NTs discussing autism

I'm studying nursing with the OU and we are doing a style of learning where you get a family case study and learn through exploring themes related to the family.

In my current case study there's a 14 year old "who has autism" and a 16 year old NT sister who takes him to appointments and stuff. 

We are supposed to be exploring the laws around child protection, the child's rights in terms of accessing healthcare with autism, there's a whole list of stuff.

Last night I was in a chat with just other students, no one from the uni and they were saying things like "oh the mum must be so stressed out, I'm stressed out with the kids I've got and there's nothing wrong with them", and "oh I feel sorry for the 16 year old growing up with a brother like that" and stuff like that.

They don't know I'm autistic and they didn't say anything outright offensive but it wasn't nice to be part of that chat when I was the kid sister with all the hospital appointments and the ASN (I have heart defects too, needed surgeries), I was participating in the group tutorial with adaptive technology, hearing support, the whole kit and caboodle really and they were being quite ableist.

I need to participate in these group chats for another 28 weeks or it's an automatic fail but I don't know if I can face it. 

Is this something I can talk to my tutor about or would that be a *** move?

Parents
  • u must take part, thats for certain. Focus on your progress/learning. Dont mention your autism in any meetings yet because everyone may stop speaking / contacting u out of embarrassment.  If they are saying offensive things about autism children, let them, eventually they will be corrected hopefully by the tutor. At the end of the course mention in any feedback opportunties that other pupils were saying inappropiate things and should have been prevented fro doing so.  

    Turn up at all tutorials,  you represent all of us, so u must be there, but be better/more professional and get the qualification u need. Dont get hung up by comments, by "ignorant of autism" people, because they are learning as well. 

    Heart

Reply
  • u must take part, thats for certain. Focus on your progress/learning. Dont mention your autism in any meetings yet because everyone may stop speaking / contacting u out of embarrassment.  If they are saying offensive things about autism children, let them, eventually they will be corrected hopefully by the tutor. At the end of the course mention in any feedback opportunties that other pupils were saying inappropiate things and should have been prevented fro doing so.  

    Turn up at all tutorials,  you represent all of us, so u must be there, but be better/more professional and get the qualification u need. Dont get hung up by comments, by "ignorant of autism" people, because they are learning as well. 

    Heart

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