Autism Awareness: meltdowns

         There was a recent news story where a nine year old kid with autism at school had a meltdown and the cops were called. They arrested and handcuffed a nine year old. A child. The teachers, the police and school administers all failed to use common sense dealing with this incident of bullying. The person to deal with this should have been the father (who recorded his child being arrested.) instead of hauling the kid off to police.

        Here's a brief lesson on what they should know to avoid future trauma and potential lawsuit at the community's expense.

         Meltdowns often have the appearance of tantrums. This is not a willful act. Meltdowns are the result of overstimulation or frustration with the environment. Sometimes such frustration can get out of control with screaming or physical action. Demanding such behavior cease is not productive. They need to be moved  somewhere restful and quiet so they can regain control.

                  A major source of stress, is fear of ridicule and rejection. There are bullies and ignorant folk who don't understand or care about this disability and can be a handy target for abuse and indifference. Schools are notorious for blaming the victims of harassment rather than the instigators. Autistic children are extremely vulnerable to this kind lazy reaction. "Oh just call the cops and let them deal with it." in a glaring example of incompetence.

         Informing people of autism is not enough. Parent's doctors, and educators are woefully uninformed about this disability. Even the experts have historically misunderstood this condition.

         Advocates and autistics are left with the job of  having to inform so called normal people how to deal with children who are mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. Yelling at them to behave or punishing them by locking them in a room or  punishing them like criminals is not acceptable, healthy or helpful.

         This kid will be traumatized by the incident and feel even more a failure (he  transferred to another school) The bullies will continue to attack the weak without consequences, the teachers, who are uninfromed will continue with such measures as a default and the administers will put out an apology, do nothing to properly train staff and /or pay off the parents in a lawsuit.  Meanwhile no one learns anything.

         Rinse and repeat.