Comments on: WOW. I do not even know what to say. Wait, yes I do.

By: » What�s normal? The socially acceptable prejudice against autistic people today

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:49:42 +0000

[...] WOW. I do not even know what to say. Wait, yes I do. [...]

By: Michelle McFarland-McDaniels

Michelle McFarland-McDaniels — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:22:27 +0000

I respect you tremendously for taking on the kinds of attitudes and statements that make raising children who have special needs more difficult than it should be.

By: lonestar818

lonestar818 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:57:36 +0000

Great post, just wanted to comment on the comment that the mother must not have known her child’s limitations or didn’t prepare him well enough. 1 – she had flown with him before without incident, so apparently flying *was* within the scope of what he could handle, and 2 – how does anyone “prepare” a 2-yr-old, whether they have autism or not, for an 11 hour delay??

By: bebang

bebang — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:15:11 +0000

i agree with you. Gayla is an idiot. hypocrite idiot. i hope God will open her eyes and someday feel the hurt i feel reading her ignorant blog. i have my heart for the special kids and their moms… i am one.

BAGM, im one of your readers. you are cool. and your family is so cute

By: lmvogt

lmvogt — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:05:41 +0000

Blessed Be The Peacemakers and that is what you really are BAGM. Love MOM

By: Aunt Shel

Aunt Shel — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:00:32 +0000

Gayla,
I was always taught that a true apology is not just words. It seems to me that you have learned very little from your “drunk blogging”. Your “sincere apology” is pretty insincere if you ask me! I hope that you will set a better example for your children in the future. Just because “to err is human” does not excuse your actions without true remorse and growth!

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:42:52 +0000

NIce post. I have two kids on the spectrum, ages 12 and 13. I would not take my kids on a plane and we once did Amtrak for a vacation and it was planned and organized for weeks on end. This Mother just recently got the diagnosis and I can imagine is very overwhelmed.

She was on autism one this morning, but I am on CA time and did not get a chance to listen to her. I know that when the boy in Florida got booted out of his class that there was a card campaign to send him and Mom cards. I was hoping to get something like this started for this Mom but not sure where to go to start that.

I have the Moms email address is anyone wants it to send her an uplifting email.

mine is autismfamily dot com

Bonnie

By: Gayla McCord

Gayla McCord — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:20:39 +0000

BAGM – While I do appreciate your acknowledging my apology – it does feel a lot like your response is an effort to force feed me compassion, which I truly don’t need and is honestly one of the contributing factors to much of society not wanting to be more understanding.

It’s not about MY not understanding and feeling for the situations – it’s about the damage that has been done to a society in the name of autism (in this particular case). I’m not sure how to word that so that more understandable – clearly when someone is emotionally charged over a certain topic, they can’t see beyond their emotion. When I was working so heavily in STD Patient Advocacy, I was very much the same way.

At this point, the best I can do is offer my sincere apology and whether you accept that or not, is entirely up to you.

To err is human and human I am.

By: beagoodmom

beagoodmom — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:56:57 +0000

Gayla, I acknowledge your apology, but I cannot accept it. This issue is too close to my heart. Let your actions be your apology. I know that on b5 you get paid by page impression. Repent by taking the income from that post and sending it somewhere it will matter. Your choice. Autism Speaks is a national charity. But personally, I think a bit more local would be better. Call your local school district. Ask them to speak to the special education department. Ask them what they need for their kindergarten classroom, the grade Pookie will be in this Fall. Then deliver it personally and spend the day with the class. Your eyes will be opened to these kids struggles and their heart, not to mention their determination. Repent.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:43:41 +0000

She admitted she wrote the article strickly to get page views and hit to her blog because her page views were down.

I find it horribly sad that one would stoop to trashing special needs kids and their parents just to make a buck.

Here’s the kicker… the article Gayle wrote on her blog isn’t just about the child and mom in the plane that got kicked off. She went way past that with this comment: “Now I’m not saying this particular kid wasn’t truly autistic, but I do believe there are many kids who are being diagnosed as autistic who are genuinely nothing more then flaming brats and because these kids are brats, the worlds is supposed to do everything to make them more comfortable?”

Gayle, you seriously need to get educated about special needs kids and autism! You think a child with autism is a just flaming brat that isn’t really autistic?

I have a son who has autism, now grown. How dare you tell me he was and is nothing but a flaming brat who is misdiagnosed!! How dare you tell the parents of special needs kids that their kids are nothing more than flaming brats who don’t really have autism!!

It’s more than obvious that you do not have special needs kids. With that thought in mind, please try and refrain from “writing” about things you know NOTHING of in the future.