Comments on: On “wasting precious money” on autism education

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 04:46:16 +0000

David, you are right though I think there’s other means besides reasons to educate, at least a bit.

By: David N. Andrews MEd (12-2006)

David N. Andrews MEd (12-2006) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 03:49:22 +0000

I’m not entirely sure if the person concerned is educable: I get the feeling that this person has no wish to alter that way of thinking, and would not be amenable to change.

Can’t reason someone out of a position they were intentionally stupid enough to put themselves into.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:30:59 +0000

We’ll keep working to educate “the author of the Neoseeker post” and others who hold such opinions to investigate “our side of the universe.”

As for what I could say about what Charlie “contributes” to society…..

By: mcewen

mcewen — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:00:39 +0000

I’m growing very fond of ‘useless’ and his/her many pals. It’s a pity more people don’t want to come over to our side of the universe and join our club, where everyone is welcome. http://whitterer-autism.blogspot.com

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:45:38 +0000

Interesting that his reply only reinforces his committment to put economics over humanity.

I wonder how different his opinion might be if his future child were one of the “useless” ones?

By: mcewen

mcewen — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:33:19 +0000

Thanks for attempting contact over the great divide.

By: mika

mika — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:29:34 +0000

I wrote this guy asking him what made him so angry and uncomfortable with this population.
and reminding him one head trauma could change his own abilities.In conflict I believe in dialogue. I am in NO way defending this guys thoughts. I still disagree with a lot of it.
This is what he wrote… Its the second page of his blog..my screen name is wmdisalie.

Suicidal Insanity
The Process of Education (No, not a rant thread)
§-Ugh, I knew that would be contradictory. When I say ‘mentally disables’, ‘autistic’, ‘failing’, etc, I mean that they are in such a position that they really don’t have a chance, that they are so deeply afflicted that there isn’t any hope. I want to stress the point that I don’t want to issue a blanket statement with ‘autistic’, but more of a ‘autistic people who fail at school and won’t amount to anything’ statement.
No, No I’m not ‘angry’. I’m just a bit surprised that, really, our schooling system is so very imperfect, and really is degenerating to a point of no return. If I have children, I want them to succeed and be well educated, and with the current progress of the school system, that may be no more than a dream.
Yes, people who have mental illnesses or autism can contribute. But I’m talking about the ones who can’t. Some may and some may not, but if they simply can’t to the extreme, there’s no point in educating a person who won’t learn. the uselessness I am talking about is the sort of uselessness where you are literally unable to contribute to society, or even do anything at all in any way possible that might be useful.

Yes, people have potential for greatness. But the fact that you struggled and tried to get good grades makes you a person who has that potential. I’m talking about the people who don’t care about school, the people who despise it and simply don’t care about their future. And those people just waste our money, because they literally just don’t know anything. And I mean, by that, the people who don’t care what their future will be like, what their future profession will be, etc.

By: mika

mika — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:06:43 +0000

I can’t believe this article…It also made me think of the Nazi’s argument.
When I struggled when I was in school.I bloomed once I got to college. Now I’m in college to become a Program Specialist ,Specialized in Autism.
I feel a sense of pride helping people help them selves.. Because in college there are people there to help me help myself..I feel its a chain that we can pass on to one another.This population with other diagnosed populations have a place in our community. We have work programs for Special Needs in my community.Those guys and gals work hard and contribute to our community as well as for themselves and their families. How are they being useless? And we need these guys and gals in our community. They enrich so many of our lives.
This person can become in what they see as a “usless” being with one bad head trauma.
We all have potential for greatness.

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:49:59 +0000

“Wasting precious money” and national resources was the Nazi’s same argument for euthenizing the disabled and ill. Neoseeker could be a neoNazi…

By: mcewen

mcewen — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:58:20 +0000

I believe it is common to fear what we do not understand. I fear I might be the one who is afraid to have confirmed how widespread such opinions are. Perhaps they aren’t widespread?