My grandnephew Tristen has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is one of the most loving, fun, intelligent, and caring people I know. He has walked a mile in heavy traffic to come over and make me tea when I wasn’t feeling good. He calls to check and see how I am. After the sudden death of his Grandpa Mike he is even more concerned about my fragile health and anxious that nothing happens to me. He is our tech support and computer guru. He has blossomed so much in the last year since he got involved in technical theater.
Tristen has had to work hard to learn how to interact with others appropriately. He has well above average intelligence. He is a junior in High School and already colleges are trying to convince him to become a student at their institution. He is in National Honors Society. He has overcome bullying because he is different. He has learned how to make friends.
Tristen and I are very close and bonded the first time we met when he was a baby. I helped raise his mother and she refers to me as Mom. She told me with the death of her Dad, my brother Mike, that I was now officially Mom and Grandmother. I’m also Godmother to her and all three children.
I love my Aspie grandson. I worry that the media with their inability to research a story will take Adam Lanza’s actions and tar and feather a group of people who do not deserve to be linked with his monstrous actions. Whatever Adam Lanza’s demons were that drove him to this vile act it was not the Asperger’s. We are going to have to do the job that the MSM is incapable of doing. We are going to have to defend our Aspie family and friends and get the truth about Asperger’s Syndrome out there. I ask for you help in doing this.
My niece wrote this on Facebook. My brother and I have already shared this and Bernadette has sent this to George Takei asking for his help. Will you please share this on any social media you are on.
“Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder are NOT predisposed to violent or criminal behavior. Research does not back up the violent Asperger's offender theory, and studied offenders with AS usually had co-morbid mental health issues and/or additional commonly recognized risk factors. More evidence suggests children with Asperger's syndrome are victims rather than victimizers.
Please do not blame Adam Lanza's actions on Asperger's, or label the non-neurotypical population based on this tragedy. It is bad enough the number of times I've seen "Aspie" used as an insult in the past couple weeks in article or page comments. I won't tolerate my sons' uniqueness disrespected and misrepresented further.”