OliveOilMom
I have some missing posts.
When people who aren't familiar with autism hear the word "autistic" they immediately think of a low functioning child. This is because when you see an autistic person on TV or in a movie, they are usually low functioning and usually a child. It's usually a plot device not meant to harm and it's factual many times because there are many low functioning children with autism, but it does create a link in people's minds between autism and low functioning. While there have recently been more characters on television with AS, and awareness of AS is spreading, AS characters usually have a good bit of problems from the AS and they are never portrayed as a normal person with a normal life and their AS is just part of the character. Because of this and the lack of many AS people publicly admitting their diagnosis, most people don't know that there are many of us who are functioning and contributing members of society. Until people learn that autism doesn't always mean that a person can't ever work or live on their own, people will still make assumptions about it.
I think that those of us who are able to do something to get the word out about the milder end of the spectrum should step up and work to educate the public about it. We can't really sit back and complain about people's opinions of autism if we aren't doing anything to educate them and change opinions, so what are some ideas of what could be done?
I think a tv ad campaign would be good, but that would be expensive and need backers. Something along the lines of a 15 second slideshow type spot showing ordinary people doing ordinary everyday things, each looking at the camera and saying "I have autism" ending with a black screen and the name and web address of an organization with information about AS.
An AS walk, with literature to pass out about AS and possibly other information there as well, but limiting it to AS.
Some sort of website about people with AS who are contributing members of society. I have no idea how this could be set up or what would be on it.
Getting the media to profile local professional people with AS during autism awareness month. Again, I don't know details of it yet, just an overview of the idea.
I know there are more things that could be done and need to be done, but right now I'm just looking for ideas.
I might write a few pieces for our local paper here for autism awareness month, and possibly see about submitting other pieces to some other papers in my state, but I need to sit down and give it some thought. I'm not sure exactly what I'd write about, but I'm considering trying to interview some professional people with it, and people like me who don't work but it's by choice and not because we can't - we contribute to society in other ways besides working outside the home.
What are some things ya'll can think of that might help educate the public?
The lady at Autism Speaks said they are looking at doing some education about adults with autism and also about adults with AS who work and live independently etc, but I think we should do something to.
Ideas and suggestions please?
I think that those of us who are able to do something to get the word out about the milder end of the spectrum should step up and work to educate the public about it. We can't really sit back and complain about people's opinions of autism if we aren't doing anything to educate them and change opinions, so what are some ideas of what could be done?
I think a tv ad campaign would be good, but that would be expensive and need backers. Something along the lines of a 15 second slideshow type spot showing ordinary people doing ordinary everyday things, each looking at the camera and saying "I have autism" ending with a black screen and the name and web address of an organization with information about AS.
An AS walk, with literature to pass out about AS and possibly other information there as well, but limiting it to AS.
Some sort of website about people with AS who are contributing members of society. I have no idea how this could be set up or what would be on it.
Getting the media to profile local professional people with AS during autism awareness month. Again, I don't know details of it yet, just an overview of the idea.
I know there are more things that could be done and need to be done, but right now I'm just looking for ideas.
I might write a few pieces for our local paper here for autism awareness month, and possibly see about submitting other pieces to some other papers in my state, but I need to sit down and give it some thought. I'm not sure exactly what I'd write about, but I'm considering trying to interview some professional people with it, and people like me who don't work but it's by choice and not because we can't - we contribute to society in other ways besides working outside the home.
What are some things ya'll can think of that might help educate the public?
The lady at Autism Speaks said they are looking at doing some education about adults with autism and also about adults with AS who work and live independently etc, but I think we should do something to.
Ideas and suggestions please?