Leonie Davis: Over and over again in these horrendous cases there were signals that the parent was already contemplating the actions they carried out. If someone would have taken them seriously and for what they were, these children might still be with us. Any threats or musings about taking such drastic measures as a solution need to be taken seriously. Its not normal, excusable, nor should it be acceptable to say or entertain such notions without seeking immediate help. Please... When you hear or see someone use talk like I wish my child were dead, autistic people should be put to sleep, my child would be better off dead, I wish my child were dead, my child is already dead, I wish I could end it all, ...it should be considered a red flag. Take it seriously--even if it seems like just venting. We have to halt the normalization of this kind of venting language among caregivers and parents so that when someone is seriously considering murder as an option, intervention can take place IMMEDIATELY. People in the community need to know how to recognize this warning sign before it becomes too late for the victim. This message can save scores of Disabled lives. We Are Like Your Child: To the parents who read our page: Please, please, please...if you hear other parents of disabled and autistic children making jokes or comments about wishing their children were dead, or about killing themselves and their children, call law enforcement or CPS. This kind of talk is normalized and accepted in much of the autism parent community. But it should be considered a serious warning sign.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 23:03:45 +0000