So this was a brief little moment in the news a few days back: A little boy at an event honoring military families was standing near Vice President Mike Prence, and the Veep accidentally got his sleeve in the little guy's face. This clearly bothered the boy, who waited until he could get a word with the vice president to say, "Excuse me, you owe me an apology," since clearly the boy had learned that you should politely stand up for yourself when you think you've been wronged. Pence was gracious about it, put his hand on the boy's head, and said, "I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to bop you," and the news had a sweet little story about a determined little kid who was being a kid, isn't impressed by vice presidents or other titles, and squeaked up "Excuse Me..." to Power.
Interesting that they lambasted the kid for asking for an apology, but not Pence for giving one. You'd think they'd find something to say about the VP being a spineless toady for being polite to a little kid.
Sorry, but I just don't buy concern about autism as some sort of anti-intellectual thing, and I really don't think that "a lot of autism diagnoses are coming about from 'autism panic.'" At least not from people who know what they're talking about.
My own perspective is colored by the fact that my brother was an autistic high-schooler in the early 1960s, when practically no one had even heard of autism. His condition made him do absurdly inappropriate things, like write love letters to the quarterback of the football team. As you might imagine, he was physically assaulted, and as for the assholes in charge at the school, their idea of protecting him was pressuring our parents to pull him out of school.
When I collected his psychiatric records in the course of applying for SSI on his behalf, the diagnoses were all over the map: manic depression, schizophrenia, etc. Even the psychologist who finally diagnosed him accurately admitted that he wouldn't have been able to do so as recently as ten years previously.
So I just don't believe that mental illness is glamorized or that autism is over-diagnosed. Autistic people suffered for decades--centuries--with no prospect of help. They certainly don't deserve to be stigmatized by some sort of weird backlash now that the world is aware of what autism is.
Also: most people would be annoyed by being touched by a stranger as in this case but it can annoy kids on the spectrum way more than most people would be annoyed.
So often the right's screams of "political correctness run amok", is just cover for their desire to live without basic manners, politeness, or decency.
I don't. But regardless Pence should have dropped to eye level, not touch him & apologize.
One person in 68 is on the spectrum.
Because kids are mainstreamed as much as possible, most typically developing kids have contact with special needs kids. The typically developing kids model behaviors with atypical kids in social skills classes. It's how the atypical kids are taught appropriate social behaviors as well as how to read social cues. The typically developing kids learn compassion, kindness & acceptance of others. In theory, anyway.
There can be tells, but not all autistic kids avoid eye contact, not all sway, rock or fidget to self-calm. Most, but not all have a swirl on the crown of their head. Many perseverate on justice on fairness; if they are treated unfairly or witness unfairness, an autistic kid becomes a heat-seeking missile until the wrong is righted.
I'm not an expert & there's much I do not understand about the BadWolfKid. But these things should by now, be common knowledge.
The point I'm making is that knowing the child is autistic or not is immaterial. Pence did not use his good manners. And that sweet little fella pointed it out.
Yes, age is a factor. They're finding links that Autism & MS are on the same genome(?).
Another link they've identified is exposure to rubella during pregnancy. The oddity here is that I have no immunity to measles, mumps & rubella. I've had more MMR vaccines than a kindergarten class!
Imagine, that grubby little snipe thinking that respect to one's elders could possibly be reciprocal! What naïve parents it must have!
Interesting that they lambasted the kid for asking for an apology, but not Pence for giving one. You'd think they'd find something to say about the VP being a spineless toady for being polite to a little kid.
Sorry, but I just don't buy concern about autism as some sort of anti-intellectual thing, and I really don't think that "a lot of autism diagnoses are coming about from 'autism panic.'" At least not from people who know what they're talking about.
My own perspective is colored by the fact that my brother was an autistic high-schooler in the early 1960s, when practically no one had even heard of autism. His condition made him do absurdly inappropriate things, like write love letters to the quarterback of the football team. As you might imagine, he was physically assaulted, and as for the assholes in charge at the school, their idea of protecting him was pressuring our parents to pull him out of school.
When I collected his psychiatric records in the course of applying for SSI on his behalf, the diagnoses were all over the map: manic depression, schizophrenia, etc. Even the psychologist who finally diagnosed him accurately admitted that he wouldn't have been able to do so as recently as ten years previously.
So I just don't believe that mental illness is glamorized or that autism is over-diagnosed. Autistic people suffered for decades--centuries--with no prospect of help. They certainly don't deserve to be stigmatized by some sort of weird backlash now that the world is aware of what autism is.
My intention was to be an ass hat. Now that Bill-O is gone we're all vying for being the Network douche bag.
VILE PIGS!
Good to see you here, baconzgood.
Also: most people would be annoyed by being touched by a stranger as in this case but it can annoy kids on the spectrum way more than most people would be annoyed.
Thanks....
You see Columbine would have been totally avoided, and Sandy Hook is still FAKE NEWS.
So - I guess it's open season on BarrDELETE DELETE DELETE
Really when it comes down to it, Conservatives don't care about truth, facts or data....
It's all about their FEELINGS of racism.https://media0.giphy.com/me...
Tammy Bruce- Fox's token lesbian feminist. (Two birds one stone)Proving even lesbian Feminists can be as assholes.
Yeah, this story almost humanizes Pence.
So often the right's screams of "political correctness run amok", is just cover for their desire to live without basic manners, politeness, or decency.
I don't. But regardless Pence should have dropped to eye level, not touch him & apologize.
One person in 68 is on the spectrum.
Because kids are mainstreamed as much as possible, most typically developing kids have contact with special needs kids. The typically developing kids model behaviors with atypical kids in social skills classes. It's how the atypical kids are taught appropriate social behaviors as well as how to read social cues. The typically developing kids learn compassion, kindness & acceptance of others. In theory, anyway.
There can be tells, but not all autistic kids avoid eye contact, not all sway, rock or fidget to self-calm. Most, but not all have a swirl on the crown of their head. Many perseverate on justice on fairness; if they are treated unfairly or witness unfairness, an autistic kid becomes a heat-seeking missile until the wrong is righted.
I'm not an expert & there's much I do not understand about the BadWolfKid. But these things should by now, be common knowledge.
The point I'm making is that knowing the child is autistic or not is immaterial. Pence did not use his good manners. And that sweet little fella pointed it out.
Yes, age is a factor. They're finding links that Autism & MS are on the same genome(?).
Another link they've identified is exposure to rubella during pregnancy. The oddity here is that I have no immunity to measles, mumps & rubella. I've had more MMR vaccines than a kindergarten class!