A local wellness camp for girls this week includes a panel about “invisible” disabilities.
I heard about the panel but am unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict so my details about the panel are fuzzy. But in the days leading up to the camp, events have been taking place nationally that I believe have direct bearing upon the concept of “invisible” disabilities.
Talk radio host Michael Savage issued statements about the autism spectrum that made many people very angry.
Autism as it is understood today acknowledges varying degrees of severity among its qualifying traits. But in a July 16 broadcast, Savage described autism as “a fraud, a racket?” and stated, “In 99 percent of the cases, it”s a brat who hasn”t been told to cut the act out.”
Speaking from my own experience, this is typical Savage ? incendiary opinions with a complete disregard for facts. A few years ago a coworker suggested I review a book by Savage; she apparently admired him.
I knew nothing about Savage at the time and when I saw his book at a bookstore, I began reading the introduction. I quickly put it down because, barely a few pages in, I encountered a statement that was blatantly a lie. I didn”t see any point to reading further ? and I certainly didn”t see any point to validating his book with a review.
I didn”t hear his recent statements, but I read them posted online by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (www.autisticadvocacy.org).
Within one week, a joint coalition of 13 groups had issued a statement denouncing Savage”s comments as “dangerous misinformation.”
I think this entire exchange dramatizes the notion of an “invisible” disability as it may be discussed among young girls in our own community.
Have you ever seen somebody park their vehicle in a handicapped parking space and, even though the vehicle has a qualifying placard, the person who gets out seems perfectly able to get around? Did you look at that person skeptically, as if he or she didn”t deserve that parking space?
Being inside the person”s head, however, might paint a different picture than the one in front of you. Perhaps that seeming capability of movement is depleting his or her reservoir of strength more quickly than you were aware.
I use the metaphor of an electrical circuit with different appliances attached, to explain typical circumstances when I have difficulty meeting people”s eyes.
Watch the way that an overhead light will immediately grow noticeably dimmer when you turn on the compactor in the sink. Having to gather my thoughts or deal with tough emotions exerts a similar effect.
Another issue for me is the rate in which I deplete my ability to socialize before I need to spend time alone.
All of these instances could potentially be misunderstood by somebody rushing to judgment. This could be potentially dangerous if the person who has rushed to judgment wields influential authority.
People who wield powerful authority in the lives of boys and girls are typically other children ? who are all-too-likely to persecute people who are in any way “different” from them. That makes it all the more crucial that we educate our children ? and our society at large ? about accepting “invisible” disabilities and it is particularly important to teach children who have “invisible” disabilities that their needs are completely valid ? even though an ignorant public may not always understand those needs.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
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