ASSperger Syndrome and Idiots

Post Reply New Topic

The other day I was enjoying a day out with my kids. My daughter, who LOVES shoes, asked if she could try some on. I thought, what the heck, sure. So we sit down, have the shoes brought over and she tries them on. Meanwhile, I overhear a conversation going on amongst the employees standing at the register. It goes:

Associate 1: "Hey, did you know that actor, so-and-so, has Asperger's?"
Associate 2: "Asperger's? What's that?"
Associate 1: "I dunno, like they have head issues or something, and no friends."
Associate 3: "Haha, yeah, he as ASSperger's alright. He's a complete ASS. Maybe that explains the no friends part."

More laughter ensued from all in the group, and more ASS references are made. My daughter gives me a curious look (she has AS, my son has autism). By now I can feel my blood boiling. I told my daughter to take the shoes off, and we'd go to another store. I took the shoes over, dropped them on the counter and said, "You know, that would be a whole lot funnier if my little girl didn't have Asperger Syndrome. And by the way, it's a form of Autism."

They fell silent. One of them muttered, "I'm...sorry..." at my back. I didn't bother to turn around. I walked over to another register and asked the associate to get the store manager for me. I explained what had happened, and he looked rather horrified. He said, "I'm feel awful saying this, but I'm not sure I know what Asperger Syndrome is, could you tell me?" I explained that it is a form of autism. He apologized again, thanked me for taking the time to tell him and assured me he was going to talk to the people right that very moment. He asked if there was anything he could do, and I said, "Just make sure I can bring my children to this store in the future without fear that grown adults will be laughing and making fun of their disability."

I spent the next half hour explaining to my daughter that some people just laugh at things they don't understand, which I think confused her even more.

I'm just curious as to how others would have handled this.

Last edited by Mikomi on 30 Mar 2008, 5:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I probably would have done something similar, except less tactful. And I probably wouldn't have been clearheaded enough to get the manager. Well done.

You rock. You handled that perfectly.

Wow, what an awkward situation to find yourself in!! I think you handled it really well, I probably would have done more or less the same thing. Well done on keeping a clear head and getting the manager like that - I think the more people bring these things up with employers, the more awareness will be raised. I'd bet those women would have at the least looked it up on wikipedia and learnt something that day, so although it was a difficult situation for you and your daughter, you've at least managed to teach a few more people what it is and raise a little more awareness.

Mikomi,

What is your daughter like? Does she appear normal and intelligent? Maybe you should have had HER explain to them how they acted like IDIOTS!

A little girl, that can dispell their beliefs, with the "disability" could really punch it home to any halfway decent human a lot better than an adult could.

Oh well, they will probably not get out of that "career", and acting as they do will probably cause their income to drop. Maybe your daughter can have the last laugh by never having to deal with that.

BTW A lot of people misunderstand autism as well.

One more reason to start calling it High Functioning Autism instead. I'm sick of the ass jokes as well.

I probably would have acted as though I didn't hear them and go somewhere else, and then probably never go to that store again. I hate confrontations, ughhh. I'd rather just avoid them.

And kept your dignity, which puts you above those asses (the real type).

Congrats. I'd do the same, but few people would act that way.

No joke. I usually just say I have HFA, since it requires less explanation.

The world is full of stupid people. Just recently we read a book in my english class about a boy with aspergers syndrome, and of course my classmates were making the ass burgers jokes left and right. I just stopped caring and started laughing with them. These jokes will never go away unless the world has no more stupid people (which will never happen), so I try not to get stressed out about it. (although at times it can be hard not to, especially when I'm not in a good mood)

Seconded.

I think you handled it really, really well. Way to go!

They're the real Ass-burgers.

"You know, that would be a whole lot funnier if my little girl didn't have Asperger Syndrome. "

You mean you'd laugh at aspies too, weren't your daughter an aspie? I find that the most offensive.

I think that you've handled it, very well.