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I've had a bit of a problem with my school lately, and I thought I should vent while at the same time warning others.

For those of you who don't know, I have Asperger's Syndrome which is a high functioning form of Autism. This means while I am mostly a normal person, I have problems with social skills and executive functioning. Recently, though I have started to have greater problems with my school which does not recognize my Autism diagnosis. Basically, it is because of this that they have denied giving me the help I need as an Autistic student. Due to this lack of bevolence on the part of my school for the past four years, I have slowly sunk into depression and I have started to have panic attacks in school. Because of my condition I am taking three medications: Welboutrin, Abilify, and Lorazepam.

Now, on to the culmination of my problems. This year, in fact today at exactly 12:00, I am supposed to be departing for Greece on a school trip with my Latin classmates; however, because I have Asperger's Syndrome and I am depressed, the school administrators are banning me from the trip even though I have already paid over $3000 to go. My school principal and vice principal have refused me the right to go on the trip because they believe I will be unstable even though I have been under medication for several years. What their actions have culminated into is disability discrimination which is sooooo illegal I can't even begin to describe to you how horrible I'm feeling.

My message is this: DO NOT EVER DISCRIMINATE SOMEONE ON THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES.

I have been held back in my pursuits in my high school for four years now and I hope to fight for my rights and the rights of other Autistic students in my school system.

Next year, despite my school's efforts, I will be able to go on to one of the best colleges in the United States and have a fresh start with my education. My hope is to become a biomedical engineer in order to help cure diseases such as Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy, and even AIDS.

So please remember always to keep an open mind when dealing with people who are not exactly like you, you never know who they might turn out to be

Discrimination really is a horrible thing, I really feel for you. Isn't there someone you can take your case to and complain?

On the other hand, huge congratulations for getting into the college you're going to and not letting these people hold you back.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Isn't there someone you can take your case to and complain?

We're sending a letter to the school superintendent who has a much more educated view on problems like mine. Hopefully I'll be able to get my money back and an apology from the principal and vice principal.

If I don't, I think lawyers might come into the picture .

well good luck to you

monker59 wrote:For those of you who don't know, I have Asperger's Syndrome

Me too, incidentally (diagnosed back in 1989). But I've never taken any kind of medication, nor did I ever experience any kind of discrimination from teachers (I did experience teachers who could be inflexible or lacking in common sense, but not actually discriminatory).

School trips suck, and I would have liked to have not gone on the miserable things. However, our school trips never went anywhere near Greece.

I'm really sorry about that Monker, and hope that getting your money back is the very least that happens. Amazing how ignorant some people can be

I am actually most concerned that you are given medication for having Asperger's. Do you think that the medicine "help" you? If I was you I would ask for a second opinion. The schools attitude is outrageous unless you have a history of being "unstable" in which case it probably caused by the medicine.

I have know people with Asperger's but to my knowledge they did not take any medicine.

Also be aware that high functional autism often is used as diagnose of just being different and very bright. Bill Gates, Einstein and lot of other top flyer's had (have) - some type of high functional autism. So you are in good company!

As far as I know - god forbid - no one ever suggested Bill Gates should take medicine for "his condition". Sorry to hear you are surrounded by so many idiots.

Please keep us updated....

I can relate to the first part of your message, I have dyspraxia and had renal failure at school and never felt like I got the support I needed, plus with that and moving to a new area I had trouble making friends.
Discrimination is wrong since people with mental health problems or disabilities are often highly intelligent people
if you want to do something you should go for it and don't listen to anybody who says otherwise, the world is full of people who try to tell you you can't do this or that

monker59 wrote:My message is this: DO NOT EVER DISCRIMINATE SOMEONE ON THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES.

Here here!

One of my friends is paralysed from the chest down, another is severely autistic.

See the person, not the disability.

Good luck with your persuit for equality.

It's funny, I've grown up all my life with my mum who is a full time wheel chair user but it wasn't till I was in a wheel chair myself for a little while when I smashed my ankle that I truely understood (felt) discrimination from shop staff in particulr when they couldn't see the reason for me being in a wheel chair.

It's usually just ignorance though and people are often afraid as well which is just silly really

Soren Riis wrote:I am actually most concerned that you are given medication for having Asperger's. Do you think that the medicine "helps" you?

Part of my Asperger's diagnosis is that I can have big mood swings and the Abilify helps stabilize me. The Welboutrin is what I take for my depression and the Lorazepam stops my panic attacks. I've been on the Abilify for several years and the other two for about six months.

Thanks for the support, everyone. I'll let you know what happens.

Firstly, you need to get a serious advocate on your side and if you're in the States I'll go so far as to contact the local chapter of the ACLU and share with them all the gory details (they love this sort of thing... especially when the people in the seat of authority seem to be talking out of either side of their buttocks).

I have dealt with very dangerous anxiety-depression issues for much of my life which is compounded by a small cornucopia of physical health issues. I'm more than familiar with the bias that can be experienced, the most recent one I'm dealing with are the handful of folks who don't understand the idea of "Limited Mobility" i.e. why I can stand and walk short distances but also use a wheelchair... people don't understand that MS, at least in the stage I'm in, can flare up and then go years without creating more problems (which is why it is called "Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis").

My second issue is that if the school isn't going to let you go, why did they accept your money in the first place? Why didn't they address this prior to departure time?

That's non-professional and highly unethical in that their argument of concern centers on your depression issues and yet, their actions (almost premeditative it seems) are of the sort that would deliberately create an anxious & depressed state in a person... between you and me, I'd say you need to talk to a good lawyer and hang them with a nice big law suit due to their cruelty in this manner. I'd also shoot for two separate suits; one with the school board and then another towards the individual(s) that suddenly put this road block in your way AFTER allowing you to pay the money and get your hopes up. I'd sue for that SOB's job in that he/she is unfit when it comes to monitoring young people and seeing to their NEEDS in a positive, supportive PROFESSIONAL manner.

The real issue here is NONE OF THESE TEACHERS are clinically trained when it comes to calling the shots and I have high doubts that they would have pulled in a legitimate expert to look at your situation prior to making this decision.

Sorry, but this story irritates the hell out of me. Seen far too much of this kind of KRAP over the years.

I have a friend I went to college with who has cerebal pausy. Because of her slow speech and coordination problems, people often treat her like a child. She also uses a wheelchair.

On the first day of the college term she took a taxi, then a bus, then finally caught the provided coach to get to the college. When we arrived she was told there was NO assistant there for her and there wouldnt be one for at least 2 weeks so she would have to sit in the library or canteen for the day. Then she would have to go home with us and wait until the college rang her before she would start lessons later in the term. I was really furious with them and pointed out how was she she supposed to manage for the day when she cant get herself a drink or even go to the toilet by herself. She cant even push herself in the wheelchair!

Myself and another friend (Nick) decided to help her out for the 2 weeks so she could still attend the lessons and wouldnt get behind in her studies. When she finally started getting assistance (4 weeks later!), most of the 'helpers' she had during this time were excellent. A few of them agreed to help her to try activities that the college had banned her from doing on health and safety grounds because they knew how determined she was. A few of these attended her 21st birthday , even after she had graduated from the college

Im still in touch with her now and shes one of the best friends Ive ever had. Its a shame people discriminate sometimes. A year ago, myself and the same friend, Nick, decided to go to Pizzahut for a meal. Donna decided she wanted to get out of her wheelchair and sit beside us on the 'sofa' type seating. She stood herself up and was slowly getting heself int the right position so she could sit straight down. A Pizzahut worker stood for about 30 seconds waiting to get past her (and bearing in mind the wheelchair was in plain view) then he suddenly shoved his way past her and caused her to fall

Im also get fed up of people asking what she wants to drink when we are in a pub. If they have lowered counters for wheelchair users why do they assume such people are incapable of ordering a drink???

You are likely to be protected by the human rights act of 1998 and with a good brief, you can fight this and win compensation...the school is totally out of order!!! Check the Children's Legal Centre, a non-profit legal organisation....and PM me for more details...

Todd

I don't think the important thing here is to see the person instead of the disability, I think the important thing here is to see the person. Just the person.

Whilst at primary school I was bullied terribly - for the way I looked mostly.
Whilst at secondary school I was bullied terribly - for the way I dressed mostly.
The inevtiable depression that came with years of bullying was met with, you guessed it... more bullying!

Personally, I think I did and do have every right to feel victimised in this situation, even without a disability to speak of.
None of this would have happened if people could just drop all prejudices (including disabilities of course) and just get to know people on a personal level before making a judgement.

Yes there may be some hypocrisy in this, but prejudices I have are either objective viewpoints based on personal experience (eg that a chav is more likely to start a fight with me than a goth - ergo I will steer clear of chavs although not exclude them as possible friends) or things which I was regrettably bought up to believe.
And of the ones I was bought up to believe, I will act on NONE of them, because I don't know the person that the prejudice applies to.

See past everything except the fact that every person you see is a living, breathing, feeling human being - and make your judgements on the person they are, rather than any other factors.