Mental illness article discriminates against asd individuals

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Mental illness article discriminates against asd individuals and much more...

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http://www.canta.co.nz/opinion/mental-i ... omment-342

Just a small part of the crap within this article..
“But what if he comes out and says that he has been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome or some proper mental illness? His annoying anti-social behaviour is not acceptable. By blaming it all on some illness, does that mean I have to put up with it? Hell no.”

This is exactly why I don't tell anyone I have AS. I don't say out of the blue I have it because why broadcast it? I don't want special treatment or want anyone to feel sorry for me or think I am special and go "oh poor her lets excuse her behavior." I don't want special treatment either. I agree with the small crap about AS being crap though. It's not a mental illness and why is it so bad to not interact with people?

My comment is the third one. Do you like it?

I just read the last comment by isla. That pissed me off because he/she was using her NPD as an excuse. I sure hope that was sarcasm he or she was using. I just replied to it.


I liked your comment ASPowerations.

For some of us, disclosure is the best option. My inability to judge how much "eye contact" to simulate when dealing with a police officer has many times caused me to be branded as a druggie or some other kind of criminal. The same thing applies to other very minor autistic variations from the norm. It is not that I don't want to fit in perfectly, it is that I CANNOT. I've been trying for over 36 years. However, I do have talents in many areas the NT's generally do not. My medical alert pendent and ID card explains these differences. Having these ready when a police encounter is about to occur has saved me hassle time and time again.

I'm in, too.

Brilliant thank you so much and to all of you that have commented I feel will in fact make a difference if even a small one it all helps, as at times educational wise here in NZ I feel at times in regards to ASD years behind some other countries, so thank you all so much

From the article:

"It’s obvious the people who made the ads have no understanding of mental illnesses."

Yes love, just like it's obvious you don't either.

"You don’t want your kids to have the same problems you have, do you? Make sure you adopt, rather than making kids yourself."

WTF!

Doesn't this university have some sort of policy against printing bigoted crud like this under its name? I know many universities in the UK do. Is it different in NZ?

get paid by the number of times their sites are viewed, via the ads, and therefore they try to stir it up to get hits. don't feed the idiots. if no one reads her, she don't get paid.

Sadly yes New Zealand seems to be behind I am from the UK and find attitudes very frustrating here at times, but happy to say slowing changing as me and some others continue to work on...

A great point earlier in regards to mental health 1 in 6 people required at some stage in their lives, do we eliminate 1% of the population, plus the writer who is obversiouly somewhere in need of help...

and spokane_Girl none of us want special treatment just to be allowed, but unfortunatelly unless we speak out that will never happen, I have had to lived in the shadows of real life for far to long not being understood or diagnosed until later in life and believe you me eventually it wears us down and often damages...


I agree, but at least we can use this rubbish article to get the word out and help raise awareness and that really does help others!

The 1 in 6 figure was for the population at any one time. Therefore, we're talking about a prevalence of nearly 20%. With regard to elimination, I think there'd be some out there who would have no problem with the idea even if the prevalence involved the majority.



That's one use for such articles; they provide insight into ignorance and prejudice surrounding such issues. They reflect the views of many and can be openly challenged. I think it's a good idea to challenge it when prejudice as blatant as in that article (e.g., encouraging eugenics and suicide) emerges from somewhere like a university and has a large readership, even if it is written by a student purely to stir up controversy or for some other reason.

Radio interview on article: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2 ... 45afc89421
I do feel it has been good for opening discussions on the subjects and for many to have a voice that often are not heard, we do have free speech but does not mean others have to put up with such damaging ignorance!

hmm.....what can I do to nurture the SEEDS OF MILITANCY that seem to be sprouting in response to this article? the writing is on the wall, the alarm clocks warning us to wake up!
____

1. It is vitally important the autism community take firm hold of the reigns of power and bring about change, do whatever it takes to fight the perception AS is a mental illness, and here is why...

quite simply--They Are Rounding Up Their Scapegoats
2. During the past decade, THE TREND toward hating, violently punishing, brutally torturing, and further traumatizing the "mentally ill"--- has escalated beyond belief of what a reasonably sensible person might deem as appropriate. There is reason to be concerned. Timely action is needed. As world tension increases at an alarming rate, people turn to what they have historically done during times of unbearable stress----they search out scapegoats for sacrifice to their gods, the 'powers-that-be', or whatever--- but to cruelly sacrifice nonetheless.....to blame and to spew out their hatred upon. Unbelievably repressive attitudes are being institutionalized, given legal sanction--in terms of effectively dealing with those perceived mentally ill. The gay community isn't safe from their fury either, but over the last 2 or 3 decades the gays have taken much needed steps to fortify their defenses and ensure their protection. They were once perceived as mentally ill too. What has the autism community done to defend themselves?

3. Isn't it time for the autism community to NETWORK-ORGANIZE-UNITE in order to push back the advancing tide of grossly inaccurate perceptions of who we are? in order to fight inhumane pigeon-holing, ridicule and persecution?

Last edited by alba on 13 May 2009, 7:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

I so agree in fact with all you say and thats what I have been doing here in NZ, but still every time I step out of the autism community into the real world, the shutters so to speak come down, the discrimination here in NZ is unbelievable at times, its like I feel put up with as the token aspie others need, sadly I still feel along way to go for some to accept and just allow diversity and difference... but the autism community world wide stays strong, which helps me fight on... together I agree we can make a huge difference, when ever I feel down I just reach out and the autistic community is always there wanting to help an extended family that no one can take away from us...

People are baffling... since when were Aspies unacceptably anti-social? In many circumstances, what's acceptable and what's not is all down to perspective and choices.

Asperger Syndrome isn't a proper mental illness - it's about as far off from the term illness as I can think... this isn't the category in which AS is to be classified; I still hesitate to call it a disability - it's more like a debilitating special gift.

Some people are just prejudiced for the sake of being prejudiced I think... not sure why they are, but they just are.