Asperger ASBOs

While the nation's papers are filled this week about the story of a the youngest child to receive an ASBO at the age of ten, I recoil in horror.

Schoolboy Lewis Green, a "South Yorksire tearaway", had had his identity revealed to the public after receiving one of the harshest ASBO's given yet. According to a report by Sheffield Today, "Lewis Green has terrorised neighbours, threatened children with knives, assaulted his family, smoked cannabis, drunk stolen beer, burgled homes and smashed cars."

While his mother claims that he has mended his ways apart from the odd cigarrette, she believes that it is not so much a problem with bad parenting as it is due to her son's Aspergers.

Anyone familiar with Aspergers is far too aware that if it is mismanaged by parents, education, health or social services, the results can be disastrous. Not just for the family and those in contact with the child, but for the child himself. Anxiety, frustration and the chaos of every day life combined with a does of testosterone can lead to a very aggressive and anti-social child...whether they have Asperger's or not.

While my heart goes out to Stephanie Green, Lewis' mum, I wonder just how much she and Lewis have been let down by the system. With another child described as a 'model student', it indicates that perhaps this is not just another incidence of 'lazy parenting'.

Reading her stories of being threatened with knives and being covered in bruises makes me recall some of the stories about Monkey I'd rather forget, like being subject to physical abuse and aggression. However, by remembering those bad times, it helps me to appreciate the good times and praise him accordingly.

Unfortunately, Lewis Green appears to be part of a growing trend. In May 2005, the National Autistic Society warned in the Guardian that children with autism and other serious psychological conditions are being targetted by the government's controversial anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).

Just told Monkey what I was writing about and asked how he felt about this. He agreed that the behaviour was extremely naughty and naughty behaviour means you need to go to court. It seems that the ASBO has taken the autistic black/white view on bad behaviour. And of course, Monkey had to add: "Good thing the worst I do is not clean my room." Ah, he must have remembered it's treat day.