Comments on: Never Say Autistic Kids are ‘Just Brats’

By: Skeptical Betty

Skeptical Betty — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:02:40 +0000

At the risk of totally pissing you off, ….help! What the hell IS autism and what is the spectrum? My best friend has a daughter she claims is autistic, has sensory processing disorder, epilepsy, etc. She has her on a bunch of meds that dont help, and gets a fat disability check for it. I have spent A LOT of time with them, and all i can see is a spoiled, bratty, undisciplined, obese, lazy, physically abusive child that has been left on the couch with the internet to raise her, and the situation is getting out of control for them both. What am i missing? How can you tell? And how do i help???

By: Kevin Levites

Kevin Levites — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:41:20 +0000

Excellent post. I’m an autistic adult, and I wish my parents had been as enlightened as you seem to be toward your kid.

My parents disowned me over my autism, because if I’m smart enough to remember whole pages in a book, and if I’m smart enough to multiply large numbers in my head, then I’m smart enough to figure out how to interract with people socially. Since I don’t know how to be social, it’s because I didn’t try to learn how.

And so on.

Or . . . some people with Asperger’s have a narrowly focused, special interest, like trains or dinosaurs. If I made “being normal” my special interest, then I would be normal.

So, I choose to be autistic. It’s like an alcoholic that won’t stop drinking.

I’m very happy that your son has a father like you, and that you seem open-minded and loving enough to accept your kid for who he is.

All my best.

By: Chris Catanese

Chris Catanese — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 11:54:34 +0000

Great post. Similarly, please don’t call your child a brat if they have adhd. Instead of having me tested, my mom used the more typical 1970s treatment and tried to beat it out of me. I was diagnosed at 25 and have been learning more and more about it over the last few years. Over the years when I’ve seen my older son who is almost 9 exhibit some of the same characteristics as me as well as some characteristics of those on the autism spectrum (almost no eye contact, never does group things in class like hand claps or responses) my (now) ex-wife would get very defensive and say, “We would know by now if he has autism. The doctor would have told us.” I finally convinced her to have a doctor other than our pediatrician look at him–we have an appointment next week.