Common thoughts about people with intellectual disabilities that are
ignorant and/or stereotypes and/or discrimination and/or prejudice:

- That we are stupid
- Bullies can steal our things or hurt us and the school
  doesn't have to do anything about it because we don't count
- We don't play sports because we are all lazy
- We can't have a job just make crafts with popsicle sticks
- It's OK to make fun of how we might look different
- We can't just hang out with friends we have to be supervised all the time
- We can't go on a date because we aren't human enough to love
- Can't live on our own because we can't manage well enough
- None of us can read or write or enjoy reading and writing
- Gossip about us won't hurt because we aren't smart enough to have feelings
- We are losers that nobody could ever want around except for pity
- Any non-disabled person is a better human being than us
- We are always happy people that are never angry or sad
- We are totally incapable of anything but filling up space
- We need a "worker" watching our every move,
  who knows what we might do!
- We can't have sex, get married, or have kids because
  we are lesser human beings
- We need to be protected from the world, we are vulnerable!
- It's okay to boss us around anytime and all the time
- We are a drain on society because we can't contribute
- Calling us retards and making retarded jokes is funny even if you'd
  never joke like that about someone's skin colour or physical disability
- The world would be a better place if none of us were in it
- We aren't normal we are like scary monsters so stay away

(From the SMILE self-advocacy groups, 2007-2008)