though I would make this into a thread

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earlier I had this week while I was at the store with my service dog a women she asked Why Nim had a purple jacket on so then I said she is a service dog. then she asked "for wha"t and I said "autism," (Nims Vest actualy HAS and "AUTISM SERVICE DOG," patch on it/ then she said "oh so she works with autistic children? " and I said "No she is my service dog," the women replied " YOU don''t look autistic," I said I have a high functioning form there was a long pause and I felt very uneasy so I Added I am very high functioning and she said "it must be VERY high functioning," I said "yeah," the she said good for you! What am I supposed to make of this? Did she think I was lying? What am I supposed to look like? I don't ALWAYS look detached from the world if that is what they want.

Sounds like she assumed that autism = spending all your time rocking in a corner, and functioning level = a linear thing determined by how much you work at it. And she also didn't recall that autistic children don't disappear; they grow into autistic adults.

I'd be offended but not do anything about it.

[quote="DandelionFireworks"]And she also didn't recall that autistic children don't disappear; they grow into autistic adults.[quote]

I agree with Dandelionfireworks.

we need to talk to Eater sels or the autism society of America and get them to do an I exist campain like they did in the UK (I think it was) Bringing awareness that nthere ARE autistic adult of all levels!

I wish we had service dogs in the uk. I am so frightened whenever I go out by myself and I am always (accidentally) getting into bother.

As for what you were saying about this woman. One word:

IGNORANT

There I said it

You're right though, there does need to be more education on autism. What the NAS have done here was good but I am still unsure as to how well it has been recieved by the public. Trouble is that some people are unwilling to learn as well...

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I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

yeah the USA need to do that too