Comments on: ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ – An Autism Story by ‘Heather’ http://conditionalpublications.com/2013/06/27/the-kids-arent-alright-an-autism-story-by-heather/ The Home for Writers with Neurological Conditions Sat, 22 Aug 2020 21:16:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.28 By: Vrinda Pendred http://conditionalpublications.com/2013/06/27/the-kids-arent-alright-an-autism-story-by-heather/comment-page-1/#comment-2146 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 11:07:32 +0000 http://conditionalpublications.com/?p=1815#comment-2146 Thank you for sharing, as well, April! The thing is: I understand about not wanting to label children. We haven’t told our son about any potential diagnosis. We’ve simply told him that all people find different things difficult or easy and there are LOTS of other kids out there who find the same things difficult that he does, just as there are lots of kids who can’t do the things he finds easy – and for the things he finds harder, we can find ways to make them easier for him. No labels necessary. BUT…I think you probably need those labels for the school, for the teachers. Because sadly, while some teachers are amazing and treat all children as individuals with their unique strengths and challenges, many others brand your child as ‘difficult’ or ‘naughty’ unless you hand them a medically sealed piece of paper giving an explanation for why your child has those challenges.

So I don’t believe in labeling our kids…but I do think when you are faced with that sort of teacher, the doctors need to consider that and give those labels, where relevant, even if you never choose to share them with your child until he’s old enough to handle it. Some day, when our son is old enough, we will tell him he probably has ADHD, but we are going to say that it’s only a fancy label for the things he’s found difficult growing up and it doesn’t change anything about who he is; he can use it to explain to people who demand such explanations, but he shouldn’t think it reflects on anything about him as a human being, because he is still the great person he always has been.

]]> By: April http://conditionalpublications.com/2013/06/27/the-kids-arent-alright-an-autism-story-by-heather/comment-page-1/#comment-2145 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 07:13:26 +0000 http://conditionalpublications.com/?p=1815#comment-2145 Thank you for sharing your story Heather and same to the editor as I have had numerous struggles similar to those expressed in your writings. The only differences are that I am still trying to get doctors to finish RE-Evaluation appts for autism and/or additional nero/psychological issues that continue with one of my 12 yr old twin boys. He has multiple conditions however they have been reluctant to (in their words) Label him and have also refused to do ANY sort of brain imaging or scans despite many clear indicators that if it isn’t autism with co conditions then there is something going on with his brain due to circumstances that would warrant brain damage. Anyway this is a continuing struggle and the teachers and kids have nearly destroyed my sons spirit. I am now homeschooling him and hoping for the best.

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