https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:11:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1485026 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:48:40 +0000 wonderstruck 1485026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, what an amazing story. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1485018 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:44:14 +0000 spaniellove 1485018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: The Spark was such an amazing book! I think I tore through that in one sitting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484990 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:28:31 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1484990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What a great read, and what exceptional parents! I hope I can help to craft as good a life for my boys that they have for theirs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484887 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:53:42 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1484887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved this. Read it a few days ago and almost posted or myself. I will admit I was a little annoyed about the rain man comparison too but it didn't take away from the beauty of the story. It was also very well written. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484853 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:39:25 +0000 Raindrop 1484853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like stories like this... really reminds me of the person that wrote the spark. These parents just don't give up on their kids... they will do anything to help them thrive. It's just so touching.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Spark-Mothers-Nurturing-Genius/dp/0812993373" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/The-Spark-Mothers-Nurturing-Genius/dp/0812993373</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484676 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:59:50 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1484676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: @mrbee: Deep breaths. I mean *I* am taking deep breaths. Reading that, and then reading these comments has me very, very emotional. </p> <p>First thing-- there are no absolutes here. Many people on the spectrum prefer and use "person first" language. Others are proud of the designation "autistic" and wear it like a badge of honor. Almost anything can offend someone, somewhere. If you want to know what a person on the spectrum prefers, you can ask him. I didn't find any of the language used to be offensive in the least. It sure did make me cry, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484655 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:51:39 +0000 meredithNYC 1484655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just read this yesterday and thought it was incredible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484644 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:45:37 +0000 mrbee 1484644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I think the article is a real gift to the autism community! I looked over the 250+ comments on the article, and many were from families who have wrestled with autism and felt similarly... I didn't see any references to Rain Man in the comments. The word "respect" was used a lot of times, always in a positive way (as far as I could see).</p> <p>I think the author's insights could really help a lot of kids. I guess I had a strong reaction to your comments, because I think it's important to judge a body of work on its totality. The article was really powerful and personal, and I thought it was so incredibly respectful of his son... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484637 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:40:30 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1484637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:happy: </p> <p>This reminds me of another Disney related story - The story 3500. <a href="http://www.shmoolok.com/Book.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.shmoolok.com/Book.aspx</a><br /> I originally saw it on a blog I love: <a href="http://www.epbot.com/2012/06/sweetest-of-them-all.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.epbot.com/2012/06/sweetest-of-them-all.html</a></p> <p>A boy that is autistic loved the Snow White's Scary Adventures ride in the Magic Kingdom. They closed the ride for good, but his dad arranged to have a special day to say goodbye to the ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484633 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:37:26 +0000 Rocker2014 1484633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So interesting - thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484601 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:18:04 +0000 spaniellove 1484601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: No matter how it's worded, "Rain Man" is considered by many in the autism community to be an insult. Even if he's trying to provide a contrast, there are more respectful ways to describe his speech.</p> <p>(ETA: Most of the article seems to be so descriptive that I don't doubt he could have come up with something better!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484594 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:14:01 +0000 mrbee 1484594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I thought the contrast painted was a very interesting one: the young man appeared to "closely match the 'Rain Man' characterization of autism," but when talking about Disney films he acted in a way that revealed a rich and powerful emotional inner life.</p> <p>&lt;&lt; A young man, speaking in a very routinized way with speech patterns that closely match the “Rain Man” characterization of autism, asks me the date of my birth. I tell him, and his eyes flicker. “That was a Friday.”</p> <p>When I ask the group which Disney character they most identify with, the same student, now enlivened, says Pinocchio and eventually explains, “I feel like a wooden boy, and I’ve always dreamed of feeling what real boys feel.” The dorm counselor, who told me ahead of time that this student has disciplinary issues and an unreachable emotional core, then compliments him — “That was beautiful,” she says — and looks at me with astonishment. I shrug. He’d already bonded in a soul-searching way with his character. I just asked him which one.</p> <p>It goes on this way for an hour. Like a broken dam. The students, many of whom have very modest expressive speech, summon subtle and deeply moving truths. &gt;&gt; </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484578 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:08:12 +0000 spaniellove 1484578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I didn't care for some of his portrayals of autism, like the kidnapping comparison or the Rain Man reference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484561 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:00:08 +0000 mrsjyw 1484561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>saw this on fb this am :*) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/amazing-article-reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney#post-1484553 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:57:07 +0000 mrbee 1484553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was so inspiring and beautiful... I definitely got a little something in my eye while reading it.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/magazine/reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/magazine/reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney.html</a></p> <p>The power of a parent's love and devotion... it never ceases to amaze me. </p>