STATEMENT FROM BOB & SUZANNE WRIGHT (shared from Facebook page of Autism Speaks)
"People want immediate or simple answers when an unimaginable tragedy like this occurs. Autism did not cause this horror. The profound tragedy of these senseless murders will only be compounded if it results in unwarranted discrimination against people with autism."
These are some articles that you guys can read for further info regarding the mass shooting in Newtown and how does some irresponsible critics relate Autism/Aspergers with the tragedy.
Our hearts go out to the families and town of Newtown, Connecticut for this heartbreaking event. Some medias are reporting that the shooter might have had an autism spectrum disorder. Some have also inaccurately reported that there is a linkage between autism and planned violence. People with disabilities or disorders should not be blamed in the midst of these types of tragedies. Therefore please keep the families of Newtown in your prayers.
Hello there! It's been a week since our presentation at IIUM Psychology Week 2012. Just wanted to stop by and let you guys watch our short video presentation on Aspergers Syndrome.
We decided to include some short clips from The Big Bang Theory sitcom starring Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Remember, he is not diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome but the traits are obviously there. You can read further on our previous post regarding Sheldon.
Below are the pamphlet that we gave to the audience during our presentation.
Nicole Mc Farling had this to say regarding this matter: "Those that work in the field of autism have known this for two years
that this change was coming. Asperger syndrome was added to the DSM-IV
in 1994 officially so you bare off on your dates by a few years. Many
professional in the field are upset over this because it will prevent
many who have a higherfunctioning autism or asperger's will lose
services they need.How many 1000's of individuals dignosed with
Asperger's will now not be and wont meet criterion for autism. Where
was the AP when the debates were happening last year? When renown
professionals in the field, psychiatrists, MD's, etc pushed to stop it.
It's only going to eliminate the category in order to lower the rate of
diagnosed individuals. Questions were raised on the validity of the
field traials conducted during the last 1.5 years. Dr. C. Lord chair of the task fo
rce stated (trials showed)10% less would meet criteria, but contradicted herself saying it wouldn't affect anyone.
Dr. Francis, Duke University School of Medicine and chair of the DSM-IV
revisions that included Aspereger's is against these changes and has
stated that it is radical change to the definition of Autism and will
dramatically reduce the number the number of people who will qualify
under the new criteria. This is a socio-political move and it is
wrong to all the individuals who need assistance due to impact of the
symptomology of aspergers or autism. 1 in 88 (CDC, 2012) is now the
prevalence; change from 1 in 110 in 2009. This is a travesty and is
going to severly impact those individuals who are higher functioning
cognitively. Most will not be able to gain employment and have any
independence in adulthood, without the assistance they need to gain the
skills they need, even though many have an average or above average IQ.
The IQ however isn't the diagnosos, but socialization, communication and
behavaioral challenges is the disability. This is a travesty for
many families that struggle daily with this with a loved one. It is a
LIFELONG disorder and there is no cure, only interventions to help them
develop in the triad (social, communivation and behavior)areas.
Yet another population of individuas with disabilities that will hugely
discriminated against, because without help, they won't meet society's
idea of someone who is socially competent. Society should be pissed
about this and be up in arms advocating that this not happen. But,
unless you have a kid or adult in your family with an autism spectrum
disorder, most people will ignore this just like evrything else in
society that's ignored because it doessn't directly impact them." Nicole McFarling, M.A. Sp.Ed. ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
I must say that I'm one of the huge fans of The Big Bang Theory sitcom. What more could we have asked for other than the attractive casts, hilarious show with a brilliant scriptwriting! Well, Dr Sheldon Cooper himself is an interesting character to begin with!
He is usually characterized as extremely intelligent, socially clumsy and strictly logical. Regardless of his intellect, he sometimes displays a lack of common sense. He also possesses childlike qualities which he seems unaware, such as extreme stubbornness. Sheldon also has a broad general knowledge in many subjects. Although his friends have similar intellects to him, his peculiarity, stubbornness and lack of empathy often annoy them. Sheldon occasionally uses slang, and follows jokes with his catchphrase "Bazinga!”. In response to criticism from his friends that he is mentally ill, Sheldon often reply angrily, "I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested”. Like his friends, Sheldon is scientifically of a mind person and is fond of comic books, costumes, role-playing games, video games, customizable card games, action figures, fantasy, and science fiction, particularly Star Trek, in which his favourite character is Spock.
What an interesting character no? Well, he has all the traits of someone with Asperger's Syndrome (not that it is ever mentioned on the show). Several viewers have claimed that Sheldon's behaviour is consistent with Asperger’s syndrome but the writer Bill Prady knows the character better than we do. Prady said that Sheldon does not have Asperger's but instead thought of his actions as "Sheldony" plus, he never had the syndrome in mind when the character was created.
"We write the character as the character.
A lot of people see various things in him and make the connections. Our feeling
is that Sheldon's mother never got a diagnosis, so we don't have one."
(Bill
Prady)
Does Sheldon have Asperger's?
**this is the best video I could find. The rest are mostly in Spanish I think?
“I do wonder. Okay, so we’re not
writing a character with Asperger’s, but what Aspergerian stories are you
pulling some of this from? I believe one
of our writers has a relative that has Asperger’s. And like I say, I think a lot
of this really intellectual work that somebody like Sheldon does, the way his
brain works, it’s so focused on the intellectual topics at hand that thinking
he’s autistic is an easy leap for people watching the show to make. The way
Sheldon goes “Huh?” to a social and emotional situation because he’s so focused
on what he’s doing. His brain is so wrapped up in it.” (Jim Parsons)
There are good reasons why the writers do not want to label Sheldon as
having Asperger's.Main reason is that if
he's afflicted with the real disease, how can his friends make fun of him the
way they do? Sheldon may be as annoying and fussy but mocking people like him (if
he were to be diagnosed with Asperger's) is not really a brilliant thing to show
to the whole world right? If that is so, then his fellow friends are a bunch of
jerks? Hmmm... If Sheldon did
have a diagnosis, his friends could no longer mock him and I guess the show
would have been banned for life then!
References
Collins, P. (2009,
February 6). Is the world ready for an Asperger's sitcom? Retrieved
November 6, 2012, from Slate Magazine:
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2009/02/mustgeek_tv.html
Murray, N. (2009, May 1). Interview: Jim Parsons. Retrieved
November 6, 2012, from A.V CLUB:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/jim-parsons,27415/
The Big Bang Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved November
6, 2012, from CBS: http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/about/
Waldman, A. (2009, August 14). Come up with a new theory:
Sheldon does NOT have Asperger's. Retrieved November 6, 2012, from The
Huffington Post:
http://www.aoltv.com/2009/08/14/come-up-with-a-new-theory-sheldon-does-not-have-aspergers
