Speaking up Asperger Support Organizations

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Below is cut and pasted a post I received from a membership organization for Adult Aspergers
This organization is the best I know of as a resource.

Spocks Daughter



Dania Jekel
Asperger's Association of New England
Statement to the Community Regarding the Connecticut Tragedy
December 15, 2012

At the Asperger's Association of New England, we share the horror and sadness of people across the world. The shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, were a terrible and incomprehensible act of violence. We convey our deepest sympathy to the victims, their families and friends, and their community.

Early reports have suggested that the suspect, Adam Lanza, might have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or a mental health condition. This has not yet been confirmed. Having Asperger syndrome does not preclude acts of violence, just as having any other condition, or no condition, does not preclude acts of violence. Some people with autism spectrum disorders have co-existing mental health conditions or other complex issues. Nevertheless, violence is not part of the Asperger or autism profile. People with Asperger syndrome or any other form of autism are far more likely to be the victims than the perpetrators of violence. Although it is impossible to conceive of a mass shooting as a mentally healthy act, the vast majority of mental health issues are not associated with violence.

Our overwhelming concern is for the families of the victims through their deep, enduring grief and devastation. We hope too that the conversation around Adam Lanza will be thoughtful and considerate of people who have Asperger syndrome or other forms of autism and their families. When myths and misunderstandings are perpetuated, nonviolent people with the same condition suffer. It is painful and frightening to feel associated by virtue of a diagnosis with someone who has committed such a horrific crime.

Discussing this tragedy is challenging for families and very upsetting for children who have Asperger syndrome. <snip- contact detail I do not feel right to give out as this was a personal email> We are exploring ways to provide additional support around any concerns relating to the terrible loss of these innocent lives. If there is a way that we can support the families and friends of the victims or the Newtown community, we will be here for them.

<surf AANE> and stay postive, refuse FEAR,
Spocks Daughter

Thank you for posting this resource!

I'm glad that people are giving us a voice. My mother just asked me to write a piece on behalf of the local Human Rights Commission in order to inform the community of what life is like for people on the spectrum, of what our thought processes and difficulties are and how violence isn't a part of that. So rest assured, we're fighting for the truth on all fronts!

Thank you!

AANE is fairly admazing and the confrences (sp?) sound like the straight stuff. www site has real good stuff for the reading.

Bless em they were recently trying to figure out what to do about their name since the DMS V
now has popped US into a bigger bucket for their own ease.


Let's all watch for reasonable statements and share them in here so they can be passed around and on and ON!

M Let us see what you write and good luck!

All Since I joined it seems the 'wrong planet' (I have managed to read) is more 'social' than the benificial proactive I would prefer. (As in useful knowledge). I am the info keen type. More meat, less moan...... please........

Spocks Daughter

Dear SpocksDaughter,
Welcome to WP, and thank you for the letter from AANE.

There are many threads here, and many members are well-educated and stay current on everything new regarding Asperger's (I have that, not Autism, why should a plecostomus like me be dumped into a bucketful of goldfish? It is a nice aquarium that has both, but they are different!)

Anyhow, as to the social aspect of WP, some of us have no family, and few friends.
Some of us have no friends and this is IT for communicating with people.

Check out 'The Haven', there are some of us who need someone to talk to and to feel listened to.
Even in some of the social rooms here, I have read posts from long-time members asking about members that they haven't heard from.
There have been at least four who turned out to have committed suicide.
There are some younger members who have awful lives with their families, yet are unable to move out, due to the severity of their Autism, Asperger's, or other 'disorder'.
For some of us, it just means so much to know that others see things and say things and do things like we do.
It is just not as lonely.

Sylkat

give Wrong Planet a while...

i admit i was here earlier

but i am glad everyone is

still here, and now online...