Aspergers cadet at a military school

Post Reply New Topic

I go to a military academy, and this year we have a cadet who has Aspergers Syndrome. He comes across as being very nervous all the time, often reacting to orders and verbal directives by jumping as if suprised. Unfortunatly, the other cadets give him A LOT of trouble, and often ridicule him and use him as the butt of practical jokes.

After living with my Aspergian younger brother my whole life, I know how hard it can be for him to interact with the other cadets and how having someone that they could talk to comfortably is very helpful. My issue is with the other cadets who have a problem with him. Every day, I hear them making fun of him and something compels me to confront them about it. I know that it's impulsive and most people tell me to just chillax and let it go, but I have a hard time letting it go. I realize it's not MY place to show everyone they're wrong about their attitude towards people who are different, but what am I supposed to do?




And now for something completely different:

We're supposed to have a persuasive speech done by Wednesday, and mine is on Aspergers Syndrome and public ignorance. I have tons of sources and plenty of energy for the topic, but I can't get it out and just WRITE the damn paper. Bah.

Last edited by skafreak1 on 14 Mar 2008, 2:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm wondering if you can very casually make comments to the other cadets during relaxed time periods, i.e. during lunch, during basketball or other relaxation time, just let them know you have a kid brother who's exactly like this. First of all, that very quietly and calmly lets them know that you are going to be somewhat sensitive to their teasing and comments. But then, you can say things like "this guy doesn't actually WANT to be jumpy and nervous, that's just the way he comes." Or, maybe you could point out "yeah, he's always nervous, but have you ever watched the guy play [insert video game here]? He's amazing!" -- basically figure out what the kid is good at, and point it out to the cadets.

Is this kid funny? Skilled at computers or games? There has to be one thing he can shine at that the other guys would appreciate.

What I can't figure out is what is a kid with Asperger's doing at a military academy. That has to be Asperger hell.

Kris

trying to get the point across to other people often helps to use impact statments, quotes and explain from there..

Like People with aspergers have a invisible disability, if they were in a wheelchair would you still discriminate against them the way you do...!

Quote back some of the things you have heard said, just generalize, often when people can relate and realize how hurtful it could be will stop....

Some of Tony Attwoods Quotes are good like:
Quotes: " From my clinical experience I consider that children and adults with Aspergers Syndrome have a different, not defective, way of thinking." Tony Attwood

My lastest article may help give you some ideas to explain:
e: Diversity of Autism Spectrum Disorder
http://asplanet.info/index.php?option=c ... Itemid=125

Speaking out can really help make such a big differences, others quite often have no idea these people are on the autism spectrum and when realize are sorry about there behavior and even start to make an effort to get on or usually avoid, but then less confrontational.

Good luck with your speech...

schleppenheimer "what is an asperger person doing in the military academy" people on the spectrum often like the routines and controlled environment and know quite a few...

asplanet, I understand the routine part, and liking that -- I guess I would just be surprised that anyone would stay there, given the macho environment. For example, this sort of teasing that skafreak1 is describing is so believable in that environment -- I would guess that if someone knew they were in for that kind of treatment, they wouldn't want to be in a military academy.

Kris

I know an Aspie was in the cadets, maybe I'll get him to post here, or at least I'll get his opinion on the matter.

He can play the trumpet really well, but when he's in front of everyone else, he gets nervous and can't play as well as I've heard him do it. I know that anyone who has trouble with deviation from the schedule should do wonderfully in a military environment on paper, and he does well in classes. It's in the barracks and during D&C that he gets a lot of hassle. We're in different companies, so I can't spend very much time with him outside of classes. Unfortunatly, he is a large kid, so during athletics he sometimes has trouble. There's a stable here, and I know that using horse back riding for therapy can help some people a lot (my brother, for one). I wish that I could talk to some of the faculty here about him, and the way the other cadets treat him, but they don't see the cadets as individuals, more like 300 identical headaches.

Another off topic question: Any ideas on how to make a trip to the dentist easier for an AS 12 year old?

I kind of get the impression that this was his parent's choice, but I don't know for sure. If he DID know what he would be dealing with, I admire him that much more; not only did he face it, he's stayed here almost the entire year. I admire him more than any other cadet by far.


Uh oh. After TAPS, and I'm typing under my bed. The TAC officer is coming around with the flashlight, so that means I get off now.

Deuces all!

I don't really have anything to add, but I do need to ask you... what's with the words at the end of your first paragraph?
Seems like a really weird thing to have there. Am I missing something? Is this supposed to tie into the practical jokes somehow?
It's just so incongruent with the rest of your story that I'm really puzzled. I put it in bold letters below.

Ah...well, that would be an example of why never to leave something on your computer screen when you leave your room because your as*hole roomate will do something like that. Sorry about that...

If you have the time reach out to the kid and find out make friends with him, I have befriended several AS diagnosis in the past and found them to be fascinating and fun people.

Just talk to them subtly and slowly tell them that he is AS, but don't say it as a disability. Tell them what advantages he does have.

I have to agree with one of the above posters. You go to a military academy, and it's going to be hard, duh! His parents should have known better.

An aspie friend of mine is in the Army, he's in Iraq now. He did get some flack for being a vegan, but he's tough. He broke his ribs in basic, and finished it anyway, because he didn't want to have to repeat it.