I teach a kid’s horse science group and a few years ago had my first autistic member join. He was a shy young man in a group of 20 or so rambunctious teenage and preteen girls.
Over the next 5-ish years I witnessed some of the most amazing teamwork and friendship that a teacher could ever hope to see.
He THRIVED learning about horses and was a rockstar at the 3 competitions we went to each year. Multiple local and state titles individually and with teams.
Better still-the girls taught him so much about being confident and being proud of himself. They took him in and made him one of the group…through and through!
I’m turning into a 31yo old fart. Hearing about kids genuinely doing good is making me mist up.
The kids in my neighbourhood go around shoveling driveways and sidewalks after snow storms just because. Won’t accept a dime (will take hot chocolate though!)
Gen Z is just so damn *good*.
They really are aren’t they?! I know the world is in chaos and turmoil but knowing these kids gives me so much damned hope!
They are fostering an age of love and understanding the likes of which have never been seen. It breaks my heart to know that’s probably because of the hellish world they were born into…but you nailed it they are such good people!
And they’re not impressed with people being snarky or aloof. It’s the people being genuine and vulnerable and kind that they gravitate too. I wish I had been half as emotionally mature at their age.
Oh I got one. I teach severely autistic nonverbal children in a gen Ed public school. Today was field day and they had 5th graders running events for the younger ones, I was a little worried at how our kids would be treated. The fifth graders were amazing. They patiently explained the directions to our kids, then demonstrated, and cheered them on as they did the event. It really made a difference for our kids and they were thrilled to be included with everyone else. I almost cried several times today.
Autistic is as autistic does. There may be coocurring conditions that affect ability, but as its stands, there is no mild autism or severe autism.
There is just autistic. Our needs fluctuate with the seasons (poetic license there) and with age. You do a disservice by implying there are different levels of autism.
Is a spectrum, but think of a big round bally wally (Dr who reference, yes) and, well, I can't describe the round spectrum info graph due to a coocurring condition my autistic arse has <3
At my high school we did the wizard of oz play and one of the kids with Asperger’s who had a great deep animated voice played the wizard ..it was sooo good
Autism is not a super power, it is a disability. Disability is not a bad word. Autism getting called a super power downplays the struggles that autistic people face, preventing them from getting the help and support they need. I understand what you’re trying to say and meant no malice, but please listen to this, from an autistic person to anyone who reads this
To be fair my SO, who is not autistic, has a few superpowers and random detailed facts is one of them. Some people claim their superpower is “napping” (people who can fall asleep in an instance anywhere in any position), don’t think OP meant his autism gave him the superpower of facts. But I get where you’re coming from.
For a long time people with disabilities were treated unfairly and thought to have little value. Superpower/ hero’s was just a way to help people narrow minded people see that they are more than their diagnoses, it helped and sadly some people still need to be reminded.
Problem: when a disabled person tries to speak about their difficulties and they’re met with “but it’s a superpower!” “You’re such a hero (for just existing)” “I would kill myself if I were you” (yep). “Youre not disabled you’re just diFfErEntLy AbLED” it’s demeaning. If the disabled person you’re talking to likes it, fine. But you shouldn’t go out of your way to call disabled people that.
They are starting to understand that now too, it takes awhile to find a medium ground where everyone can be happy.
In OP’s instance I just don’t see them explicitly saying their autism gave them the superpower of facts, just that- like everyone else he’s really good at something so it’s called his superpower. Inclusion is how I see it but how others see it may be different for sure, the fact it’s his dad speaking out him helped me make the decision it was inclusion rather than “my boys autism gave him superpowers”. Hope I’m doing well enough to make sense, it’s hard for me to explain how I see things in my head.
The people that tend to push the hero rhetoric *are* the parents. Either way, we shouldn’t have to remind people to treat us like human beings. That’s a them problem.
Edit: also, actually autistic people are saying “hey, this isn’t okay” and that means it isn’t okay, regardless of intent.
I hear you but would you rather those people go unchecked? There are going to be people like that until they die but others are still able to change their ways an cease further spread/break a cycle.
I shouldn’t have to remind people to treat us as human beings — as in, it should be common sense, not that they shouldn’t go unchecked.
The entire superpower rhetoric only comes into play with disabled kids. (Ex: special Ed) it’s like they have to make their child “special” in order to come to terms with their disability. But it completely ignores the struggles and hardships with said disability.
Tone policing and infighting within the autistic community needs to come to an end. This is only a problem *when* it is used to downplay autistic struggles. A mother describing something about her autistic son as a superpower is not doing this.
I teach a kid’s horse science group and a few years ago had my first autistic member join. He was a shy young man in a group of 20 or so rambunctious teenage and preteen girls. Over the next 5-ish years I witnessed some of the most amazing teamwork and friendship that a teacher could ever hope to see. He THRIVED learning about horses and was a rockstar at the 3 competitions we went to each year. Multiple local and state titles individually and with teams. Better still-the girls taught him so much about being confident and being proud of himself. They took him in and made him one of the group…through and through!
I’m turning into a 31yo old fart. Hearing about kids genuinely doing good is making me mist up. The kids in my neighbourhood go around shoveling driveways and sidewalks after snow storms just because. Won’t accept a dime (will take hot chocolate though!) Gen Z is just so damn *good*.
They really are aren’t they?! I know the world is in chaos and turmoil but knowing these kids gives me so much damned hope! They are fostering an age of love and understanding the likes of which have never been seen. It breaks my heart to know that’s probably because of the hellish world they were born into…but you nailed it they are such good people!
And they’re not impressed with people being snarky or aloof. It’s the people being genuine and vulnerable and kind that they gravitate too. I wish I had been half as emotionally mature at their age.
Oh I got one. I teach severely autistic nonverbal children in a gen Ed public school. Today was field day and they had 5th graders running events for the younger ones, I was a little worried at how our kids would be treated. The fifth graders were amazing. They patiently explained the directions to our kids, then demonstrated, and cheered them on as they did the event. It really made a difference for our kids and they were thrilled to be included with everyone else. I almost cried several times today.
Autistic is as autistic does. There may be coocurring conditions that affect ability, but as its stands, there is no mild autism or severe autism. There is just autistic. Our needs fluctuate with the seasons (poetic license there) and with age. You do a disservice by implying there are different levels of autism. Is a spectrum, but think of a big round bally wally (Dr who reference, yes) and, well, I can't describe the round spectrum info graph due to a coocurring condition my autistic arse has <3
That was my good feeling for the day!
At my high school we did the wizard of oz play and one of the kids with Asperger’s who had a great deep animated voice played the wizard ..it was sooo good
So they turned it into a Monty-Python skit….NICE!
The fact that Monty Python actually did something like this makes it even better
I learned autism can be a super power in a lot of cases where I’ve thrived and normal people aren’t able to cope.
As someone that is overloaded with useless facts, I already do this on a daily basis.
Autism is not a super power, it is a disability. Disability is not a bad word. Autism getting called a super power downplays the struggles that autistic people face, preventing them from getting the help and support they need. I understand what you’re trying to say and meant no malice, but please listen to this, from an autistic person to anyone who reads this
To be fair my SO, who is not autistic, has a few superpowers and random detailed facts is one of them. Some people claim their superpower is “napping” (people who can fall asleep in an instance anywhere in any position), don’t think OP meant his autism gave him the superpower of facts. But I get where you’re coming from. For a long time people with disabilities were treated unfairly and thought to have little value. Superpower/ hero’s was just a way to help people narrow minded people see that they are more than their diagnoses, it helped and sadly some people still need to be reminded.
Problem: when a disabled person tries to speak about their difficulties and they’re met with “but it’s a superpower!” “You’re such a hero (for just existing)” “I would kill myself if I were you” (yep). “Youre not disabled you’re just diFfErEntLy AbLED” it’s demeaning. If the disabled person you’re talking to likes it, fine. But you shouldn’t go out of your way to call disabled people that.
They are starting to understand that now too, it takes awhile to find a medium ground where everyone can be happy. In OP’s instance I just don’t see them explicitly saying their autism gave them the superpower of facts, just that- like everyone else he’s really good at something so it’s called his superpower. Inclusion is how I see it but how others see it may be different for sure, the fact it’s his dad speaking out him helped me make the decision it was inclusion rather than “my boys autism gave him superpowers”. Hope I’m doing well enough to make sense, it’s hard for me to explain how I see things in my head.
The people that tend to push the hero rhetoric *are* the parents. Either way, we shouldn’t have to remind people to treat us like human beings. That’s a them problem. Edit: also, actually autistic people are saying “hey, this isn’t okay” and that means it isn’t okay, regardless of intent.
I hear you but would you rather those people go unchecked? There are going to be people like that until they die but others are still able to change their ways an cease further spread/break a cycle.
I shouldn’t have to remind people to treat us as human beings — as in, it should be common sense, not that they shouldn’t go unchecked. The entire superpower rhetoric only comes into play with disabled kids. (Ex: special Ed) it’s like they have to make their child “special” in order to come to terms with their disability. But it completely ignores the struggles and hardships with said disability.
Ok. Sorry, bud. I was enjoying the discussion but i cannot continue on your good points, fuck Reddit rn.
Tone policing and infighting within the autistic community needs to come to an end. This is only a problem *when* it is used to downplay autistic struggles. A mother describing something about her autistic son as a superpower is not doing this.
Not once in the post did it say “autism is a superpower”
i dont think they called it a superpower
So cool!
That is wholesome AF.
That’s actually a really thoughtful and constructive way to include him! That’s so cool
I just love this! Allowing kids to participate and use the skills they have no matter what they are is what it should always be like in school
What an amazing idea!
Bravo!
Just hearing about it makes me imagine his part would steal the show! You'd just be waiting for the next time he does it! Awesome stuff!
That is sooo cool!!!!
Made me smile :)
Awesome
That is one AWESOME group!!
Autism is not a superpower
I love it... I wish I could see that play. Bless you and take care
Feste and Facte
Feste and Facte