I wonder how others on the autism spectrum, who have lived through a lifetime of emotional abuse, can handle paying attention to the news about Alex Barton and Wendy Portillo. I get my news off the internet, since I cannot stand the slant television and newspapers persistently strive after.
What a rock and hard place to be stuck between! → It’s encouraging to see hope for change in regards to possible tolerance towards neurodiversity, but then on the other hand, it’s beyond disgusting to be reminded of how much hatred and willful ignorance exists towards Asperger’s syndrome people!
Today’s updated news from TCPalm.com is beginning to show a direction to steer the public off course (as this type of reporting typically does). Associate editor Anthony Westbury seems to be desperately hoping to gather as much information as he can to take the side of intolerant neurotypicals. Why do I say that? It’s because of what he doesn’t point out (plus, the words ‘witch hunt’ were used to make those of us who want Portillo removed to seem like we’re the horrible ones stuck back at in unpopular time of history)!
There is a FACT about this case which should be brought to attention above all else and it does not require any information about Wendy Portillo’s teaching record:
Mrs. Portillo did NOT handle the situation of Alex’s behavior in a proper professional manner!
I heard on a news video that Wendy was teaching about tallies when she decided to have Alex brought to the front of the class for this vote to have him removed. Plus, she said Alex was disgusting and annoying (she would have been less vulgar if she called his behavior that, but no . . . she chose to reference that to Alex instead)! If people will not magnify (and most probably will not) this aspect of the story (and the fact that Wendy KNEW about Alex’s ongoing diagnosis for Asperger’s syndrome), then I’m afraid those who are fighting for the rights of us on the autism spectrum to receive equal respect as human beings are going to have to get a lot more active!
Yesterday, I placed two links (in a post and on the side column) for signing a petition against Mrs. Portillo’s emotional abuse. Since they were to the same petition and that petition isn’t as well known, I shall leave the one in the post as is and change the one on the side to the more popular petition. Numbers speak best, so if you want to add your name to the petition with the greater number, sign this petition at thepetitionsite.com to fire this teacher for unprofessional conduct.
Professional conduct demands that a teacher, who is in a situation of wanting to remove an Asperger student from her classroom, should do so PRIVATELY so as to minimize the humiliation that a boy like Alex already has to endure! It does NOT matter what Portillo’s teaching record was like, because now her record should state she broke her agreement to teach in a professional manner.
