ASBOs for children

Former Member

Well each to their own, I'm a believer that ADHD does exist, just that maybe nobody has found a link yet. Even if it is down to learned behaviour or bad parenting (which I highly doubt, mostly because it overlaps so often with other disabilities on the autistic spectrum) it still isn't the child's fault.

Personally I think the whole "good kid", "bad kid" idea with ADHD is simply the government's way of copping out with facilitating people's needs... I mean a doctor was on TV a few weeks ago trying to deny the existance of dyslexia. Hey, it saves on employing helpers to pay for 'thick' or 'obnoxious' children. I do believe it exists, but maybe people are using the term as an excuse on occasions. It's something that has to be diagnosed by a specialist.

The whole labelling process (in my opinion) with kids is much more impressionable than with adults. So when a child receives an ASBO for something which probably isn't his or her fault s/he has that label and has to grow up with it. ASBOs are another government cop out, a quick fix solution which fixes nothing other than putting a label on some poor kid, person with a disability or social problems or somebody who's neglected. Sometimes (not all the time, some people can't be changed) all the individuals need is a little understanding and help... But then where to get that help?

Former Member

Even if it is down to learned behaviour or bad parenting (which I highly doubt, mostly because it overlaps so often with other disabilities on the autistic spectrum) it still isn't the child's fault.

Yes. I would like to add that a lot of the "autistic spectrum" disorders are what would have been called only a few years ago "having a personality".

Some of the diagnosis are laughable. Some people are just not interested in other people much. To call it a disease is fucking crazy. (I do accept that there are genuine aspergers and autisitics with genuine problems.) Having met an "aspergers" child who behaved almost exactly like his grandfather, who had been a succesful family man and businessman it's obvious to me a problem with people's expectations of each other more than anything else.

But then where to get that help?

Is a damn good question. Sadly, you can find allsorts of quackery these days in the alternative field and the medical profession is a little too quick to reach for the drugs at times.

Did you know that there is NO definition for normal in the psycho-the-rapist community?

Former Member

klintock wrote:

Yes. I would like to add that a lot of the "autistic spectrum" disorders are what would have been called only a few years ago "having a personality".

A few years ago homosexuality was called a 'disease'.

Some of the diagnosis are laughable. Some people are just not interested in other people much. To call it a disease is fucking crazy. (I do accept that there are genuine aspergers and autisitics with genuine problems.)

It's not a 'disease'... Nobody in the medical field calls it that.

Having met an "aspergers" child who behaved almost exactly like his grandfather, who had been a succesful family man and businessman it's obvious to me a problem with people's expectations of each other more than anything else.

And your point is?

Former Member

And your point is?

Oooh spiky. I like that.

My point was that this -

The whole labelling process (in my opinion) with kids is much more impressionable than with adults. So when a child receives an ASBO for something which probably isn't his or her fault s/he has that label and has to grow up with it. ASBOs are another government cop out, a quick fix solution which fixes nothing other than putting a label on some poor kid, person with a disability or social problems or somebody who's neglected. Sometimes (not all the time, some people can't be changed) all the individuals need is a little understanding and help...

I agree with.

Former Member

Sorry, didn't mean to sound unpleasent.

I for one agree with you on labelling often being negative, but there's a difference between being told you're bad and having your freedom removed and having a diagnosis.

I mean just because somebody acts like their grandfather doesn't mean that they don't have aspergers. Just because you can't see a disability doesn't mean that it isn't there...

Former Member

I mean just because somebody acts like their grandfather doesn't mean that they don't have aspergers. Just because you can't see a disability doesn't mean that it isn't there...

Ah I see what's happened here. What I meant was that his grandad also had "aspergers" but because he lived in a different time and place, he had managed to have a successful, happy life without ever being diagnosed. He'd had his difficulties, but then, who hasn't? I saw no reason to point it out either.

By labeling "little Timmy" as different they had managed to do just what you said.

Former Member

The government should ditch any moves to introduce "baby Asbos" to tackle antisocial behaviour in children under 10, Al Aynsley-Green, the children's commissioner for England, said yesterday. The "worrying" development was "part of the incessant programme of policy towards punishment and control" of children.

He was concerned about whether some Asbos were "appropriate, sensible, proportionate and just". He also expressed concern about the high numbers of young people, including those with mental health problems, targeted by antisocial behaviour orders. He said young people with autism, Asberger's syndrome and Tourette's syndrome had no control over their behaviour, and called for an inquiry to see whether the orders were effective before their use was extended.

from Grauniad