DISABILICIDE?


As you proceed through the conference over the next few days, you may
> notice
> me
> and some of my peers on the autism spectrum, and some of our non-autistic
> allies, wearing pink ribbons. The ribbons are in memory of Katie
> McCarron,
> the
> 3-year-old autistic girl who was killed this past Mother's Day weekend --
> and
> the ribbons are also in sympathy with her father and grandparents, who
> loved
> her very much. You may have heard or read news accounts of the tragedy.
>
> Mike McCarron, Katie's grandfather, wrote about Katie, on the Autism-Hub,
> a
> consortium of blogs, or Internet journals, coordinated by a father of
> another
> little autistic girl, in England, whose family has become close to the
> McCarrons in the time since the tragedy.
>
> Mr. McCarron wrote as follows:
>
> "I would like to say something about Katie. Some newspapers have reported
> that
> this was done to end Katie's pain; let me assure you that Katie was not in
> pain. She was a beautiful, precious and happy little girl. Each day she
> was
> showered with love and returned that love with hugs, kisses and
> laughter...
>
> "She enjoyed having her grandmother dress her in new little outfits and
> dresses,
> and I think this is important:
>
> "We have four grand-daughters; my wife loves to buy them frilly little
> dresses.
> When my wife went into a store she would never ask for three normal
> dresses
> and
> one autistic dress.
>
> "I think we need to be very sensitive to the special needs of these
> children
> but
> at the same time not be oblivious to the numerous typical traits that are
> also
> developing. Katie was first and foremost a little girl...
>
> "Katie loved the park, the swings, the slides and being outside. She
> played
> with
> her dolls and toys; she loved "teletubbies" and brought joy to all
of
> those
> that
> had actual contact with her. Yes, she was autistic. Developmentally she
> was
> behind other children. But her small victories would create unbelievable
> joy
> for those who loved her. I can not describe the ecstasy of having her
> little
> arms around my neck or of watching her and my son roll around on the floor
> playing in sheer happiness."
>
> Mr. McCarron sent the writers of the Autism-Hub blogs some beautiful
> pictures of
> Katie. He asked that the pictures, and Katie's memory, not be used in any
> way
> to lament the "lack of services" that some people incorrectly blame
for
> her
> death. Lack of services was apparently not an issue for her or her
> family.
> And he asked that they not be used to call her a burden or paint her death
> as
> "understandable" or anything remotely close to that. Rather, that
Katie
> be
> remembered for how much she was loved, and how much love she gave.
>
> If you would like to join us in wearing a pink ribbon in Katie's memory,
> look
> for those of us throughout the conference carrying rolls of ribbon, boxes
> of
> safety pins, and kindergarten scissors, and just ask. The McCarrons have
> a
> roll of ribbon too, and are wearing it.
>
> ===========================================================
>
> We are hoping that this small gesture will help spur constructive change
> in
> the
> tragic and desperate ways autism and parenting autistic kids are all too
> often
> characterized, by the media, by the general public, and by autism
> organizations, including our own.