Do disabled kids (autistic, cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome) know that they are different?

Question

I mean people are always going around saying how bad they feel for these kids. But do the kids even have any idea what is wrong? Are they suffering at all, or is ignorance bliss?

Answer 1

It depends on the severity of the disability.  CP kids have normal intelligence, so of course they know they are physically different.  My son has Asperger's and he knows he's different.  He understands that he thinks and expresses himself differently and he knows he needs extra help understanding social situations.  He will often ask me to explain what/why something happened to him at school, the mall, etc.  I think he came into this understanding at around 9 or 10.  Before that, he didn't realize he was different.

And autistic kids may not fully realize how different they are, but I don't believe I would call their lives "ignorant bliss."  Have you ever seen an autistic child scream and hit himself in the face because he could not make you understand what he wanted?  You just start handing him stuff hoping you hit the right thing; the frustration you see is heartbreaking.

Down's kids I don't know too much about so I could not offer an opinion.

Answer 2

My son is a high functioning autistic (Asperger's) and is now in high school. He is brilliant and a B average student in most classes except science and math where is has always maintained an A. He knows he is different and wants to be normal like all the other kids. He is tired of being beat up on, called horrible names like "r****d" and "homo" and worse which I will not repeat for the sensitive. We had an incident where a little girl in sixth grade accepted five dollars on a dare to ask my son to be her boyfriend. When he found out it was a joke, he was devastated. He has never been invited to play or to a birthday party. I do not feel bad for him, my heart breaks for him. I keep telling him, one day someone will look beyond the autism and see you for what you are, a wonderful human being with love and friendship to offer and new a different perspective to view the world.

Answer 3

I imagine they live in their own little world. In their mind, they may say, "Wow! Look at that guy. He looks different." You just never know.

Answer 4

my sis has down sindrom

she knows that peiople stare at her but she doesn't care unless they say something mean to her

they dont really suffer i dont think cause they can have even better f reinds then what normal people have

yes they arnt as smart as normal people there age but they have the biggest heart ever

they can be smart they know good deals and bad ones or at least my sister does!

if you are a christin then i believe they will have in better up there

Answer 5

I think that the variable to consider is their level of diability.  I have a friend whose first son was born with Goldenhar syndrome (if curious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldenhar_s...  It's purely a physical condition.  He knows of his disabilities.  He handles it pretty well, but does become frustrated that he can't do what his brothers are doing (mostly playing sports).  On the other hand, I have a coworker whose son is autistic.  He seems perfectly happy living in his own little world.  It's the parents that suffer, as they cannot communicate with him very well because of his disability.

Answer 6

These are all very different disabilities, and all the people who have them are unique individuals.  I am sure some of them know and some don't know.  What kind of question is that?

Answer 7

They know they are different, their biggest wish is t be just like everyone else. They can not always put tht into words though. If there is anyone who treats them with the same respect and care they treat others, you have made a friend. They are diabled, not stupid.

Answer 8

It really depends on the severity of it. If they are very severe, they can't really tell the difference. If they are more intellectual they will be able to understand that they are different, so not all do, but some do. I worked in a school for mentally impaired kids before and they didn't really notice the difference between the teachers, aids, and themselves. They can still understand lots of other stuff though, but they'd forget over time, and sometimes they're kind of like how we are when we're young, they might hit each other because they don't get what they want and such, or even hit the teacher, and they understand that they're not suppose to do that.

Answer 9

No they don't know they are different. Some of my students think other kids are different.We should not feel bad for the kids because they don't feel bad for themselves. The suffering is caused by those kids who make fun of them every single day.As far as suffering from the disability-no because that is how they have always been and they have adapted to the way they are.Children with disabilities are awesome. They are the true heroes because even if they do fail still they attempt to do everything they can.We have "regular" kids out there who try nothing because they might fail and be embarrassed.

Answer 10

In some cases, I suppose ignorance is bliss. I have a 32 year old son with Cerebral Palsy who graduated high school with honors!  He wishes he had better use of his hands and his speech. He collects very old Cushman golf cars as a hobby. He lives his life with such grace - he never complains.