NT's making fun of autism: autistic people are vegetables..

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Today, my 'lovely' classmates decided to ridicule physical disabilities and autism. We were learning the context of Shakespeare's King Lear and chain of being was discussed. Obviously there is a hierarchy and living matter is thrown into the mix, vegetables happened to be within that hierarchy. And of course, one feeble minded individual thought it would be appropriate to make an off handed comment on "human vegetables", then one likened vegetables to autistic people. I had to contain the urge to tell them that an autistic person was seated amongst them: ME! and that I am indeed NOT a vegetable. What annoyed me further is that they implied autistic people who are on the "lower functioning" end of the spectrum are incapable of thought and are thus "human vegetables", I know that is not true.. I have a brother who is "low functioning" he is a not a vegetable... Look at Carly Fleichmann, Temple Grandin and the likes.. They are not vegetables, we are not vegetables. We are sentient beings with feelings. Thoughts. Ideas. We are human beings. Just because we can't communicate or behave in a manner that is "appropriate" by NT standards does not mean that we are incapable of thought or feeling.

I tried my hardest to not let it get to me.. I tried convince myself that it was just a joke and that I should let it go, but the tears ca me anyway. I actually silently cried during the lesson, with my head close to the desk. I tried to make it look like I was taking notes but I was actually crying.

I guess I have to come to terms with the fact that THIS is how society views ME and others like me. Whether we have aspergers or classic autism, we are viewed as a blight on society's face. I would have faired well st a special school for kids with Aspergers than here, I have had enough of having to hear jokes at the expense of people like me and the ignorance of peers.

I guess that the other people were all young and that the nasty comments came from some immature and insecure person who is trying to buy a bit of popularity with a brainless "joke". Others will laugh unthinkingly, perhaps brainlessly. They're to be pitied, really. I think you did the right thing not revealing yourself to them: you may have been a target for a while yet. On the plus side I suppose it won't be too long before you can leave them behind for ever. Chin up!

Most people, in my experience, do not think of autistic people as being "blights" on society. They might, alas, have other notions which are not that great, either. Other people happen to give autistic people the benefit of the doubt, waiting to get to know the person before making judgements.

I believe the solution, really, is for autistic people to seek to educate non-autistic people by being present in their lives. Most ignorance pertaining to types of people/races of people, etc., is caused by a lack of contact with these types/races of people.

Please don't let this one person cause you to believe that ALL non-autistic people think the way this idiot thinks.