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

[AJKMOM]

If you think someone might "disapprove" of how your kid acts in public, and it's because they don't understand about special needs, just wear a t-shirt or something about the special needs. I have t-shirts that are from an Autism Awareness walk I participate in every year, and when I wear it I never get a second look.

I had to take my autistic son to my daughters college orientation, and he got very bored very quickly. He got really loud, especially when I asked him to stop talking for 5 minutes. I stood up to leave and EVERYONE (about 400 people) turned around to see the kid with the loud voice who was disrupting the entire program. Well, there was "Walk to Promote Autism Awareness" plastered all over my size 40 bustline and no further look was necessary. I have the shirts and take them with me on vacation.

I did, however, threaten to leave DS behind at Ohio State to go to college with his sister, and ended up crying outside.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you think someone might "disapprove" of how your kid acts in public, and it's because they don't understand about special needs, just wear a t-shirt or something about the special needs. I have t-shirts that are from an Autism Awareness walk I participate in every year, and when I wear it I never get a second look.

good idea, especially for those with invisible disabilities

 

[BionicEar]

A t-shirt sounds like a wonderful idea! I'm thinking an "I love someone with Autism" shirt would be super as well.

That's one thing I love about having my cochlear implant. It's visible. One time I was in the handicapped area waiting to go into a show/attraction, and I got the rudest, dirtiest look from another guest. That look of, "Why the heck are YOU in the handicapped line - you don't look handicapped!"

Well. Enter in my wicked sense of humor. I don't let them bother me. I turn the tables.

I usually have my transmitter (held to my head by a magnet) hidden under my long hair. Even when it's up in a ponytail. When I saw that *look*, my hair was in a ponytail. I just gave my dh that knowing glance we have, pulled off my speech processor and pretended to adjust the settings on it in full view of the rude guest. Then I plopped it back on my head on top of the ponytail, with the magnet/transmitting coil in full view.

The look on the rude guest's face was priceless. After my dh told the (said loud enough for her to hear) CM that I needed the use of the reflective captioning, her face turned deep red.

Gotta love karma. And I love having a magnet in my head. It can come in handy sometimes. Unless you're going through airport security. Then it's a real PITA. I'll just have to get used to being thorougly searched for the rest of my life, huh?

My motto is never judge a book by its cover.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't recall where I first read about this site, but http://www.nopityshirts.com/ "The best disability-related and
motivational stuff in the galaxy!"

 

[bumpysheep]

I'm an adult with Autism and we get looks all the time. At Disney or when taking public transport it's much easier if I wear an Autism tee. Sometimes I wear an Autreat tee, but I have a few that I really like to wear (because it's very comfortable) that say:

yes i have autism. no, i'm not like Rainman

Autism
it's not like you think.

people with autism think in pictures. imagine that.


People are better behaved when I'm wearing them.

 

[Schmeck]

bumpysheep, I love those sayings! Of course, I read your last statement about people behaving, and my mind registered it as another t-shirt saying! Silly me!

My DD15 and I wear t-shirts with sayings all the time. I think many people are uncomfortable wearing ones that point out a disability, but it's great that some people are not and are willing to help educate the unknowing masses.

Of course, my favorite t-shirt has Stitch on it, with 'cranky when provoked'. Someone asked me if I was cranky at WDW once - and I had forgotten I was wearing the shirt, LOL!

 

[OKWMom]

I'm an adult with Autism and we get looks all the time. At Disney or when taking public transport it's much easier if I wear an Autism tee. Sometimes I wear an Autreat tee, but I have a few that I really like to wear (because it's very comfortable) that say:

yes i have autism. no, i'm not like Rainman

Autism
it's not like you think.

people with autism think in pictures. imagine that.


People are better behaved when I'm wearing them.

I would love to get some T-shirts for my non-verbal DD. Can you tell me where I might find some good ones?

TIA

 

[bumpysheep]

Well the Autreat ones, you can only get at Autreat. But if you go to cafepress.com and search the word autism or nonverbal some will come up. You can also make you own on cafepress. I have not tried that yet.

 

[graygables]

This thread gave me a repeat giggle from a Monk episode DH and I just watched. No, it really isn't funny, but the way the guy said it...it was pointed out that he parked in a handicap spot and he walked by and said, "Yeah, I'm psychotic".

OK, in real life, I'd be major ticked off, but it was just so unexpected! DH said he wished he could pull one like that whenever we get stares/looks b/c we are in the "fast" (yeah right) line.

I haven't gotten past the psychological battering I took from a public school about not "labeling" my child, so t-shirts are a hard one for me. A few years ago, I printed up some business-sized cards that had a brief summary and a website for autism awareness that I just handed people when I caught the rude remarks. We had some printed with "thank you" on the other side for DD to give people who were kind to her, but to whom she couldn't speak.

 

[dreamsofdisney]

bumpysheep--> Thanks for sharing your story!

I am the parent of a wonderful, sometimes challenging, thirteen-year-old who also happens to have H-F Autism/Asperger Syndrome. When he was younger and we'd visit WDW we'd both wear Autism Awareness shirts. Now that he's a teen, he's VERY self conscious about it, and does not want anyone to know that he has Autism. Of course, I've always tried to focus on the ABILITY and not the "dis," but it's a tough age for him and he just wishes he could "blend." He knows that he often needs the use of his GAC to help him make it through the day without a major meltdown, but gets very upset if we need to explain to the CM at the attractions why we have the GAC. Back at home, if attempt to leave the house wearing one of my Autism Speaks or Autism walk shirts, he freaks out and refuses to leave the house with me. So...although the idea is a wonderful one, it isn't a choice for our family at the time. But I would suggest it to other families. Increasing awareness is always a good thing!
(See my post from earlier this month:http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1149642 or here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1149644

Magical vacations for all! We leave tomorrow!!!

 

[bumpysheep]

bumpysheep, I love those sayings! Of course, I read your last statement about people behaving, and my mind registered it as another t-shirt saying! Silly me!

My DD15 and I wear t-shirts with sayings all the time. I think many people are uncomfortable wearing ones that point out a disability, but it's great that some people are not and are willing to help educate the unknowing masses.

Of course, my favorite t-shirt has Stitch on it, with 'cranky when provoked'. Someone asked me if I was cranky at WDW once - and I had forgotten I was wearing the shirt, LOL!

I want one of those stitch t-shirts! I most cranky when provoked! Did you get it at the Disney Store? Last week we got a tie dye Narnia tee on sale, that has no tags (I LOVE that Disney is now doing to tag tees) and is very lightweght and comfortable. It has Aslan on the front, and I just love it. I have worn it almost every day since we have bought it.

I have a grumpy tee that I wear at Disney a lot too.

 

[Schmeck]

I got the cranky t-shirt last year at the Disney Store. I don't think they are sold anymore, although with the release of Leroy and Stitch, maybe they'll be back?

Northern Sun as a website that has every kind of t-shirt, bumper sticker, etc, that you can imagine, and if they don't have it, they take suggestions! I love my 'speak your mind even if your voice shakes' one, but I need to get it again in a larger size

The special ed teacher I hope (and pray) to work with next year ordered a bunch of stuff from it - my favorite was something about attitude being the greatest disability? I know that's not the right sounding paraphrase, though!

OK - edited to add, I just scanned their website and found nothing related to autism, or the word disability... I'll try to find out where she got the cool stuff!

 

[OKWMom]

Well the Autreat ones, you can only get at Autreat. But if you go to cafepress.com and search the word autism or nonverbal some will come up. You can also make you own on cafepress. I have not tried that yet.

Thank you for the info.

 

[lalapodip]

My autistic DS (11) loves to wear his yellow autism awareness ribbon shirt. He does not care what his shirts say, so we're still okay there. I usually wear my Autism Speaks or Cure Autism Now hats when we are out, especially at the grocery store, which can be a challenge.

When my DS was much younger, I bought a shirt for him that said "THE FACE OF AUTISM" - it really made a difference. However, I sometimes also feel that it's not fair to point out that he has a disability....but overall for me, the ability to spread the word about autism simply by wearing a shirt or a hat wins out.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

When my DS was much younger, I bought a shirt for him that said "THE FACE OF AUTISM" - it really made a difference. However, I sometimes also feel that it's not fair to point out that he has a disability....but overall for me, the ability to spread the word about autism simply by wearing a shirt or a hat wins out.

Oh my gosh! That is just wrong, IMO. Your child is an individual, no need to make him a poster child.

 

[BionicEar]

Oh my gosh! That is just wrong, IMO. Your child is an individual, no need to make him a poster child.

And what's wrong with that? Don't berate the mother for taking advantage of an opportunity to teach the public about a very misunderstood disorder.

I was proud to have been a poster child for hearing-impaired children when I was a kid. I proved that hearing-impaired kids CAN speak better than hearing kids, and we're smart, not dumb.

 

[SueM in MN]

And what's wrong with that? Don't berate the mother for taking advantage of an opportunity to teach the public about a very misunderstood disorder.

I was proud to have been a poster child for hearing-impaired children when I was a kid. I proved that hearing-impaired kids CAN speak better than hearing kids, and we're smart, not dumb.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

One of the things I've noticed on this thread is that some of the people wearing the shirts are the people with the disABILITY in question (so it is their choice to wear or not wear the shirt.

The parents of kids with disabilities who have posted here have also written that they took their child's feelings into account (and that some of their children refused to wear the shirts/wore them before, but choose not to now).

 

[LindsayDunn228]

It is just my opinion and I was the child, and now an adult, with a disability. If my mother had stuck a "This is the face of paraplegia" on me as a child, I would have been humiliated.

 

[3kidsmommy]

I think a big difference is whether or not the child has the mental capacity to understand the shirt, etc. My son would not have a clue WHAT was on his shirt. I would never put anything nasty on him, but putting a shirt on that says "Know Autism. Know me." allows people who otherwise might think he is just a spoiled rotten brat to instead reach out and lend a hand to me if need be. Additionally, my husband loves to wear shirts pertaining to his cognitive loss, memory issues, mobility issues related to MS...it makes people THINK before they run their mouths. Not only that, it allows him to maintain a much needed sense of humor regarding his disability.

 

[lalapodip]

When my DS was a little older, he also had the "Know Autism. Know Me." shirt. And he makes a very handsome poster child for autism. I look forward to the day, if ever, when my son understands and can make the choice for himself.