I don't know why I decided tonight to start a Blog. Heck, I hardly even know what one is or why someone would read what someone else has to say, but maybe tonight I feel I owe telling someone about my son Adam and maybe I will feel better. But, don't count on it.
Adam is 21 years old and has Aspergers Syndrome, a high functioning type of Autism. Out of all 4 of my sons, Adam is the only one with a high school diploma, his own credit cards and one of the most upbeat people you would want to meet. Yet, he does have Autism and that creates many difficulties for him in trying to understand the world in which he has lived for 21 years.
Tonight, my heart is broken and I cry. Adam is in jail and not any jail, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jail in Phoenix and he is alone and terrified and confused and has called home six times in tears. Strange, in all of his 21 years, I haven't seen Adam cry. I have seen him lash out in anger with words that could cut through you like a knife, I have seen him methodically go through the house slamming all the doors because he knows I can't stand it when he slams doors and I have seen him take off in his car squeeling tires because he knows I can't stand that either.
Now, I would give anything to have him home slamming doors and yelling about some little thing that ticked him off that most of us couldn't be bothered with.
Adam is in jail because Adam feel in love with a girl who used love to get him to lie and protect her when she is the one who should be in jail.
This nightmare started 8 months ago when Adam took on a second job...you see, because of his Aspergers Syndrome, Adam can't stand to sit around all the time, so he took on a second job at a conveinence store and there he met Sarah. Within weeks, he was visiting with Sarah until early morning hours, giving her money for gas in her car, diapers for her baby, food, etc.
When he wasn't giving her money, he was cleaning her house because her and her sisters didn't do it and Adam couldn't stand the thought that a small child was living in filth. So, Adam would go over and clean her house.
Before we knew it, Adam had begun moving his things into Sarah's house and dealing with her sisters problems and soon it was apparent that Sarah was calling all the shots!
Adam is 21 years old and has Aspergers Syndrome, a high functioning type of Autism. Out of all 4 of my sons, Adam is the only one with a high school diploma, his own credit cards and one of the most upbeat people you would want to meet. Yet, he does have Autism and that creates many difficulties for him in trying to understand the world in which he has lived for 21 years.
Tonight, my heart is broken and I cry. Adam is in jail and not any jail, but Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jail in Phoenix and he is alone and terrified and confused and has called home six times in tears. Strange, in all of his 21 years, I haven't seen Adam cry. I have seen him lash out in anger with words that could cut through you like a knife, I have seen him methodically go through the house slamming all the doors because he knows I can't stand it when he slams doors and I have seen him take off in his car squeeling tires because he knows I can't stand that either.
Now, I would give anything to have him home slamming doors and yelling about some little thing that ticked him off that most of us couldn't be bothered with.
Adam is in jail because Adam feel in love with a girl who used love to get him to lie and protect her when she is the one who should be in jail.
This nightmare started 8 months ago when Adam took on a second job...you see, because of his Aspergers Syndrome, Adam can't stand to sit around all the time, so he took on a second job at a conveinence store and there he met Sarah. Within weeks, he was visiting with Sarah until early morning hours, giving her money for gas in her car, diapers for her baby, food, etc.
When he wasn't giving her money, he was cleaning her house because her and her sisters didn't do it and Adam couldn't stand the thought that a small child was living in filth. So, Adam would go over and clean her house.
Before we knew it, Adam had begun moving his things into Sarah's house and dealing with her sisters problems and soon it was apparent that Sarah was calling all the shots!
posted by Adams Mom at 1:01 AM
5 Comments:
Adams mom, is my close friend, and I am 1200 miles away. I am unable o help her. I do know Adam, I have known him for 7 yrs, and his mom is correct, he can do irritating things to make her mad. I know in my heart he would never hurt that baby. I have been following the case and know that Adam is getting rail roaded. Autistic kids can't out and out lye. He has cooperated with all the authourities and nobody will listen to him and hear what he is truely saying. Sherrif Joe has a lot of cases to solve to make sure he keeps getting re-elected. So what if the kid didn't do it. He is the boyfriend so therefore he is Guilty. That is how Sheriff Joe's establishment thinks. Another crime solved, until this child is assaulted again and Adam is in jail, who will they blame then? Who will pay Adam back for his jail time, who will make it up to his family that is hurting over this. The concept of the justice system is awesome. To bad it doesn't work.
Hang in there guys,we are all praying for Adam and strength for your family. Please write a book on higher levels of Autism so people will understand how these kids slip through the cracks and are misunderstood. God Bless you all.
I don't know Adam, but I do know that what has been said on the blog about people in the autistic spectrum is true. They just don't get it. I don't know of any more misunderstood disorder than those in the PDD spectrum. My heart goes out to you. Keep trying to find legal help. I know your son needs it. I wish I had the resources myself. Something must change in this world we live. I pray, your son does not become the poster 21 yo Aspergers, that results in the change. Have you tried going to the media?
Here are a couple of my stories about public agency abuse of my children.
My 14 yo high functioning autistic was kicked out of school and the school district filed a permanent restraining order. I did not fight it because now they must find an appropriate educational placement for him and what they offered was not appropriate. Anyway, his IEP states that he must have a 24" personal space. No one can touch him. Of course, when there was no supervision, a girl touched his face to see what he would do. In his mind this was an assault, He said "I'm going to kill you" and some foul language I will not repeat. Anyway the school called the sheriff. The sheriff asked if he said those things and he said yes, she touched my face. Which of course, unless you understand autism does not justify threatening someone. My son is honest and in his mind being touched is the same as being assaulted. Of course the girl did not admit she touched his face. The sheriff said no crime was committed and it's a school problem.
Now I have another son who is Aspergers. He has been attacked many times at school. Since the school refused to do anything when I reported these attacks, I now file police reports. The first report I filed. The sheriff's investigated and found a video of boys attacking my son. The boys that attacked my son were suspended for a week of school. The second time, there were no adult witnesses. My son came home injured and bleeding. I filed a report, but there were no adult witnesses. The girl who attacked him and he were both suspended for three days. A couple of weeks later the superintendent of the school called me back and apologized and said if he knew what he now knows, my son would not have been suspended. I told the Superintendent what my son and his neurotypical brother both told me, but he did not believe it. Just two weeks ago he was attacked by 3 students two male and 1 female. They punched him and the girl kicked him in his private parts and he was choked and strangles. I filed another police report. The schools response was that there were no witnesses so it must not have happened. There was an entire room of student witnesses. I said they needed to check the class list and interview all the students in the class. Of course they refused.
Hi,
I just stumbled across your blog and want to say that my heart goes out to you and your family. I hope Adam is going to be o.k. and is home soon.
I have a child with Autism who is 4 1/2 years old.
I live near Tempe AZ.
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I am reading your blog with an interest I don't usually have with autism blogs as I am even getting tired of my own. I love my own son (named Adam too) and am so proud of him in every way. He is just beginning to talk and can type profound things/thoughts.
Yet these are real difficulties and yes, I agree, it is so unfair and you and Adam deserve moral support and justice and the only way we can all do that is to help others understand that autistic people aren't a danger to society, but that people don't understand autistic individuals. We need to assist others to understand autism so that our Adams are treated fairly and with dignity.
I will continue to read your blog with great interest in what happens to you and your sweetie. I hope you are both okay.
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