tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post6698730479178140895..comments2023-04-03T08:37:43.220-07:00Comments on The Quixotic Autistic: We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that (s)he is someone today. ~Stacia TauscherLeah Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16798094383285526940noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-5123967340394239242010-07-18T11:58:32.118-07:002010-07-18T11:58:32.118-07:00Such an interesting discussion --and so poignant. ...Such an interesting discussion --and so poignant. I don't know anyone who is working in retail (I teach reading / ESE) but I've given plenty of times at the register to causes I feel are important. I never considered the perspective of the person who is forced to ask for these donations. Yuck. Donations at the register are out for me.<br /><br />Corporate types see these drives as a way to show they care -- without costing them a dime. I hate to be the cynical one -- but with the charitable concerns flowing down from above, complaining to a manager might be fruitless.<br /><br />As a NT mom of a spectrum kid, cure-mania has me in a constant state of readiness as soon as someone mentions the "A" word. A good educator friend recommends the Jenny McCarthy book or asks me what I feed my kid? Repeated practice has me explaining slowing and calmly why those are such dangerous foolishness. Inside, though, I'm screaming "I can't believe you are so fucking ignorant!" If you aren't such a good friend, or if it is a bad day, the words, "fucking ignorant" may just come out in my well-used explanation.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042410048844898836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-43743051249716632562010-07-13T13:02:21.971-07:002010-07-13T13:02:21.971-07:00It's a craft store local to my area, so I pref...It's a craft store local to my area, so I prefer not to name it as it would cut away a bit at my anonymity.<br /><br />I definitely sympathize with her position, being stuck asking people to support a charity she now knows really stinks. I'm a bit of a hothead, which is why I'd probably have the inadvisable argument with my boss.<br /><br />~KaliAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-48302570764234609142010-07-12T17:08:13.929-07:002010-07-12T17:08:13.929-07:00Lorrible- Thank you. I'm glad to have you as a...Lorrible- Thank you. I'm glad to have you as a reader. <br /><br />Kali- Would that store happen to be Toys R Us? They, along with Lindt Chocolate, are the biggest mainstream supporters of Autism Speaks that I've been made aware of, and I've sent letters to CEOs of both companies asking for them to reconsider their support. I never got any reply. <br />As someone who works in retail, I sympathize with that checkout clerk. I am in a similar morally vulnerable situation, being someone who works for a company that designs and sells an e-reader that is inaccessible to people who are visually impaired or blind. I want to quit, and I have the privilege of doing so since I am in university and this is a temporary job for me. She is correct, you have to keep asking about these special promos, you get in trouble with your manager if you don't do it.Leah Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798094383285526940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-53005896392962254662010-07-12T15:51:59.702-07:002010-07-12T15:51:59.702-07:00The autism advocacy groups have often horrified me...The autism advocacy groups have often horrified me. One of them - I think Autism Speaks - was doing a fundraiser with a store I frequent, where they ask people to donate as they're making their purchases. I was so irritated that I said I would never donate to THEM in such a tone that the checker asked me why. I explained the way they treat people who have autism, and the fact that they don't seem to want to listen to people who live with autism about what would improve their lives, and the way they completely ignore and silence adults with autism.<br /><br />I took heart that once she heard what they were doing, she was appalled too! Unfortunately, they were required to keep asking customers, so she wasn't allowed to stop. Frankly, if it was me, I'd've told my boss what those people get up to and seen if they'd let me stop. I'm not sure what I would have done if they said no, 'cause I can sure understand needing to make a living.<br /><br />~KaliAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533947979514229971.post-74384786497593440092010-06-25T17:45:09.721-07:002010-06-25T17:45:09.721-07:00Thank you for this. This entry is a great reminder...Thank you for this. This entry is a great reminder to look at people as just that, people, not pawns. The idea of children as bargaining chips rings very true for me; I'm often suprised at how little of a voice children are given in general. Your writing helped me see how much more so this right to a voice of their own autistic and non-neurotypical children have taken away from them, in many cases. I'm glad your parents helped you grow and learn the way they did.PerfectlySkewedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500455912556467444noreply@blogger.com