'My Asperger's son died because authorities did not understand his condition'

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'My Asperger's son died because authorities did not understand his

condition'

CRYSTAL PALACE, London, UK: A single mother says her only son, who

had Asperger's syndrome, lost his life because the authorities did

not understand his disability.

Glennys ' son, , 23, was found dead on December 31 last

year, following an overdose of prescription drugs. Last week, a

coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into his death.

Now Miss is calling for more awareness of his condition.

was found at his home in Belvedere Road, Crystal Palace, where

he had been moved seven months earlier by Bromley Council. He had

previously been a Broomleigh Housing Association tenant in Crown

Lane, Bromley, but had to be relocated after falling victim to

homophobic abuse.

As Broomleigh was unable to rehouse him at the time, it was decided

would go into temporary council care.

A social services meeting in April last year concluded that

needed to remain in the area so he could continue receiving his

network of support.

Despite this advice, Bromley Council rehoused in Crystal

Palace, forcing him to register with a new doctor.

Miss says she stressed her son's vulnerability but was told

that, as had accepted the offer, it would not be reconsidered.

The 56-year-old said: " I told them their actions were totally

irresponsible and, by moving out of his safety net area, they

were putting his life at risk. "

Following the move, 's drug prescriptions for conditions which

included anxiety and stress increased dramatically and he began to

rely heavily on out-of-hours surgery services.

Miss , of Newbury Road, Bromley, said: " If Bromley Council had

not ignored recommendations from myself and social services, my son

would still be alive. Neither Bromley Council nor 's new GP

understood his disability. Although it was not visible, he was not

able to comprehend and assess information in the way you or I can.

" I can no longer do anything to help , but I can raise

awareness of this disability so another parent does not have to

suffer such a tragic loss. "

A council spokesman said: " The council expresses its sympathy. While

it would not be appropriate to go into detail about this particular

case, the council can confirm that assistance with rehousing was

provided to Mr at his request. "

Asperger's syndrome was first identified in 1944 but it did not

become a clinical diagnosis until the mid-90s. A developmental

condition affecting the way the brain processes information, there

is no cure for the syndrome, which affects more men than women.

Symptoms of the disorder can include poor communication and social

skills, and sometimes physical clumsiness. Sufferers can have

difficulty reading body language and making eye contact.

Establishing set patterns and routines is also common, which can

lead to distress when these are changed.

Strong attention to detail and the ability to memorise facts and

figures also characterises Asperger's syndrome. Renaissance artist

angelo, the n botanist, Darwin, and the

scientist, Albert Einstein, are all thought by some researchers to

have had the disorder.

(Source: News Shopper, August 23, 2006)