this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
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Neurodivergence

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All things neurodivergent and relating to the broader neurodivergent community (and communities).

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Where does the "helmet-wearing, diaper-wearing, drooling idiot" stereotype of IDD people come from? (beehaw.org)
submitted 6 months ago by NoOnesLazyInLazyTown@beehaw.org to c/neurodivergence@beehaw.org
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So if you know what I am talking about, you know what I am talking about.

In adult-oriented American media in the old days, intellectually/developmentally/mentally disabled characters were often depicted to be wearing helmets, diapers, drooling, and having "that" tone of their voice, while speaking things that don't make sense. While this stereotype has mostly vanished, it is still kinda alive in the form of that "brainlet" wojak and Jeffy from the SuperMarioLogan videos.

I've been wondering this for a long time now. Where the hell does this stereotype come from?

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[–] criitz@reddthat.com 11 points 6 months ago

Growing up, I remember differently-abled kids who checked all or most of these boxes (the helmets in particular). So it's not just completely made up.