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arghhhhh im very angry

dan-mans-mum

On being told that my 6 year old son has Autism on Tuesday i have found the ignorance of some people shocking, one person   Family friend said well he doesnt look autistic. for heavens sake i mean can any of you tell me what they mean and what would make a child look Autistic. im so annoyed yes in many ways my son looks every bit the perfect child but who gives people the right to say what a child with Autism or an ASD is too look like. agrhhhhhhhhhhhh

Parents

  • I fear we are at the mercy of public perception here, and even within informed groups such as general practitioners autism is supposed to have an appearance.

    There is a book "Representing Autism - Culture, Narrative, Fascination" by Stuart Murray (Liverpool University 2008) which uses as its front cover a depressing picture of two girls on a see-saw, photographed in an institutional context in 1966. He then spends half a dozen pages of his preface on why he chose this to represent autism.

    Too many illustrations come from clinical texts and documentaries and other media showing people after prolonged treatment for associated problems.

    Yes there are classic looks that can be found in some people. Those who need to shelter from their environment cowed in a corner with their ears or eyes covered. Or some with aspergers with very fixed facial expressions. But sadly there is not enough representation around of what most people look like although the NAS website and Communication and other representations do give a much healthier picture confirming it doesn't always show.

    I'm afraid you will find people's reactions hurtful. Hopefully the Autism Act will eventually lead to a change in public understanding.

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  • I fear we are at the mercy of public perception here, and even within informed groups such as general practitioners autism is supposed to have an appearance.

    There is a book "Representing Autism - Culture, Narrative, Fascination" by Stuart Murray (Liverpool University 2008) which uses as its front cover a depressing picture of two girls on a see-saw, photographed in an institutional context in 1966. He then spends half a dozen pages of his preface on why he chose this to represent autism.

    Too many illustrations come from clinical texts and documentaries and other media showing people after prolonged treatment for associated problems.

    Yes there are classic looks that can be found in some people. Those who need to shelter from their environment cowed in a corner with their ears or eyes covered. Or some with aspergers with very fixed facial expressions. But sadly there is not enough representation around of what most people look like although the NAS website and Communication and other representations do give a much healthier picture confirming it doesn't always show.

    I'm afraid you will find people's reactions hurtful. Hopefully the Autism Act will eventually lead to a change in public understanding.

Children
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