Published on 12, July, 2020
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.”
A question that has been raised at my local AS group is what do the following two countries think of the findings of Herwig Czech?
1. Austria
2. Israel
They might have slightly different popular opinions, I suppose. But does it matter? If you wanted to find out, you'd either need to carry out opinion polls in those countries, or for anecdotal opinions, ask autistic organisations in each.
A recurring question at my local AS group is what are the differences between the UK and the US when it comes to ASD due to differences in culture and social expectations as well as the effects of a very different education system. Dropping AS from DSM-5 potentially widens the gap as it's what American writers and researchers consult before ICD-10 used in Britain and Europe.
Consequently, we don't think it is a particularly wise decision to have just one country - albeit a big one - dominating the ASD scene worldwide or in English speaking countries. Sometimes we are thankful that Tony Attwood is Australian but we would like to see more findings from non-English speaking countries.
We know that the *** are not the only people to have killed people.
More to the point I have done more research and discovered that before Hans Asperger a Russian Neurologist wrote about something similar in 1926 he was called Grunya Sukhareva may be the Syndrome should be named after him instead. I would still prefer Wing Syndrome.
But the US and Canada abused psychiatry too, in the name of ideology. Look up the story of Dr Ewen Cameron. That is a pretty chilling tale
It reminds me of the President Waldheim who should not have been president of Austria as he killed Yugoslavs and Serbs. Waldheim when he was president was not let into various countries because of his war time record.
It is speculation but a reasonable assumption that he would have had to refer her to be killed.
I think Susie was badly Autistic.
I am not suggesting that Asperger enjoyed it. It is difficult not to obey the law as he might have got killed himself.