Inclusion Daily Express -- Fear Of The Unknown Focuses Blame On Teen's Diagnosis

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Fear Of The Unknown Focuses Blame On Teen's Diagnosis
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 31, 2007

SUDBURY, MASSACHUSETTS--Fear.

That one word seems to describe the mood at Lincoln-Sudbury, judging from the local news stories.

That's where John Odgren, a 16-year-old sophomore, allegedly stabbed to death fellow student, James Alenson, a 15-year-old freshman, on the morning of January 19.

Police said Odgren admitted stabbing Alenson, but said he did not want the boy to die.

The special education student has been charged with first-degree murder.

Police and prosecutors have not commented on a motive for the crime.

Every news report has noted that Odgren has Asperger syndrome, which has been associated with autism. Some add that he had been taking medication.

Most, however, focus on fear.

School officials that are worried that something like this could happen again, and are looking at ways they can prevent future incidents.
Students who are afraid of a similar incident, or that school officials will overreact and tighten security too far.
Parents who worry that, since Odgren must have "slipped through the cracks", other students with "violent tendencies" might also be walking amongst the student body.
Parents of students with disabilities, and especially those with Asperger syndrome or autism, who worry that their children will be further stigmatized because of the label Odgren carried.

Added to that mix last week was a group of demonstrators from a Church of Scientology offshoot that are afraid psychiatric medications are turning people into "walking time bombs".

Until more is known as to why Alenson died, people will fear and suspect every conceivable cause -- lax security, violent video games and movies, psychiatric medication, to name a few.

But mostly his diagnosis -- because they know so little about it.

While we don't know what happened between these two teens, this is one of those times to remind ourselves that it's always been more dangerous to be different, and that when a person with a diagnosis makes a mistake, it's often that label that people point to first.

This is a time to be looking for "teaching opportunities", folks, and to educate others that they have less to fear from those of us that have such diagnoses and labels.

Related:
"Group to investigate L-S policies" (MetroWest Daily News)
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/8998978373938053119
"Parents Worry Stabbing Could Stigmatize Asperger's" (The Boston Channel)
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/10853890/detail.html
"Family fearful of Asperger's toll" (Boston Herald)
http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=179037
"Many fear special ed backlash" (Sudbury Town Crier)
http://www.townonline.com/sudbury/homepage/8998979969166082047
"His space: Blog details suspect's life" (MetroWest Daily News)
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/8998969569724858367
"Drivers angered at signs" (Sudbury Town Crier)
http://www.townonline.com/sudbury/homepage/8998979968578879487

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