Ts for kids that advertise their autism?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-22-2007
Ts for kids that advertise their autism?
19
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 6:28pm
My son was just diagnosed with Pdd-nos. I have been perusing message boards and found one where a parent, in response to his child "acting out" in public (i.e. having autism and acting naturally), made up Tshirts that advertise the kid's autism. (I'm autistic--what's your excuse? ,etc.) He says it keeps people from being judgemental and helps them to understand his child's condition. Point well made. I too have been subject to eye rolling and silent judgement in response to my son's behavior and myself have been one of those parents quietly judging others parenting skills. As good of an idea as I think it is to make autism a well known condition and to educate people as much as possible about it, I just don't know if I would feel comfortable putting the shirt on my kid. Am I overreacting? I mean, I don't even want to tell my son when he grows up that he even got this diagnosis in case it makes him feel, well honestly I don't know how it would make him feel but I don't want to take the chance. I am proud of my son and applaud the parents who created the tshirts because they slap the faces of the people who judge without knowing your child's situation. Maybe we should just let the parents roll their eyes without putting our kid's on display. Anyone agree? Disagree? I would like to hear some feedback in case I am totally off.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 4:31pm

There is one really cute T I had considered. I am like you, if it is cute and they wanted to then I likely would. But not as an advertisement.

But the one had a picture of a boy in a tree. He was sawing a branch but it was the one he happened to be sitting on. It said "Autism, every day is an adventure". Gotta admit. I really thought about getting that one. Mostly because it totally CRACKED Caiti up and she really wanted it. I just never got around to it.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 8:37pm

DH had (he gained weight) a shirt which said "I love someone with Autism"


I thought that struck a good balance

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-16-2006
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 9:05pm

Now see I'd love something like that for my DH. he'd love it too. He sometimes has to vist schools as part of his job so he went to an elementary school and the children who were in the separated class were bought in and one of the people turned to him and said these are our special children! and my husband said Oh - and the man said yes, autisma (he was in Spain at the time) - do you know autisma? My husband smiled back at him and said Oh yes, I KNOW autisma! He said the principal didn't appear to consider them a 'problem' in any way, just their special children.

Imagine if our kids got that kind of love from the administration.....hmmm he wants some vintage tees...maybe I'll look for that one too

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 9:18pm

That was my bumper sticker on my last car "I love someone with autism". It was a really nice one our local ASA gave out with memberships a few years back. However, that car died. Now I just have the generic awareness ribbon . But I keep looking for a nice "Love someone" sticker. I am not a fan of the generic ones. One with a bit more too it would be cool.

Maybe some artsy mom here could make some stuff and put it on cafepress?

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 10:09pm

ding, ding, ding! Renee said it perfectly! (I need one of those blinkies too Evelyn, of course I'm too cheap to pay for the membership to use it, but I'll pretend!).

I tell people we know about Weston's autism. We explain to anyone that will have to work with him what quirks they need to know about. We make sure the teachers at school understand and that they present information to the classes so they are more understanding. I do lots of continuing education to keep up on the latest both at conferences and through a support group.

I don't have any autism awareness stuff. Dh doesn't do car things and I'm not a person to have a pin or anything, for me that's a great idea, but that's as far as it goes.

I wouldn't do a tshirt becasue I don't like shirts to have words on them unless it's a sports team I support.

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-23-2007 - 11:09pm

Renee - This response has absolutely nothing to do with the op, but I had to laugh when you said you would write stuff about your kids being blue or whatever. I had "Transforming the pit into a palace" as my away message on Yahoo IM, and my friend Allison changed hers to "Same as Robin". So I changed mine to say that I was "Dancing naked". I don't know how long it took her to figure out that I changed mine, but several hours later, I looked at hers, and it said "NOT dancing naked."


lol.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 02-24-2007 - 12:04am
ROFLMBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Sat, 02-24-2007 - 1:41am

I agree with that one Paula, what if WE wore t-shirts that said I love someone with Autism, or something similar? Not the kids. Then we wouldn't have to label our kids, advertise our kids, or make them feel like there is something wrong with them, because we all know there isn't.

Its the rest of society that has the hang up.

If we put something similar, on a t-shirt for us, that would spread the word, and at the same time not point out our children. It could be anyone, our brother, our sister, our parent, our friend.

I like that idea.

I used to like the t-shirts they make for kids, but something about it made me feel abit weird. I'm so glad I read this thread, as it has really defined how I feel about my kids wearing these shirts.

I would get my own like that above in a hot second tho.

Lainie

And P.S. Renee, that shirt you mentioned with the boy in a tree was actually really cute lol.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Sat, 02-24-2007 - 1:48am
And I also want to say I am not ashamed of them having autism, but I think it might make them feel a bit uncomfortable at this age. If they were teens wanting to do something like this, then hey so be it. But not at the age of 10 and 7...

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