This post and future posts will highlight certain disabilities (in this case, social disabilities) as a way to increase awareness about these specific impairments. Feel free to comment on this post, or e-mail me via my website: http://www.disabilityawareness4you.wordpress.com/.
My biggest complaint regarding disabilities comes when people who are "normal" judge people who appear to also be "normal," when in fact, they do not know if those people really are "normal."
So many disabilities are not visible to the naked eye, including people with social disabilities. People with these impairments have various levels when it comes to understanding social norms. Every society and culture has social norms, and sometimes people with social disabilities have a hard time picking up on the cues sent out by these cultures. For this reason, sometimes people judge without knowing that those people have no control over their level of understanding.
So, next time you see someone who doesn't seem "normal" or understanding of social cues, don't judge them. We all have disabilities/impairments, and shouldn't be judged because of them.
Some of the most common social disabilities include, but are not limited to:
* Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) - A group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Parents may note symptoms as early as infancy, although the typical age of onset is before 3 years of age. Symptoms may include problems with using and understanding language; difficulty relating to people, objects, and events; unusual play with toys and other objects; difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings, and repetitive body movements or behavior patterns. Children with PDD vary widely in abilities, intelligence, and behaviors. Some children do not speak at all, others speak in limited phrases or conversations, and some have relatively normal language development. Repetitive play skills and limited social skills are generally evident. Unusual responses to sensory information, such as loud noises and lights, are also common.
credit: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/pdd/pdd.htm
* Autism (the spectrum) - As defined by the Autism Society of America (ASA): Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development."
credit: http://www.definitionofautism.com/
* Asperger's Syndrome - Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics. Asperger's syndrome is generally thought to be at the milder end of the Autism spectrum.
credit: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551
* Tourette syndrome (TS) - An inherited disorder of the nervous system, characterized by a variable expression of unwanted movements and noises (tics).
credit: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Tourette+syndrome
* ADD/ADHD - A syndrome, usually diagnosed in childhood, characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness, a short attention span, and sometimes hyperactivity, and interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social performance.
credit: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ADD+or+ADHD
I hope that you learned more about social disabilities from this blog post. Please e-mail me or comment here if you have any comments, thoughts, or suggestions regarding this post.
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