Comments on: In the aftermath of #CTshooting, a word about autism

By: Drew the Infidel

Drew the Infidel — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:02:27 +0000

At a high school where I coached we employed some of the special needs boys as equipment managers for the varsity football team. They were at every practice and game with specific duties but most of all were included in the mainstream of student life. One boy was autistic and his only complication was crowds. His dad would swing by the school and give him his prescribed medication along with some words of encourgement to settle his nerves. Other than the fact the kid was funnier than all hell there was nothing unusual about his demeanor and was certainly no danger to himself or anyone else.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:53:23 +0000

As an old Clinical Nurse Specialist in psychiatric nursing, and a Clinical Social Worker, I can say with certainty that the incidence of violence is no higher among those with mental illness or brain disorders like autism and Asperger’s than among the general population. The capacity to commit heinous violence and murder is no more related to having a mental illness or autism spectrum disorder than to having diabetes, osteoporosis, or heart disease. There is and always has been, a huge stigma associated with mental illnesses and brain disorders.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:25:10 +0000

I know it is different, but when I read the article it sure sounded (if one changes the references to “autism” to references to “Islam”) like what we were flooded with in the aftermath of such “incidents” as the Fort Hood massacre/murders.

You know – the typical “Nothing to see here, folks, just move along…”