Denis Leary Explains His Autism-Slamming Remarks

Wednesday excerpts of Denis Leary's book were published in which the comedian mocks the diagnosis of autism. "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically."

Since the release he has tried to explain.

Leary suggests that those critics obviously haven't read the book. "Or if they have," the Emmy-nominated actor said in a statement, "they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child."...

"The point of the chapter is not that autism doesn't exist--it obviously does--and I have nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know," Leary continued in the statement he released today.

"The bulk of the chapter deals with grown men who are either self-diagnosing themselves with low-level offshoots of the disease or wishing they could as a way to explain their failed careers and troublesome progeny.

The book is called "Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid"

Comments

[staciel199]

I think Leary's comments are right on. Clearly, his initial reported comments were taken totally out of context and he was slamming not autism, but the demented parents who want their kids to have some form of diagnosis to explain the kid's behavior. Leary is a great guy and he should not have his reputation tarnished. The guy is a good actor and commedian and does tons of charity in MAss and around the country, for the Neely House in Boston (treats kids with cancer) to fundraising for firefighters (one of his relatives was one of six firefighters killed in the Worcester Cold Storage fire in 1999). He is a good guy.

So when does Rescue Me start??

[Kim445588]

Do you get that there is no pill or medicine for autism, but rather nothing but hard work to deal with the challenges?

Maybe you are confusing autism with ADHD??

The school fights you on getting diagnosis, because then they have to give you an (IEP Individualized Education Plan) which means they are legally obligated to create and measure goals that address specific challenges. ( I.e. Timmy will take unprompted turns in a monopoly game with three observations. )

Who are these 'demented" parents that want to go through this? The opposite of your assertion is actually more accurate. Most parents waste precious years being in DENIAL about autism, not running around begging for a diagnosis.

[Aldyth]

Yeah. Tap dance as fast as you can, Leary. Your attitudes are still showing.

[gwhizz]

Leary has always been an *******. Why should his book (book? really?) be any different?

[Kim445588]

The vast majority of Autistics that I know are highly intelligent, which reinforces this idea that the diagnosis is somehow made up. People have trouble with this 'disorder" because our kids look like typicals, but act out in social situations for a variety of reasons. Social skills is often the biggest challenge, and the notion that you can beat it / dicipline it out of them is totally absurd illustrating a lack of understanding of how these kiddos experience the world.

There is a wide autism spectrum (mild - high functioning - low functioning) and psychologists are not just handing out diagnosis'.

What people need to understand is that there are very specific behaviors associated with Autism. They are so distinct that to the trained eye, they are easy to spot.

[dylana]

I owe Leary an apology. When I read the first comments regarding his stance on autism, I was angered and frustrated. That is no excuse... I SHOULD have investigated further his stance before becoming 'unglued'. I am the mother of a 34 year old son who was diagnosed at an early age with 'autism'. As an adult, his behaviors are challenging (to say the very least!). He can only communicate with a few words and actions. I also know individuals afflicted with autism who also function at a very ... challengin­g... level. HOWEVER... I do see the current trend in diagnosing children with autism when they show very few to no 'typical' traits of the autism spectrum. This is a slap in the face to my son and those individuals who struggle daily with trying to cope with the world and sensory issues. The problem appears to be the umbrella which covers the broad spectrum of 'autism spectrum' needs to be fine tuned. We haven't separated the sub-disabilities which are under this all-too-broad umbrella. My heart and gut feelings are that autism and related disorders are the products of mankind's folly - in particular, environmental issues and allergies to same. We (as a progressive species) did not take the time to realize just how severely man made chemicals and the overuse of same would impact human biology. [I believe] we have created a monster which selectively destroys our childrens' biological functions, effecting brain, metabolism, and immune systems.

[Kim445588]

Respectfully, I have to disagree with you post. There are sub-categories of autism including PDD NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ) and Aspergers Syndrome to name a couple.

The problem that I see is when CNN or other media bring Autism to the public, it is in the form of low functioning people or geniuses. I suppose these make more riveting stories.

Rarely do we see a kid who aces spelling tests, but falls apart at birthday parties. This sets up the public image of autistics as having behaviors in one extreame or the other.

I do agree with your comments about environmental concerns and would add that injecting our kids with mercury (immunizations) was probably a bad idea.

[yellowdogmom]

Thank you Kim! You really hit the nail on the head with your post. Plus, you just described my daughter (dx w/ Asperger's and/or high-functioning autism depending on who you talk to) to a T.

I have to say, too, that when we first received her dx 8 years ago, and we first experienced the world of autism through social groups and various other activities, there were so many times I would meet a child with the same dx and upon the first meeting, I would think--surely this child was misdiagnosed! But after being around the child a few times, I saw the autism. Now, however, I can spot autism--high or low functioning a mile away. My point is that many times, children that are on the high-functioning end of the spectrum can at times appear completely normal and misdiagnosed when they really are on the spectrum.

I would like to dispell another myth I've been seeing on these Leary threads. Neither the education system nor pharmaceutical companies benefit from over-diagnosis. Believe me, schools will fight to prove that your child has no special needs. As for pharmaceuticals, there is no "autism medication­." Many of the children that I know aren't on any medication. A few take anti-anxiety meds and even fewer take ADD meds, but over all I don't see medication for autism as being that prevalent.

[dtrobert]

"The problem appears to be the umbrella which covers the broad spectrum of 'autism spectrum' needs to be fine tuned."

Actually, it's been pretty fine tuned. The fact that most people don't know about the various disorders on the spectrum is not the fault of the psychological community, it's the fault of the media who tend to mix everything up.

[playsindirt]

I love Denis Leary and have always been a huge fan of his show, Rescue Me. But I'm also the parent of an autistic son. I think some of his comments were taken out of context and I understand that and accept his apology. I tend to lump people like this into the same category I lump parents of "normal" kids who just don't get it and think our kids just need more attention and discipline. I have friend who also has an autistic son who actually had some strange woman approach her in a grocery store and suggest that her son (who was a toddler at the time and was flapping and melting down from the over-stimulation) that he just needed to be spanked more. Duh. As a parent of an autistic child, we have to beat down the path on the high road as we campaign for more research to find good treatments and, hopefully, a cure.

[cinemaven]

I'm going to preface this statement by saying that for 6 years, I served on a community board as an advocate for special needs kids. I've worked to gain services and help for 100's of children and their parents and I'm only too painfully aware of the need for services and serious money that's required.

I also should say, I'm not a fan of Leary. I love comedy (my son does stand up) and I have no respect for those who just steal an act instead of developing one.

That said... I've had the experience of being told countless times "my son/daughter has asperger's­/autism/AD­D/ADHD" by parents who have never seen a doctor and who point to the fact that their kids sometimes act out as proof. I've also met adults who delight in telling you they discovered they have ADD or ADHD and when asked how they were diagnosed, they tell you about a quiz on some TV show or magazine. Every parent of a special needs kid I know has had the experience of a parent with "me too" syndrome and has had to hold themselves back from explaining what it's like to really have a child with special needs. I think this is what Leary was referring to but he did it poorly.

[dylana]

Agreed. Perhaps I was not clear enough in my previous post. Having worked in "the field" in addition to watching other persons diagnosed with 'classic' autism has left me somewhat jaded. I have met - and worked with families who have a child who does NOT meet the criteria for autism, aspergers, NOS DD and yet somehow, somewhere they have been diagnosed as having autism in 'some' form. Perhaps there are those in the professional field who are jumping too rapidly to place a diagnosis for an array of reasons? Receiving funding is a major reason. This is the proverbial slap in the face I was referring to when I posted earlier. I have watched (some) parents scream "autism" until someone listened and responded in the manner they demanded. Again, the quiz in the magazine, watching a television program which they can "somewhat" relate to.

"Classic" autism, Aspergers, NOS DD are pretty easy to spot - if not on the first meeting, then surely by the third visit. Have even heard adults state they have 'autism' because they don't like crowds and/or feel anti-social.

But all of this doesn't solve the problem. It feels as though we are in the last chapters of Arthur Clarke's Childhood's End.

After 34 years of watching my son struggle, I just accept. I hope the younger parents keep fighting on.

[LiberalBuzz]

Denis would have been better off just passing it off as a bit of his comedy routine meant to go after a certain segment, instead of this somewhat lame explanation BUT he's far to smart to actually believe that nonsense, so I'll give him a total pass.

He's a good guy underneath it all.

[Frankenliberal]

Sad. Leary is just another out-of-touch celebrity allowed to skate from crude, obnoxious behavior.

[DanielAdamSmith]

Leary couldn't carry Bill Hicks' jockstrap

[LiberalBuzz]

Bill Hicks....T­he Master. Almost everyone today has ripped him off. The world lost one of the true greats when Bill passed.

[Mysticalsister]

I love Denis Leary -- he's done more for the real heroes of 9/11 than anyone in the country. If Denis has appologized for the comment, out of context or whatever, that's good enough for me, and we should all cut him some slack. He's one of the good guys.

And his show, Rescue Me, is one of the best things on TV.

[whistlingthis]

i'm sure i'm not the only parent of an autistic child (PDD) who has been put on the defense with tons of people doubting the DX because "autism is overdiagno­sed." that was a concern of mine as well, initially. but the honest truth is, and it was a heartbreaking one to face, that whether or not it's the right DX (and honestly, in my heart, i truly believe it is), my son has improved with his treatment plan, and the improvement is both drastic and noticeable.

another thing that grates me, and my son too, is that so many people think that autism automatically equals retarded. NOT TRUE. there at the very least needs to be better education going on to the public at large (ie. to the mainstream kids in the mainstream classrooms who can be pretty cruel in hallways) so these kids have a shot at reaching their potential. some children with autism are retarded, and that is very sad...but.­..not ALL of them are.

all of this being said, there are at least three children in my son's AS class who don't seem to belong there because their issues seem more emotional/­psychiatri­c. so, i'll give you six of one, half a dozen of the other. i've seen it happen, both ways. which is why we NEED to find causes and cures, and find ways for society to help integrate the massive influx of truly autistic young adults we'll be seeing in about a decade.

[DesertFlame]

As a parent of a child with Aspergers and as an adult with Aspergers, it baffles me that ANYBODY who has not walked even an inch in our shoes can pass judgment.

[gwhizz]

AMEN. As the parent of a child with severe ADHD (yes, DX by doctors -- pediatrician, neurologist and psychiatrist--I am sick to DEATH of people like Leary who, of course, know everything.

[nutmegger]

cont'd....­.

The other child who "has" aspergers has always been highly social, makes eye contact and can be quite appropriate socially - if he's given the chance. Instead, his parents never said no to this boy and let him rule the house. He says he is "different" and forces others to treat him "differently". He manipulates his parents and "selectively" listens to them. They use these traits to define his condition. I see a manipulative, playful and fully aware boy who games the system to his advantage.

The bottom line is that there are so very many aspects to autism - especially the end spectrum where asberger's resides - that virtually everybody can say they have one or two of the characteristics and use the label as a crutch if they so desire. Believe me, I've seen how one can gain access to many social programs and garner a boatload of attention by labeling a child. It also serves to excuse poor parenting leading to poor behavior in the child. But the child loses. This particular child is losing. The bar is set very low for him, and he's been taught that the world revolves around his very bright, very manipulative existence.

I honestly agree with Leary - Asbergers Syndrome can and is used as a crutch by some to excuse away a lot self-made character flaws.

[RollingEyes]

My child has high-functioning autism, which is different from asperger's. The process of being diagnosed took us over a year. It takes input from parents, teachers, and caregivers into consideration, along with observations of the person making the diagnosis. From the time I started the process to the time I got a diagnosis was almost 20 months.

You don't go see a doctor, make a few complaints and walk-out with a diagnosis.

[dtrobert]

What a load of bull: You can't get ANY services if you're self-diagnosed. If he is social, and has no trouble making eye-contact as you claim, HE DOESN'T HAVE ASPERGER'S, and would never have been diagnosed as such. Your judgment has no value; you have no idea what you're talking about, clearly.

Asperger's is no laughing matter, and NO ONE wants the label to excuse "laziness". That's slander, pure and simple. I've lived with Asperger's my entire life without knowing what it was (because no one outside Austria knew about Asperger's when I was a teen). I was labeled as a "geek", "nerd", "idiot" (actually, French equivalents to those terms). I've had difficulty in my career because of it (although I've always managed to get through those difficulties, but at a far greater cost that to most neurotypicals).

You and Leary just love to pass judgment, in order to feel better about yourselves. You're no different from the bullies who used to make my teenage years a daily nightmare.

[Kim445588]

What state do you live in?????

We went through a month of psychologist meetings, teachers filling out forms, and a whole lot of other stuff to get a diagnosis. Then the fun really began for the next 3 years.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS TO FALL ON THE SPECTRUM!

[nutmegger]

I've got to tell you, I know a couple of people who have kids diagnosed with "high functioning" aspergers syndrome - at the far end of the autism spectrum. Only ONE of these kids could truly be considered as having aspergers. The other is a highly functioning brat, who has no self control as a result of having no discipline to speak of. Tell me this: what is the testing procedure that is used to determine a child has asbergers' syndrome, anyway? The contrast between the two boys is striking - one is obviously quirky, the other is obviously just a brat with a label that affords him many easy-outs, unaccountability for his actions and his very own personal teacher at school.

The one child with aspergers that I know has dealt all his life with learning struggles in school. He is very bright, but he is a classic aspergers syndrome child - he doesn't hold eye contact, he is socially inappropriate, he hyper-focuses on certain things, has eating quirks and misfires in conversations - it's hard for him to empathize with others. BUT he is a sweet, well disciplined kid who was mainstreamed in school and is now in college.