tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post3985917342557859590..comments2024-03-17T12:02:12.410-04:00Comments on Love That Max : Kids in a park were nice to a child with autism—but do they deserve to be called superheroes? Ellen Seidmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-32948716545057299222019-04-02T19:37:20.366-04:002019-04-02T19:37:20.366-04:00This is a very wise comment, thank you for having ...This is a very wise comment, thank you for having articulated this so eloquently. Typically developing children might not "naturally" be successful when interacting with a child with complex needs, especially with autistic traits. It is not enough for parents to teach their children to celebrate diversity. Neurological diversity can be so difficult to handle, as we parents know so well. We cannot assume that our children will be treated like any other child. They are not like any other child, they require knowledge, patience, and, yes, some level of generosity and selfness that cannot be expected from most kids. BTW: how many of us hang out with friends whom we treat as any other friend but who happen to be intellectually disabled adults? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-31537370592094703412019-04-02T12:21:55.337-04:002019-04-02T12:21:55.337-04:00Ellen I have been reading your blog for years and ...Ellen I have been reading your blog for years and appreciate your insight as a parent with a child a child with CP. I appreciate you're dedication. On the other hand this post screams "Look at me I am special" you post so,me great stuffb 80% of time you post great stuff! These posts are just not up to parMattes's Musingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00304075309088592046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-64587510178582613572019-04-01T20:02:01.972-04:002019-04-01T20:02:01.972-04:00You know why the news cycle did that.
It's Au...You know why the news cycle did that.<br /><br />It's Autism Acceptance Month.<br /><br />And a few years ago [2012 - I had thought it was 2015], I read about a five-year-old called Oscar who went to <i>his</i> skate park. It consisted of the boys next door building their own skate park and including him in their adventures - and basketball too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.essentialkids.com.au/development-advice/special-needs/finding-their-tribe-20120220-1tkf7" rel="nofollow">Ocar's skate park experience by Kim Berry of AllConsuming fame</a>Adelaide Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490123934889071074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-21448479703195426412019-04-01T12:05:44.235-04:002019-04-01T12:05:44.235-04:00Yes, tweeting about a kindness hat made you feel w...Yes, tweeting about a kindness hat made you feel welcome and happy is a celebration and its a celebration even if such acts of kindness are common (and sometimes they are). It isn't making the children superheroes, just acknowledging kindness. Where I saw the error in the story reported in the blog post is the police retweeting it as finding these children and treating them like superheroes. And, in aggrandizing the kindness because they were kind to a child with autism, rather than just a child younger than them, to whom they can offer support and knowledge. zbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-1953481194425637652019-04-01T10:49:24.160-04:002019-04-01T10:49:24.160-04:00I do agree that often these stories are blown out ...I do agree that often these stories are blown out of porportion. I think though we also need to recognize that it might take a lot more for other children to include a child with disabilities. Plenty of kids with autism are just socially awkward and do great with older kids. Other children can be very agressive, destructive, or extremely loud which are typically not behaviors preteens or teens have any clue how to handle. I've been there and been expected to know what to do because I was a "good kid" with a disability so it was presumed I automatically would know what to do with other disabled kids. I don't think it's entirely fair for parents to demand their children be treated like any other child. Kids with disabilities aren't just like any other child and saying they are is a false narrative built from shame of the disability and fear of discrimination. Kids with disabilities generally have the same wants and needs as any other kids and they should 100% be included but what it takes to include them can be much more involved and difficult than for a typically developing child. What I needed to be included as a kid wasn't what a child without disabilities needs. Treating me just like any other kid was not helpful at all. Children don't "happen" to have a disability. It's often a core part of who they are and it does shape their lives and how their needs are met. Disability is a part of life, it's not shameful, and I think the sentiment that we need to make it seem like disabled kids are no different will actually harm people with disabilities in the long run. Did those kids need to be called superheros? The word choice could have been better. But maybe the story will give other teens and preteens confidence to try and include others even when they aren't sure exactly what to do or are nervous. This is what we want to see in the world right? Then we need to praise the behaviors we want to see, we need to make those acts "cool". I think that's what the police were trying to do here. Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-88222353014496618342019-04-01T09:48:27.329-04:002019-04-01T09:48:27.329-04:00I get what you're saying, I truly do. It made ...I get what you're saying, I truly do. It made me reflect on a recent experience in my life. My 8yo son went to a local store that organizes gaming tournaments (he plays Magic) to play in one of their tournaments. He was the youngest kid there, and the least skilled player, but the older kids made him feel so included and special, even giving him some of their cards. He was glowing. I felt so thankful to the store and other players that I posted a thank you on FB on Saturday, tagging the store, saying "everyone is welcome to play at..." Which all would read a lot differently if my son had special needs (he's typically developing). But your post gave me pause: has the world really become so unfriendly and unkind that we all feel it's notable if someone goes out of their way to be kind?!? I think, maybe so...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-66891096151794959972019-04-01T08:58:08.704-04:002019-04-01T08:58:08.704-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582185250526797407noreply@blogger.com