Obstacles To Fitting In: A Rhetorical Analysis

Understand how autistic spectrum conditions can impact on the lives of individuals and those around them

“Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me…Be my advocate, be my friend, and we’ll see just how far we can go” –Ellen Botbohm, author of Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew.

Understand how autistic spectrum conditions can impact on the lives of individuals and those around them.

Autism, a developmental disorder is becoming widely diagnosed here in the U.S. and throughout the world affecting children in all different types of backgrounds. From children living in rural or urban, rich or poor. Currently there are many speculations and superstitions as to the causes for developing autism but science has no clear evidence as to why autism affects certain people and not others, autism can greatly affect the families and its patients for their entire lives. Most of you do not know that I have twin younger brothers with Autism. Before this speech, I had no clue what autism really was. Through my research I am now able to relay this information to you. Today I want to talk about Autism. The three things I will be speaking about is what is Autism? How does autism affect the family and how does autism affect people who have it?

Autism is a disorder that is encompassed in the autism spectrum (ASDs) (Landa, 2007). Autism spectrum disorders describe the brain development disorders and encompass Asperger syndrome, autism, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) disorders. Features of the ASDs includes sensory and cognition problems, difficulty in communicating with other people, and repetitive behaviors. This paper will discuss autism with respect to what it is, the causes, autism in the inclusive classroom (what can be done to enhance total inclusion) and the role of the community.

This statement provides trust within the reader because communication is something that every person understands. Besides this establishment of ethos, Powers also introduces herself as a fellow young person alike to her intended audience. Each reader knows how going through the education system and being “mocked and insulted by” peers for certain things feels (Powers, 118). By explaining her issues in these areas throughout her youth, the reader can understand where from her point is developed. While her intended audience connects with her on this level, the majority of her audience cannot connect with her on the subject of autism because not every reader has a family member dealing with this kind of mental illness.

When reading the first chapter of Ten Things Every Child with Autism wishes you Knew by Ellen Notbohm, multiple thoughts ran through my head. I honestly feel that she did an excellent job expressing the thoughts about autism. In my point of view autism is so much more than a diagnosis. Two important people in my life have autism and honestly, they are the most amazing individuals I have ever met. The authors words that brought tears to my eyes was, “My autism is part of who I am, not all of who I am” (Notbohm 17). This statement moved me, because individuals with autism are so much more than a label. Individuals that have autism are talented, intelligent, caring, kind, and funny. We should not judge or treat an individual different by the way they express themselves. Each individual is unique and should be able to express themselves in their personal way instead of being labeled in a negative way. I have personally encounter individuals use words such as, “that autistic boy” or “just leave him other there, he doesn’t understand the material because he is autistic”. When I hear people says these negative things, it makes me angry and sad, because I believe that they have not fully comprehended the diagnosis as well as not allow themselves to get to know

Should individuals use person-first language or not? Moreover, individuals who have autism and are at the meeting are not able to reach their goals of how they can rightfully identify themselves. This debate, being a controversial subject, makes it more difficult for autistic members to get their opinions heard. Brown wants people to explain carefully what they are arguing for so that they can help others understand the problem with semantics when it comes to person first language. By allowing other people to articulate their arguments rationally, they can inform others to as why they prefer a certain order of terminology. As Brown mentions, “I urge you to consistently use such phrasing everywhere possible, whenever discussing autism and issues that affect Autistic people, and to develop coherent, rational explanations for why you prefer this terminology, so that you can engage in such mutually respectful and civil exchanges with others” (par. 21). Brown shows how being consistent with one’s words in regard to autism allows for other people to rightfully understand one’s opinion as they intended.

The devolvement of social isolation in children with autism. This has become a very open topic in thus new age society, living in a generation that everything has to be given or made available right here and right now. Knowing that this new generation is all about social acceptance we often have to take the time to ask the question, where does the children with disabilities fit in this social media raven? How do we as their peers make them feel accepted? It is most evident that we as people frown down upon people that may be different from what we are used to seeing. Autism is a mental disorder that include limited social abilities and highly patterned behavior. Just knowing that little piece of information we can or will make our own assumption that people with autism are not capable of talking, playing or even learning the things that a normal peer their age would or could learn.

Every single day is a struggle for an autistic child and his or her family. Autism affects all aspects of a child’s life from their ability to show affection to their family to being able to do simple tasks such as communicating and thinking in ways that we take for granted. Autism is defined as a developmental disability in which children experience abnormalities in social functioning, language, often act in puzzling ways, and usually appears before the age of three (Mash &Wolfe, 2010). Although the exact causes of autism are unknown there does seem to be a strong genetic component. Having a child or family member with autism is a constant battle of emotion and frustration. Everyone wants to help the people they love when they have

For many years people have discussed whether autistic children or teens should be placed in regular classes, given special aides, or if they should be placed in special classes. In the book, The Spark, by Kristine Barnett, it talks about how Kristine’s son, Jacob, otherwise known as Jake, was diagnosed with autism at age two, yet he overcame all of the stereotypes placed on autistic children. Jacob was in a special Ed class, but his mother pulled him out because he was not making any progress. She decided to prepare Jacob for mainstream kindergarten, all on her own. She knew that the special Ed class was helping him learn or retain the information being taught to him, it wasn’t helping him at all, it was hurting his education. They had focused

“Autism can’t define me, I define autism.”- Kerry Margo. ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Some teachers think that it would be best if autistic children were taken out of mainstream classes. What they're not taking into consideration is the rest of the child's life. Children with autism don’t always fit the stereotype that is set for their disorder. If you were to put yourself in their shoes, would you want to be told that you are way more different than you already feel?

It is 2017, yet a lot of controversies lurk in the shadows of Autism and while we are advancing and improving the quality of life in almost a daily basis with advanced discoveries and solutions, Autism seems to be circulating the drainage between facts and fictions.

A disability can be considered a physical or mental impairment that interferes with an individual’s daily functions. For example, a blindness can impair an individual to travel on their own on complete task at home. Imagine how would they go about their needs at home and their community. Another example can be an individual diagnose with Autism, which mental and physical impairment is combined. Given that individuals with disability are part of our communities the battle to incorporate them in our society is mutual. For this reason, Rachel Anne Ramos highlights the active role of college students in raising awareness about Autism. Ramos’ recent article, “Freezin’ for a Reason: College Student Raises Awareness About Autism” explained the role

In reviewing the required videos and reading on low incidence, there were a large range of how it affected individuals are processed by individuals without disabilities, these videos demonstrates what it is like to try to be normal with a disability. The first video called, Autistic Basketball Player,” presented an enlighten outcome, that people should not assume that individual with disability are not able to contribute to a job or sport. Jason Mcelwain’s a young man with Autism that id given to chase an individual with a disability self-worth is just as valuable as the rest of the team when it come to sport. The second video called, “Breaking Barriers of Autism: The power of Kindness and friendship present how individuals with disabilities are able to leap bounties id one person will acknowledge them. In his lecture he was able to present insight on how lonely it is on another side of the disability spectrum.