http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/adam-lanza-is-recalled-as-a-rambunctious-kid-with-family-problems/2012/12/14/795ad0fe-4641-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_print.html
The evil committed by this young man, whose life story we may learn more about in due course is now being blamed on his apparent condition: Asperger's aka Autism.
As someone quite familiar with this cruel and mysterious ailment, it seems a bit preemptive to blame a broad spectrum neurological condition for heinous actions that only he must answer for to his maker.
Having delved deep (research) into this condition to save two of my three sons, I realize there is a lot more to this tragic story. The familial dynamics. The parents' divorce. The fact that a mother would keep accessible weapons at home when she lived there alone with this individual, who clearly had other emotional issues, speaks volumes on so many levels. So one can make the case that there is much more to this evil action than a "diagnosis."
What can also be said is that far too many children with identifiable symptoms of Autism and its variants never get the essential educational services such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Special Ed Pre-School (starting at age 2), Special Ed summer day camps and Special Ed Accomodations once they begin school.
My sons were diagnosed six months apart with Autism in 2003. Vernie (May) was diagnosed with "severe autism." Josef was diagnosed in November with Austim-Not Otherwise Specified. The superb pediatric neurologist at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center was aggressive when it came to making his diagnoses. He preferred to err on the side of making a "worst case" diagnosis rather than a "wishful thinking" assessment which in the long run harmed the child. By his proactive approach, he helped save our sons from lives of dependency on family and society.
My husband (and their father) was in the USMC which meant we had access to military health care. The military medical system (TRICARE) notwithstanding all the frivolous complaints from recipients of fine medical care, came through by and large (although I had to be very proactive with them). In short, our sons got all the services they needed and it really took a platoon of healthcare professionals and fabulous teachers and a responsive school system to reverse the neurological damage.
Each boy had three years of daily ABA when trained therapists would come to our home to individually work with them in one or two 2 hour therapy sessions. A Pavlovian and painstaking process to get their neurons reconfigured, if you will.
Josef, who squealed sometimes and had few words despite speech therapy since 17 months of age, began to speak within two weeks of commencing ABA. By first grade he didn't qualify for an IEP. The neurologist was delighted that Josef had "recovered" (they never use the word "cure") and it was an amazing transformation through daily hard work and without the use of any medications for either boys (the neurologist wanted to also medicate but mom vetoed the "easy approach" versus the difficult but ultimately more successful route of behavioral reconfiguration). Today, Josef is in a gifted program. He has a witty humor, is calm, social (but somewhat shy) and everyone likes him, especially his teachers. He has, in short, turned into a fine young man.
Vernie --the child we wondered would ever speak one day-- now won't shut up and has highly developed speech. It literally took a platoon of devoted professionals. He still struggles socially and is quirky given his obsession with animals and dinosaurs. But he is the most loving and happy child who was nicknamed "sunshine." And, most importantly, he is no longer in "his world."
For a private person, this is painful to share. But the fact that "Autism" has been thrown into the equation for what can only be described as a beastly and evil crime, makes moms such as myself very defensive/protective and at the same time desperate to let the world know that an Autism diagnosis isn't a life sentence IF you have parents who never lose faith and work to save their child; there are no serious underlying medical conditions; aggressive and early medical programs (ABA, speech etc) are commenced.
As a society we owe it to such children. Far too often it is a "penny wise, pound foolish" equation to the detriment of society when early services aren't offered across the board in all 50 states via the school system. A significant number of such children diagnosed in infancy or toddler years, if provided with the type of services my children were able to access, would "recover" and not be a long term burden to society. As functioning adults with perhaps a few quirks (but often brilliant minds), they too can contribute to society.
I sincerely hope that in the very human need to "explain" evil behavior, the current fixation of the killer's "Autism" at least propels folk to demand greater scrutiny of this mysterious ailment (as in research): to get to the source of this growing epidemic (1 in 88 children today).
What worries is that, in light of this man's identified medical diagnosis, other children (many now adults) may unfairly be stigmatized and/or isolated. This would be yet another victory for this now deceased man and at the expense of innocent citizens whose only "crime" is sharing a medical diagnosis.
Further, those who have "recovered" now must not be shamed or made anxious and thus pay an invisible and/or visible price for evil deeds of one individual. My hunch is there is a lot more to this man's story and it begins with his familial environment.
People have asked me to write about my sons "remarkable recovery." Others have opined that perhaps one or both really weren't "Autistic." The latter thesis offends. The amount of time, work and effort expended over the course of years, which disrupted our lives as a family (from 2002 to 2005, however, it was often a single parent endeavor as dad was deployed) cannot be allowed to be frivolously dismissed by such statements. These boys did the hard work with the right tools. Period.
Once my current writing project is completed, I will sit down and revisit what was "a period which will live in infamy" in order to contribute to the important narrative that "Autism isn't insurmountable" and "there is HOPE." Perhaps by recording their "victories" other parents in similar situations will be proactive and not lose hope in order to ensure their children have the best chance at leading a normal life in adulthood.
