Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 4:01pm.
As the mother of 25 year old son with autism, I have personally experienced the battle (I mean that literally not figuratively!)of having people label my son as mentally disabled. I think it was easier for the people who were responsible for his education in public school to lable him rather than accept that he percieved things differently therefore needed things explained in a different fashion because they did not understand that he learned in a different fashion. Now at 25 he is an encyclopedia of information which he loves to share, manages his own finances, is politically active and loves to travel. We do have to deal with behavior issues that are stimulated by noises. We keep a supply of earplugs on hand and the Ipod is our friend! I am glad we took it upon ourselves to give our child every opportunity to excell in all that he could. I tell the parents of other children, don't let someone else tell you what your child can or cannot do. Let them grow and encourage them in all things.
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people with autism being labled as "mentally disabled"
As the mother of 25 year old son with autism, I have personally experienced the battle (I mean that literally not figuratively!)of having people label my son as mentally disabled. I think it was easier for the people who were responsible for his education in public school to lable him rather than accept that he percieved things differently therefore needed things explained in a different fashion because they did not understand that he learned in a different fashion. Now at 25 he is an encyclopedia of information which he loves to share, manages his own finances, is politically active and loves to travel. We do have to deal with behavior issues that are stimulated by noises. We keep a supply of earplugs on hand and the Ipod is our friend! I am glad we took it upon ourselves to give our child every opportunity to excell in all that he could. I tell the parents of other children, don't let someone else tell you what your child can or cannot do. Let them grow and encourage them in all things.