Disruptive behavior by autistic kids stirs furor By DAVE KOLPACK, Associated Press Writer

[Guest guest]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080813/ap_on_re_us/agony_of_autism & printer=1;_ylt=A\

h9NJZuSn9fyqU8jnN7D8mpH2ocA

Disruptive behavior by autistic kids stirs furor By DAVE KOLPACK, Associated

Press Writer

Wed Aug 13, 4:35 PM ET

When a 13-year-old Minnesota boy was banned from church after parishioners

complained about his behavior, it exposed a painful truth so politically

incorrect that some people feel guilty just saying it out loud: Some autistic

children can be annoying and disruptive in public.

The case of Adam Race and others like him has laid bare conflicted feelings —

among both parents of these children and other people — over autistic

youngsters in public places. And it has stirred debate over how much

consideration one side owes the other.

In the case of Adam Race, a judge agreed with a priest in Bertha, Minn., who

said the 225-pound teenager was disruptive and dangerous, and upheld a

restraining order barring him from services. The priest said Adam spit, wet his

pants, made loud noises and nearly ran over people while bolting from the church

after services.

Carol Race, Adam's mother, said the congregation's claims were exaggerated. But

in a letter to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, JoAnn Brinda of Crystal, Minn.,

said the Race family should have shown more consideration for others.

" I don't understand why families that have a challenged child who becomes loud

and abusive remain at a service where all participants are quiet and

contemplative most of the time, " Brinda wrote.

Duclos of Peoria, Ariz., who writes the conservative Wake Up America blog,

called the Race story a " horrible situation all around. "

" I have known a few people over my lifetime who have had to deal with autism

with their children, " Duclos said. " It's as frustrating for them as it is for

the public. "

Similar cases involving people with autism have played out in public recently. A

California man was kicked out of a health club for screaming. A North Carolina

boy was taken off a plane before takeoff after having a meltdown. A South

Carolina girl was ordered out of a restaurant by the town's police chief for

crying.

Syndicated radio talk show host Savage added to the furor last month

when he charged that doctors and drug companies are overdiagnosing autism, and

said, " I'll tell you what autism is: In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who

hasn't been told to cut the act out. " Several major companies pulled their

advertising from Savage's show.

Jo Rudy, who is the mother of an autistic child and writes and consults on

autism, said Savage's words were " truly nasty and hurtful. " At the same time,

Rudy said the talk show host has raised awareness of some of the frustrations of

parents of autistic children and the wider public, too.

Rudy said there are times when parents should not put their children in

situations where they may be disruptive. " Some of these stories really are the

ones where the general public can absolutely identify with the other side of the

story, " Rudy said.

Goldtrap of Davenport, Fla., said too many people diagnosed with autism

are out and about in public because of political correctness. Goldtrap, 40, has

two nephews, ages 3 and 21, with autism, and said the older one has become so

violent at times that the police have been called.

" I certainly sympathize with all the families who are in this situation, "

Goldtrap said. " But when we got away from the concept of institutionalization in

America, we lost an important element of trying to maintain civility. There is a

place for mental institutions. "

Goldtrap added: " If it were up to me, he would be in an institution. My brother

doesn't agree, and that's his prerogative. " He declined to identify his brother,

saying, " I don't want to start another argument. "

Autism is a disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and can

include a host of complications. It varies widely in its severity. Some people

are well-behaved; others are prone to outbursts or self-abusive behavior such as

biting or head-banging.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that

one out of every 150 U.S. children over the age of 8 is autistic or suffers from

a related disorder. About 560,000 Americans under 21 are believed to have

autism.

Many parents say that their autistic children are largely misunderstood, that

they can't help it when they act up, and that they need interaction with the

public.

Barbara Coppo, whose 30-year-old son, Kenny, was banned from a Vallejo, Calif.,

health club for screaming, said Americans need to learn about living with

autistic children.

" Autism may frighten people because so little is known about the disorder, " said

Coppo, who wrote a book about her son. " The cause has not been scientifically

proven and the victims often act in ways society doesn't understand. "

However, some parents wonder how much understanding can be gained in grocery

stores, churches or other public places.

Nikki Wilmoth- of Rockport, Texas, said certain high-traffic areas are

off-limits for her autistic 14-year-old son, Zach.

" I'm an advocate for my child, but we all have to play on the same playground, "

she said. " It's not about clearing the playground so my child can be on it. "

Wilmoth- recalled one day after Sunday school class, when Zach licked

several trays full of Oreo cookies set out for students. He was asked to find a

different class.

" We're talking 50 to 60 Oreos. He didn't understand the effect it had on the

entire class, " Wilmoth- said. " I had to make amends. I had to

volunteer. "

Rudy advises parents of autistic children to arrange forays out in public with

care, which may mean five minutes in the grocery store instead of 45 minutes.

" Certainly there are cranky people in this world. If a mother glares at your

child for something that's really pretty harmless, quite honestly that's her

problem, " Rudy said. " But if your child is going to have a meltdown, I don't

think it's in anybody's best interest to bring the child along. "

Joe Schmitt, a Minneapolis lawyer who has often defended employers against

claims they discriminated against disabled employees, said people who object to

certain accommodations may be viewed as insensitive to those with autism or

other disabilities.

" They usually really do care, but they have to weigh the considerations of

others, " Schmitt said.

Schmitt said church officials in Minnesota knew they would be criticized for

banning Adam, but took action after the two sides failed to arrive at a

compromise.

" I'm not saying they were right, " Schmitt said of the church. " But I would

disagree with anybody who thinks they did that casually or it wasn't important

to them. "

Sandy Boyles, whose 18-year-old son, Walter, is autistic, said that when she

began attending First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, N.J., she didn't bring

him along, because in other churches he would run up and down the aisles

screeching.

" She was afraid of being ostracized. I told her, `So what? Bring him anyway,' "

the Rev. Kramer-Mills said.

Eventually, the small congregation revised its services to Walter's liking.

Worship used to start softly and build to a crescendo. Now, it starts with more

noise.

" I have to be careful because sometimes he'll do a fast movement or run, " Boyles

said. " But the other members aren't as scared as I am. "

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information

contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or

redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Questions or Comments

Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy