Comments on: On violence, suffering, horror, and hope

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:58:06 +0000

tania,

what kind of a school program is he in—how do his teachers respond when he is violent? (hope you do not mind me asking)

By: tania

tania — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:50:30 +0000

My autistic son has been violent toward me and others since 15 months old. Now he is 17 and I cannot control him on my own. He still self-soothes poorly. I fear for his safety and mine. He also abuses family pets in his “tantrums”. Any thoughts?

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:19:24 +0000

And thank you for this news—–it’s good, very good, to know.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:02:57 +0000

I’m not sure if you had heard some of the less reported news on the situation. The town of Sudbury has been very kind to James’ parents. The family has been so upeset by the incident that they decided to move. The town rallied together and actually bought the families house. It is a relief that through all of the tragedy James’ family has suffered that they are being taken care of by the commuinity. People they don’t even know (including myself) are sending them cards of sympathy and encouragement. The situation makes you see the worst in human beings as well as the best. And all I can say is thank god for those people who are showing love and support to this family who so desprately need it.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:38:35 +0000

Jenny, Thank you very much for writing here again; I always especially learn from what teachers say. I’m a teacher too—-of college students, but for more than a few it is their first experience being away from home—-and very much feel that I am, as you note, in loco parentis. What happened that day in that high school is too awful.

Thank you again for commenting here.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:51:43 +0000

Dr. Chew,
Thank you for this article. I appreciate very much that it points out that not all individuals wih autisim and Asperger’s have violent tendencies. I am the teacher that formerly worked with John and had plenty to say on your other blog. I have to admit the anger overtook me from what he did to another child. As a teacher, I love all children, and my main goal is to keep them safe, I am their “parent” during the day. Thinking that something like that could happen is more than heartbreaking. In turn however you are right, not all children with the same disabilities are like John.

By: Autism Vox » Difficult Reading on Recent Topics: the JRC, John Odgren

Autism Vox » Difficult Reading on Recent Topics: the JRC, John Odgren — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:33:07 +0000

[...] At the end of a post from a few days ago, On violence, suffering, horror, and hope, I wrote this, which I wanted to note again here with a small revision: Sure we hear a lot, even too much, about violence and autism: But I think we need to continue to talk about these issues so that others who do not have the chance to be (as I am) raising a great kid named Charlie —- so that those who equate life with autism as a tragedy and depressing —- can see that there is a lot more to autism then suffering and horror. [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 23:13:12 +0000

“Noise from people who fear the unknown”—yes. I try to smile into the silence…..

By: Daisy

Daisy — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:04:09 +0000

I hear the silence, too. In my teaching, with students on the spectrum mainstreamed in my class, I hear noise from people who fear the unknown.

By: mel

mel — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:41:33 +0000

yes, I hear that silence too.