Disability pride

[Ariel]

I have seen parents of children who are severely autistic or otherwise mentally and physically disabled. Entirely locked in themselves, unable to communicate to the outside world. Their parents love them still. Of course they do! It's your child, someone you raised from birth. At the same time they see other children playing outside in the sun, kicking a can, going to sports practice, climbing trees... or simply going back from school, throwing their bags on the floor and complaining about how their gym teacher is a total douchebag. They see normal, healthy, functioning children and they cannot help but wish for the same. Sometimes they have no other healthy siblings, the disabled child is all they know. But they're not blind! Like everyone else, they too had dreams and desires of having a healthy child. A healthy child they ended up not having.

Any parents of a child unable to communicate, who would not give that child the opportunity to talk if possible, are either horrible and twisted sick fucks or simply lying to themselves.

No one chooses to have a severely disabled child. There are just different ways of handling the situation when it occurs. And I do see the appeal sometimes of certain more mildly disabled people. Take children with Down's Syndrome for example. Not saying I'd stand in line to get one but from my experience they are very likeable, friendly and perpetually enthusiastic people and some simply light up a room. There's something strikingly honest and endearing about a person who is always all smiles, and happy with the smallest of things. Maybe it's in their innocense, and in how uncomplicated and positive their worldview is. I for one would much rather have a "retarded" kid like that then, say, have a wizard for a son or Monica Punk for a daughter.

One of my friends works in a day centre for disabled people. She said out of all the 'disabilities', people with downs syndrome get the most attention because they have to many characteristics which appeal to normals. Which means that the guy who scoops poo out of his nappy & can't talk gets ignored by most of the staff.

 

[Drawets Rednaxela]

Parents playing the autism card really grinds my gears. Instead of saying "Sorry, s/he has autism", you should be saying "Sorry for my child's poor behaviour". Cause by saying the former you're not only using autism as a scapegoat, but also denying either you or the child are at fault. Will you still be making that excuse when your special little guy gets expelled from school? Or is facing murder charges?

 

[BT 075]

Autistics declaring cool historical figures to be autistic decades or even centuries after their deaths is as pathetic as black nationalists claiming Cleopatra, Beethoven and several English royals were black. Or wizards claiming a variety of awesome people from bygone eras to have been lifelong virgins when there's no proof whatsoever backing up their claims. "Omg! Einstein had liek, weird fuzzy hair! And I have liek weird fuzzy hair too. He must be aspie just like me!!1!"

That's another annoying things autistics online do: some have this tribal group mentality. The word "aspie" sounds incredibly lame to me. And then there's the us-vs-them mentality of neurotypicals against people on the autism spectrum or some shit. Socially awkward master race. It gives them a sense of belonging I suppose. Something to stand out in a crowd, to set them apart from the rest of world. Like wizards and SJWs, they despise normality. Probably because it was "normal people" who bullied them in school for being autismal as fuck.

Ego makes the world go round.

 

[Chikinballs]

Einstein was incredibly witty, very grounded, and well liked. I doubt he had autism.

 

[FifthColumn]

The ladies loved him too, apparently

 

[Axiom]

There are a small handful of historical figures who can be reasonably claimed to have LIKELY had autism, based on large numbers of contemporary accounts and their own writings. One of these is Isaac Newton. Everyone who wrote about meeting him described bizarre and pointed behaviour very consistently, exactly like the behaviour of modern people with moderate autism. (You purportedly couldn't talk directly to him--people who wanted to ask him questions were told to simply walk near him and pose the question to thin air and if he wanted to he might give a few words answering. If touched, he would freak out. He had to have a very specific constant schedule and would get really upset if it changed.) It's very likely he was autistic, but not completely certain.

But cases as clear-cut as this are few and far between. You simply can't posthumously diagnose someone with most mental illnesses, especially after everyone who knew them is dead.

 

[Foulmouth]

There are a small handful of historical figures who can be reasonably claimed to have LIKELY had autism, based on large numbers of contemporary accounts and their own writings. One of these is Isaac Newton. Everyone who wrote about meeting him described bizarre and pointed behaviour very consistently, exactly like the behaviour of modern people with moderate autism. (You purportedly couldn't talk directly to him--people who wanted to ask him questions were told to simply walk near him and pose the question to thin air and if he wanted to he might give a few words answering. If touched, he would freak out. He had to have a very specific constant schedule and would get really upset if it changed.) It's very likely he was autistic, but not completely certain.

But cases as clear-cut as this are few and far between. You simply can't posthumously diagnose someone with most mental illnesses, especially after everyone who knew them is dead.

I'd call it far from clean cut, Isaac Newton was a genius. A freak sure, but that doesn't make him autistic.

 

[Axiom]

I'd call it far from clean cut, Isaac Newton was a genius. A freak sure, but that doesn't make him autistic.

Of course it's not, I just meant that as far as historical figures go, the case for Newton and autism is about as certain as these things CAN get, and it still isn't positive. Just a high likelihood. Contemporary accounts of his behaviour and his own work and writing indicate a person consistent with the type of people who are today diagnosed with autism. But of course, Newton was English and the English have a very long, proud tradition of turning eccentricity into an art form. He could have just been an extremely bizarre, socially reclusive genius. But then, that describes the standard autistic savant.

 

[FifthColumn]

From what Ive seen of modern day autists,
I could easily beileve that Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes had it..

 

[A-№1]

I can understand, and respect, being proud of overcoming a disability, but being proud of the disability itself is just retarded. I suspect most of the "proud to be deaf / blind / whatever" crowd have the former take on it rather than the latter.

Take children with Down's Syndrome for example.

The thing about down syndrome is it's easily detected with screening and then amniotic sampling and then readily prevented through pregnancy termination. Those parents CHOSE to have a down syndrome child. Being "proud of your down syndrome child" is equivalent to being proud to have forced a child to grow up with down syndrome. Now there are worse things to have than down syndrome, but whether or not you think those parents were selfish or irresponsible or cruel, it doesn't change the fact that they made a choice.

I'd call it far from clean cut, Isaac Newton was a genius. A freak sure, but that doesn't make him autistic.

Newton was also an alchemist who regularly played around with mercury and lead and other heavy metals and dangerous neuro damaging compounds. I'd credit that a lot more for his odd behavior than any hypothetical autism.

Tycho Brahe also wasn't autistic. He was just a complete bastard.

 

[Foulmouth]

Wot if the dinosaurs all died from autism ?

 

[exball]

Wot if the dinosaurs all died from autism ?

Not all the dinosaurs died. Barb still lives.

 

[Foulmouth]

So chris is half Diplodickheadasoreass ? It all makes sense now.......

 

[FifthColumn]

At A NO.1,
I don't want to start any flame war, but I do believe that not all children or adults with downs syndrome lead meaningless pain filled lives. Many have unique personalities and do bring joy to those around them. One works as a greeter at my church, and everyone likes him. If you asked him whether he would have preferred to have been aborted, I doubt he would say "yes."

 

[CalmMyTits]

I've met some children/adults with Down's Syndrome and they're absolutely delightful people. Whether or not parents choose to abort a fetus with DS... I have mixed feelings on that. There are plenty of worse things/health problems for anyone to suffer from than DS, but one also needs to consider that DS is not just a mental disability, it also causes health issues. Even in developed worlds where health care is quality, the maximum life expectancy of a DS person is 50, maybe 60, in no small part due to congenital heart disease, which has a high occurrence, along with obstructive sleep apnea. I personally would not wish that on my children nor am I sure that I would keep a fetus that I knew had DS, but nor would I ever make fun or be cruel to, much less call for the extermination of people with DS. Ultimately I think this decision should be up to the parents, but if these parents do decide to keep the child, then they have the responsibility of making sure that child is a happy, well-adjusted (within their capabilities and limitations, of course) member of society.

"The thing about down syndrome is it's easily detected with screening and then amniotic sampling and then readily prevented through pregnancy termination. Those parents CHOSE to have a down syndrome child. Being "proud of your down syndrome child" is equivalent to being proud to have forced a child to grow up with down syndrome. Now there are worse things to have than down syndrome, but whether or not you think those parents were selfish or irresponsible or cruel, it doesn't change the fact that they made a choice."

Juliana Wetmore's parents come to mind at this statement. Her parents knew, from before Juliana was born, that she would have severe issues and problems. I hate to say it, but she would probably be better off having been aborted. Her parents parade her around and say she is God's gift, despite the fact that this girl (she is about 10 now, I think) will never have a normal life. Her short life has been full of operations, and she will have medical issues for her whole life. Her parents are uber-Christians, yet they haven't stopped to think that Juliana would be dead if not for modern medical technology,. not God's blessing.

 

[Drawets Rednaxela]

Juliana Wetmore's parents come to mind at this statement. Her parents knew, from before Juliana was born, that she would have severe issues and problems. I hate to say it, but she would probably be better off having been aborted. Her parents parade her around and say she is God's gift, despite the fact that this girl (she is about 10 now, I think) will never have a normal life. Her short life has been full of operations, and she will have medical issues for her whole life. Her parents are uber-Christians, yet they haven't stopped to think that Juliana would be dead if not for modern medical technology,. not God's blessing.

Julie Wetmore is still alive? Fuck. I'd hoped by now God would have showed some of the compasion he's known for and struck her down. The very existance of Tretcher Collins' or WTF this condition is called is why abortion needs to stay and Christianity - fuck it, all organized religion - needs to go. We'll never advance as a society if THAT is concindered a tolerable lease of life.

 

[A-№1]

At A NO.1,
I don't want to start any flame war, but I do believe that not all children or adults with downs syndrome lead meaningless pain filled lives. Many have unique personalities and do bring joy to those around them. One works as a greeter at my church, and everyone likes him. If you asked him whether he would have preferred to have been aborted, I doubt he would say "yes."

Seeing as he hasn't also experienced having been aborted, he's not really able to make a valid comparison there.

And this doesn't change the fact that it was his parents who chose for him. And for everyone else, too, as it's more than just the child who ultimately has to deal with his condition. Most children born with DS are sweet and loveable and bring joy to all those around them. Most, but not all. I know of more than a few who are a constant physical danger to other children in the public schools and thereby a tremendous burden on the schools and a huge taxpayer expense.

Ultimately I think this decision should be up to the parents, but if these parents do decide to keep the child, then they have the responsibility of making sure that child is a happy, well-adjusted (within their capabilities and limitations, of course) member of society.

Unfortunately all too many of them dump that responsibility on others.

Juliana Wetmore's parents come to mind at this statement. Her parents knew, from before Juliana was born, that she would have severe issues and problems. I hate to say it, but she would probably be better off having been aborted. Her parents parade her around and say she is God's gift, despite the fact that this girl (she is about 10 now, I think) will never have a normal life. Her short life has been full of operations, and she will have medical issues for her whole life. Her parents are uber-Christians, yet they haven't stopped to think that Juliana would be dead if not for modern medical technology,. not God's blessing.

Yeah, that poor kid. From what I understand her parents knew before she was even conceived that she was a high risk for Treacher Collins because she has another sister with it as well (though not as severe). There is also this guy in England with TC who is trying to start a family even though he knows his kids will all have at least a 50% chance of having TC.

Given all the poor unwanted (but truly great) kids out there desperate for adoption, that these religious twits would go and force their bad genes on yet another generation is the acme of selfish assholery. If God exists and He wants more kids born with TC or DS or any of these other easily detectable conditions, he wouldn't have given us things like amniocentesis, genetic counselling, and mifepristone. And I'm sure he'll tell these selfish fucks exactly that before sending them to hell.

 

[kcbbq]

Eugenics ftw!

 

[Daario Naharis]

Me? I have to agree with George Carlin's assessment of "Proud to be American." I always feel pride is something one should take in an achievement reached through ones personal efforts. Not an accident of birth.

I can get not being ashamed of your (x) child or anything like that, but that isn't quite as catchy.

 

[Bgheff]

Autistic pride mostly exists for parents of autistic people. It's a tough job and such things allow them to publicly strut and also show that they love their kid despite the disabilities.

As for disabilities in general, who cares? It doesn't impact my life if they want to celebrate whatever disability they got. You can just thank yourself for not being disabled if it really bothers you for some odd reason.