Article - read at your own risk

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Article - read at your own risk
5
Sun, 07-23-2006 - 11:06pm

THis is not a fun article folks but it is why we need to help people, especially authorities like the police, understand autism.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/perris/stories/PE_News_Local_D_dead21.1af565b.html

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2005
Sun, 07-23-2006 - 11:40pm

I'd be interested in finding out what the cause of death was. Were they actually going to arrest him and charge him with something? with what..Disorderly conduct?

Re: educating law inforcement..my sister is director of a non-profit agency in our county that assists rape victims and other victims of violent crimes. The agency runs alot of programs in the community, including training for local police departments. Part of the focus of the training is how to deal with rape victims, both immediately after the crime and during the trial, such as what to say, what not to say, whether to touch them or not, how to preserve evidence, stuff like that. It seems like something along those lines should be done to teach the police how to handle incidents with other groups as well, such as those with ASDs. I actually never thought about this before. I'll have to ask my sister if she has ever heard of any program like that.

Kate

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-23-2006 - 11:53pm

ASA is doing a conference in the midwest this summer for law enforcement and similar on safety stuff. Trying to remember what it is called. There are some training videos and such out there as well.

It is a big issue for some. When the kids are little it is easier because we are here to protect them but as they get older and more independent it can be a real issue. That is one of my biggest fears is Mike having a confrontation with police. If they get into his space and get authoritative with him it could go badly. I hope he will have more control by the time he is an adult but I know of even adults with AS who just shut down and can't function in those kind of confrontations.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 07-24-2006 - 12:12am

That's my fear with David, too, for when he's grown up. Renee, I understand that Mike knows he has Asperger's. Have you talked with him about this kind of situation, or is he ready for that? I'm thinking that if an autistic person is able to recognize a situation in which they have to hand a police officer an autism card or something, then an ugly situation can be avoided. But how do you teach your child that this is something they might have to do...and how to do it? Does that make sense? I can just imagine that if I talked to David about this kind of stuff, he'd think I was crazy.

I feel for that mom; that must be so hard.

Evelyn

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 07-24-2006 - 1:07am

Mike is no where near ready for that kind of discussion. I don't think he would understand yet or be able to do it. Mike hates to talk about anything that makes him different or is a struggle. He read one book about it with me and noticed some similarities. He liked hearing another kid hated to be touched too.

But he really has no concept of his struggles. He is going to need to learn some self realization prior to being able to learn when to hand a card out. He doesn't even realize when he is getting out of control yet or that he has any control or responsibility over it. we are working on it but it will take a while. I think before he learns to hand out a card there are loads of preliminary skills he needs to learn first starting with being able to understand himself and some self realization before he can become that level of a self advocate.

BTW, there was a sticker on the door saying that there was a person with autism there as well as some quick guidelines. The mother was there as well trying to explain to the police what they needed to do. The police had been out with EMS earlier in the year with positive results and someone who understood special needs so obviously someone there had training. In this case i don't think a card would have helped.

My friend often has huge troubles with her teenage BP/AS daughter. She has had to call the police on a number of occasions. However, they only ever send in certain police officers from this one department that have training for people with disabilities. She says that has helped alot. I think as the kids get to be older or this becomes more of an issue we will have to get aquainted with the local police and fire department as well and find out what is available in our area.

Renee




Edited 7/24/2006 1:11 am ET by rbear4
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Registered: 04-11-2003
Mon, 07-24-2006 - 10:21am

I haven't read it yet. I'm working up my courage. Our support group was asked by the fire department to come and speak with them about autism and bring our kids. I think we are doing that in september. Maybe I'll see about getting the police to come as well.

Samantha

Samantha