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[conuly]

Linky about an autistic girl

Question!

Being able to bowl will be another step for Charlie. Because of the autism, her hearing is extremely sensitive — sudden or loud noises can be too much to take, Terri Welsch said.

She recalled sitting in the car with Charlie at the Special Olympics regional soccer competition this spring. The soccer fields were close to the track, where the starter pistol’s bang was more than Charlie’s ears could handle.

Determined to desensitize herself to the noise, Charlie sat in the car, rolling the windows down bit by bit. Despite her best efforts, Charlie couldn’t play that day.

This is the Special Olympics, right? Couldn't they make some sort of accomodation, maybe, um, not using a loud starter pistol? There MUST be another way to start a race!

Seriously, do they actually mean this has never come up before? Or that they were unwilling/unable to change things slightly? We're not talking about a huge change here. It's really the equivilant of signing AND speaking. I don't know. It just seems basic to me.

Comments

[kalathia.livejournal.com]

I think that they could, too, such as having a flare go off in front of all the runners to signify the start of the race, but then again, they would have to explain the presence of an autistic, noise-sensitive bowler to the runners and ensure that the runners are in no way bitter about this changing of circumstances.

I'm also sensitive to noise, which is why I don't attend pep rallies at my high school, among other events that feature very high levels of noise.

[conuly]

It's the goddamn Special Olympics. Surely nobody is going to object to a reasonable, and slight change?

[redlami.livejournal.com]

Has it been brought to the attention of anyone in a position of authority?

[conuly]

It doesn't say. That's the OTHER thing irritating me - if she didn't speak up, why didn't she? Or her parents? Or anybody?

*sighs*

I'm not happy. *sneezes* Ad I'b stuffed up.

[deceptica]

The answer is right there:
Determined to desensitize herself to the noise, Charlie sat in the car, rolling the windows down bit by bit.

She wanted to hear the loud bang to work on desensitizing herself. Why would she complain about it?

[conuly]

Or maybe she was determined to race, not to hear the gun. She wasn't able to desensitize herself, so, when she failed, why not just ask for them to quieten the starting? Your explanation makes no sense.

[deceptica]

According to the article she only plays soccer and basketball, so I doubt she's going to participate in a race all of a sudden. And just because she failed to desensitize herself once that doesn't mean she won't want to try again.

[conuly]

I got the impression that she's a runner as well. And there's no reason for her decision to desensitize herself to trump her decision to run.

[deathchibi.livejournal.com]

I know when our high school has the Special Olympics, they use a gun that's not too loud, and very slight compared to the regular pop gun thinger, and someone drops their arm, or makes a signal somehow, from what I've seen. I'm not too sure otherwise, though.

[kalathia.livejournal.com]

I think that they could, too, such as having a flare go off in front of all the runners to signify the start of the race, but then again, they would have to explain the presence of an autistic, noise-sensitive bowler to the runners and ensure that the runners are in no way bitter about this changing of circumstances.

I'm also sensitive to noise, which is why I don't attend pep rallies at my high school, among other events that feature very high levels of noise.

[conuly]

It's the goddamn Special Olympics. Surely nobody is going to object to a reasonable, and slight change?

[redlami.livejournal.com]

Has it been brought to the attention of anyone in a position of authority?

[conuly]

It doesn't say. That's the OTHER thing irritating me - if she didn't speak up, why didn't she? Or her parents? Or anybody?

*sighs*

I'm not happy. *sneezes* Ad I'b stuffed up.

[deceptica]

The answer is right there:
Determined to desensitize herself to the noise, Charlie sat in the car, rolling the windows down bit by bit.

She wanted to hear the loud bang to work on desensitizing herself. Why would she complain about it?

[conuly]

Or maybe she was determined to race, not to hear the gun. She wasn't able to desensitize herself, so, when she failed, why not just ask for them to quieten the starting? Your explanation makes no sense.

[deceptica]

According to the article she only plays soccer and basketball, so I doubt she's going to participate in a race all of a sudden. And just because she failed to desensitize herself once that doesn't mean she won't want to try again.

[conuly]

I got the impression that she's a runner as well. And there's no reason for her decision to desensitize herself to trump her decision to run.

[deathchibi.livejournal.com]

I know when our high school has the Special Olympics, they use a gun that's not too loud, and very slight compared to the regular pop gun thinger, and someone drops their arm, or makes a signal somehow, from what I've seen. I'm not too sure otherwise, though.