Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Letter: Authoritative figures need training to deal with autism

I just read the article about the struggles the Easton family has gone through. As an aunt of a child with autism, I am amazed at the ignorance of the people involved, especially the Mooresville police chief’s comments and the way this family was treated by the Mooresville school district.

If the police were really “looking out for the welfare of all children that go to that school,” then why was nothing done about the bullying that happened to Frank?

I think maybe everyone involved should be forced to receive some training on how to deal with situations like this.

Autism is growing at an alarming rate in this country. For the leaders in our school systems and law enforcement not to be able to deal with this is unacceptable. Get training. Be informed. That’s what our family has done, and I thank God my nephew is able to be home-schooled, since children with autism are treated so badly in public schools.

This is just one more reason that any bullying at any school should be investigated and the violators punished. I see how sweet my nephew is and the way he is stared at and treated in public when he has a “meltdown.”

The next child diagnosed on the autism spectrum could be your child, grandchild, or other family member. So everyone be informed and try to have compassion.

Best of luck to the Eastons.

Traci Brown
Barium Springs

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