Asperger's Syndrome
Update: great op-ed about this subject. Thanks to reader, Reader, for the tip.
The Newtown shooter was said to have Asperger's Syndrome which is on the spectrum of autism. These people are considered the high-functioning end of that spectrum (even as they face very real and distinct challenges.)
One thing to make clear - Asperger's is NOT mental illness. It is a neurobiological condition. While some mental illness, like schziophrenia, does have a biological basis, Asperger's is not defined in that category.
After saying that, based on my own personal experience with Asperger's, I suspect the shooter DID have mental health issues in addition to his Asperger's. It may have been depression, anxiety or bio-polar.
From news reports, it seems clear that he was did have a diagnosis of Asperger's and his high school knew about it. His mother had to come to the school sometimes if he was having issues. But all reports were that he kept to himself, that staff watched over him, the other kids were generally nice to him and that there was no evidence he was bullied.
(Indeed, Aspies are far more likely to be bullied or be victims of crime than be violent. They can get easily frustrated but that doesn't usually play out in acts against others.)
The principal at his high school, being careful in what he said, did mentioned that perhaps after leaving the cocoon of protection in high school, the shooter did not feel as comfortable out in the greater world. (He had, at some point, attended some college classes.)
Aspies generally do not like loud noises so I was quite surprised to read that his mother taught him to shoot (thinking it would teach him discipline and responsibility).
What is also clear is that we have cut way back on mental health services to the point where many mental health care professionals are almost frantic with worry. Washington State apparently has one of the worst mental health systems in the country due to lack of funding.
The Newtown shooter was said to have Asperger's Syndrome which is on the spectrum of autism. These people are considered the high-functioning end of that spectrum (even as they face very real and distinct challenges.)
One thing to make clear - Asperger's is NOT mental illness. It is a neurobiological condition. While some mental illness, like schziophrenia, does have a biological basis, Asperger's is not defined in that category.
After saying that, based on my own personal experience with Asperger's, I suspect the shooter DID have mental health issues in addition to his Asperger's. It may have been depression, anxiety or bio-polar.
From news reports, it seems clear that he was did have a diagnosis of Asperger's and his high school knew about it. His mother had to come to the school sometimes if he was having issues. But all reports were that he kept to himself, that staff watched over him, the other kids were generally nice to him and that there was no evidence he was bullied.
(Indeed, Aspies are far more likely to be bullied or be victims of crime than be violent. They can get easily frustrated but that doesn't usually play out in acts against others.)
The principal at his high school, being careful in what he said, did mentioned that perhaps after leaving the cocoon of protection in high school, the shooter did not feel as comfortable out in the greater world. (He had, at some point, attended some college classes.)
Aspies generally do not like loud noises so I was quite surprised to read that his mother taught him to shoot (thinking it would teach him discipline and responsibility).
What is also clear is that we have cut way back on mental health services to the point where many mental health care professionals are almost frantic with worry. Washington State apparently has one of the worst mental health systems in the country due to lack of funding.
Comments
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/opinion/dont-blame-autism-for-newtown.html?hp&_r=0
reader
This is a great post that outlines some key issues.
"But there’s another broken system in America that has yet to be fully addressed in light of Friday’s incident: special education.
I venture to say that every parent of a special needs child knows of what I speak.
Certainly, here in Seattle, it is common knowledge that school districts fail to provide a free and appropriate education to every child it serves."
A great read, posted today on Seattle's special ed ptsa list-serve. It's very illustrative on the way we isolate students, especially students with Autism. How can we fail to provide adequate special education, fail to provide mental health services, fail to control guns in any way, and then be surprised when those things have devastating consequences?
-special ed parent
A woman with a very troubled son keeps six weapons in her home including 4 assault rifles. She tells sitters to "never let her son out of sight". She then takes that son to a shooting range and shows him how to shoot a weapon designed for mass murder. His basement room is filled with posters of guns and tanks and he spends his time playing the ultra violent video game "Call of Duty" ! But somehow "Special Education" is to blame !!! Please.
Your idea? Blame the mother. Of course she should have been a way better parent than she was. Oh yeah. She's dead. It matters not a bit if she is blamed now. (How good a parent are you by the way?) Better yet. Blame the dead shooter. Obviously he's evil.
The thing is... all that blame doesn't prevent the next time.
-special ed parent
"For people with autism, shooting in Newtown brings unfair stigma"
Originally published Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 9:20 PM
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019931056_shootingautism19.html
This is quite the problem but boy are we confused (those in the room) and now they say they might do two of these at a time.
I will try to get an electronic copy of these "new" options which are NOT in the presentation posted before.
NE folks, demand another meeting RIGHT after school starts and an explanation. You have the right because these are very complicated and trying to shift through the impacts is going to take awhile.
I will try to post complete notes by AM tomorrow.
If the killer of those 20 children is not evil , I don't know who is.
And like it or not, his Mother's "mistake" of allowing him to play violent video games , teaching him to use an assault rifle and presenting him with easy access to that deadliest of weapons IS directly responsible for the death of 20 children.
special ed parent
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Lesia now 19 and was diagnosed with autism at the age of twelve, for seven years, she fought against her diagnosis. I must admit it was never easy for us as a family; we had to constantly watch her, and answer questions that we couldn’t explain. On several occasions, she asked if she will ever stop having speech delay and get well like her school mates and be the best swimmer she dreamt of becoming. She was a very happy child; and had a ‘normal’ childhood and there was no suggestion that she would later on develop autism.
She refused to accept defeat and fought autism. She religiously kept to her medications in spite of their side effects. We all wanted a cure, so that she can chase her dream and live a normal life like every other child. But the more she takes these medications, the more her school grade drop. She couldn’t concentrate and we noticed that her memory was being severely adversely affected. Each time we went back to the hospital, her medicines were changed to a different one. Seems like, each change of drug brings about change in side effects. After about 6 years on Abilify , Geodon , and other medicines, it seemed the autism started to increase in frequency. I had to make effort to reduce her medicines with plans to eventually stop it all. We found an alternative treatment in homeopathy, which was better than her English drugs. Gradually, I reduced her drugs, and her autism were no longer as frequent as it was as when she was on conventional drugs.
With our little breakthrough with homeopathy treatment, we made further search for natural cure. Fortunately we saw testimonies about herbal medicines which cure autism. We saw a lot of claims though, contacted them and didn’t get a useful reply. Lucky for us, we finally got a reply from Doctor Williams, he directed us to his blog where we saw a lot of information about his herbal medicine . Without further delay I made a purchase for her, I switched her over to it. We had great breakthrough, that in 3 weeks, her autism reduced. After 1 months as Doctor Williams promised , all autism symptoms stopped. It was like a miracle for us. since all this days now Lesia became autism free. Her story is quite lengthy, I hope it also help someone out there.for more information you can email Dr Williams on drwilliams098675@gmail.com
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