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Has US ignored problems with autism?

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    Parents, experts discuss developmental challenges in wake of shooting

  • Duration 9:56
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And the aftermath math of the tragedy in new town friends of the gunman's mother Nancy -- up.

Are telling the world about the challenges she says she faced raising her son.

And one of them is opening up about the common bond that brought this man and mrs.

lands -- together as friends.

And what kind of things did she tell you about her side.

-- he would get upset because.

Her son.

Refusal that are Todd Pletcher she she couldn't hold him.

-- my -- just the opposite you know she'd seen -- -- hanging all over me and what you know autistic kids the each and every one on this different.

And he said that there -- different things that she tried to do because she had a hard time bonding with him.

Yes she was trying to bond.

Quite -- ways to bond with -- and you know she told me that the guns and you know she would take them shooting.

Because that was a way that it's you know a single mom.

Could you know.

Relate to her son and so she would take him -- -- shooting.

And was that something -- They did.

Multiple times is that something that she found wasn't easy way for them to bond together or was something that she -- try.

I think it was relatively new.

What -- -- it's something that I think he enjoyed and in so she you know she used the opportunity.

To do with them you know so that should have some quality time -- Joining me now Rebecca -- that she's director of communications for the Elizabeth -- center for autism law and advocacy and she's the mother of an autistic boy.

John Gilmore is the executive director of the autism action network also the parent of an autistic child.

Michael John Carly is the executive director of grass the global and regional Asperger's syndrome partnership who has a child with Asperger's.

And doctor Robert below is the co-founder of brain balance centers which looks at all disorders on the -- on the autism spectrum.

And beyond.

Think you all so much for being here welcome and appreciate.

Let me start with you Rebecca -- There's a piece posted online and an idea look at this but it's called I -- Adam -- his mother and it is is written by a woman who says it's obviously written by his mother but she talks about how she has -- son.

Who terrifies her.

And that we don't know what's wrong with him she says autism spectrum ADHD oppositional defiant -- remainder intermittent explosive disorder.

She basically says she's afraid of her son she doesn't know exactly they don't know exactly was wrong with him she doesn't feel that there is -- a place right now.

In society.

To get the right help.

The -- since the services your thoughts my thoughts are.

They're semi -- want big situations and some of these kids with with autism.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And kids on the spectrum look very different than I could not had written that article because my son is not.

It does not have knelt down and does not is not violent and I sign of how we could have but -- we were able to access my services very young.

And he got there -- and those impulses.

Under control and what we don't know right now is announced it.

Information about what pat him what was going on -- services.

We don't even know truly what is correct diagnoses -- And -- and that led emphasized that where we're talking about this at all because.

The the brother Ryan -- reportedly to the police that his brother suffered from.

Was on the it was on the autism spectrum and -- he's he reportedly use the word.

Asperger's is just sort of it's considered -- out his inspector of the media from much longer in any event.

So many people -- eleven and but summit over one point five million have Asperger's or have autism in this country.

99.9 percent and committed no crime no violent crime correct should we -- talking about this.

Yes I think we should because one and I think we've ignored these problems for too long so.

Although this is an unfortunate situation it's bringing up a good opportunity to talk about something that I think has been ignored by this country for way too long we've been.

Spending so much time talking about politics and the economy and we've forgotten about our children -- -- literally seeing an epidemic of these issues.

In the United States right now and he's a neurological problems and well these are not mental illnesses autism spectrum is not met a mental illness right now it's a neurological problem and in many ways you know it it can be prevented it can be treated effectively but.

Most kids I don't think or are getting the proper resources that they need and I think that you know it's it's possible to conceive -- that this could have been prevented.

John Gilmore they said that this mom Nancy struggled with what to do with her son in and decided to home school him for some period of time because she didn't feel like she was getting.

The support she needed on like Rebecca.

It obviously.

She was not as supported as she needed to be that seems to be up a clear to us one who what are your thoughts.

Well actually not unusual for people who have to order a -- to the special two -- school of we've helped schools aren't really equipped to provide appropriate -- -- education.

Four children with autism but it seems like you with this case -- talking about -- younger -- when they get to.

They're Twitter users a complete evaporation of services that because they've got to the school system from those years there's been support and now suddenly it's -- let's write a review of the -- We talk about her -- of the data thus starts shot stopped showing up what you do that you and what's the general consensus on that.

Well a lot of fear being -- you know these for some of us -- were trying to do as much as -- -- to sort of improve the situation.

Hear what we're gonna do it struck me about this though.

Is that.

If I think economist characterizes people on the got discussion if he was -- -- it is special temperature for Monica -- -- sure you know.

Oh another unconfirmed report was that he was taking a very powerful.

Anti psychotic drug.

Fair and offended but I believe it's called -- -- that would seem to indicate which is not recommended for autism or Asperger's.

So that would seem to indicate there's other issues going little edition of what's happened.

Michael -- Your -- -- -- and then reports about the guns being in the home I mean I don't wanna -- -- a -- discussion but you know the mother made the choice she was a gun enthusiasts which you know that's legal in this country but.

Is there it is their need for a heightened concern of keeping that kind of weapon in a house in your view.

With with a child that's on the autism spectrum or forget that has just had -- type of mental issues in their past.

We'll just focusing on the win the autism spectrum aspect of it I would say no it's not necessarily going to play a role in whether or not the child is going to use those guns necessarily.

Folks on the spectrum such as myself such is my -- such as -- members.

We're very into rules you know we don't like ambiguity too much we don't like you know.

Uncertainty in life the world is confusing enough some time so.

Rules and regulations they're kind of like safety -- you know we appreciate them because then everything is clear.

So you know usually on the spectrum you're gonna see more.

Preponderance for an individual obeying the law may be a little bit too much.

Rather than disobeying the law -- a little what are the options for a mother like this -- For you know -- his issue -- You know could extremely withdrawn extremely intelligent.

But growing more and more -- in recent years according to the reports all of which remains -- we need to get this out -- has already.

The discussion about these things is out there.

What what are the options for such a mother.

There are options out there other than just throwing medication -- kids which really yen may or may not be an appropriate but.

It's not the long term answer we know that there are centers like what we have bring balance centers which are out there.

There are behavioral clearly had a child tested and -- diagnosis and meaningful diagnosis back or we're where we can work with the problem it's not about just labeling because everybody is different every child is different.

Everybody with Asperger's different.

They may follow the rules but then there may be others that have no sympathy that really don't feel.

Much in the way of paying the war compassion in.

And may be prone to anger now purse so there are all different types what -- the underlying problem -- -- saying there are neurological and balances.

And we can deal with these with multi -- old treatments different therapists occupational therapy physical therapy behavioral therapy nutrition.

All of that is very very important is a lot of options out.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I think the spectrum is in general it's -- communication disorder.

And therefore if you're trying to communicate something and you don't know how it's going to be presented in a very different way and that may resonate to somebody that doesn't understand -- -- -- as a -- -- your thoughts that on the message we need to take away from us the message we need to take away from this I I I feel horrible about the situation.

I think the reason my -- got the services he needed was because that I was tenacious my -- and I hired an attorney to make sure he got these services he needed.

I know that most -- their parents out there can't do that that they can I get slick industry advocates and just to not stop.

Get every single thing you can for your children teen abstinence hasn't things like Christina never happened.

-- -- be a mother warrior father warrior thank you rob we'll post more on our website foxnews.com.

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