One tip to avoid "those" looks....

[dzorn]

I did not get around to making all the shirts I wanted for our last trip. I was going to make

"I love my daughter with autism for me and DH
I love my niece with autism
I love my sister with autism
and I love someone with autism. ME! for DD

I think its important to spread awareness. I see nothing wrong with that. Emma has several shirts from NAA. She has a disability which is nothing to be ashamed of.

Denise

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I am not ashamed of my disability in any way. It's something I have to deal with every day. I just don't feel the need to advertise what it is, let alone in Disney World. I am disabled as a result of someone's drinking and driving and I have spoken about the subject in the past. But I feel wearing a t-shirt about it constantly is a bit over the top, IMO.

By all means, dress yourself and your kids in whatever you feel is appropriate. It's not wrong for someone to have a different opinion about the subject.

 

[kathyk2]

I think sometimes you need to make your disability visable and wearing a t-shirt does that. I use crutches so when I'm out in public it is unnecessary to call attention to my disability. A former collegue of mine has Tourette's Syndrome and she used to carry information with her so that people would understand some of her vocal tics. I can image that someone might believe that a deaf person was being rude by not responding to them when in reality they just couldn't hear them.

 

[SueM in MN]

I can image that someone might believe that a deaf person was being rude by not responding to them when in reality they just couldn't hear them.

A number of years ago a person who was deaf was beaten in Minneapolis for just that reason. He was on a bus with some gang members who thought he was a member of a rival gang. When he didn't respond, they got angry. When he tried to sign to them, they thought he was flashing rival gang signs at them; they ganged up on him; beat him and left him for dead.

 

[PrettyInTink]

Although I do not have a disability, I feel very strongly about how disabled people are treated. I think people focus too much on the DISABILITY and not enough on the ABILITY. I personally am outraged when I see people giving THE LOOK to people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities. I see it at WDW all the time. I make it a point to look at people wiith obvious disabilities and give them a warm smile. I have noticed that alot of people look away like the person is not even there. I guess my understanding of what ignorance does to people stems from my bf in high school having a brother with Downs Syndrome. He was the sweetest most compassionate person I have ever met and I remember him crying whenever people made fun of him. I am very sorry that people have to go through this especially at disney. I notice alot of small kids laughing and giggling when they should'nt. Parents really should teach their children not to make fun of anyone. I think the t-shirts are a great idea btw.