Thursday, May 17, 2007.
There are a few reasons why people would discriminate against autistic children:
1) You find them irritating.
2) You don't understand why they do certain things and is angry with their behaviour.
3) Your friends do it and you join in for fun.
4) You're sadist.
5) You have an allergic reaction to them.
6) You need to rub off the bad mood to someone.
7) You had past bad experiences with them.
8) You're jealous of them.
In any case, most reasons are irrational. I think one of the root reason of discrimination is the reluctance to embrace difference or misunderstanding. If you are unable to accept their differences, you wouldn't be able to accept them as a fellow human being. When you think they are different, you will never learn from them. And when you are unable to learn from them, you'll never be able to discover all the wonders they could be hiding beneath the surface. I quote form Disney's Pocahontas,
"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew, you never knew."If you are one of those who discrimnate autistic kids, PLEASE STOP. Firstly, these kids are not as fortunate as us who are born 'normal'. Secondly, no one likes to be called names. I had my share of the ordeal to and I really really hate to recall the memories. Even now, I wish the people who were unkind to me would disappear (which is a nicer way of saying die).
If you are one of those who discrimnate and wish to stop, I have come up with some tips for you guys:
1. Before you start calling names, recall a time when you were called a name you extremely hate. How did it feel?
2. If you said it by accident (please, don't cheat yourself) apologise immediately.
3. If you find making people feel bad a favourite, do it in front of a mirror.
4. Before you start calling names, think how what you are going to say is going make you look like. Will it make you look like a uncivilised caveman or a respectable educated youth?
5. All of us have special needs, but you don't call a friend who wears specs 'special needs'
6. Try to accept them as who they are. Learn from them. Do some research on them. Interact with them. Get to know them first, before making your judgement.
If you are the one on the recieving end, I have some tips to help, though it may be a little irrelevant as you may not think tthe same way I do.
1. People who call you names are either jealous of you/ cannot understand you/ insane/ unkind/ less- educated.
2. Ignore the people who call you names. They are just being nasty.
2. If you ignore them long enough, they will stop bothering them. (I'm serious!)
3. Try to tell an adult when you think things are going to get nasty
4. If they hit you, it is okay to hit back, but only when THEY HIT YOU FIRST.
5. Don't let them bring you down. At the end of the day, who do you want to be? We are not defined by how others percieve of us, but how we feel about ourselves. So, be happy, it's your life after all!!!!!!!!!!!
Naomi
hellogoodbye
!traces of loneliness.
6:30 AM
