It's Not a Good Idea to Make Fun of Autistic People

This is really bothering me, people still don't understand about Autistic people. Last night, I received a message from the Administrator of the Autism Awareness Facebook group explaining that she has to shut down the Autism Awareness Site because there have been people posting negative comments about Autistic people on its wall and she cannot control it.

I couldn't believe it. An Autism site has to shut down because Autism Haters (who probably don't understand autistic people and only focus on the negative stereotypes we display) are being mean? That is like a victory to these anti-autistic people. We can't let these jerks win!

It's like in the Movie, "the Hangover" where they called the character from "Rain Man" with High Functioning Autism a retard. This is exactly the reason why I started the Autism Awareness Club at Utica College at this point last year. To Spread Autism Awareness and lecture to people what Autism really means and how it affects their family and friends.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: For those who are in college or younger, it's very possible and realistic for you to have children who are autistic. It's random. It doesn't matter whether or not you smoked or drank alcohol when you were pregnant, it makes no difference. For those who make fun of Autistic people because of their symptoms or ignorance or whatever, it would be karma if it turns out you had a child who will be diagnosed with Autism. It would teach you a lesson.

One of my biggest regrets occurred in an incident last February 28th. I was walking downstairs in Strebel and noticed these ladies who were standing there. As I walked past them one asked the other "Hey, would you like to join the Autism Awareness Club?" The other responded "Hell No! Hell 'F'n' No!" I stormed to the nearest exit as they were laughing at me. I should have stood up for Autism but instead I ran away. They always stare and laugh at me when I walk around but I usually ignore them. In that instance though, when they were more direct, I should have defended Autism but I didn't set a good example and allowed those ignorant people to get the last laugh.

People, you have to understand: When you make fun of Autistic People, it's like making fun of another race or gender. It's basically the same thing. As of right now, no one knows the cause for Autism. There is no cure. Some people on web-sites claim that they can cure your Autistic Child. In reality, they can't. Years back a priest did a ceremony to try and get "evil demons" out of an autistic child. Because Autistic people at a young age are usually prone to tantrums and bad behavior, the Priest and the child's mother thought there were "demons" in him. The Autistic Child ended up being accidentally suffocated under the blankets. *Shakes My Head*

Scientists thought that mothers were to blame for a child becoming Autistic back in the 40, 50's, 60's. Scientists believed that mothers didn't give their child "enough love and attention" so they became autistic. These mothers were classified as "Refrigerator Moms." That phrase is the worst thing to call a mother of an autistic child. Obviously that was proven wrong. It's a strong possibility the child is born with Autism. We don't know for sure.

Strike 1 Scientists

Scientists also had a theory that a child becomes autistic because the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. I knew this claim was B.S from the start. My mother never drank while she was pregnant with Nicky or myself. In fact, Spring Semester of my Freshman Year, a scientist came to Utica College and explained her theory as to why alcohol. What was the explanation? If you give a mother mouse alcohol, the baby mice bang their heads into walls and act differently.

..........THAT DOESN"T MEAN THE MICE ARE AUTISTIC!!

It could mean that the mice are drunk!! It could also mean that the mice have the alcohol disability that humans have when their mothers drink while pregnant.

Strike 2 Scientists

Luckily scientists have officially ruled out alcohol as a cause for Autism but at the same time, it's time for a Public Service Announcement from the Autistic Sports Nerd: Don't do drugs, even though it doesn't cause Autism.

The fact that scientists haven't found a cause for Autism yet: Strike 3 Scientists, you're out!

Man, it's like religion and science, who are both rivals to each other, both screw up when it comes to Autism.

The Nostalgia Critic, from thatguywiththeglasses.com, is a video Internet entertainer as he reviews old movies we watched growing up. I'm a fan of his because Nostalgia is a huge interest of mine. He made a joke about autistic kids during his "Ernest Saves Christmas" review. I wrote a personal E-mail to Doug Walker who portrays the Nostalgia Critic character complaining about the joke and showed him my Autism Blog to get a better understanding of what autism really is.

He wrote back to me the next morning and apologized to me. He said that he was thinking whether or not to put the joke in the video and decided to do so but thanks to my e-mail, he regretted it. He said the joke was stupid and will take it out of the video. He then said he usually stands by his humor and that this was the first time in his series that he took a joke out of a video. He replaced it with a recycled joke used in a previous video.

In fact, Doug has a girlfriend who works with Autistic Children and know a few autistic people himself, he told me. I wrote back and forgave him, and thanked him. I geek-ed out that he wrote back to me, especially since it involved Autism Awareness.

Listen, I don't want a cure for Autism. I'm happy with the way I am and I am proud of my brother. Plus, the Autistic Sports Nerd, Mr. Autism Awareness, and Team Autism wouldn't exist if there was a cure.

I also respect my friend Nick Bonacci, Christopher my men-tee, all of the Autistic Children I have worked and currently work with, and every other autistic individual I have ever met.

Autism Awareness Forever!!