Some leaders hate autistic kids

Post Reply New Topic

As I have told before I am doing volunteer work with kids. Last week I was going on camp with a group of mentally handicapped kids, as one of the leaders of the group.. It is something I like and I seem to get along with them.

There were also other groups on the terrain, and one of them was a group with 'normal kids'. One of the kids was behaving off and when I observed him for a while he reminded me of myself. Not a stupid kid, enthusiastic, a bit clumsy and could be on the foreground when not needed (no feeling for situations). Later he played with some of our kids and seemed like a nice kid. Some time later I came to speak with one the leaders of that group. Officially the child was diagnosed with ADHD, but they thought it could also be PDD-NOS or something. But they were so negative about the kid and also about a few other non-NT kids they had. That leader had only a few weeks experience with them, how could they know a kid already.... With some effort and guidance that kid would be a real nice kid to have in a group.

A few days later I encountered some other people and they had similar opinions, while I think a leader should try to be there for all the kids... I have my favourites too, but to be so negative about someone.... And I had had my deal of similar kids and can be really annoying, but are nice and can really bond to you.

Then I had this thought about my past, how would teachers or camp leaders have talked about me? Would they have been that negative also? Are people THAT negative about non-NT people?

It is something that really gnawed on me last week. Am I the only one that tries to like them, because I am an Aspie myself? Can I read them better? And how would people see me nowadays, I can play an NT role and can compensate, but a good observer should notice my condition.

It's sympathy and antipathy I think.

It happens to regular people too, but I do have the impressions antipathyis more often directed at atypical people.

Very nasty. I think the antipathy stems from coming with with false explanations for someone's behaviour that's caused by a disorder that the person who doesn't like it doesn't understand.

I can't believe having sympathy and antipathy is normal and that people like it. I see lots of negatives.

People don't even notice usually when their voices change from one second to another and they are really rude and rough with one kid though he's done something really minor whereas in the next moment they have a pleasant positive voice again to someone else. It's unfair.

I prefer having no sympathy/antipathy, thanks. At least it means I'm free of some of the ridiculous everyday reactions to others but can be fair to everyone in those situations.

When I was going to day camp that was the early 1980's. I can only imagine what the counselors said about me

"hes like lion whit-out safari"

I just want to say that I love what Sora said about sympthy/antipathy. This seemingly ambivalence-laden pair is what characterizes most NT's, and I will use that in my thinking process and as I discuss NT's from now on. Way to go, Sora!

yeah something like that or worse... perhaps

Asterisp,
the first thing thought when read the post was....what are those people doing working as leaders if they've got problems with some groups?
carers-in any form,such as leaders cannot discriminate like that,they are there for the children and may come across some they find difficult or dont like-thats part of life,but they're paid [or not paid?] to look after them and should not be treating children differently or worse off because they can't cope with them,dont understand them or just don't like them.
Look at prison officers who work on death row,they're amongst some of the worst criminals alive but they still have to respect them,treat them as equals,and treat them humanely.

Are the leaders given any training on disabilities including autism/asd?
Have the parents given them any notes on what he's like,his needs,differences etc?

It sounds like this could be over ignorance,because they do not have enough knowledge of this child and his needs/differences/difficulties..
Am have had many support workers removed from working with am by home managers because they have no understanding of own Autism and high complex needs,even though they had autism training or experience,have to read through a big 'communication passport' and through archives of folders about am.
The problem with any ASD is that they're all difficult to understand for outsiders,but as leaders who are supposed to be there for all the children-they should be caring,tolerant and understanding,and that does not need training in autism to be those.

It's good that as an Aspie,have got a better understanding for others who may be on the spectrum,that will be a good thing for those children.

That was a bit of my thoughts also.


Most of them are unpaid. But still, they choose to be a leader.


That particular leader has a job in education and had an extensive education, also for this kind of children.


For some reason I understand the children of the spectrum better indeed, which is a bit strange because an NT-person should be able to read them better than I do. But I am glad to be there for them.