Comments on: There are No Wheelchair Ramps for Us

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:38:04 +0000

Thank you for giving my article and post wider coverage. It’s so important to get the information out and to debrief people regarding the myths about autism.

By: jace

jace — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:27:53 +0000

i wanted to let you know i loved your article about Challenging the popular myths about Autism so much i put up a short reference article to it on NowPublic.com:

http://my.nowpublic.com/culture/challenging-popular-myths-about-autism

thank you so much for sharing with the world the facts that need to be addressed, openly and accurately, to dispel these horrible myths. your story made me cry in “emphatic empathy.” finally, another voice other than my own… stating the same things i’ve been saying…

THANK YOU

By: Craig Liley

Craig Liley — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:26:31 +0000

I (mostly) love this list. I actually don’t have a problem with most background music, it can give me an alternate focus in situations where there is too much “business”, but I do know others who have no tolerance for it at all. I do find, however, that if it’s a style, or even a particular song, that I’m not fond of, that it can hurt rather than help. I especially agree with the cel phone issue. Almost nothing bothers me more than feeling constantly surrounded by people yelling into their phones, seemingly about nothing. I never answer the phone at home, that’s what answering machines are for, and would be terribly jarred to have to answer one when I’m out in public.

As to supermarkets, I work in a large grocery store. Fortunately for me it is open 24 hours, and so I can usually work late evening or early morning, when it is much quieter. Another plus, mine is more open, with high ceilings, and softer lighting than many, as well as being one of the least busy in town.

I would add to your list, however some line allowing us to duct tape the mouths of any child whose parent allows it to scream incessantly.

By: April

April — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:54:13 +0000

8. Every professional must make every attempt to see patients and clients on time. If said professional is running late, he or she (or a member of his or her staff) must contact the patients or clients and apprise them of that fact.
—————–

I think everyone would appreciate this! I never show up to an appointment on time as i know i’ll just sit in a dismal little room for 20 minutes waiting….

By: Belfast

Belfast — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:54:03 +0000

Sensory problems get little to no respect, aren’t leant much creedence by the public at large. People are used to concepts of blindness & deafness (and so on), but not someone who decompensates (melts down, becomes so distressed as to lose functioning in the moment) as a result of the stimuli in one’s environment (such as fluorescent lights, unbearable noises, panic-inducing smells, etc.). Having undeniable sensory “over-reactions” myself (within multiple modalities), I’ve learned these causes & effects are connected-even though most people are skeptical/unaware of the whole field of “sensory modulation/integration/processing disorders”.

Worthy website with a great description/metaphor (spoon theory) to make sense of invisible/chronic condition (for those who don’t “get it”, when one tries to explain that not all challenges are obvious to an outsider, but that doesn’t make the problem any less “real”). There’s a pdf link & a php link in middle of page.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/

Site for women with chronic illness, yet it’s got a great fiesty attitude. As a person with “mental” problems (rather than so-called purely “physical” difficulties), I found the articles here heartening nonetheless.
http://www.chronicbabe.com/

2 articles (which I’ve read & found galvanizing/validating of my perceptions), by Cal Montgomery:
About what’s considered “disabled” in our culture-
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0301/0301ft1.htm
About disparity in accommodations for those with differing sorts of “barriers to access”-
http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/0501/0501cov.htm

I encourage folks to look up these items (even though the pieces don’t directly deal with ASD), because I could identify with much of what’s written & they helped strengthen me in my struggle against isolation/marginalization (being scapegoated).

By: John Dale Lyons

John Dale Lyons — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:17:32 +0000

JG: As I approach 50, I am losing wy hard-won tolerance for “busy” surroundings. As a child I had a hard time with them; I acculturated but am regressing a bit. The harsh lighting doesn’t help, either.

Again, children can be delightful. But I detect a deterioration in civility these past few years that cuts across all ethnic and socioeconomic barriers. Running and shrieking indoors should be unacceptable.
But truth be told, I have difficulties modulating my voice. However, I was raised correctly- the voice problem is an Aspie thing I have. When pointed out, I sheepishly apologize and lower my voice.

By: Gavin Bollard

Gavin Bollard — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:08:55 +0000

There are times in my life when I’m truly grateful that I’m deaf. It’s like having permanent ear plugs. I’ve got 50% in one ear and 25% hearing in my bad (useless) ear. Most of the time, noises, dogs, even chainsaws don’t faze me. On the few occasions that they do, they’re also driving the NTs up the wall. When I need to sleep in loud (snoring) circumstances, I simply roll over onto my good ear… and all is silent.

That said… The shop keeper was downright aggressive and this probably would have tripped at least some aggression on my part. I’d have told him to turn the music down – and I’d have made at least a little scene if I really wanted to stay in the shop but the beads… oooh ….no way… I’d be saying … “You’re the shopkeeper, YOU tell me how much they cost”.

Actually, most of the time I’m very very passive and I’ll take “hits” from shops who accidentally overcharge me etc… it’s only when I detect aggression (or a deliberate restriction of my rights) on the other side of the counter, that I up the ante.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:30:17 +0000

re: the Law
it sounds lovely. it also sounds a lot like the 1950′s. not too bad, i think i’d like the 50′s, except for the racism, sexism, homophobia and smoking. everything else sounds MAHvelous. mmmm, push lawnmowers, front porches, no celphones, fewer people, politeness and sense of civic duty, fewer cars….

also, Jennifer and John: i have the same issues with supermarkets and similar. i do find that fluorescent lighting is one of the biggest culprits for making a space uncomfortable to be in.
i’m getting in the habit of doing my shopping early on saturday mornings, or as late as i can in the evenings, when things are literally quieter and less busy. in my early twenties, i used to have the best time cruising the local safeway at 11:30pm, with my college room-mate. she would always stop by the lobster tank to apologize on behalf of her species

By: Jennifer Gardner

Jennifer Gardner — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:58:36 +0000

JDL- You are making me laugh! Even if you didn’t mean to be funny. I laugh at the familiarity of your words. My husband truely feel the same way about children.
(Minor subject change): May I ask if you have difficulty with your surroundings being “busy”? Supermarkets are painful for my husband because of all the colors, lights etc. An NT interpretation of quiet is much different than an Aspie. I think of quiet as being few people, less crowded. I never even considered that all the colorful boxes, displays and goings on could have an effect. I am truely interested in your, and all, thoughts about it.

By: John Dale Lyons

John Dale Lyons — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:55:34 +0000

I always make mistakes in the supermarket, because of the loud music and screaming kids. I can’t seem to impress upon my NT girlfriend how stressful shopping is for me. It doesn’t help that I also have ADD. Laundromats are also unpleasant and challenging. More screaming kids and loud TV’s. (I don’t dislike children per se, but nowadays they’re being raised as feral by negligent parents who don’t teach them to differentiate between indoor and outdoor voices). I often pay more to have my laundry done for me, so I don’t have to deal with it.