The Autistic Me

We've had a number of stories lately on mothers killing autistic or possibly autistic children. Mother Posts Blog Blaming Stress Before Killing... Texas Mom Kills Children, Blames Autism Colorado Mom Wanted to Have 'Fun in Life' What can anyone say about this? Children are stressful, normal or not. Depression, stress, lack of supports, et cetera, are not excuses to kill. I do not doubt depression is real in some cases, but I do not tolerate any excuse for killing children. Even if we don't have perfect supports, there are supports in most cities and counties. Families also have a responsibility to intervene. It is impossible for me to imagine no one was aware problems were present before these children were killed. The association of autism with infanticide is a common theme in media. I won't bother listing examples.

Colorado mental-health counselor charged with murdering infant son - The Denver Post Police: Autism was motive in Colo. child's killing BOULDER, Colo. — Police say a woman accused of killing her infant son did it because she believed the boy was autistic and thought his condition would "ruin" her life. Stephanie Rochester, 34, was charged Monday with murder in the June 1 suffocation death of her 6-month-old son, Rylan. According to an affidavit seeking her arrest, Rochester wanted to commit suicide but didn't want to "burden her husband" with the potentially autistic boy. What can be said about this? It is troubling; I can already imagine various responses: Eventually, a genetic screen would help prevent this. (or…) This is why screening would be dangerous. Some people think autism is worse than death. This woman must be mentally ill. And so on, and so on… I think this woman was simply a self-absorbed, immature, malignant narcissist. If she had commi...