Autism Does Not Cause Violence; It's a Developmental Disorder, Not a Mental Illness

Much has been made of Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., who took so many innocent lives, as having Asperger Syndrome, a high functioning condition on the autism spectrum which has recently been reclassified as autism. Experts and parents who have children with Asperger Syndrome want everyone to know that there is no correlation between autism and violence and express concern that autism is a developmental disorder and NOT a mental illness. Parents of those with autism, who are already too often stigmatized in our society, are worried that this will lead to their kids being further shunned and misunderstood.

Self-Advocates Call for Retraction of Editorial in The Washington Times

SILVER SPRING, Md.-- Last week, shortly after The Washington Times Opinion section published an editorial arguing against affirmative action for individuals with disabilities seeking jobs at the Justice Department, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) put out a statement in response, published in the paper.
Since then, ASAN has followed up with a FAQ, posted on the ASAN website, about federal disability hiring efforts that refutes many of the arguments made in the editorial. This FAQ outlines the purposes and differences in the forms mentioned in the Times editorial and explains why this hiring process doesn't create an unqualified workforce.
Attorney General Eric Holder also responded to the editorial via a letter to the editor published in the Times on Monday.
Ari Ne'eman, president of ASAN, agreed to answer some questions about why the Times editorial was not just offensive, but factually inaccurate and should be retracted.