THERE ARE MANY MORE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN THAN JUST AUTISTIC KIDS. SO WHY ARE 90% OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, SPECIAL-NEEDS-THINGEES DIRECTED TOWARDS AUTISTIC CHILDREN? WHY IS MENTALLY HANDICAPPED STILL SHROUDED IN SHAME?
Ok. I feel better.
Please understand, I am not saying that autism isn't important or a concern for parents. I know it is. But I get so tired of trying to find things for my mentally handicapped children and all I can find are things designed for autism. Or books about autism. Or websites about autism. Or resources for autism.
I get that autism research is relatively new and we are learning so much about it. I also understand that there are so many children labeled with autism. I get that big money is being directed towards autism. I get it.
But what about kids with plain-old low IQ? What about kids with plain-old gross motor and fine motor issues? What about plain-old kids with speech problems.
Maybe I'm jealous that there isn't much help for me. Maybe I'm jealous because insurance won't pay for extra therapies like they would if I had autism. Maybe I'm jealous because there aren't support groups for me. Or respite care. Or money poured into how to teach my kids better.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying autism is easy, I just wish there was more for my kids.
So the second part of my rant is the whole shame surrounding mental handicapped people. Maybe shame isn't the right word... but it seems so much harder to deal with/accept/know how to interact with people who have a low IQ. It's not contagious.
And one more thing while I'm at... where is the support group for people like me... my kids have no diagnosis just lots of pieces of a puzzle. Come to think of it... we probably all want a support group designed exactly for our personal needs! I guess we call that family!
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