Your child can't be autistic because ...

[IDrinkaRum]

Bah - I crack my knuckles too. My mom is always saying I'm going to get arthiritis. (Hasn't that been debunked like a kabillion years ago? )

I get the feeling sometimes that my ears twitch up to a point on top and the lobes get a little longer. I don't have an animal "other" in me. I think I'm part fae. It's been interesting that since I've been married to Mr. Rum, that part has buried itself deep within and is just now starting to break free again.

[IDrinkaRum]

Question ...

At Cafepress.com, there are loads of autism t-shirts, mugs, caps, buttons, etc., etc. I can get dealing with Autism and stuff. There are a few shirts that say "I'm not spoiled, rude, hyper, I'm autistic" and other things that explains that the wearer of said shirt is autistic. There are other shirts for adults/parents that read "I <3 my daughter/son/nephew/etc."

Which would be better to buy or should I not buy any? I like to put it out there I have an autistic daughter and I love her and yes, she might be a handful and meltdown because I'm not going to let her play the crane game that is near the check outs at the local K-Mart (not that that happened today or anything ), but it'll give the people pause to understand (just a little) about her.

[MaggieTheCat]

At Cafepress.com, there are loads of autism t-shirts, mugs, caps, buttons, etc., etc. I can get dealing with Autism and stuff. There are a few shirts that say "I'm not spoiled, rude, hyper, I'm autistic" and other things that explains that the wearer of said shirt is autistic. There are other shirts for adults/parents that read "I <3 my daughter/son/nephew/etc."

That sounds like a good idea, but I have to wonder (this is sad, I know) how many people without autism get those shirts and then act like a jerk when they wear them?

[IDrinkaRum]

I don't know ... I feel sometimes like I have to carry around the official letter from her old developmental pediatrician who diagnosed her with autism so people will believe me. Isn't that sad too?

[violetyoshi]

I don't know ... I feel sometimes like I have to carry around the official letter from her old developmental pediatrician who diagnosed her with autism so people will believe me. Isn't that sad too?

I don't really know anymore. People really can be blind to any situation that is not their own. Maybe, you should consider, what it's like for people who have a child who is visibly noticeable as having Autism. The looks and comments they must get. So, it could be worse.

[Dreamstalker]

I never started walking on the balls of my feet until I found out I had a wolf "other"...after that it just seemed more natural to do so (I have yet to master that art when carrying a cup of coffee...probably better for all concerned that I don't ). I found especially when running crew that I was slightly quicker on my feet that way...although I never even considered trying it when I was up in the catwalk. That had a possibility of ending badly.

I have to wonder (this is sad, I know) how many people without autism get those shirts and then act like a jerk when they wear them?

That's what I was thinking too...when TShirtHell was still running they had a few similar shirts. I can't help but wonder how many people bought them solely to justify their acting like an ass.

[violetyoshi]

Are you talking about the Autism Rocks shirts?

[AdminAssistant]

I found especially when running crew that I was slightly quicker on my feet that way...although I never even considered trying it when I was up in the catwalk. That had a possibility of ending badly.

No offense, DS, but I can't believe your crew chief or stage manager didn't tell you to knock that shit off. I would've. Balance and safety trump speed backstage.

[Dreamstalker]

That was grade-school. HS and college were a lot more disciplined and I wouldn't dare do anything dumb...well, nothing past the usual post-strike craziness.

The few injuries I sustained in my stage career tended to be general stupidity (somebody ignoring the fact that I was working at floor level and kicking an unsecured 2x4 which then hit me in the head, for example).

[AdminAssistant]

The few injuries I sustained in my stage career tended to be general stupidity (somebody ignoring the fact that I was working at floor level and kicking an unsecured 2x4 which then hit me in the head, for example).

Uh, yeah, I was eventually consigned to costume/prop strike only in undergrad. Not because of stupidity, but because I am a complete and total clutz. Had a platform fall on my head (nearly went to the ER for that one), nearly had a wall fall on me, alongside other cuts, scrapes, etc.

Yet another reason to love dramaturgy. No strikes.

ETA: My most recent escapade in stage managing, I walked off the stage. Not fell, walked. Only the ghost lights were on, so it was still pretty dark and walked right off the damn stage and fell 5 feet. *sigh*

[BroomJockey]

ETA: My most recent escapade in stage managing, I walked off the stage. Not fell, walked. Only the ghost lights were on, so it was still pretty dark and walked right off the damn stage and fell 5 feet. *sigh*

I know it's terrible, and you could have been really hurt, but since you weren't (and I'm glad you weren't), that's really funny.

And in full disclosure, I'm 95% sure that not only would I have done it too, I've probably done something similar.

[AdminAssistant]

I know it's terrible, and you could have been really hurt, but since you weren't (and I'm glad you weren't), that's really funny.

Oh, trust me, after I licked my wounds - I hurt for a good 3 days over that one and got a very nasty scrape on one arm/elbow, yay scars! - I had a damn good laugh at myself. I was really happy that there wasn't anybody else in the theatre to see it.

[IDrinkaRum]

Are you talking about the Autism Rocks shirts?

Either those or I found one that reads: "I'm not spoiled, rude, or hyper, I'm autistic" and "Autistic Princess".

[Dreamstalker]

Uh, yeah, I was eventually consigned to costume/prop strike only in undergrad.

The ex--this is in the college theater dept--was banished to painting duty (I recall the TD's exact words: "If I see you driving anything more complex than a paintbrush for the rest of the year, you're out.") after a few incidents--one involving the table saw From what I heard, nobody actually got hurt, but he tried to be "helpful" by pulling the wood through from the side--that could have gotten ugly. Before that he stapled my shoe to a flat, and there was an incident with the genie lift that according to all accounts involved him trying to use it to transport counterweights (Bad Idea).

Worst thing I did in high school was almost give myself a concussion on the catwalk (there was an a/c duct cutting across the catwalk so one had to crawl under, I somehow forgot it was there while I was under the damn thing)

[violetyoshi]

Either those or I found one that reads: "I'm not spoiled, rude, or hyper, I'm autistic" and "Autistic Princess".

Autistic Princess sounds cute. I mean, I don't know if I'm missing something insinuated by the shirt, like if it's sarcastic somehow, without seeing it.