So what is everyones thoughts on the whole autism debate. Pretty much having high functioning autism is seen as an excuse, afterall doesn't EVERYONE have problems? No ones perfect, so if you have some problems and want to label it "some form of autism" then your just making an excuse. Right? That's what I've heard my whole life, so I guess it's true. Someone with real problems like down syndrome though, should get extra help but if us people "making excuses" need extra help with even simple things like studying in college, well we can just go suck it up and GIVE IT THE OLD COLLEGE TRY, as WE JUST DONT TRY!!!!!!!!


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Duster, you have earned the right to rant.
Austism (in it's many degrees) is rampant. No answers as to why or how it will be better treated.
I think that these folks with autism that are able to go to college, or where ever they choose to go, should be encouraged. There is lot's of money out there for other students and they should be no exception. People ecouraged and inspired to live highly creative and contributing lives should be welcome with open arms.
I do not have autism, but I have other things that restrict me, so why didn't they stand in my way? I had no label.
Give 'em H*** Dustin ! I have total confidence in you. You managing this and the Vane have shown your talents. If someone stands in your way, just walk right over them.

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www.westernusawx.com

Autism is a serious problem, every bit as real as Down's syndrome. I personally know two autistic kids.

In fact, I have a story relating to this topic.

This summer, I worked at my pool as a lifeguard. We had a new family join the pool this year--a mother and father, who had an autistic son.

He couldn't swim very well, and obviously he had problems mentally. In fact, two of my colleagues (not me personally, but I witnessed one of these events) had to save his *** because he didn't have enough energy to keep moving (his swimming was incredible inefficient, you could say it was like an upright doggy paddle). That happened twice with two different lifeguards. After those incidents, our manager told the kid's parents he couldn't swim unsupervised in the deep end of the pool anymore. Guess what they did? They raised a big fuss. Said we were discriminating against him because of his autism.

Well, we weren't. It's just a safety issue, a common-sense sort of thing. You have to acknowledge that people like that are different from us because not doing so can be dangerous to them.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts on autism.

I hate parents like that, what if the kid drowned? Then they'd REALLY have an issue. What are your thoughts on HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM though?

Autism is an interesting disability. I am thinking of trying to specialize in it. It is a real problem; there is no known "cure," for it iirc, but there are some ways to treat it, such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis).

A lot of people seem to think it is linked to vaccines, but there's not a lot of evidence for that at all.

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Well I was actually talking more of high functioning autism.

What is the difference between different forms of autism? I know someone who's autistic, and it's a rather sad site. I feel really bad and sympathetic for her and all of her family.

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steve

Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum!
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