Autism doesn’t cause violence, despite Brendan Depa’s case

The vast majority of our society is completely uninformed about autism. We’re individuals with a different neurotype who happen to have a difference in communication and processing of information, and we may have different needs. As a proud autist, I am passionate about educating people about autism. I also recognize when it is being misused to the detriment of our community. Recently, a boy named Brendan Depa has been making headlines after assaulting a teacher’s aide at his high school in February of last year, the Florida team was sentenced to five years in prison, plus 15 years of probation for one count of aggravated battery. The headlines blasted the fact that he’s autistic, as the stories told how the six foot six, 270 pound black boy pushed the 59 year old aide, knocking her unconscious, then kicked her, punched her, left her with a concussion, broken ribs, her native disc, loss of hearing, PTSD and more, and all because, well, She took away his Nintendo Switch, something his behavioral plan apparently warned against, given his history. Now, that woman suffered greatly, and now Depa is going to suffer greatly, and I’d say it’s not because of his own failings, but because of those of the school and the judicial system. Now, while that’s a conversation on its own, well what I can tell you that it is important to highlight now that this is not autism in action, not withstanding what the headlines say. This is uninformed media wielding autism in an ignorant way that harms autists more than helps us check the record depot was 17 years old and diagnosed with autism, yes, and also ADHD as 70% of individuals with autism tend to have a comorbidity of ADHD, just like myself, but Depa was also diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. That means he’s prone to repeated sudden bouts of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior and outbursts. This psychologist retained by his attorneys also found him to be schizophrenic with auditory hallucinations, concluding that he was not competent to proceed. The court appointed psychologist testified that deposed a danger to himself and others and should be placed in a secure facility. This kid’s disorders are a problem, yes, but his problems are not of his own making, and they’re not because he is autistic. News flash, autism doesn’t make one violent, despite the public opinion that is quite uninformed, there is no predisposition to criminality or violence among the autistic. In fact, we’re far more likely to be victimized, to be sexually abused, to be bullied than we are, to engage in violence ourselves. Certainly, autist may have angry outbursts due to communication difficulties, accumulated distress and hypersensitivities, but there are no inherent violent natures or criminalities about us. You know. If we’re lashing out, it’s kind of normal. How would you respond if someone is trying to force you to sit in a certain way or wear a piece of clothing that you find physically uncomfortable, or someone is pushing you to act in a way that you find distressing, even though they believe that it is socially acceptable, you would be none too pleased, either. And for those who still seem to think that autism makes one violent, that would also mean that what Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Greta Thunberg, Tim Burton, Amanda seals, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Gates, Darryl Hannah and myself are violent. You know, people really need to spend more time checking themselves than they do checking autistic people. And the thing is, is that we also need to check the criminal justice system. It’s not just violent against black and brown bodies disproportionately, but we have to consider those with mental health issues and vulnerabilities well, they are disproportionately ignored, including those of Brandon Depa. It’s widely known that black people and people with mental disabilities are over represented in the criminal justice system. Add to that, black people are far less likely to be identified as having mental health problems and are less likely to receive access to treatment once they’re incarcerated. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, black people with mental health disorders. Well, they’re also less likely than their white counterparts to be placed in mental health facilities over being placed in prison, given the many doctors conclusions. Well, Depa is yet another victim of our unjust system. He should never have been sentenced to prison. The young man needs to be in a psychiatric facility, one that can tend to his needs and protect those around him. And I don’t know that he will ever get that opportunity for care, or that he’s even going to survive five years in a Florida federal prison. But in the meantime, those who care about autism or even purport to give a damn about decent journalism should do their due diligence by disabusing themselves and others of the notion that autism equates to violence. Do.