Email from my uni - Please write and complain.

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i don't really see whats wrong with it its making poeple more aware of it and the imformation looked pretty accurate to me.
and about it being in mental illness week , there not going to make a new week called syndrome week or disorder week they may as well clump it together.

I would say that the reactions to disability tend to be less than favourable for those who come out. There are bullying problems in places unfortunately too.

Not yet - though I am pondering it. The problem is that some of these preceedures are very cumbersome and bureaucratic.

The problem is that some people may get outed against their wishes.

I see nothing wrong with the original message. People may object to a few words used in the message, but the bottom line is that they're trying to educate NTs with language they (the NTs) will understand. Sending some response about the wording being offensive to you will do more harm than good.

Let it go.

I notice the snail mail contact address you provided in your initial post has been deleted. However an email address to the same individual might be more useful anyway if you can get it. If you do obtain that email address--could you say so in this thread that you would provide it upon request..

Regarding students registered as having Aspergers with the university...
I'm assuming students with Aspergers would inform the uni of the fact because it might get them needed services? If students are receiving disability support due to Aspergers, could the school get this information otherwise even if students didn't indicate it? If the services are poor and/or the attitude with which they are dispensed is less than helpful....well then there is no advantage in telling them one has Aspergers...or am I missing something here..

The email heading which informs reader Aspergers is [considered to be] a mental illness and mental health problem [complicating the lives of NTs] would infuriate the hell out of me and is grounds for complaint all by itself. But other than that....it's still a little fuzzy to me why you take issue with it. From what you've stated I'm concluding [correctly or incorrectly] that your school's attitude toward autism and the handicapped [like person having seizure] is--they [the handicapped and disabled] are more trouble than they're worth??

The reason this is a little hard to fathom is because in the U.S. it would be hard--nigh unto impossible-- for a college or university to get away with that kind of detrimental posturing and/or deny disability services and/or deliver such services with a condescending attitude.. if.. the state or federal government has sanctioned said services for autistics.... given the risk/liability of punitive damages via a law suit and a potentially huge cash award.

You've suggested you take offense because the email is something that has served to intimidate, humiliate, and otherwise discriminate even more [than is the usual negative and judgmental treatment] against Aspies. In other words--rather than being helpful, it is hurtful.....adding fuel to the fires of discrimination. [connecting the dots for us might help as it's really not all that obvious]

If this is so and you can gather evidence to support your claim...you might be able to get an attorney to look at it in view of bringing a class action lawsuit [representing all student Aspies desiring to involve themselves] against the university. However I believe you will need much more than the posted email. For instance, if the student with seizures is discharged on account of their seizures and you can prove that...it would definitely be a good place to start. But if those seizures constitute a significant disruption to classrom activity, then the student may need to make other arrangements like receiving instruction via closed circuit TV or online if available. Aspies, if they disrupt classroom instruction, would constitute a similar problem for the university.

I'd have really liked something like this to have been sent around in my school.

It would have changed the minds of people that AS is a fake or that it is some awesome difference to have that could not possibly mean you're definitely severely impaired or as disabled as other disabled people.

Though I'm not much of a fan to say that AS is mild autism, because the social deficits and repetitive behaviour is the same as with autism. What's milder about that huh?

I object to them sending out any email at all really. I doubt I will be the only one complaining about it either.

I do have an email address which I will provide depending what people want to send (PS the email address is not for who sent out the email, but who I gave the snail mail address for)

There is a difference between informing the students and informing your peers. There is some advantages in telling the university (e.g. extra time in exams) but there are some disadvantages too.

My issue really is any email at all being sent out at all - especially given the lack of consultation.

Proving the general attitudes would be very difficult to do unfortunately.

I don't personally think the email was intended to cause offence, but I think it was incredibly foolish on the part of the person who sent it out.

The fact that I know about the student making the complaint is very dodgy in itself and kind of shows the lack of respect of privacy that is being taken. I know that if they tried anything like that with me then I would be suing the pants off them (and I actually have insurance which covers this just in case)

If I was in another university I would probably agree with you on having something sent around - though the attitude of the average student here makes sending out an email a really bad idea.

Well, given the fact that the majority of the population still believes even "mild autism" to be pretty debilitating, I wouldn't say that's too bad. And really, in comparison to profoundly autistic children who constantly scream and smear their feces, Asperger's (and HFA) are pretty damn mild.

Well, and to tell you the truth, the large majority of people that I've met with AS are NOT "severely impaired". Or even "moderately impaired". The majority of them can still work, and still attend University. Would it be in their best interest for people to view them as "severely disabled"? No, because that would only invoke unneccesary pity, and possible patronization.

Kangoogle, I'm hoping you will clarify your position...Try to stay cool, calm, collected and think clearly, slowly, rationally, pragmatically..Can we please attempt to uncover the facts? I'm clueless.

I live in the U.S. and am trying to figure out why you are unhappy about this. You are offended by the email but haven't yet given any solid, legitimate, specific reason why--except that you weren't consulted first. Why should they consult you first? Is that standard operating procedure? ....no matter what the situation is-- regarding advance notification-- it probably isn't something that we could assist you in complaining about. Unless you can connect it to a major discrimination issue supported with evidence.

It would help if you connect the dots for us and supply some very specific reasons [other than not being notified in advance] why the email is offensive. And explain your grounds for wanting to complain and wanting us to help you complain. You say they didn't intend it to be offensive but given your problem with lack of consultation...they obviously don't care if you are offended. Being extremely inconsiderate or foolish on their part IMO isn't something we can help you complain about.

You repeatedly imply the uni has some attitudes which undermine and are detrimental towards the handicapped, the disabled, and the autistic...but you haven't elaborated on this at all. What exactly are these attitudes? How do they relate to the email in a way that explains why you are upset by it?

Last edited by alba on 06 Feb 2009, 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I was not sober when writing the first post, I admit. Frankly I am disturbed by the email because it could involve outing people who don't want to be outed and have very good reasons for not being out in the first place.

The lack of consultation is one thing - but even if they had consulted the fact is that any email like that should not have been sent out.

More likely they are just clueless do-gooders.

Lets just say that its full of middle/upper class Tories who take the "tough luck" approach to people having disabilities etc. Basically the average student here would regard someone as being pathetic for having any sort of problems in their life - most of them are from a very cushy background.

It may not be a mental illness but that doesn't mean "mental health" week shouldn't treat the topic, at least I don't think there's any reason for mental health week to avoid the topic.

Well, that's a slight improvement...at least we're heading in the right direction now. But we've got a long way to go..

How does the email force them out of the closet? Be somewhat specific and detailed please.


Kangoogle, this is a bit exasperating as you haven't said why....


Please explain. ...I'm sorta starting to get it. You think they are unintentionally hurting the more reclusive Aspies by forcing them out of the closet? Which was a thoughtless thing to do and could have been easily avoided if they had considered consulting you Aspies first. ......if this is the case, I'm totally blown away.


ok. This is almost useful. How exactly are they being cruel and like bullies? Is there any specific evidence? Facts please. Provide facts that prove discrimination if you can. The email in and of itself does not.

Increased awareness makes it harder for people to hide it.

It should not have been sent out because its (a) factually incorrect and (b) has the effect of potentially forcing people out.

I think that is where this could very easily end up for some people in the college, yes.

If there was specific evidence then I would have given it - but its very difficult for me to illustrate the cultural problems my university has. In short the admissions screw up and take on a lot of not very pleasant people.

I actually didn't have a problem with it. It was only a brief summary, so obviously it didn't go into all the small areas and differences within the autism spectrum...it would be 100 pages long if you actually went into every nuance, behavior and detail of Aspergers/Autism. Aspergers IS Autism, so if you're upset about that you need to learn to accept Autism. Aspergers is just a name for high functioning autism from the man who first discovered it. As for being part of mental health week, well I don't like to see it lumped with mental illness, but I can see why they would include it in there. I really don't see how it forces anyone out of the closet, this little email is not going to raise awareness enough that everyone will suddenly notice all the Aspies. And if they do...perhaps knowing a little more about it will make them more accepting of it, at least they have heard of it. And why should anyone consult you personally over an email with some general information, that they put out every week highlighting all kinds of conditions? So if next week's email is about diabetes, they have to consult all the diabetics?


I think you're overreacting.