The autism blame game
Susan Senator, who has a son with autism, discusses her feelings on learning that kid at Lincoln-Sudbury High School had Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism. She's annoyed at hearing that the Asperger's Association of New England denies that kids with Asperger's don't have issues with violence:
... I think it is a little disingenuous of the AANE to claim that physical violence is not at all typical of Asperger Syndrome. I know at least two children whose behavior can cast doubt on that statement. But more to the point, what is really not helpful about this is that the AANE seems to be in effect seeking to separate themselves from those other disabled people who do have profiles of physical violence (like some people with more marked forms of autism, perhaps). ...
Comments
I love how her interactions
I love how her interactions with two children are what defines for her that violence is a hallmark of Asperger's. Clearly, the two children that she knows are representative of all children with Asperger's.
Also, I met a person who was not nice to me once. Ergo, all people are not nice. See, I can play logic, too!
Senator brings up some very valid points
Susan Senator highlights a very real fact; that AANE, in an attempt to assuage the media hype surrounding Asperger's and violence, may be doing a disservice to individuals with Aspergers who do have a propensity towards violence and need more help. Such help might only be obtained through increased public awareness. The research supports that there is a significantly higher amount of individuals in prison who are diagnosed with Asperger's either before or after incarceration when compared to the general population. The research also supports that individuals with Aspergers who have a co-morbid mental health diagnosis are significantly more at risk for committing offenses when compared to those individuals diagnosed with Aspergers without co-morbidity. The research would not support AANE's viewpoints.