UCSD Shooting Suspect had autism -just what we need

[Anonymous]

For everyone is knocking the educator's posts, to an unbiased observer, most of the responses prove her point.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have a child who scored 170 on one subtest of an intelligence test (maybe Weschler, can't remember it was a few years ago), 142 on another subtest, and 81 on the third subtest. Averaging those scores doesn't really give an accurate picture of his "intelligence".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For everyone is knocking the educator's posts, to an unbiased observer, most of the responses prove her point.

There are no posts saying "my DC who has an ASD is a genius." Not one.

Here I broke my rule about responding to the posts bashing parents of kids with SN.

[Anonymous]

This kid sounds just like the guy in Taxi Driver (the movie with Robert DeNiro). I was amazed by the similarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple months ago, I had a conversation with the mother of one of my students with ASD. She said that her daughter with HFA was being ostracized by the NT girls in class. I promised to discretely observe. I found that the other students WERE reluctant to work with the girl. It seemed in large part because of her approach to group tasks. She was rigid in her thinking and not open to, let alone appreciative of the ideas contributed by others. This is not how most NT girls approach group work.

This same rigidity of thinking complicates social life for Aspies. Don't want to always talk about a certain anime series, you must not like me. There's an awkward pause after I make a joke, you're bullying me.

I feel for the parents and therapist of this young man. Sounds like they were working hard to help him.

ITA. The rigidity can also make social skills training, or therapy, a challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has to be the most self-absorbed forum on DCUM, hands down.

+1

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is reporting that he had an ASD?

I watched his video. It doesn't clearly indicate any of the vocal mannerisms or physical mannerisms that I would associate with an ASD.

Never mind. I just saw that his family says that he has ASD.

Which family member said that?

It appears that he had an unhealthy childhood relationship with his mother, which evolved into rage against women. He was unable to fully separate, and establish his own identity in a healthy way.

He had been in therapy since childhood, but without any formal diagnosis.
How can that be? Was he on meds? What kind and for what?

Seeing how "successfully" he dealt with the police, he may have been a sociopath. He apparently had been planning his massacre for a long time. But didn't his parents ever see his room? Was his mother another Mrs. Lanza? Was his father ever there, considering he's a busy Hollywood director? When his parents finally reported their concern to the police, why didn't THEY show the police their son's bedroom? That would have prevented the killing of innocent people. Maybe they just didn't want to intrude on their son's privacy.

He didn't live with his parents or even in the same city. he was an adult.

Lots of parents are still fully supporting their adult children, especially if the parents can afford to support their entitled adult children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does a parent know their child on the spectrum is a genius if testing and academic performance indicate otherwise?

A nonverbal child is going to test as mentally retarded on a traditional IQ test. But there are non-verbal IQ tests like the Leiter and the Toni, that give a clearer picture of IQ.

My special needs child is not a "genius" but he's not MR, either, even though he tests that way on a traditional IQ test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For everyone is knocking the educator's posts, to an unbiased observer, most of the responses prove her point.

+1

Please, some more 5-paragraph posts about your sons' specific off-the-charts abilities (but, only in certain areas!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has to be the most self-absorbed forum on DCUM, hands down.

I, unfortunately, have to agree. Many (NOT all) of these parents are toxic. I work with them every day. Getting them onto healthy parenting patterns, is like pulling teeth. Sorry, guys.

I wouldn't call it toxic so much as paralyzed. For most of the parents I encounter, their child with ASD is the first child and sometimes the only child.They only know this one way of parenting. The rigidity in diet, routine, clothing, etc. It is like have a toddler for life. One parent asked me to never use the color red on the Promethean (smartboard) because her son hated it. She honestly thought it was a reasonable accommodation. This is a bigger problem for her than it is for me and I feel deeply sorry for her.

They also are parenting in a geographic area in which parenting is a competitive sport. Every parent I meet with a child with ASD insists he (or rarely she) has a high IQ. But typically, when we get the paperwork from the psychologist, the child actually has an average IQ. Currently, I have 2 students that actually do have a high IQ. Unfortunately, those two are most emotionally impaired and the least likely to live independently some day.

You are working with a specific type of autism. My high functioning autistic child or at least that is the diagnosis (I do not fully agree) is really easygoing and flexible. The only inflexibility we have is on food and he's less picky than some typical kids we know. We have no set routine - we have a basic routine but very flexible day to day, no clothing issues (he has preferences like most kids), etc.

Many of us stop at one child because the public school services except for the few good teachers and therapists, well suck. Many of us spend hundreds to thousands on private services starting at age 2 or so. You cannot imagine the financial and emotional strain on a family in less you have done it. There is no way I can work as between activities, therapies and preschool, there is no way with all the running. Your attitude is why we are going to private next year. We do have a bright kid, maybe not genius, but he needs to be challenged and stimulated and what we have seen is teachers teach to the lowest child and our kid gets bored.

Autism does not cause violence. Untreated mental health issues cause violence. This kid may have needed to be dually diagnosed. We know and see many autistic kids... not one is violent and what you might consider violent are typically the lower functioning children who cannot communicate and using alternative forms - you need to look behind the behavior and figure it out.

As for the parents I know and see every day. Well, they are far more devoted than the typical parent. Most go above and beyond. They either have flexible jobs or one has given up their career to devote to their child. We all bump into each other at the services and activities. All are very responsive and understanding of their children's needs. Of course, you have those in denial or not willing, but there is a core who go above and beyond.

Okay, I understand your defensiveness, but this statement is utterly asinine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does a parent know their child on the spectrum is a genius if testing and academic performance indicate otherwise?

A nonverbal child is going to test as mentally retarded on a traditional IQ test. But there are non-verbal IQ tests like the Leiter and the Toni, that give a clearer picture of IQ.

My special needs child is not a "genius" but he's not MR, either, even though he tests that way on a traditional IQ test.

How come the results of those tests aren't provided to schools when the parents feel they need the IEP team to know about the genius IQ of the child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has to be the most self-absorbed forum on DCUM, hands down.

+1

+2

I'll add to that, the most defensive, self-absorbed bunch of special needs PARENTS. Enough already. And no, you aren't more special than everyone else doing the hard work of parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does a parent know their child on the spectrum is a genius if testing and academic performance indicate otherwise?

A nonverbal child is going to test as mentally retarded on a traditional IQ test. But there are non-verbal IQ tests like the Leiter and the Toni, that give a clearer picture of IQ.

My special needs child is not a "genius" but he's not MR, either, even though he tests that way on a traditional IQ test.

How come the results of those tests aren't provided to schools when the parents feel they need the IEP team to know about the genius IQ of the child?

I would imagine in most cases they are. But school personnel aren't very apt at interpreting them. Hence, the "educator" on this thread bitching about "genius" children. Most the SN parents I know just what their child to be respected for the intelligence they have -- and many special needs kids are not.

[Anonymous]

just want ^^

[Anonymous]

So the school psychologists at an Annual review IEP meeting can't interpret the tests you mention?