Special Feature from Sensory Focus Magazine www.sensoryfocusmagazine.com FOCUS ON VIOLENCE FOCUS ON VIOLENCE QUESTIONS ABOUT CONNECTICUT SHOOTER ADAM LANZA, ASPERGER’S SYNDROME & SPD TEMPLE GRANDIN, PhD any people in the special-needs community are concerned Mabout news reports that indicate Adam Lanza, the gunman who killed the children and teachers at the school in Connecticut, had Asperger’s syndrome and perhaps Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). They fear that this information will make the public think that individuals with these disorders are inherently violent. There is a wide range of people on the autism spectrum. They range from prodigies—the likes of Einstein, Mozart, and Steve Jobs— to individuals who remain nonverbal. Half of the computer program- mers in Silicon Valley may have some signs of autism. However, the vast majority of folks on the spectrum are peaceful and nonviolent. SPD affects an even wider variety of people. Individuals who have SPD and many different diagnoses or labels may have sensory issues such as sound sensitivity, difficulty screening out background noise, or visual sensitivity to fluorescent lights. SPD can occur in conjunction with autism, dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, speech delay, and learning problems. I have read extensive articles about Adam Lanza on the Internet. Here is some of his history that may be pertinent to his violent outburst. When Adam was attending his local school, he was super shy and would not allow his picture to be put in the yearbook. During his years there he showed no violent tendencies, and he was really good with comput- ers. His life rapidly went downhill after his parents’ divorce. 6 SENSORY FOCUS MAGAZINE — SPRING 2013 SENSORY FOCUS MAGAZINE — SPRING 2013 7 FOCUS ON VIOLENCE FOCUS ON VIOLENCE Adam stopped attending Second, boys need a good Lanza been encouraged to school and became a recluse in male role model. A good develop his talents and in- his mother’s basement. He spent male role model would have terests, socialize with others, all day playing violent video dragged this kid out of the and turn his skills into being games and did not participate in basement before he descended able to earn an honest living, any activities except for shoot- into his sick world and began perhaps he could have made a ing a gun at a local firing range. shooting people. life for himself that turned out He had no other interests. Third, people on the spec- very differently. The gun he shot at the trum get obsessed with their range was the same gun he shot favorite things. Teachers and in the video games he played. In my opinion, he was prob- ably visiting some really hor- By themselves, autism and the sensory rible Web sites, because prior issues that go along with SPD do not to the shootings, he completely destroyed his computer’s hard make a person violent. drive so investigators could not determine what he had been parents must direct obsessions Temple Grandin, PhD, is an doing on his computer or what toward positive things that can internationally respected spe- sites he had been visiting prior translate into building careers cialist in the design of livestock to the school shooting. and fulfilling lives. handling systems. She is also What should have been There are some individu- the most famous person with done to help Adam before the als, like me, who have ex- autism in the world today. She shooting occurred? treme problems with anxiety was recently named one of First and most importantly, and panic attacks. Taking a Time magazine’s 100 most in- Adam Lanza’s parents should small dose of an antidepres- fluential people and is the sub- have forced him to get out sant worked wonders for me. ject of the award-winning 2010 of the house and find a job. There is further information HBO biopic. Temple has au- Whether he liked it or not, he on this in my book, Thinking thored several books on autism should have been working to in Pictures. and is a worldwide speaker on develop other interests. He was When I was in high school, autism topics. Her website is good with computers, and he I had anxiety and tended to be www.templegrandin.com. could have been working at a a recluse. Both my mother and local computer store. There teacher did NOT allow this. is a tendency for some people They made me get out, be with on the spectrum to become other people, and develop my recluses. They have to get out own interests and talents. into the world. Video-game By themselves, autism and playing needs to be restricted the sensory issues that go to 1 hour a day, as it draws along with SPD do not make people away from reality. a person violent. Had Adam 6 SENSORY FOCUS MAGAZINE — SPRING 2013 SENSORY FOCUS MAGAZINE — SPRING 2013 7.