Special kids
After a long debate on Big Smurf's IVF post, a few below, I portrayed many negative aspects in the (amiable) argument. So here's to redressing the balance....

As I've mentioned, my line of work is with special needs children. My last job has been the most enjoyable to date - working with kids on the autistic spectrum. It's bloody challenging and rewarding, in equal measures.

I've accumulated too many stories to post here, but one in particular sticks in my mind.

X is at the severe end of the autistic scale - very little spoken language, all sorts of sensory issues, cannot cope with social interaction at all, the list is huge. X is very isolated in his own world. This all sounds sad, to say the least.
He also has a devilish sense of humour, which when accessed by neurotypicals is a delight.
And, he is a whizz on computers. He seems to take in the data at an inhuman speed - a bit like watching those green flashy things in The Matrix.

At the age of 5, he went on t'interweb and logged on to the Argos catalogue wedding present page. Ordered himself every Thomas The Tank Engine product from the website.

Best of all, at the age of 7 (the last US general election) he managed to vote for Bush... Christ only knows how he worked out the different codes to do this?! I forget now which state he "registered himself" in, but his parents received an email from Dubya's people the following morning, thanking them for their support :o)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Wed 23 Apr 2008, 15:33, 4 replies)

He voted for who???
I'm trying to suppress the desire to comment on those 'Merkins who did likewise.
(osok Rebel without a clue, Wed 23 Apr 2008, 15:52, closed)

Hang on....
That kid X - you've just described a number of people on B3ta.
( girlinthehole, Wed 23 Apr 2008, 15:59, closed)

Rubs chin thoughtfully...
Head explodes at the possibilities...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Apr 2008, 16:02, closed)

Hehehe
I work with special needs kids too and I love them! I have a kid who is kinda like your X. Mine loves playing with water though, likes the feel of it. Therefore if there's ever a cup of water in sight, it is bound to end up on the floor. It's funny to run around all day leaving puddles everywhere and shouting to my coworkers "Sorry about that, could you clean it? I'm kinda busy chasing my kid" Muhahahaha! *is evil*
( Mellicious is made of candy, Wed 23 Apr 2008, 17:06, closed)