Sadly, I can see how this could happen.

[PeachyClair]

"In the South West of England, a 15-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome was given an Asbo which stated he was not to stare over his neighbours' fence into their garden. The young man concerned had no previous criminal convictions, but if he breached the order by "continuing to stare'," he faced a custodial sentence.

His case has been taken up by the British Institute for Brain Injured Children (BIBIC), who have iddentified similar abuses across the country where Asbos have been used against autistic children.

One of the characteristics of Asperger's is obsessional behaviour and a tendency towards repetitive routines which can seem peculiar and even disturbing to people not familiar with the condition. People with the disorder can have a normal IQ, but find it difficult to read emotions and the effect their actions have on other people.

BIBIC discovered that an Asbo had been given to a 15-year-old with Tourette's syndrome, which can involve an inability to stop shouting out profanities. The order banned the teenager from swearing in public, something made impossible because of his disorder.

In a case in the Midlands, the authorities applied for an Asbo against a 12-year-old girl with Asperger's who had been swearing in the street. It later emerged that she had heard her parents arguing with neighbours and had simply mimicked them.

The cases have come to light after the charity launched a campaign earlier this year to promote tolerance of children with behavioural difficulties."


(autism cymru website)

[SleepySuzy]

This is absolutely horrendous.

[ZoeC]

I remember reading this, very sad and just highlights peoples ignorance of these conditions

It's a pity the neighbour wasn't on good enough speaking terms (I presume) to not know about or understand the condition - this should never have had to go to court and shame on the court for imposing such an order on someone incapable of following it.

[Miaou]