Lu Etta Loeber: Clearing the air
Saturday, December 22, 2012
In the days that have followed since the horrific school shootings in Connecticut, I have been asked by many in this community if autism played a role in what happened to those who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The purpose of this letter is to answer some of the speculation about what is being said and written about this lifelong disorder.
First, we don’t know for sure if this young man was on the autism spectrum. Second, autism is a neurological disorder affecting areas of the brain such as social interaction, communication and sensory issues. It is not a mental illness.
Our kids and young adults that are on the spectrum do not fit the profile of the madness that existed in this young man’s mind. In the days and weeks to follow, we no doubt will hear more about his background. What is important is that we don’t make the judgement that someone who has been diagnosed on the spectrum possibly would or could act out in such a horrifying manner.
Today, through our programming and services, we are addressing with great success the many challenges that accompany an autism diagnosis. We offer the skills and the tools for our kids to communicate their needs and learn the socialization interaction skills that help in relating to their peers and their families. They learn how their conduct affects others and how to regulate behaviors.
Ninety percent of children with developmental disabilities are bullied in some fashion. We don’t want the perception to exist that an autistic individual is anything like the person who committed the unthinkable act of violence. All of our kids need to be safe. Please offer your prayers to the families that have lost their loved ones, and tonight hug your child a little tighter.
Lu Etta Loeber
Executive director, Yampa Valley Autism Program
Comments
Martha D Young 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you, Lu Etta, for saying what needed to be said about autism spectrum disorders and the Newtown massacre. What happened in the mind of Adam Lanza that caused him to kill innocent children and school staff members may never be known. Whether or not he had a disgnosis of Asperger's Syndrome played no role is his decision to kill 26 defenseless humans.
Michelle Hale 4 months, 3 weeks ago
This is such a sad thing. What we all need to address is Mental Health in this nation. Help for families and for people who have this in their lifes. Ronald Reagan did bad thing by closing down the few places there were to help. The numbers were never very clear, but 250,000 to 500,000 people were turned out on the streets. Crime went up, violence when up and drug abuse went up.
Every mass murder that has taken place has had a broken mind and heart behind it. Its not the gun, its the mind attached to the trigger. There are 84 milliion gun owners in this nation, and an average of 10,000 deaths by unlawful guns. Yet, there are 30,000 people who die from prescribition drugs. Almost every one of the mass killings prescribed drugs were being taken. One might want to ask why? Why are we not demanding more for those who need help? Why are we not demanding answers from the Drug companies, and the bedfellow called the FDA??
Just my thoughts.
Anne Dunlevie 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Thank you, Lu Etta Loeber, for making it clear that Autism is not a mental illness and that there is no more correlation to violence than in the general population.
And, thank you to the Steamboat Pilot for publishing this piece and making the Yampa Valley and beyond this much more informed about living with Autism Spectrum Disorders as a part of the neuro-diversity found in every community.
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