By showing how ignorant they are and embarassing the fool out of them! (If it is possible- some people seem to have a LOT of FOOL in them!) It should be fairly easy to embarrass a 16 yr old, except of course when you are hurting for your own child (they don't have a sympahty face on here- so just imagine one).
"Well, look at this! John doesn't seem to know what Autism is. Let's explain it to him, Howie." And then you proceed to make the 16 yr old feel 6.
Sorry, I'm feeling rather cruel today, but it does work, although your sister may never speak to you again.
I was in Atlanta airport trying to take my 13 yr old (apserger) son and 7 yr old daughter to catch their flight to Mississippi. My 2 yr old had fallen asleep. He wieghs 25 lbs, and they won'd tlet you roll the stroller thru the checkpoint, it has to be folded and go thru the machine, so I'm carrying the deadwieght 2 yr old. (My husband is @ work) Michael is in one of his "autistic days" as I call them - totally oblivious - this seems to happen at the airport - too much stimulation. A COUPLE is behind me with a child about Seth's age. I am trying to get Michael & Jordan to get their shoes and backpacks, get the stroller, get my shoes, keep Seth on my shoulder and retrieve my purse. The woman behind me goes, "Could you hurry up?"
I said, "I'm sorry, I'm having a little trouble here, the baby's asleep and I'm trying to get all this stuff."
Woman: "Well my kid's asleep, too. And she weighs 26 lbs so I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry it up!
Me; "Well mine weighs 25, so I'd say we're about even!" - the 1st statement was polite and apologetic, this one was NOT!
Woman:"Well why don't you get you boy there to help you, he looks big enough!"
ME: "Because my son is autistic, and I'm lucky he's not wandering off in the airport by himself! Why don't you get your HUSBAND to help you? He looks plenty big enough to me?!?"
By this time all the passengers AND the guards are staring at us. I have 3 kids by myself, 1 is a toddler asleep and they now know 1 is autistic. SHE and her HUSBAND have 1 sleeping child between the 2 of them. Guess who got the sympathy? <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> The husband looked like he wanted to
dissappear !
So, while embarrassment is NOT pretty, it does work. <img src="/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />
BTW I'll be gone for a couple of weeks, y'all try not to miss me too much! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Hopefully I'll be in a much better mood when I get back. (Deepest apologies to anifsj - I'm not usually this bad, promise!)
