In my town...

[milivica]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/314867

I hesitated to post this. A father killed his 12 year old autistic son, then himself.

When I read stories like this, which sadly are no longer unusual, I just have to close my eyes and thank God this story wasn't about Vincent and I, cause years ago it could have been. I don't want to imagine the pain and desperation of such a decision. I feel just terrible for the child and his dad, and all the loved ones left behind. Parents of kids with autism get so little support, and so little hope is given - in fact hope is continually stamped out.

Just tragic, I can only imagine how that dad felt, and for how long he felt it. My sincere prayers and sympathy for the family and loved ones.

[LIZARD]

We're hearing about such stories more and more, and it makes me wonder if I live in the only state with good supports (although our school system sucks :rolleyes: ), or that people just have no idea that they exist or are financially unable to access them. MedicAid pays for all of Drew's therapy expense with HBTS and PASS, and thank God, because they amount to over $100K/year. Does no one outside RI have this?? Are families so desperate that this is believed to be the only solution?? :( :( Sad doesn't even begin to describe this...:( :( :(


LIZARD :(

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

I know Liz! This is the same confusion I have with these kids that are being abandoned in NB. Of course there is a HUGE difference in that no one is dying, well unless you count the child's trust & self-esteem and probably a host of other crucial foundational things...but I just don't get how there is nothing else that these people can do...

Seriously, in either of these cases, isn't it possible to sign over parental rights or something?????? Foster care????

I KNOW these systems are NOT that good, but surely they are better than living in a situation where everyone is on the brink or at their wits-end, right???

And maybe that gets the state to pay for MUCH needed services????

I dunno! I really am baffled by these!

Of course this COULD have nothing to do with his autism...there are cases of parents doing this when everything is ok, except for the parents mental health of course...

It's just all so sad!

My SIL had to go to a funeral last week for a brother of a close friend. He hung himself in his garage. He had 2 elementary school aged children. I can't tease out what is a worse scenario here...poor kids! poor mom! poor family! He apparently had mental health issues that he had been struggling with...imagine the guilt in that family...the poor kids w/ no Daddy, and losing him that way...my heart bleeds!

I agree! We've got all this money for a friggin war...:mad::confused::mad:

all these things are SO tragic! At what point does taking care of our own become the higher priority! What a shame!:(

[milivica]

In a few days I'll be speaking at a conference (yeah, me!!!) about autism and RDI and one of the mom's there knew the man and his child, who, went to her child's school so maybe I'll find out more. He sounded like a doting father, very into loving and caring for his son, his son had lots of services but all the services in the world don't mean much if they aren't helping your child.