As the world struggles to explain the murder of 27 people in Newtown, Conn., two words have been thrown around with reckless abandon: Asperger's and autism. Unfortunately, the speculation that the killer was autistic is creating new fears and falsehoods about a condition that affects 1 in 88 children.
So let's be clear: Autism is not to blame for the murders in Newtown. We don't yet know if Adam Lanza was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which includes Asperger's syndrome. But even if he had been, there is no reason to think an autism spectrum disorder caused his killing spree. Study after study advocates that there is no correlation between violence and autism spectrum disorders.
We also are hearing politicians and pundits talk about autism as a "mental illness." It is not. It is a neurological, developmental disorder.
Autism spectrum disorders can cause significant social impairments, communication problems and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior.
I see this firsthand as I work in, develop and implement programs at the OB2L Center in Albany to help kids on the spectrum become part of our community. We teach children with autism spectrum disorders, and their families, how to cope.
With a little effort and understanding, children with autism can be fully integrated into our classrooms and communities. This fact hit home with unusual pain for me when I learned that one of the children killed in Newton, Dylan Hockley, was on the autism spectrum.
KELLY BROCK
Assistant director, OB2L Center
Albany