Hans Asperger

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/hans-asperger-aided-and-supported-nazi-programme-study-says

I have to say that since I first read Steve Silbermann's book 'Neurotribes' about a year plus ago, I have been wondering if it was entirely the case that Asperger tried to keep his subjects away from the Nazi euthanasia programme. This morning's headline is thus no great surprise. And as Sachs-Cohen and Silbermann have already indicated their belief in the emerging facts, I'm not about to get too emotive about it. Regardless of DSM-5, my diagnostician decided it was still a valid term for an older adult who had lived for some years with some knowledge of that label. And I'm not about to avoid that label, myself. I suppose I might as well be the first person on the forum to ask what happens next, because I would guess that not everyone will be quite so philosophical about it as me. I have to admit, I have never really taken very kindly to 'aspie'. I find it a bit patronising; but I'm now wondering if some of that discomfort is down to the fact that I have sort of half expected that the hero thing was not quite the full story. And Kanner, for all his input, wasn't beyond criticism either.

''Carol Povey, director at the National Autistic Society in the UK’s Centre for Autism, said: “We expect these findings to spark a big conversation among autistic people and their family members, particularly those who identify with the term ‘Asperger’. Obviously no one with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome should feel in any way tainted by this very troubling history.” 

Parents
  • I have just discovered (entirely by accident) that there is a book just three days away from publication. The author is Edith Sheffer. 'Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna'.

    https://www.amazon.com/Aspergers-Children-Origins-Autism-Vienna/dp/0393609642/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=

    A very brief preview read indicates that the author has been in contact with Czech. I also briefly noted that she has a son diagnosed Asperger's, but it would appear both parent and son question that label's usefulness somewhat. I have read Czech's paper twice, but still haven't really found myself too much at odds with either the author or his subject. That might work out the same with this book, I imagine. I probably will try to read it, but not perhaps too soon. Having already had some contact with folks who question the label of a diagnosis on the spectrum, I kind of reckon this book also probably isn't really going to change my outlook that much; although there may well be some benefits from critiquing certain stereotypes.

  • I will remind you all that the whole world was against Nazi Germany not just the Jews.   Up until 1981 the world did not want to recognise the scientific work done in Nazi Germany.   I do not know if Hans Asperger saved anyone.  His clinic was bombed.  I also do not know if his patients would have been killed if they had not had a diagnoses.

      Someone said that he was not helped by the NAS.  I thought the idea was that people with Asperger Syndrome get extra help in main stream schools. I did go to main stream schools and had a bad time at Private Schools I went to but I left school in 1973  about 45 years ago so I do not know first hand what happens in schools nowadays.

  • I would like to add that it is no more a Jewish issue than the Kurt Waldheim issue.  Kurt Waldheim was accused of killing Serbs and Yugoslavs  not Jews.  Kurt Waldheim was  president of Austria but not allowed to visit many countries as he was in disgrace.      Hans Asperger was accused of sending disabled children to their death in a clinic not of  killing Jews.  If that is the case I expect the powers that be will decide that we cannot have a syndrome after Asperger.  May be it will be named after Lorna Wing.

  • Will existing books about AS now become socially unacceptable publications a bit like videos of horror films before unsavoury parts were not edited out of them following the 1984 Video Recordings Act? Such uncut films are officially illegal to sell.

Reply
  • Will existing books about AS now become socially unacceptable publications a bit like videos of horror films before unsavoury parts were not edited out of them following the 1984 Video Recordings Act? Such uncut films are officially illegal to sell.

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