Autism Society: No Linkage Between Autism and Planned Violence
Link to full page: http://www.autism-society.org/news/autism-society-no-linkage.html
Summary:
There is absolutely no evidence or any reliable research that suggests a linkage between autism and planned violence. And from ASAN: ASAN Statement on Media Reports Regarding Newtown, CT ShootingDecember 14, 2012
In
response to recent media reports that the perpetrator of today’s
shooting in Newtown, Connecticut may have been diagnosed on the autism
spectrum or with a psychiatric disability, the Autistic Self Advocacy
Network (ASAN) issued the following statement today:
“Our
hearts go out to the victims of today’s shooting massacre at Sandy Hook
Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and their families. Recent
media reports have suggested that the perpetrator of this violence, Adam
Lanza, may have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a diagnosis on
the autism spectrum, or with another psychiatric disability. In either
event, it is imperative that as we mourn the victims of this horrific
tragedy that commentators and the media avoid drawing inappropriate and
unfounded links between autism or other disabilities and violence.
Autistic Americans and individuals with other disabilities are no more
likely to commit violent crime than non-disabled people. In fact, people
with disabilities of all kinds, including autism, are vastly more
likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators. Should
the shooter in today’s shooting prove to in fact be diagnosed on the
autism spectrum or with another disability, the millions of Americans
with disabilities should be no more implicated in his actions than the
non-disabled population is responsible for those of non-disabled
shooters.
Today’s
violence was the act of an individual. We urge media, government and
community leaders to speak out against any effort to spuriously link the
Autistic or broader disability community with violent crime. Autistic
Americans and other groups of people with disabilities persist in facing
discrimination and segregation in school, the workplace and the general
community. In this terrible time, our society should not further
stigmatize our community. As our great nation has so many times in the
past, let us come together to both mourn those killed by acts of heinous
murder and defend all parts of our country from the scourge of stigma
and prejudice.”
Media inquiries regarding this shooting may be directed to ASAN at info@autisticadvocacy.org.
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