Can a person with autism become a high school art teacher?
I know every individual with autism is different, and I know their characteristics can be varied from severe to mild. I also know the term 'Aspe' or 'Aspergers' isn't used anymore, so it's all just called 'Autism' which can be frustrating to some because it doesn't do much to describe overall behavior. Anyway, I'm sure that people with mild autism can become teachers if they work on it, but I'm asking about people with more severe traits. In a few articles I've read, they say that they can overcome or cope with uncomfortable situations by finding techniques depending on the situation. As they use these techniques while they grow and expand themselves, they can be fine independent adults with need for little help, if possible. So, that's why I was wondering if it's possible, and if it is, what are some challenges on getting that job? Discrimination? Peer bullying? Teaching subjects (I'm basically asking about art, but other subjects can apply)? Would people with a mild case have to hide it? The reason I'm asking is because I was just curious, and I might write about it in the future. I have been reading a manga called 'With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child' by Keiko Tobe which was the spur of my inspiration. It's a lot clearer to me than reading articles about autism, and reading interviews of parents and their daily life with their autistic children. I'm on volume 6 and I love the series so far, can hardly wait for the next one, and it's too bad that she couldn't finish the series before she passed. I don't dislike or hate autistic people, and I know it can't be 'cured' because it's genetic. The tendencies and 'odd' behavior cannot be helped. After reading the manga, and then going back and reading old articles where psychologists and doctors have described it as a sickness with symptoms, it just doesn't seem right to me. I don't really know a 'safe' way of saying it besides 'autistic,' it's the same with a blind or deaf person to me, so if I offend anyone, I apologize, I didn't mean to do that. I just wanted to ask.
An autistic boy has moved next to me in class. He cheats off of all my work and tests. He also grabs my wrists and punches me to get my attention and gets offended when I ask him to stop. How should I tell my teacher that I would like to move seats?
I got bullied sometimes in school (not by autistic kids) and I was a shy “I don’t want to cause a fuss” type. This worked against me. Looking back, I wish I had just taken care of things and said “I won’t take this s@@t any more.” Such as not going to a gym class where I was harassed a lot. I just felt there was nothing I could do after I talked to a teacher and she basically did nothing. For some reason she said you can be excused from gym a few days. Great, but then I came back and it was worse than ever. I just took it, all year. I think there is something about bullying at that age that makes some people just shut down, especially if you are the sensitive type.Don’t say another word to the boy. It seems pointless. This may be controversial, but I would tell the teacher (privately, not in front of other kids) exactly what is happening and say (very calmly) “I can’t sit next to a boy who does these things any more. He cheats off of me. He is hurting me. Please back me up on this.” Then, don’t. What can she do? I hope she will have good sense enough to help. She probably will. That is probably what will happen. If, not, don’t get upset. Just keep saying “I can’t sit next to this boy any more.” Then what can she do? Send you to the principal? Then you can tell him or her. Send you home? Then your family will be able to step in. I would not put up with this one more day.You have more power than you think. This is what I would tell myself as a kid if I could go back. Good luck.
What should I do if I’m asked to room with an autistic kid on a school trip? I was asked, but I said no because I just did not want to babysit her for four days in Washington. Now she’s telling people that I’m a bully.
Well, sweetheart, you asked. If you said to ANYONE in front of the girl, OR IF she was informed that you said “no” because you “did not want to babysit” your peer due to her being Autistic, that is hurtful and inexcusable, and CAN be perceived as a form of bullying!! Obviously this autistic person is not your friend or part of your social network. Likely she doesn’t have any friends…a fact in a majority of people with autism, and that was another slap in her face.Who asked you to babysit??? There is a huge difference in sharing a room with someone and babysitting them. More than likely, you don’t want her to get the wrong idea that u and she are friends, and maybe she’d try to hang out with you outside the hotel room, and that makes you uncomfortable because then other people will assume you are friends and start talking crap about you too. Because I know they already talked about her, maybe you even joined in.Does this make you feel bad? How do you think your autistic classmate must feel….times ( how many people are in your class/school?? Let’s say 100, though I know that number is low). So feel bad about yourself X 100 and see how that feels.This girl is Autistic. NOT HER FAULT. Treating her badly? 100% your fault, however.Autistic people don’t need to be “babysat”. They need love and compassion and friendship, just like you do. Maybe you should rethink your position and actually do something nice. If she ends up needing a “babysitter”…well, that’s what chaperones are for.Laura Miceli, mother to one HELL of an AWESOME son with Autism, former class trip chaperone…
I had a meeting with a teacher and she had my profile and I saw that it said that I had autism. No one has ever told me that I have autism. Can they diagnose me without ever telling me I'm autistic?
It’s possible for an expert to do that without it being obvious.Most of the symptoms of autism are fairly obvious…and in some people, it can be diagnosed when they are maybe around 5 years old. So if you were formally diagnosed, you might not even remember it.I do find it rather surprising that this never came up in conversation before though.That said - I didn’t know I had the condition until I was 45 years old. When I called my sister to tell her the news - she said “Oh - you only just realised? It was obvious to the rest of the family since you were in high school.”So I guess it is possible for nobody around you to feel the need to say it - and it’s CERTAINLY not obvious to the people who actually have it.There are many (fairly good) online tests you can take:Take the Asperger's TestAutism Spectrum QuotientAspergers Test for Children and Adults with INSTANT Online Score!As mental and physical disabilities go - this is probably one of the least terrible - and it can even have it’s upsides…so you shouldn’t feel too awful about this.If you want to talk more about it - you can send me a personal message via Quora.
Is it me or are some paraprofessionals (not special ed teachers) abusive?
By the way, I'm autistic. Which explains why most paraprofessional are like brutal corrupt police officers. If it were up to me, I'd viciously kick their asses so hard they would come back to work for a year! And most of them, I'm not surprised are either Republicans (like Paul was especially if it's a man); or in the other case, Democrat (women, in this case; especially those Tipper Gore kinds always telling your wrong). Next time I have a para that's abusive, I'm gonna kick their ***, I swear, and **** them up!
How would you react if your autistic daughter (18) told you that a teacher mocked her condition in front of the class and made everyone laugh?
I would call the teacher and ask if you can meet with him/her in person. Go in looking for information, not revenge. I can not stress this enough. If you are not satisfied with the results of that meeting, you can certainly take a different course of action after that meeting. But you need to hear what the teacher has to say first.It’s entirely possible that the class laughed at something entirely different or laughed at something that was not at all intended to be funny. I am not disputing what your daughter told you, simply wondering if her perception of events was not accurate. Maybe it was right on, or maybe things were misunderstood. That’s why you need more information.
I think my teacher knows I like him?
Okay, it's been a really awkward day, but let me give you a bit of insight: So I go to a school for autistic people, and I have a crush on my teacher, which is awkward in itself because that's the most annoying type of crush you can get, and my two best friends know I like him, and they're making it really obvious I like him. Like, today me and one of my friends were watching videos with him and one of the TA's, and we were all poking jokes at each other, and then my friend said "Oh god I really want to tell him!" so to avoid her from saying anything else, I put my hand over her mouth and jokingly put my arm around her neck as if to strangle her. Anyway, he looked at the TA as if they knew something I didn't. I feel like it's so obvious I like him, and it's so annoying if he knows. I was blushing furiously afterwards. I hate it. Of course, nothing changed, I mean, he still acts the same around me. But I still feel annoyed, angry, sad, immensely embarrassed. In fact I feel quite sick even thinking about that moment. I know it's really stupid and that nothing will ever happen between us, I mean, he's a teacher, I'm a student, and I'm fine with that. I know it's just a stupid crush that will in time go away, but I hate it. I hate that my friend basically blurted out my feelings for him, even though I would never do that to her, and I hate that I'll feel awkward as hell around him now. TLDR: My best friend said something really obvious that shows I have a crush on my teacher, and now I feel really awkward. Can anyone help me feel better or give me advice? It sucks to have a crush on a teacher who's ten years older than you. :(
Do children with autism lose eye contact or are they born unable to maintain eye contact?
I am, at most, a very high functioning person near the autism spectrum. I have one son very similar to me that fell just short of aspergers diagnosis before that distinction was eliminated from the DSM and one son that is solidly on the spectrum and low functioning enough that he will likely be dependent on a guardian his whole life.All three of us struggle with eye contact- a lot. But, at 52, and after watching and raising both sons, I have a sense of how to explain the experience to neurotypical people.It is not an inability to maintain eye contact. I can absolutely stare into your eyes, but only if I intentionally think about doing so.Most babies seem to instinctively gaze into faces and make eye contact. After about the first year, my sons didn’t really do that. In school, teachers had to constantly remind them to do so.When I was in grade school, I was merely laughed at for staring straight up when speaking to the class. I didn’t realize I was even doing it.During routine conversation, I did “train” myself not to look straight up. But I look down or to the side, which is taught as a way to spot dishonest people (ugh). I’m largely uncomfortable making normal eye contact while talking. It feels very similar to standing in my underwear in front of people. I understand intellectually that that isn’t how it is taken, but I’ve never shaken the feeling.TLDR- they are not unable to maintain eye contact, but they do not naturally want to the way most other people do. It can be very uncomfortable, though I don’t know that everyone on the spectrum has as much discomfort as I do or my sons do.