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NTs discussing autism

Cookiesmum1986

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

  • Some people don't know better and that's the beauty of education.

    If one can be patient and understand that ignorance comes from not having been educated in the right way previously, then it's possible to help people to better understand the condition.

    If everything those people have currently heard or read about in the media suggest that autism is a 'problem' then maybe they can be forgiven for thinking it is the case.

    If you're confident you can educate them in a compassionate way (compassion towards their misunderstanding so far), then it could be worth asking the tutor if you could help to play a slightly educating role before the next session ? 

    I like NicheMarket's way of raising it.

Reply

  • Some people don't know better and that's the beauty of education.

    If one can be patient and understand that ignorance comes from not having been educated in the right way previously, then it's possible to help people to better understand the condition.

    If everything those people have currently heard or read about in the media suggest that autism is a 'problem' then maybe they can be forgiven for thinking it is the case.

    If you're confident you can educate them in a compassionate way (compassion towards their misunderstanding so far), then it could be worth asking the tutor if you could help to play a slightly educating role before the next session ? 

    I like NicheMarket's way of raising it.

Children
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