I'll just say this and then leave it.

My 5 year old son has Autism. It's the first thought I have every morning and the last thought I have before I sleep at night.

People look at him funny...point...make fun and as a Mom, aside from punching everyone who does it, I have to deal with the fact that this is part of who he is and will be for the rest of his life.

I worry if he'll ever be functional enough to go to a 'normal' school. I worry if he'll ever make friends or be invited to a birthday party. I worry if he'll ever be able to learn to drive or hold down a job. I worry if he'll ever be financially independent. I worry he'll never have a family of his own.

This is what Autism is. Aspergers is a form of it, although not as severe in some cases, it is a spectrum disorder that effects many of us.

As you can imagine, seeing someone hosting a contest, one deemed as 'fun' with the main character having Aspergers, was hurtful to those of us who live it everyday. I'm all for awareness which is why I've fully supported and promoted Fandom Gives Back for Autism awareness going on now. It was a way to raise funds for awareness for Autism Speaks and I couldn't be prouder of the fandom for over the 100 authors that have decided to participate.

I don't feel there was malicious intent, but this form of unawareness is exactly what the families of people with Autism deal with it everyday. It's stero-typing at it's worst telling people to write a one-shot about a disease only described as 'fun, sweet,and endearing.' Yes, my son is ALL of those things, but what else he is can not be contained in a contest entry.

While the idea of a contest itself was upsetting, seeing the RT's of people across my twitter feed promoting it was even more so. Again, I don't think it was with malice or uncaring, but I ask you...if someone had decided to have a Cancerward contest and promote it as fun, would that have been acceptable? How about a Multiple sclerosisward contest?

I do understand that some fics have portrayed Aspergers and have done so in a thoughtful manner by the author (and my feelings about this contest has NOTHING to do with them) which is why this contest has come about. However, those authors did just that. Spent time and thoughtful energy to do the best they could to portray it in manner they deemed acceptable. This was not the intent posted or intended I believe in having a contest about it.

That's all for me. Thanks for reading.

Mel/Melissa228

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