“The Amazing Race” Welcomes A Contestant With Asperger’s Syndrome

writergirl
wrote on September 23 2009 @ 04:19 pm: [report]

My cousin has aspergers and he has also been diagnosed as a savant as well.  From what I understand, often times the two go hand in hand….So it is very possible you will be getting your wish.

Ginger
wrote on September 23 2009 @ 05:03 pm: [report]

There may be a problem with putting someone with a more recognizable disorder on tv just because shows might be accused of exploiting them for ratings. I wouldn’t put it past a lot of networks to do that. But if someone did do it in a way that said ‘this is a person with a disability. Look! They do awesome stuff too! And stupid reality tv challenges. But that only shows that they are just like everyone else’ without a ‘So watch OUR program’ tagged at the end it would be so great.

And how have people with Tourette’s not been on tv more? I know not all of them blurt out swear words, but you would think that shows like Big Brother would try to find those that do.

Perceptible
wrote on September 23 2009 @ 06:13 pm: [report]

Awareness for the Autism Spectrum is especially important right now because it is increasing at an alarming rate. Not the same thing with other similar “disorders.” (BTW, it’s a neurological disorder, not a psychological disorder.)

As the mother of a wonderful 7 year old boy with Autism, I am grateful for the attention in the media. I hope that my son finds more and more acceptance in society, especially as he gets older and becomes more aware that he is a bit different.

Jill
wrote on September 23 2009 @ 08:56 pm: [report]

I feel so happy to see Asperger’s finally getting the attention it is.  My little brother has Aspergers and it breaks my heart to see people treating him badly because since he doesn’t have an apparent disorder (like a wheelchair or down syndrome) they just assume he’s the “weird kid.”  It’s about time people become aware that Asperger’s is real and that n oone should just assume that person is “weird.”

Jitterbugs232
wrote on September 23 2009 @ 09:14 pm: [report]

I honestly think this is great, I am taking a special education class now and I think it is important that more people become aware of people with special needs, because they are people too. Hopefully, we will start seeing more of this out in the world!

I Go To 11
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 06:10 am: [report]

My high school boyfriend was diagnosed with Asperger’s a few years ago…looking back at some of his behaviors, it makes a lot of sense. Kudos to “The Amazing Race” shining some light on a disease not many people are familiar with (and as Ginger said above, hopefully it’s not done in a “look how great we are at exploiting an illness for ratings!” way.)

JenniferRly
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 09:31 am: [report]

My mom has Asperger’s, and is certainly not a milder case.  While I can understand why it’s great and enlightened and such to put people with similar neurological disorders on TV, I can’t help but feel that it is an exploitation, and also a really unfair portrayal. My mom asked me why she can’t function like those beloved reality charmers with her same disorder… Tell me that’s not heartbreaking.

Although some may want to see more, it looks to me like a combo of putting people in a zoo and minimizing the pain of living with mental illness.

Jessica Goldberg
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 10:34 am: [report]

That’s a really good point, JenniferRly. Researching this article has given me a lot to think about, but I think reading the comments about it helps me even more.

Frederica Bimble
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 12:35 pm: [report]

I welcome the exposure as well. I have Aspergers and my younger years were spent either (a) being bullied by the other kids, teased or avoided and (b) being told I am “harsh” because of my directness. 
I often let people know - like at work - but usually they have no idea about the condition. 
When I go home at night, no one phones me.  I have been on dates in the past but most men have a hard time with the fact that I don’t “fit into a pre-conceived idea”  or “the box.” 
I like:  Science fiction movies and stupid comedies like Dumb and Dumber and Kingpin and Joe Dirt.
I read comics geared towards boys when I was a teenager.

My brain is really “big” and sometimes I wonder why in the world do I have it because I haven’t put it to much good use.  I get irritated with the stupidity of others and when I was a child, I would blow my top if someone displayed ignorance or dumb behaviour.  Now, that I am grown and mature, I have learned to adapt to the behaviour of others but sometimes a situation will come up that I don’t know how to deal with and my voice will raise and I will tear the person off a strip.  Many men have said they were “scared” of me. 

I walk around in my day-to-day life with a script or a bag of tools in my head that I have to refer to when I approach situations or people.  For example, if someone says, “Good morning, how was your weekend?”  I’ve learned to say “fine” because that is what people do but if I don’t have a running chant in my head saying:  “Remember to ask about their day/weekend”  “Remember to ask about theirs” then I will only answer their question and usually just walk away.  It’s not because I’m rude, it is just because it wouldn’t occur to me to ask them unless I reminded myself over and over. 
Also, I have a hard time with “teasing.”  I look very young for my age and sometimes people will try to patronise me and I get frustrated with that - especially when I am usually more intelligent than the person who is doing the teasing. 

Yep, it can be hard-work sometimes “adapting” to fit in with neurotypical people.  When it comes to men - I don’t know HOW to “dumb down” in such a way that any will want to hang around.  I can’t pretend I don’t know how to work on my car engine or that I haven’t jumped out of airplanes in the Army or that I’d enjoy spending my days fitting their stereotypes of a woman.

I think positive though and I KNOW there will be a man out there for me.  I don’t get why things have to be so complicated with all of that.

Frederica Bimble
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 12:39 pm: [report]

Also, it’s another reason why I don’t reply to rebuttals to my comments on here or any site anymore - there are alot of stupid people on here and other sites who are looking for somewhere to put their anger.
Who wants to waste time convincing people like that things you know to be true by experience or knowledge from other sources.

clearbluesky
wrote on September 25 2009 @ 03:53 am: [report]

@ Frederica: I hardly think it’s valid to assume people are stupid because either a. they think differently or have a different opinion than you or b. you don’t understand them. I highly doubt that the people who post on these sites are as “stupid” as you think.
Feel free not to answer to this, because I’m sure you’d have to dumb down your response to my level.

And you know what *really* makes me angry? Using *anything* as an excuse for looking down on others. Even if it’s Aspergers.

I’ll put my anger right here, thank you.

casakira
wrote on October 5 2009 @ 06:24 pm: [report]

I have never watched the amazing race and I don’t watch reality shows, but I might watch that one…