People with legit mental handicaps

[Xenomit]

I have a question for all you guys. First off, to anyone reading this, mentally handicapped or otherwise, I'm creating this thread solely for the thirst for knowledge. I don't know as much as I'd like about mental disabilities, and I want to ask some questions to help educate myself a bit. If anything comes off as rude, ignorant, or otherwise offensive, I'm not trying to be any of those things, I genuinely want to learn firsthand from someone with these handicaps.

My main question is really several questions that can be summed up in one; what is your thought process like? By that, I mean are you capable of coherent, linear thought? I have often thought to myself if mentally challenged people think just like any other human being, and are simply incapable of translating that thought to other people. For example, the average person would see something significant to them, and think about that thing for a bit. Then, they might remember something similar to it, or some event relating to that significant thing and think about that for so long, and so on, linearly thinking about things relating to the last thing. Are people with mental handicaps capable of similar coherent thought? Again, I genuinely don't want to insult anyone, I really do want to know.

Today I met someone with pretty bad down syndrome. He made sporadic movements with his hands and arms, had troubles pronouncing most words, and at one point attempted to pour a packet of salt on his head. I tried holding a conversation with him, asking him pretty standard questions like "Where are you from" and so on, but he never actually answered any of them, he mostly said things that had loose relevance to the question I asked. I swear to god I'm not making fun of him in any way at all. Anyone with down syndrome, are you guys capable of advanced higher level thought? I've often wondered if certain mental disorders affect you to the point that your mind is stuck at the level of thinking of a 6 year old, and I want to know if that's at all true. I understand that sounds ignorant as hell and probably really offensive, but I just really want to know.

When I started this I had a few more questions, but I can't remember them anymore, maybe I'll remember them in a bit.

[Boomstick]

You mean like yourself

[BumFodder]

At 6/29/14 08:48 PM, Boomstick wrote: You mean like yourself

Rudestick :(

[Xenomit]

At 6/29/14 08:48 PM, Boomstick wrote: You mean like yourself

Someone didn't read any of the op like at all.

[Boomstick]

At 6/29/14 08:48 PM, BumFodder wrote:

At 6/29/14 08:48 PM, Boomstick wrote: You mean like yourself

Rudestick :(

fishstick

[Phobotech]

Do you just type down the stream of thought as it comes? That whole post was pretty difficult to chew, it was kinda all over the place.

I've met plenty of people with a range of mental disabilities. Full-blown Special needs kids, down syndrome kids and adults, and autistic kids and adults. When you meet enough of them, you begin to kind of understand...you eventually ease down the perspective that you're interacting with someone damaged, and instead, you're glimpsing into someone thats genuine.

The most enlightening experience was carrying on just HOURS of conversation with an autistic brother to a friend of mine. Taught him how to play chess, talked about life, talked about a BROAD range of subjects...and it totally helps when you're interacting with someone thats at least conversational...but man, there ain't even any pressure when you're interacting with someone that's a degree of down syndrome to where conversation is difficult. Fine, that simplifies the topics of discussion. That interaction keeps you on your feet, keeps you guessing and adaptable...and I'll be damned if it ain't incredibly enlightening.

I once thought I was of a broken mind, or that I had some sort of disorder that put me at a social or academic disadvantage...but when I learned that disorder was, in many regards, actually a skill and advantage? I embraced it so hard that I felt the warmth of loving and accepting myself for the first time if never before...and that synchronization wouldn't have been possible if my perception of the human mind wasn't expanded by the wonderful friends and acquaintances, classmates, and people I've met through my life that were of special needs. Their innocence incarnate...they taught me something...so I would recommend going out of your way to interact MORE with these people. Share, and listen, and question, and open your heart and mind to them....like all people, no two are alike.

[NeonSpider]

So .... you expect someone with down syndrome to be able to

1) Use a computer
2) Sign up for a Newgrounds account
3) Somehow find this topic
4) Read and understand your post
5) Respond in some degree of coherent manner

Really?

That's asking quite a bit too much I think.

[Xenomit]

At 6/29/14 09:25 PM, NeonSpider wrote: That's asking quite a bit too much I think.

Well, that's my point exactly, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to mental disabilities. I'm unaware of how much certain disabilities affect people, and wanted to know a bit more.

[Jester]

I was about to say that I don't think the mentally handicapped are actively posting on the Newgrounds BBS but I guess that wouldn't be correct

[ChainsawNinjaZX]

At 6/29/14 09:25 PM, NeonSpider wrote: So .... you expect someone with down syndrome to be able to

1) Use a computer
2) Sign up for a Newgrounds account
3) Somehow find this topic
4) Read and understand your post
5) Respond in some degree of coherent manner

Really?

That's asking quite a bit too much I think.

This was my first thought in regards to this post. The only responses you're likely to get are from smartasses, people with experience in regards to those you want to ask, and people who may have some form of non-debilitating mental disorder.

[NeonSpider]

At 6/29/14 09:29 PM, Xenomit wrote:

At 6/29/14 09:25 PM, NeonSpider wrote: That's asking quite a bit too much I think.

Well, that's my point exactly, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to mental disabilities. I'm unaware of how much certain disabilities affect people, and wanted to know a bit more.

Well for the severely mentally handicapped, make any interaction easy enough for a 4 or 5 year old. Ask yourself "Could a 4 or 5 year old do ...?" and there's your answer. Although some of the very worst cases can't interact at all. They can't speak and they can't understand speech either. Who even knows what thought processes go on up there?

And as far as I know it's pretty much like they just don't mentally develop past a certain age. So while someone that's "slow" might just be a few years behind, someone with extreme mental deficiencies could very well stay "5" forever. Or whatever age group they're mentally comparable to.

They often have physical problems in addition to their mental handicap too. Bad organs. Deformities. Etc...