Just once I'd like to see the media
portray Asperger Syndrome AS IT ACTUALLY IS. I have to give props to
Adam Lanza's father, Peter Lanza when he stated , "Asperger's
makes people unusual, but it doesn't make people like this."
However, at the same time her refers to
those with Asperger's as being "arrogant". He states that
all the kids in the Tech Club at the high school are "weird and
smart". He stated that Adam thought "he could control her
(his mother) more than he could control me."
Adam's mother stated that, "“While
Adam likes to believe that he's completely logical, in fact he's not
at all, and I've called him on it."
A psychiatrist that Adam saw, Paul J.
Fox, implied that home school equated with "isolating him from
his peers."
The reporter, Andrew Solomon, commented
on "violence by autistic people" when there is an invasion
of personal space and then follows the statement with a comment on
committing crimes.
Lastly, the reporter stated, "Both
Autism and psychopathy entail a lack of empathy."
So, where do I, the mother of two
children on the Autism spectrum stand? Where do I, the mother of a
teenage boy of Aspergers, other of an 8 year old with High
Functioning Autism, and friend to many adults and children Aspies
stand?
First, I have yet to meet a child with
Asperger Syndrome that is arrogant. Let's take a moment to define
"arrogant". Google defines it as, "having or revealing
an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities."
Yet, this article goes on and on about how Adam felt that he couldn't
do anything right. How he was frustrated and helpless at his
inability to complete tasks he should have been able to do, tasks his
peers could perform. NOTHING in the article, or anything I've read
about Adam portrayed arrogance. Show me just ONE child with Asperger
Syndrome that is "arrogant". Just show me one!! You'll be
hard pressed to do that.
Peter Lanza also said that Adam felt he
could control his mother. Yet again hasn't all the information about
Adam show that he felt no control at all? Again, show me one child
with Asperger Syndrome that seeks to control others. It doesn't
happen. They want to be able to control their own environment, just
like neurotypicals. Yet, Asperger Syndrome makes it more difficult to
do that.
Adam's mother stated that Adam felt he
was completely logical, which he wasn't. Yet, the majority of
children on the Autism spectrum are VERY logical and take everything
VERY literal. If you stop to look at things from their literal
perspective, then it is VERY logical. The more time you spend with
those that are on the Autism spectrum, the more you realize that it
is us, the neurotypicals that aren't logical. It is us, the
neurotyps, that use phrases that do not make sense (it's raining cats
and dogs). It is us, the neurotyps, that base our decisions on
emotions, that will change plans at the last second, and that can
leave tasks half finished without skipping a beat. Which of us, the
neurotyps or Aspies are more logical?
I won't even respond to the comment
Paul J. Fox made implying that homeschool equates isolation. If the
general public hasn't wizened up to this myth by now, than that's on
them.
Violence by autistic people when
entering their personal space.......... Yes, some children on the
spectrum can not tolerate you're entering their personal space. Some
children on the spectrum have no concept of personal space. I'm
mother two children that exhibit both (one is the first, one is the
latter). In this respect, they are just like some neurotyps I've met.
Come on, we know the guy or gal that stands to close when speaking to
us. We also know the guy or gal that will not allow you to hug them
or get close to them physically. Asperger Syndrome is no different
then neurotyps in being one way or the other. The difference comes in
how that information is processed by the brain. Yes, my youngest
child will resort to what could be deemed "violence" when
you move into his personal space and stay there. He will invariably,
after communicating his intense discomfort in a variety of ways
(verbal and/or non-verbal cues), push you away from him. If you come
back, he may hit you. Yet it is impulsive, he doesn't think it
through, he doesn't plan it, and he doesn't even do it in a way to
cause damage. It is as much reflex as your jerking away your hand
from a hot flame to avoid pain. Being in their personal space causes
them pain and they are reacting accordingly. Yes, there have been
cases of police officers stepping into a person with Autism's
personal space while speaking to them in a very loud and raised
voice, and the person striking out in an attempt to restore their
personal space. However these were also cases where the law
enforcement officer was unaware of the person being on the spectrum
and approached them in a way that frightened, confused, and seriously
terrified the person. Still, shouldn't the reporter be more specific?
Why would the reporter imply that Asperger syndrome is synonymous
with criminal violence? The reality is that studies have not
empirically shown that there is a higher prevalence of violence among
those with Asperger Syndrome. What has been proven is that more males
with Asperger Syndrome show violence than women with Asperger
Syndrome but this is simply because there are many more men with
Asperger Syndrome then women. Many specialist have verified that
Autism Spectrum Disorders DO NOT result in higher criminal activity.
"Both Autism and psychopathy
entail a lack of empathy." Really? Where oh were did this
research come from? It has been determined that studies done
regarding empathy and ASD did not utilize testing tools to accurately
measure empathy. People with ASD think and feel differently then
neurotyps and therefore the tests that register empathy in neurotyps
did not give an accurate result when tested on those with ASD. A
study that was done addressing this states that, when tested with a
way that truly represents those on the spectrum and empathy, the
measurements are comparative to neurotyps. Of course, I've seen my
child cry for HOURS because he made a comment that someone took
offense at. A comment that was purely logical and meant to cause no
harm or disrespect. I've seen the empathy in those tears.
Unfortunately, there will always be
those that jump on what the media states and bases their assumptions
on that. There will be those that, due to the media's portrayal of
Asperger/ASD, will believe that Autism equates violence.
I will not be one of those. Please,
join with me in refusing to accept what is portrayed by media as fact
and instead determine to dig for the facts yourself and see the truth
in all matters.
