Autism is mentioned in responses from candidates for the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education, North Carolina. What’s your Board of Ed’s position on autism, services, programs, funding—–do they have one?

Autism gets mentioned for the first time in a presidential debate on October 15th; here’s more news:

After Many Years, A Diagnosis
Deborah Lipsky was in her 40s when she found out that has autism.
There Goes Another Autism Myth
While out riding his bike, Charlie hears another child crying and…….
Denis Leary Does a Michael Savage
I know Leary’s a comedian but some things just aren’t funny—-alumni from Emerson College don’t think so either.
McCain and Obama Debate: Down Syndrome, Autism, Special Needs
Disability historian Paul Longmore writes about Sarah Palin as “talking about special needs children” and Obama as having substantive plans …read more

Police were called on Friday morning when a 16-year-old autistic student did not want to leave a school bathroom, the Orlando Sentinel Reports:
The teen was washing his hands when he suddenly swung around, punched the officer in the face and then struck his hand, authorities said. The cop tased the student, who police said was uninjured. Police said they would ask the State Attorney’s Office to prosecute the student on a battery charge.
But what of the use of the taser?

15-year-old Tony Presley, who has high-functioning autism, was tased by police on January 28th for “getting out of control at school,” WDIO reports:

Assistant Police Chief Charles LaGesse says on January 28th, Tony got out of control at school. A police report says the school liaison officer wrote Tony a ticket, but then Tony started kicking and biting the officers and school officials. The report says another police officer was called in, and he is the one who tased Tony.

Tony described the ordeal in his own words.

“When I got in that office,” said Tony. “I was calm until they were going …read more