Q & A with a Super Hero:
Friends Vs. Strangers
What are friends?
E, M, C, E… names of kids in school.
What do you do with friends?
Play with them.
Anything else?
Sometimes they make you (meaning Jake) upset.
Do you stay mad at friends that make you upset?
I want to call them bad words. (broccoli head, stab, poop, krunchy-kwa)
What should friends do for each other?
Say you’re sorry.
Why do you apologize to friends?
Because it makes them happy.
Is it important to keeps friends happy?
Yes.
Do you think anyone that talks to you is a friend?
Yes.
Do you think people in a restaurant that bring you food are your friends?
Yes.
Do you think people on the Metro that say hello are your friends?
Yes.
Should you talk to men in the public restroom?
I shouldn’t, I’m quiet there. I don’t talk in the bathroom.
What if they talk to you?
I don’t talk.
Who are strangers?
Ms. A is a stranger now, L, P, and Mr. L, because I’m not at that school anymore.
But you know them honey. If you know them by name, they are not strangers.
Should you talk to people that you don’t know?
No.
Do you know that people you don’t know are strangers?
Yes.
Are people riding on the Metro with you, strangers or friends?
Strangers and friends.
How are they friends?
Because they talk back!
So friends at school that can’t talk back to you, are not your friends?
They make me disappointed.
You only want to be friends with people that talk?
Yes.
What if they can’t talk because they have autism?
Well, autism doesn’t make you talk… But I talk a lot. That’s my super powers. You mean, I don’t have autism then?
No you do, but autism comes in many forms. Some people can’t talk, some kids can’t sit, some have super senses like you, others use sign language. Should we treat kids with autism differently?
Yes, we should be careful. I would say things in sign language! (showing the I love you sign)
Should be we nice to friends with autism or not?
Nice! Not mean. But sometimes I get mean.
Why do you get mean with friends with autism?
When they don’t talk I get disappointed and super hugey upset.
Is it something you wish you could change?
I wanted to change them to make them talk.
If kids with autism could talk, would you play with them more?
Yes.
Do you like kids without autism?
I do like kids with autism and without autism.
Do you think God made all kids perfect?
Well, he made me treat them nicely. And I’d like Him to stop making people not able to talk. Maybe when I get up to heaven, I’ll tell God to make all friends talk.
Anything else you want to say about friends?
Will you tell God to make people talk, if they don’t talk. Right mom?
I’ll try.
Friends Vs. Strangers
What are friends?
E, M, C, E… names of kids in school.
What do you do with friends?
Play with them.
Anything else?
Sometimes they make you (meaning Jake) upset.
Do you stay mad at friends that make you upset?
I want to call them bad words. (broccoli head, stab, poop, krunchy-kwa)
What should friends do for each other?
Say you’re sorry.
Why do you apologize to friends?
Because it makes them happy.
Is it important to keeps friends happy?
Yes.
Do you think anyone that talks to you is a friend?
Yes.
Do you think people in a restaurant that bring you food are your friends?
Yes.
Do you think people on the Metro that say hello are your friends?
Yes.
Should you talk to men in the public restroom?
I shouldn’t, I’m quiet there. I don’t talk in the bathroom.
What if they talk to you?
I don’t talk.
Who are strangers?
Ms. A is a stranger now, L, P, and Mr. L, because I’m not at that school anymore.
But you know them honey. If you know them by name, they are not strangers.
Should you talk to people that you don’t know?
No.
Do you know that people you don’t know are strangers?
Yes.
Are people riding on the Metro with you, strangers or friends?
Strangers and friends.
How are they friends?
Because they talk back!
So friends at school that can’t talk back to you, are not your friends?
They make me disappointed.
You only want to be friends with people that talk?
Yes.
What if they can’t talk because they have autism?
Well, autism doesn’t make you talk… But I talk a lot. That’s my super powers. You mean, I don’t have autism then?
No you do, but autism comes in many forms. Some people can’t talk, some kids can’t sit, some have super senses like you, others use sign language. Should we treat kids with autism differently?
Yes, we should be careful. I would say things in sign language! (showing the I love you sign)
Should be we nice to friends with autism or not?
Nice! Not mean. But sometimes I get mean.
Why do you get mean with friends with autism?
When they don’t talk I get disappointed and super hugey upset.
Is it something you wish you could change?
I wanted to change them to make them talk.
If kids with autism could talk, would you play with them more?
Yes.
Do you like kids without autism?
I do like kids with autism and without autism.
Do you think God made all kids perfect?
Well, he made me treat them nicely. And I’d like Him to stop making people not able to talk. Maybe when I get up to heaven, I’ll tell God to make all friends talk.
Anything else you want to say about friends?
Will you tell God to make people talk, if they don’t talk. Right mom?
I’ll try.