TO SAY
- Help is on the way
- You Are Not ALONE
- I Want to Be Your FRIEND
- Happy to be Here
- I BELIEVE IN YOU
- Love yourself and you are beautiful
and for some humor... - Don’t Annoy the CRAZY PERSON

I made you think would be a good one to add to my button.

I currently have an autism ribbon as the wallpaper on my cellphone. If I flip it open in public it can be seen.

I'm thinking more allong the lines of "Proud to be Autistic"

Last edited by Arcadian on 19 Aug 2009, 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.