What is your response?

MrsBalletStar05

When someone asks about DC?  Does it depend on the phrase?  What if they ask, "What is wrong with him/her?"  How do you respond to other, similar questions?

 

I have yet to encounter this.  Now that DS#2 is 2 years old and is VERY large for his age, I assume people will stop writing off his behavior as a baby and that be thinking this. 

ARJ11

People are naturally curious, so I don't take it personally unless they are a jerk about it (and I've only had 1 person ever act that way). I just say something along the lines of "Nothing is wrong with him, he was just born with ABS". Little kids are usually the ones who ask the questions and I say pretty much the same thing. I try and be as open as possible to show my son that his condition is nothing to hide or be ashamed of! 

ToastieSimons

Personally, I HATE the phrase "What is wrong with...".  Simply, because it's hurtful.  Just because my child is different, doesnt' mean something is "wrong" with him.  however, I don't think that most people say it with the intent to be hurtful and that we're more sensitive.  I usually respond with "Nothing is wrong with him.  His DNA is different that others but that's exactly how God made him".  

In an ideal society I wish people would see our children for how they are alike to other children, not how they're different.  But, we're bred for individuality. We like what sets us aside from the majority and that applies to NT and atypical.  

I think special needs are a scary subject for a lot of people.  When people see us we look so "normal" so we beg the question, "if it happened to them, it could happen to us".