Autistic Child At Play - Street Sign
By Foxxee
@Foxxee (3651)
United States
June 1, 2008 11:35pm CST
How many of you have seen the signs when driving around.. ??
"Child with Autism Area" or "Autistic child at Play"
What are your views on that?
Believe it or not, some are against the signs…
I'm all for it and think the signs have every right to be up there, right along with the other signs like..
"Deaf child at Play" and so on…
Here are a couple of links below to a site where people are having discussions about the signs and you can read some of the comments from others. Some comments are hateful and some just flat out don't make sense..
More ignorance then anything, but I would like your views on the whole situation..
http://www.topix.com/forum/source/wgrz/TG4GJQSF1O5LF7AG4#comments
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1989969/posts
So do you agree that the signs are for a good cause and could help?
I also want to voice my opinion on a few comments from a few others:
1. Why can't we just honk our horns louder?
[A child with Autism wont respond to a horn or to someone telling them to move.]
2. What's next, a "ADHD Child at Play" sign?
[People need to do their research because Autism & ADHD are not the same at all. A child with Autism in some cases wont respond to a parent or anyone calling out to them to watch out for that car and they most certainly wont car about the horn honking!]
I don't know, there is just a lot of drama over all this and it's kind of ridiculous and ignorant in my eyes..
Some say it cost to much to put the signs up and it takes away their tax dollar..
Well I don't care what it cost, a child's life is priceless..
And yes I believe the signs could help if the drivers actually pay attention to what they are doing..
Some people just don't get it..
Anyway… what are your views…?
Please feel free to read the other debates on the links I provided..
1 person likes this
8 responses
@christymac (150)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I personally think it is a wonderful idea. I have a niece who has autism. However I feel it should be the parents or guardians choice on whether or not to have these signs posted. Having a child with autism is a very difficult role and there should not be any added stress by having to announce to every passing car your personal business.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I'm not sure how it works in other states, but here it is the parents choice on whether they want the sign installed or not.. I believe so anyways.
And here they usually put the signs on each end of the neighborhood, not infront of the child's house for safety reasons.
I have seen some houses that actaully have the sign by their driveway, but I don't know if the state did that or if the parents did it.
I know the state puts them in, but usually at street corners before you enter or aS you enter the neighborood.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Jun 08
as one who has seen crossing guards,lovely kind compassionate
women who love helping kids cross the streets, run down
and maimed or even killed, no blasted sign will stop some
selfish drivers in a hurry to get somewhere as they will
simply not even read it. the thought is great and might
work in some other state but in dear old sunny southern
Ca where everybody drives, maybe not the dogs or cats,
most drivers are intent on one thing, getting someplace
fast while drivingoverthe speed limit and talking on
a cell phone non stop.they do not pay attention cause'if
they did they might have to actually stop to let someone
cross the street.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I'm all for it...just like I've always been all for signs that let drivers know there are blind or deaf children in the area....My nephew is Autistic and I think that signs like that are a GREAT idea, especially in a high traffic area....When he has an episode there IS NO getting his attention..
Why ppl whine and b!tch about things like this is just beyond me...and I have to wonder if their attitude would change if suddenly it was THEIR child who needed a sign like that in their neighbourhood (I'm thinking not likely 
)
I'll have to check out those links.....after i make a coffee...
)
I'll have to check out those links.....after i make a coffee...@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I sometimes wonder myself if their attitude on things would change if it was their child..
It has me amazed how many people are actually against the signs..
I just want to get a hold of one person that is against the signs and actually ask them why..
They probably don't have a real reason..
Some say they cost to much and they don't want to pay more taxes for a sign..
Well, the signs are not much at all.. they cost around $70-100
People need to get over it and find something else to nag at..
You will see how ignorant people are being over the street signs from the links I left... it's drama they seek..
@raclie (1732)
• Singapore
6 Jun 08
i think it is a great idea as it alerts people about their surroundings and also will have to be able to learn to be more careful with people less fortunate than us.
@mommyathome (98)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Reading your post got me very upset! I am a mother of a six year old autistic son. You are 100% right on when you say people are ignorant! Before the open their mouths, they really should take time to learn about autism/adhd!
My son doesn't understand that he needs to watch for cars. he will run out into to the street as he plays and has no ideas of the dangers. We are teaching him the hazzards, however, he just can't retain the information.
He has ran away twice. He wanted to play outside without someone with us and just kept wondering farther and farther away from home. Both times we had to call the police to help us locate our son. I received the same ignorance from the police as these people. They need to think that autism/adhd can affect their families and how would they fell about all this prejudice.
Thanks for posting those links!
@ShealM (388)
• Canada
5 Jun 08
I thinks it is a great idea. It's the same as a school zone isn't it? Would these people who don't agree with it still agree with the school zone signs? It's the same concept is it not? I don't find (and I'm a mama of two Auties) the sign degrading at all, I think it's a preventative measure and a fine one at that. There are Autistic children that don't respond to verbal instruction right away or at all. Knowing that those children are in the neighborhood makes it safer for those children.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I see nothing wrong with it and having a child in a wheelchair with sensory issures, I would love it. People don't know how normal things startle and confuse them. I would even be willing to pay for my own sign, if it was a problem to get one.
