Comments on: Neighbor Allegedly Threatens Autistic Boy

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:00:10 +0000

We certainly won’t be here forever—2nd floor apartment is not ideal. Charlie really seems to like it and he’s been much more easy-going about not stomping and jumping when I ask him to.

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:19:05 +0000

That is a brighter note–thanks for sharing. I hope that it continues to improve.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:28:04 +0000

Oh dear and big sigh.

On a brighter note regarding neighbors, our downstairs neighbor has been talking to us again (well, an occasional “hi”).

By: Regan

Regan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:28:39 +0000

Oh dear. A South Seattle man who was charged three months ago with a hate crime after he threatened to burn down an autistic child's home was charged criminally again Friday [10/3/08]. Mark Levison, 48, was booked into King County Jail on Friday morning and charged with a second count of malicious harassment — the state's hate-crime law — after he allegedly screamed profanities at the autistic child's father Thursday night. Levison's trial on the previous charge is pending...Levison is in jail on $500,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 16. Man accused of harassing autistic boy faces hate-crime charge Seattle Times October 4, 2008

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:51:54 +0000

Our 15-year old son has autism and has similar behaviors. I sure hope the world treats him with more respect and compassion than this man had.

By: Storkdok

Storkdok — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:54:20 +0000

Reading this makes me so glad we have the wonderful neighbors we have. They are kind and inclusive, understand our needs and help at a moments notice. They celebrate my son’s accomplishments, include him in their birthday parties, look out for him at day camp, and always are looking for opportunities that might benefit him, like telling the second grade teachers how lucky they will be to get A in their class !

But we had the neighbors from hell before them. One of the sons threatened to kill me and A when he was an infant, after my dh told him and his friends to stop playing paintball guns around our cars on our property. I was terrified of those kids for years until they moved.

I hope Mr. Levison is required to get psychiatric help and help for his substance abuse. I would take the threats very seriously.

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:14:32 +0000

Mr. Levison sounds like, at the minimum, he had substance-abuse problems, and maybe something more, such as mental illness, going on probably before the Engens moved into the neighborhood. It is unfortunate that he fixated on Anthony.
Not exactly the welcome wagon you want.

We have been lucky that this is a well-established neighborhood and that folks have been supportive and understanding about Eleanor. I hope it can continue to stay that way.

By: Kelli Hernandez

Kelli Hernandez — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:27:19 +0000

This man needs help.
Thank the lord I have neighbors that understand my son’s Autism ,and dont complain or even take a second look when he throws his fits.In fact ,they say “Hey Shane, you Ok?” or “be careful of the cars” Everybody watches out for him. There is no excuse for comments Levison made. That’s why my ex is my EX(not his biological father) and my husband of 11 yrs, loves my son Shane(21) with all his heart.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:50:33 +0000

@Anne C,

can assure that Charlie would know if that were happening to him.

What can one say—-sounds like Levinson’s “behavior” could use some changing…….

By: FXSmom

FXSmom — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:53:52 +0000

Makes you appreciate your neighbors even more!!