I've a son "on the spectrum" and no, I don't think people with Asperger's or Autism are retarded.
That said, look at Carly Fleischmann. Many people would regard her as "retarded" (ugh - that word really makes me shudder), especially before she started using aids to counter her lack of speech. Heck, with the stiming etc - there are probably people out there who STILL regard her as mentally defective.
Or take Cerebral Palsy. Most sufferers of CP are mentally unaffected, yet as soon as people see a wheelchair or a walking frame, immediately they are labeled as "retarded".
Or what about ALS sufferers? Steven Hawking "looks" like a "vegetable", but is one of the most brilliant minds in the world today.
While your experiences are sad, even typical of those on the Autism Spectrum who fought their way through the education system 20 years ago, the fact that you now "hate retards" is appalling. I would have thought the experience would have left you with a little more compassion, in spite of the fact that your condition makes empathy a difficult thing to comprehend.
I don't like the word retarded either, it was used against me often back in school as an insult.
I view people of what you described mentally challenged, although I'm not talking about the people like Steven Hawking, he is extremely intelligent. The people I had to interact with were incredibly child like, couldn't make proper decisions for themselves, had violent tantrums if they couldn't get something like ice cream and would then proceed to scream and attack anyone nearby, etc.
I'm not saying everyone in a wheelchair or someone with mental difficulties is like that though, it's just those people I described above that make me uncomfortable being around them.
Hate might of been a too strong of word, I wouldn't or approve of people insulting them or making fun of them or anything like that, I just don't want to interact or be anywhere near them if that makes sense.
IIN most people think Aspergers/Autism people are retarded?
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I've a son "on the spectrum" and no, I don't think people with Asperger's or Autism are retarded.
That said, look at Carly Fleischmann. Many people would regard her as "retarded" (ugh - that word really makes me shudder), especially before she started using aids to counter her lack of speech. Heck, with the stiming etc - there are probably people out there who STILL regard her as mentally defective.
Or take Cerebral Palsy. Most sufferers of CP are mentally unaffected, yet as soon as people see a wheelchair or a walking frame, immediately they are labeled as "retarded".
Or what about ALS sufferers? Steven Hawking "looks" like a "vegetable", but is one of the most brilliant minds in the world today.
While your experiences are sad, even typical of those on the Autism Spectrum who fought their way through the education system 20 years ago, the fact that you now "hate retards" is appalling. I would have thought the experience would have left you with a little more compassion, in spite of the fact that your condition makes empathy a difficult thing to comprehend.
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I don't like the word retarded either, it was used against me often back in school as an insult.
I view people of what you described mentally challenged, although I'm not talking about the people like Steven Hawking, he is extremely intelligent. The people I had to interact with were incredibly child like, couldn't make proper decisions for themselves, had violent tantrums if they couldn't get something like ice cream and would then proceed to scream and attack anyone nearby, etc.
I'm not saying everyone in a wheelchair or someone with mental difficulties is like that though, it's just those people I described above that make me uncomfortable being around them.
Hate might of been a too strong of word, I wouldn't or approve of people insulting them or making fun of them or anything like that, I just don't want to interact or be anywhere near them if that makes sense.